Options after being warned by DMK immigration

[BuckBee]

20 minutes ago, Russell17au said:

there is already a flag on him by the looks of things seeing that he has been warned to have a visa next time and that will be on the database so even with a new passport that flag will still come up because the information on the new passport will be the same as on the information page of his old passport, the only things that will be missing are the entry and exit stamps and any visa's that he had in his old passport. Mine is from personal experience as well but from a different side to yours

They don't manually put a flag on you with the warning, it more curt scare tactics (do same on under 24hr overstay now), I have had exactly same happen at swampy, I came back few months later on visa exempt no issue, just be sure have onward flight and funds . Technically there is no limit to visa exempt issue via airport entry but you don't want be obviously abusing it and do need make effort prove you here as on genuine tourist and leisure and use setv in region rather than more visa exempt entries .

The more you look likely be working illegally the more hassle you will get (and rightly so), number 1 thing that bites immi's biscuit is cocky farang working illegal on cheap and easy visa entry, younger guys and those looking bit poor, make no effort break up visa exempt pattern or with bad manners get the most hassle .

Edited May 15, 2018 by BuckBee

[prb]

57 minutes ago, BuckBee said:

New passport can make a huge difference, they only take notice of computer if alerts on a select entry pattern, they still looking at passports for O and tourist visa issue patterns so a new passport helps,  this from personal experience and watching others get hassle at the booths over the years plus advise from people working in visa and immigration network, also helps using local asian regions for setv issue .Good effort on passport, paperwork and getting visas over constant visa exempt entry would save all the drama. Having said that if OP came back after break of like 6months with new passport, onward flight and 20k baht in his pocket he get in on 30day exemption and if wanted stay much longer could then do his desired yangon trip and get a setv at the yangon consulate . That would give the OP almost 5 months if done extension on both your first visa exempt entry and setv entry .

Sound interesting, can a non resident of the neighnouring countries do a SETV at thai consulates now? The last time i looked, it seemed that the only way was to do it in the country where you are officialy a resident.

[ubonjoe]

11 minutes ago, prb said:

Sound interesting, can a non resident of the neighnouring countries do a SETV at thai consulates now?

It think you are confusing a single entry tourist visa and a multiple entry tourist visa. You can only get a METV in your home country or county of legal residence.

You can get a single entry tourist visa  in nearby countries.

[BuckBee]

14 minutes ago, prb said:

Sound interesting, can a non resident of the neighnouring countries do a SETV at thai consulates now? The last time i looked, it seemed that the only way was to do it in the country where you are officialy a resident.

setv is single entry tourist for 60 days, you can do that in most regional consulate (some easier than others, yangon good one and nice trip, be sure ride the viaduct railway)

the one you thinking of is the metv, multi entry tourist which needs be done in your residing country, you can get enough setv visas in asian region to stayinthailand for a good year without much bother assuming you do have sensible money/income and do due diligence on rules and ever changing scenarios at entry points and consulates .

Only other requirement is being super polite . calmness and turning a cheek goes a long way here as does appearance, turning up looking like a 20euro tramp does the situation no favours and considered disrespectful when dress code rules maybe present .

Edited May 15, 2018 by BuckBee

[prb]

Ahah yeah right i have confused SETV and METV.

 

Yeah SETV seems the way to go, only annoying thing for me is that if you leave thailand before it expires you just loose it.

I like stay one month in Thailand and then travel around in other ASEAN countries and come back, so the Visa Exemption was the best but well years after years it seems more and more troublesome to rely on it.

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, prb said:

Yeah SETV seems the way to go, only annoying thing for me is that if you leave thailand before it expires you just loose it.

That is not exactly correct. You can get a re-entry permit to keep the remainder of 60 day entry from a tourist visa valid when you re-enter the country and then you could get a 30 day extension of it.

You ca get the re-entry permit at a immigration office or at both airports in Bangkok 24 hours a day. The fee for a single re-entry permit is 1000 baht

[KiChakayan]

On 5/14/2018 at 2:01 PM, flyingdoc said:

Does this really encourage tourism, when some other countries nearby, issue 3 month visas, or allow visas to be obtained at the point of entry?

This doesn't harm any genuine tourists. People coming to Thailand once or twice a year, possibly more when taking a break from well paid hard work. In other term the target population of any tourist authority. Why is that so? Simply because these tourists have a daily spending that makes them attractive to the host country.

