Denied Entry Both Border and Airport

[keisee]

Hi. I'm KC, a solo backpacker from the Philippines. I would like to share to you my horrible experience. 

 

I first arrived in Thailand last May 29, 2018. On June 21, I went to Siem Reap for a day trip through the Thai-Cambodian border (Aran-Poipet). When I was on my way back,

the Thai immigration did not allow me to enter since I wasn't able to show them 10,000 baht cash. The IO did not allow me to go to the nearest ATM to withdraw and just stamped my passport with a denial entry stamp. She advised me to take a flight from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh to Bangkok. After that, a staff accompanied me to the Cambodian immigration to cancel my "departed" stamp. But before that, this staff brought me to this guy who told me that his Cambodian boss could make me enter Thailand because he is friends with the head of the Thai immigration at the border but I will need to pay 12,000 BAHT. I immediately refused and just walked away. Three days later (June 24), I took a flight from Phnom Penh to Bangkok. The immigration offer at the Suvarnabhumi airport asked me how much money I have and he told me that in order to enter Thailand, I should have $800 cash. I told him that it was stated in the immigration's website that for visa exemption, we only need to have minimum of 10,000 baht. Despite showing him 10,000 baht, my cards, hotel booking, and return ticket to the Philippines on June 27, I still found myself being at the detention room. I was brought there by the airline staff and I was really clueless that time. I wasn't given an explanation on why I was still denied and brought there. I did not know what to do. I was crying so hard. I'm an innocent tourist. I originally planned on staying in Thailand for the entire 30 days because I want to embrace the local culture and to visit the places that I've always wanted to visit. I asked the detention staff on what I needed to do since no one informed me. They told me to book a ticket going back home so that was what I did immediately. I couldn't stay longer there. The room looked scary and there were cockroaches! After travelling to 9 countries, it was the very first time that I experienced such thing. 

 

Question... If I got deported, does it mean I won't be able to go back to Thailand in the future? Despite that horrible experience, I still love Thailand and I look forward to visiting the country again one day. Thanks for reading. 

[BritTim]

You have my sympathy, both for your experience, and for the accusations some members here are going to direct at you that you are making this up.

 

It is really unfortunate that you chose the Poipet/Aran border for your attempted land entry. It is the only border crossing where you would have had a problem. It is no surprise to me that immigration's motive for denying you was a conspiracy with Cambodian immigration to try to exact bribes to allow you entry. It is known to be a lawless immigration office, and their behavior was disgusting.

 

At Suvarnabhumi, you were really unlucky. When you are entering visa exempt, immigration officials have pretty much total discretion on whether to admit you. You happened to encounter a really mean official.

 

The good news is that you will not be blacklisted. Actually, I am not sure you will even be officially deported. There is a difference between denied entry and deportation. When you visit Thailand in the future, always have a tourist visa and 20,000 baht equivalent in cash to show immigration.

[keisee]

1 minute ago, BritTim said:

You have my sympathy, both for your experience, and for the accusations some members here are going to direct at you that you are making this up.

 

It is really unfortunate that you chose the Poipet/Aran border for your attempted land entry. It is the only border crossing where you would have had a problem. It is no surprise to me that immigration's motive for denying you was a conspiracy with Cambodian immigration to try to exact bribes to allow you entry. It is known to be a lawless immigration office, and their behavior was disgusting.

 

At Suvarnabhumi, you were really unlucky. When you are entering visa exempt, immigration officials have pretty much total discretion on whether to admit you. You happened to encounter a really mean official.

 

The good news is that you will not be blacklisted. Actually, I am not sure you will even be officially deported. There is a difference between denied entry and deportation. When you visit Thailand in the future, always have a tourist visa and 20,000 baht equivalent in cash to show immigration.

Thank you so much. I will keep that in mind! 

[elviajero]

1 hour ago, keisee said:

If I got deported, does it mean I won't be able to go back to Thailand in the future?

You were probably not formally deported. Even if you were it shouldn't stop you entering in the future.

[elviajero]

More profiling by Thai immigration!

[Suradit69]

Not that it matters much, but you weren't deported if you hadn't officially entered the country. 

 

As others have said, it would probably have been better to start out with a visa. If you wanted to visit a neighboring country shortly after entering Thailand on a visa, you could have obtained a re-entry permit.

