Pulled aside and talked to at Chiang Mai immigration

[NorthernRyland]

I was immigration today to do a 30 day tourist visa extension where for the first time ever I was sat down and asked why I visited Thailand so often (I've been here about 3/4 year and US the other part since 2013). I answered honestly and told her my income is from my online business and upon request that I do indeed have family here and a girl friend etc... She seemed to basically want to know if I was working here and why I didn't get another visa which I explained a didn't quality for. After I was talked to she issued the extension without any warnings or anything.

 

I'm not sure if it was stupid to tell her my full story and if I'm flagged now in the system or perhaps this is just new protocol (it's a perfectly reasonable question to ask). Has anyone heard of this happening before and if it means I'm going to be in trouble down the road?

[glegolo]

Maybe you are now considered to be an honest american man after this...

 

glegolo

[ubonjoe]

It seems you got a nosey immigration officer.

Nothing to worry about. There is no flag they can put in your record.

[NorthernRyland]

15 minutes ago, glegolo said:

Maybe you are now considered to be an honest american man after this...

 

glegolo

that's funny, thanks. :)

[NorthernRyland]

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

It seems you got a nosey immigration officer.

Nothing to worry about. There is no flag they can put in your record.

They have volunteer uni girls at the front that review your documents in advance and I noticed she flipped through my entire passport so maybe she made a note to the IO. I'm getting rid of that passport this summer when I'm back home since it keeps causing me problems.

[BritTim]

I am amused by the notion that the lady official was trying to figure out if you are available. However, I think the reality is more prosaic. She has been told to look out for illegal workers. You gave good answers to her questions. If she recognizes you in the future, I do not think you will be questioned further.

[Briggsy]

I had pretty much had the same thing happen to me a couple of years ago at Sri Racha immigration. Had to see a more senior officer who gently yet repeatedly asked me if I was working here illegally. I got the extension. The chat lasted about 5 to 10 minutes.

[rkidlad]

My mate got pulled in at Don Mueang. They asked him why he spends so much time here. He had a new tourist visa on him. He told them he works online and they let him through no more questions. Just told him to get a 'proper visa'. 

 

Seems honesty is the best policy sometimes. 

[phoetriu2]

GIrl at krabi said dont ever come back again, last time mister. Got the 30 day ext after telling her im from a g7 country.

[edwardandtubs]

4 hours ago, phoetriu2 said:

GIrl at krabi said dont ever come back again, last time mister. Got the 30 day ext after telling her im from a g7 country.

Are you sure that's what swung it?

[1FinickyOne]

Being honest and following the laws of the country you are visiting is always the best alternative. 

[Suradit69]

15 hours ago, phoetriu2 said:

Got the 30 day ext after telling her im from a g7 country.

She probably figured that out after seeing your passport.

 

I doubt being from a G7 country made everything hunky-dory.

 

 

 

[alex8912]

11 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

Being honest and following the laws of the country you are visiting is always the best alternative. 

Agreed in most cases but why do so many nearby countries like Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia , Hong Kong  etc give so many countries 90 days on arrival,  no TM6 card that now even asks for your phone number, E mail address and still asks for your income and many other STUPID pieces of info? Then in Thailand as noted above even if you want to extend a measly 30 day visa exempt and SPEND MORE MONEY HERE you are pulled aside and questioned?  

Please spare me ( not the above poster ) the comment like : "What does the U.K. do to a Thai" Or "What does the USA do to Thai" Etc. Because you 1% of posters seem to not understand what 99% of the posters do understand between a Thai going to the U.K. and someone from London wanting to spend perhaps an extra week or two here after being here for 30 days. Even a simple 90 day MULTIPLE entry visa that could be extended once for 90 days or better yet an 180 day multiple entry visa for snowbirds or something would make so much sense. The METV still only allows a 60 day stay and so many people who have lived here forever have to still do 90 day reports! Why not try even 180 day reports?? Just try it one year or two years and see what happens! 

[ubonjoe]

 A off topic post meant to deflect the topic has been removed.

[geisha]

True, a visa for «  snowbirds »( those usually older tourists who spend 4/5 winter months in Thailand) would be very nice . I for one wouldn’t mind paying for this . 

[ubonjoe]

43 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

 A off topic post meant to deflect the topic has been removed.

An another one. A repeat of it will result in a formal warning.

[sanemax]

Went to CM immigration yesterday to extend a VES , have a PP full of Thai visas and no questions asked , in at 3 PM and out by 3.45 , nothing unusual or any questions

[NoshowJones]

20 hours ago, rkidlad said:

My mate got pulled in at Don Mueang. They asked him why he spends so much time here. He had a new tourist visa on him. He told them he works online and they let him through no more questions. Just told him to get a 'proper visa'. 

 

Seems honesty is the best policy sometimes. 

"Sometimes"? Yes, must emphasis the "sometimes". It does not always pay to tell the truth, a lot depends on an IOs mood.

[NoshowJones]

3 hours ago, alex8912 said:

Agreed in most cases but why do so many nearby countries like Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia , Hong Kong  etc give so many countries 90 days on arrival,  no TM6 card that now even asks for your phone number, E mail address and still asks for your income and many other STUPID pieces of info? Then in Thailand as noted above even if you want to extend a measly 30 day visa exempt and SPEND MORE MONEY HERE you are pulled aside and questioned?  