Edited May 15, 2018 by KiChakayan

[BuckBee]

Re-entry permit could be option pending how long you going out of country but on cost basis new setv mixed with odd visa exempt better, metv sounds best for your needs but is hard to get and more so in France, in UK it easier as they bit flexible and actually do allow issue if not working and submit extra suitable funds and reasons for wanting the metv .

Mixing setv with a few visa exempts and making use of re-entry permits when beneficial should work fine, if get questioned again just be super calm and polite and explain your travelling holiday liking and how love thailand as a hub due to best travel infrastructure, shopping, food and culture in asia . Have cash and copies of bank/saving funds and onward travel plans flights and don't be shy in showing any of it at suitable point in conversation even if have make that conversation point yourself . With a little effort and if you actually got money entry here on a long leisure holiday quite easy .

Edited May 15, 2018 by BuckBee

[prb]

OK, even if it adds 1000 thb, this re-entry permit seems a good solution :) thanks, this is not a well known option.

 

Buckbee, I had a proof of fund when I arrived in DMK: all the proof of transfers from my euro account to my thai account but i had no chance to show it as all she was doing was bragging about how many free entries i had and that i had to pay next time :)

[BuckBee]

That was just a counter officer then, funds come into play when get interviewed.

The talk about to many free entries and you must get setv is pretty much hot air speech they get taught, if ever get moved on to interview be polite and if not asked for funds or onward flight be sure bring it up and show it  .

Some of the counter immigration officers can be completely silly due to orders they given and way they enforce and word it . Just don't worry too much and be more prepared and try make use of setv when can .

[prb]

yeah i regret i did not show my bank statements. TBH i was expecting being asked about illegal work, her argumentation if you can name it like that left me speechless.

 

By the way, it did not happen in the general queue, i was moved to an other counter in the back, away from the crowd

[IsaanFam]

18 hours ago, samsensam said:

 

generally genuine tourists dont have any problems. it seems people who seek to use tourist visas and VEs to stay in the country long term who have issues; are such people genuine tourists?

 

Only because you cannot think of people with enough money to be tourists 24/7 doesn't mean they don't exist.

[BuckBee]

33 minutes ago, prb said:

yeah i regret i did not show my bank statements. TBH i was expecting being asked about illegal work, her argumentation if you can name it like that left me speechless.

 

By the way, it did not happen in the general queue, i was moved to an other counter in the back, away from the crowd

You had same speech I expect if had shown funds for you scenario, main thing remember if ever have more serious incident is get you cash and onward travel docs and anything prebooked out on display before things go too far.

I seen some right odd scenario's over the years with a black french man told go away back to no mans land by hand gestures to rude speeches like they talking to 6yr old children and stating things they see as fact that clearly stupidity rather than fact .

I had a right swine of a senior  officer who obsessed I working (hadn't even been in the country for 10months) and he was almost impossible verbally deal with, took over hour get my records off the database (counter computers show very little history) and they were wrong and interpreted wrong by the IO who also lost my arrival card and boarding pass (put with chinese girls documents). All worked out fine in end and ended up pleasant chat with 3 officers but you got keep calm and be alert and done your due diligence so you get best chance and least hassle possible . Having had this experience and learning from it future entries should be easier even if pulled from queue again .

[tryasimight]

On 5/14/2018 at 7:46 PM, possum1931 said:

Of course there is no hard and fast rule, this is Thailand where most of the time officials make up their own rules.

Evidence...links?? Or conjecture?

[tryasimight]

On 5/14/2018 at 10:54 PM, darrendsd said:

Yes and this is still active

I regularly have 12 or more a year. 

But I am a genuine visitor and not someone who is trying to game the system and trying to stay long term.

Edited May 16, 2018 by tryasimight

[tryasimight]

On 5/14/2018 at 11:54 PM, BuckBee said:

History in your passport made it worse, trouble is they quick to shoot without checking dates, I had same issue at swampy and I hadn't been in thailand for 18months and O and tourist visas I had went back over 6yrs with big time spans between use but officer just assume worst and check nothing.

I had a good session with grumpy senior officer who would only speak thai and obsessed I working in Thailand even when showing them clear evidence of working in singapore and taiwan .  I let them state that I had been back to back for alomst 3 years then pointed out the facts and that you don't get stamps from your home country :-)

All worked out good but did have show funds, I wanted rip right into the senior IO but bit my tongue, stayed polite and let his ignorance slide .