 

if you say that you still  love Thailand, does that imply you've spent time here before ... recently?  Maybe you mentioned that and I missed. It. Possibly repeated visa exempt entries was a factor in your experience. 

[keisee]

26 minutes ago, Suradit69 said:

if you say that you still  love Thailand, does that imply you've spent time here before ... recently?  Maybe you mentioned that and I missed. It. Possibly repeated visa exempt entries was a factor in your experience. 

Hi! It was my first visa exemp entry in Thailand last May 29, and I got permission to stay until June 27. I left for Siem Reap last June 21 so I was able to spend time in Thailand for 3 weeks already. ?

[cnx355]

To be safe, if you visit Thailand again, get a tourist visa and  be sure to have the equivalent of 20,000 THB in cash.

 

 

[AlQaholic]

My advice, don't ever go back to Thailand after that treatment. Go to Malaysia, people are friendly, they speak English and it's clean everywhere, and most of all, they do not think better of themselves in comparison with other ASEAN people.

[grkt]

Sympathy for you, but next time read  and write on forums before you travel and not only after $hit happens...

 

 

[EirikJohannesen]

2 hours ago, AlQaholic said:

My advice, don't ever go back to Thailand after that treatment. Go to Malaysia, people are friendly, they speak English and it's clean everywhere, and most of all, they do not think better of themselves in comparison with other ASEAN people.

I second that, go to Malaysia. 

[LongTimeLurker]

2 hours ago, AlQaholic said:

My advice, don't ever go back to Thailand after that treatment. Go to Malaysia, people are friendly, they speak English and it's clean everywhere, and most of all, they do not think better of themselves in comparison with other ASEAN people.

Or Viet Nam.

[jackdd]

25 minutes ago, LongTimeLurker said:

Or Viet Nam.

Or Philippines

[CelticTam]

You say you went for a trip to Cambodia, so I assume you returned the same day you departed Thailand. If so, you may have fallen foul of a ruling which states that you are not allowed to exit Thailand  and re-enter the same day. You are required to stay out of Thailand until next day. This happened to met at Sadao in 2014, as well as a fellow traveller who had a Non O multi-entry visa. As other posters have stated make sure you have the required documentation and relevant amount in Baht. As a citizen of an ASEAN country I thought you could enter Thailand without a visa, maybe I am wrong. Anyway, I hope you do decide to return to Thailand and that you enjoy the country, culture and people.

[elviajero]

22 minutes ago, CelticTam said:

As a citizen of an ASEAN country I thought you could enter Thailand without a visa, maybe I am wrong. 

Visa exempt entry is not limited to ASEAN countries.

 

Filipinos qualify for visa exempt entry but all entries are at the discretion of the immigration officer. Young Filipinos have a high chance of being denied entry on the suspension of working because many do work illegally.

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, CelticTam said:

you may have fallen foul of a ruling which states that you are not allowed to exit Thailand  and re-enter the same day. You are required to stay out of Thailand until next day.

There is no such real rule. However, if entering visa exempt, some officials will treat this as evidence that you are trying to use visa exempt entries for extended stays in Thailand. If they believe you are doing so, they can deny entry.

[Different]

13 hours ago, keisee said:

to pay 12,000 BAHT. I immediately refused and just walked away.

If you paid it, you would enter without a problem so, live with the consequences of your decision.

[BritTim]

2 minutes ago, Different said:

13 hours ago, keisee said:

to pay 12,000 BAHT. I immediately refused and just walked away.

If you paid it, you would enter without a problem so, live with the consequences of your decision.

I respect her decision not to give in to this kind of extortion. It is the fact that some are willing to pay off corrupt officials that leads to legitimate tourists encountering these kinds of problems.

[Mister T]

13 hours ago, keisee said:

Despite showing him 10,000 baht, my cards, hotel booking, and return ticket to the Philippines

 

13 hours ago, keisee said:

They told me to book a ticket going back home so that was what I did immediately.

Which one is correct?