Please spare me ( not the above poster ) the comment like : "What does the U.K. do to a Thai" Or "What does the USA do to Thai" Etc. Because you 1% of posters seem to not understand what 99% of the posters do understand between a Thai going to the U.K. and someone from London wanting to spend perhaps an extra week or two here after being here for 30 days. Even a simple 90 day MULTIPLE entry visa that could be extended once for 90 days or better yet an 180 day multiple entry visa for snowbirds or something would make so much sense. The METV still only allows a 60 day stay and so many people who have lived here forever have to still do 90 day reports! Why not try even 180 day reports?? Just try it one year or two years and see what happens! 

Sense does not always apply where Thai immigration is concerned. Oh! wait.

[elgenon]

On 2/15/2018 at 9:23 AM, alex8912 said:

Agreed in most cases but why do so many nearby countries like Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia , Hong Kong  etc give so many countries 90 days on arrival,  no TM6 card that now even asks for your phone number, E mail address and still asks for your income and many other STUPID pieces of info? Then in Thailand as noted above even if you want to extend a measly 30 day visa exempt and SPEND MORE MONEY HERE you are pulled aside and questioned?  

Please spare me ( not the above poster ) the comment like : "What does the U.K. do to a Thai" Or "What does the USA do to Thai" Etc. Because you 1% of posters seem to not understand what 99% of the posters do understand between a Thai going to the U.K. and someone from London wanting to spend perhaps an extra week or two here after being here for 30 days. Even a simple 90 day MULTIPLE entry visa that could be extended once for 90 days or better yet an 180 day multiple entry visa for snowbirds or something would make so much sense. The METV still only allows a 60 day stay and so many people who have lived here forever have to still do 90 day reports! Why not try even 180 day reports?? Just try it one year or two years and see what happens! 

5 countries, eg Brazil, get 6 months on arrival

[elgenon]

Sorry, meant visa exempt

[ubonjoe]

9 minutes ago, elgenon said:

5 countries, eg Brazil, get 6 months on arrival

Which country?

For Thailand they only get a 90 day visa exempt entry under a bilateral agreement and there are only 5 countries that get them.

See: http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/customize/62281-Summary-of-Countries-and-Territories-entitled-for.html

[elgenon]

On 2/16/2018 at 10:26 AM, ubonjoe said:

Which country?

For Thailand they only get a 90 day visa exempt entry under a bilateral agreement and there are only 5 countries that get them.

See: http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/customize/62281-Summary-of-Countries-and-Territories-entitled-for.html

Sorry, you are corectomundo! The difference with what I get grew in my head to a crazy number.

[1FinickyOne]

On 2/15/2018 at 9:23 AM, alex8912 said:

Agreed in most cases but why do so many nearby countries like Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia , Hong Kong  etc give so many countries 90 days on arrival,  no TM6 card that now even asks for your phone number, E mail address and still asks for your income and many other STUPID pieces of info? Then in Thailand as noted above even if you want to extend a measly 30 day visa exempt and SPEND MORE MONEY HERE you are pulled aside and questioned?  

Please spare me ( not the above poster ) the comment like : "What does the U.K. do to a Thai" Or "What does the USA do to Thai" Etc. Because you 1% of posters seem to not understand what 99% of the posters do understand between a Thai going to the U.K. and someone from London wanting to spend perhaps an extra week or two here after being here for 30 days. Even a simple 90 day MULTIPLE entry visa that could be extended once for 90 days or better yet an 180 day multiple entry visa for snowbirds or something would make so much sense. The METV still only allows a 60 day stay and so many people who have lived here forever have to still do 90 day reports! Why not try even 180 day reports?? Just try it one year or two years and see what happens! 

I am sure I would sound equally silly as you if I were to visit your country and tell them to change immigration laws to suit me. I can't change even the craziest laws in my own country. To want to change the laws of another country to suit myself seems a waste of thought process. Good luck to you. 

[alex8912]

1 hour ago, kenk24 said:

I am sure I would sound equally silly as you if I were to visit your country and tell them to change immigration laws to suit me. I can't change even the craziest laws in my own country. To want to change the laws of another country to suit myself seems a waste of thought process. Good luck to you. 

They change about every year here you old grump! As do most other countries. This is a forum and meant to be a discussion. Just three years ago there was no METV just double and triple entry visas. As another poster says five countries get 90 days visa exempt that did not before etc etc. My country gives a 10 year multiple entry visa to many people after their first visa. There were other new visas that started in Thailand just a few months ago as well. No waste of thought process here. 

Also in my country we have referendums to change and make new laws almost every year! 

[YAHF]

It would seem that Thailand does not want long term snowbirds but only money spending short time holiday makers & the way the Thai Baht is going against all tourist rates only short times will be affordable, Pattaya is turning into a ghost town slowly but surely, next there will be tumble weeds in the streets coming out of the so many empty bars.

[1FinickyOne]

On 2/18/2018 at 12:20 PM, alex8912 said:

They change about every year here you old grump! As do most other countries. This is a forum and meant to be a discussion. Just three years ago there was no METV just double and triple entry visas. As another poster says five countries get 90 days visa exempt that did not before etc etc. My country gives a 10 year multiple entry visa to many people after their first visa. There were other new visas that started in Thailand just a few months ago as well. No waste of thought process here. 

Also in my country we have referendums to change and make new laws almost every year! 

So, if you want this to be the same as your country....

 

And I seem to be the one in the discussion who is accepting of the ways of my host... If anyone is the grump....

 

but, go ahead, try and change the laws if you want. I will follow the laws as I am sure I will qualify.

[MaeJoMTB]

On 2/15/2018 at 9:23 AM, alex8912 said:

TM6 card that now even asks for your phone number, E mail address and still asks for your income and many other STUPID pieces of info?

I never fill in the back.