You best getting new passport if back in france and if come back on visa exempt have onward flight, 20K+ funds and things like hotel booking/trip schedule so hard for them refuse you .

I know france can be ballache for getting setv so other option is flying to perhaps hongkong/veitnam/cambodia/myanmar/laos and getting setv there.

somewhere with land borders tends be easiest for entry although you could come in airport easy enough on visa exempt or with setv if you prepared with required papers/money and super polite and have new passport .

 

From what I have seen and heard on this forum it can be more about the person rather than the passport if you know what I mean.

Millions of people enter (and perhaps more importantly leave) Thailand every year.

We only ever hear about a very small percentage who have problems.

Are they that unlucky that they all get the same (female allegedly)  I/O.

What are the odds on that?...buy a lottery ticket I reckon.....if you get in!

[tryasimight]

On 5/15/2018 at 4:58 AM, grkt said:

Next time just dont fly from Europe but fly from Cambodia, so if you have to return somewhere it's to Cambodia, and you might never want to waste you time and money in Thailand anymore...

 

 

Going down the slippery slide of countries to live in....sad.

[darrendsd]

18 minutes ago, tryasimight said:

I regularly have 12 or more a year. 

But I am a genuine visitor and not someone who is trying to game the system and trying to stay long term.

There is no gaming the system

 

I/O's get a alert after 6 VE entries, you can actually see this advised on the ThaiVisaService website,  they can see on their screen if you have stayed the full 30 days each time and also if you have extended by 30 days each time

 

If they can see you done both of the above you will be questioned, if not then you won't

 

I got told this info by a I/O at a border crossing after my 6th VE entry, he had gotten a alert on his system when he scanned my PP

 

Edited May 16, 2018 by darrendsd

[tryasimight]

On 5/15/2018 at 5:45 AM, samsensam said:

 

generally genuine tourists dont have any problems. it seems people who seek to use tourist visas and VEs to stay in the country long term who have issues; are such people genuine tourists?

Nope...and that is the issue.....it was allowed before..now it not and some people are having trouble accepting that.

[tryasimight]

On 5/15/2018 at 4:44 PM, Russell17au said:

A new passport will not remove your information that is on the Thai immigration database. Remember that when you apply for your new passport you will have to supply all your information so that it can be put on your new passport, so the same name, the same date of birth, the same nationality, so when the new passport is placed in the reader when you arrive back in Thailand it is going to bring up your complete visa history which is on the database here in Thailand. Which will bring up more red flags to the IO. You should really look at the amount of time you are spending and the amount of time you want to spend in Thailand in the future and stop trying to take short cuts and apply for the right visa.

Agree with what you are saying and I'm sure honest people will do as you suggest.

If I change my name....can I change my DOB or nationality? I'm sure that's possible somewhere. Ask TS or YS.

[tryasimight]

On 5/15/2018 at 9:17 PM, BuckBee said:

New passport can make a huge difference, they only take notice of computer if alerts on a select entry pattern, they still looking at passports for O and tourist visa issue patterns so a new passport helps,  this from personal experience and watching others get hassle at the booths over the years plus advise from people working in visa and immigration network, also helps using local asian regions for setv issue .Good effort on passport, paperwork and getting visas over constant visa exempt entry would save all the drama. Having said that if OP came back after break of like 6months with new passport, onward flight and 20k baht in his pocket he get in on 30day exemption and if wanted stay much longer could then do his desired yangon trip and get a setv at the yangon consulate . That would give the OP almost 5 months if done extension on both your first visa exempt entry and setv entry .

To answer the OP.....go home.

Trying to rort the system will end up in a world of pain for you eventually.

Keep clean and work with the system as designed.

Look for dodgy work work arounds and accept the outcomes.

The system is what it is. Deal with it.

[Jay1]

Does anyone think I’m gonna have any issues on my next visit in a couple of weeks.

 

My previous passport pre-2014 had non Imm b visa extensions and a few visa exempts.

 

In my current UK passport which I started using in 2014 had non-Imm B visa extensions until end of April 2016 when I stopped teaching. I then went for a short trip to Malaysia then back to Thailand beginning of May for a couple of weeks on visa exempt before moving back to England.