[thecyclist]

Very unpleasant situation you were in. You have experienced the the selective, prejudiced, inconsistent and ever changing reality of the Thai immigration department :If you had been a regular reader of thaivisa.com, you would have know to avoid the Poipet at all costs, unless you're doing it with a visa run company that takes care of the border formalities:I have done this several times and the vans are full of Philippinos, never seen any of them having a problem at the border.A denied entry stamp is not deportation, nor are on any blacklist, nevertheless it does not look good if you try to reenter Thailand with the same passport and will raise the suspicion and scrutiny of any IO who spots it. So best would be a new passport, or, if that is not possible, apply for a visa beforehand.

If I had been in your situation, I would avoid Thailand altogether, and visit countries with friendlier people and a more consistent immigration policy :Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia etc 

[jackdd]

2 minutes ago, Mister T said:

 

Which one is correct?

Probably both, or do you think his initial return ticket was for the day when he was denied entry?

[NanLaew]

4 hours ago, AlQaholic said:

...and most of all, they do not think better of themselves in comparison with other ASEAN people.

Really? The Bumiputera reckon their sh!t don't stink when compared with fellow Malaysian citizens of Indian and Chinese descent.

[keisee]

2 hours ago, Mister T said:

 

Which one is correct?

I originally had a return ticket to the Philippines dated June 27. It was the detention staff who told me to book my ticket when I asked him what should I do, probably because he had no idea I had one. Even if I had a return ticket for the 27th, I still booked for another flight leaving the next day (June 25) since I couldn't wait any longer and I wanted to get out of the place ASAP.

[keisee]

7 hours ago, AlQaholic said:

My advice, don't ever go back to Thailand after that treatment. Go to Malaysia, people are friendly, they speak English and it's clean everywhere, and most of all, they do not think better of themselves in comparison with other ASEAN people.

I've been to Malaysia twice but only visited KL and Langkawi. Had a great experience! I look forward to going back to the country and visiting other parts of Malaysia ? 

[keisee]

6 hours ago, grkt said:

Sympathy for you, but next time read  and write on forums before you travel and not only after $hit happens...

 

 

Thank you. Noted ? 

[keisee]

4 hours ago, elviajero said:

Young Filipinos have a high chance of being denied entry on the suspension of working because many do work illegally.

This is true. I called the Philippine embassy in Bangkok when I was detained and they told me that this could be the reason. There are a lot of Filipinos who enter Thailand to work illegally, that is why even those who want to visit the country purely for tourism are being affected by this. It sucks ? 

[grkt]

4 hours ago, CelticTam said:

You say you went for a trip to Cambodia, so I assume you returned the same day you departed Thailand. If so, you may have fallen foul of a ruling which states that you are not allowed to exit Thailand  and re-enter the same day. You are required to stay out of Thailand until next day. This happened to met at Sadao in 2014, as well as a fellow traveller who had a Non O multi-entry visa. As other posters have stated make sure you have the required documentation and relevant amount in Baht. As a citizen of an ASEAN country I thought you could enter Thailand without a visa, maybe I am wrong. Anyway, I hope you do decide to return to Thailand and that you enjoy the country, culture and people.

 

Yes you are very wrong.

This rule only exist in Cambodia.

How can people still listen to stupid officials who know nothing and are happy to die knowing nothing ?!

 

 

 

[grkt]

4 hours ago, elviajero said:

Visa exempt entry is not limited to ASEAN countries.

 

Filipinos qualify for visa exempt entry but all entries are at the discretion of the immigration officer. Young Filipinos have a high chance of being denied entry on the suspension of working because many do work illegally.

 

And since when Filipinos are allowed to leave their country ? I have read here before that it was not that easy for them to travel abroad ?

 

 

 

 

[grkt]

Really wish you the best for the future, but you should not travel anywhere without visa and more money even if are allowed. I have a EU passport and still do not take the ridiculous risks that you took,

 

But there is something that I do not understand: you were coming from Cambodia, so why didn't they send you back to Cambodia as is the usual rule ?!

 

 

 

[keisee]

31 minutes ago, grkt said:

But there is something that I do not understand: you were coming from Cambodia, so why didn't they send you back to Cambodia as is the usual rule ?!

That is the usual rule. Actually at first, the IO kept on telling me, "Go back to Cambodia!" but I requested him if I could go back to the Philippines instead. I think the immigration still has the final verdict whether they would send back the person to where he/she departed from or to his/her home country. In my case, I'm thankful that the Thai immigration allowed me to fly back to my country.