 

Then in August same year 2016, I came for a 2 week holiday on a tourist visa.

 

In 2017 i entered Thailand for a holiday with a visa exempt for about a week at the beginning of June, then went to Cambodia for a few days, then back into Thailand for another week on a visa exempt. Both for holiday purposes.

 

Going to Thailand at the beginning of June this year for a holiday, arriving at bkk airport. Looking at using the visa exempt option for 10 days then I’m flying to South Korea to see a friend then flying back to Thailand, arrive at don muang, entering on a visa exempt for a week. Both entries for holiday purposes only.

 

It’s been a year since my last visit and Ive never overstayed.

 

I wasn’t worried at all after being reassured a couple of month ago on this forum but i guess this thread has made me worry slightly.

 

I’d rather not have to go through the hassle of getting a tourist visa as it’s not long until I fly and I don’t want any unnecessary grief such as passport gone missing during application process or visa processing delay etc.

 

Cheers for your thoughts :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

 

[ubonjoe]

2 hours ago, Jay1 said:

Does anyone think I’m gonna have any issues on my next visit in a couple of weeks.

Looking at your history I would say you will not have a problem. Your recent and planned visits would appear to be what a tourist would do.

You previous history of having non-b visas and extensions do not count against you.

[anon537687643]

Dmk?


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[ubonjoe]

28 minutes ago, markaoffy said:

Dmk?


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Code for Don Mueang international airport located in Bangkok (Krungthep in Thai).

[Jay1]

Looking at your history I would say you will not have a problem. Your recent and planned visits would appear to be what a tourist would do.
You previous history of having non-b visas and extensions do not count against you.

Cheers mate :)


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Nice Boyd]

On 5/15/2018 at 6:43 AM, HampiK said:

Why?

Mostly they work faster. The woman officer I had always were friendly.

Nope, read some other forums , pain in ass

[Nice Boyd]

On 5/15/2018 at 8:32 AM, BuckBee said:

^

Immigration computer is just one side of it and may flag you when they scan your passport, they also looking at your passport and page after page of setv and laos stickers for example rings alarm bells. Swampy and DM are being quite fussy and have been for some while. You can see the extra scrutiny and less lapse approach, even an under 24hr overstay gets more abrupt unfriendly approach than use to at swampy . Most people who get hassle simply made no effort on passport, onward flight and funds and probably had bad verbal approach with immigration . If you coming a lot on setv you going need make more effort and have money and expect an interview .

I don't think it be long before a limit on setv per year is bought in, most of the remaining illegal working farang are using back to back setv and swampy and DM keen on catching them . Even land borders giving warnings and limiting entry days for few people  who used crossings loads in a pretty much back to back way .

I had one Lao sticker and she went ballistic 

[thedan663]

On 17/5/2561 at 7:28 AM, ubonjoe said:

Looking at your history I would say you will not have a problem. Your recent and planned visits would appear to be what a tourist would do.

You previous history of having non-b visas and extensions do not count against you.

Non-B doesn't count at all?

 

I have an odd passport, due to moving around a couple jobs and employer messing up paperwork. It rotates between non-B and SETV. So I have 4 SETV and 4 Laos stamps over the course of 1 year and 8 months. Takes a bit of flipping in the passport.

 

SETV (Chicago) + extension - 90 days

non-B (Savannakhet) - 90 days

SETV (Kuala Lumpur) + extension (90 days)

non-B (Savannakhet) - 90 days

SETV (Vientiane) + extension - 90 days

non-B (Bangkok) - 90 days

non-B extension (Bangkok) - until end of contract

SETV (Vientiane) - 50 days before leaving

 

I'm now returning home for at least a year. Might visit in a year, but only visit for sure. Need to work back home a couple years and do Master's, but could have interest in working here again, just boosting qualifications now.

 

If I ever want to visit again, will this complicated passport/history be bad? Never been questioned much except the last entry, just 10 minutes, but he was suspicious. Showed flight ticket home and told him I was finished working so that was satisfactory of course. Just wondering if the non-B and SETV history might be something if I visit in a year?

[BuckBee]

^

No that won't be issue and even if was questioned on it just point out how long ago it was and due to complications before employment fully organised .

Generally even those who doing lot of back to back setv using every day of it plus every extension possible don't get too much hassle and if got proof of funds and polite sensible people they still generally get in .