Denied entry to Thailand!

[ericthai]

7 hours ago, enlguy said:

This had actually been happening a lot lately.  I was denied entry for not having enough money, even though I had over $100 in cash and three credit cards.  They are money grubbing <deleted>, plain and simple.  Find somewhere else to go that will be more grateful for you.  I watched them try to extort someone with a Thai wife at immigration for $15,000 USD, and he said it happens every time he returns from visiting family back home. I'm not hating on all Thai people, but as a country, the policies (or the way they're being interpreted as of late) are extremely intolerant and exploitative. I will not even transfer planes in that country anymore. They want to kill tourism when it accounts for as much of their GDP as it does, let them have at it. Everything will change again when they realize they've <deleted> themselves. 

If you had $100 then you met the 20K thb requirment, so they denied you for another reason.  No way do I believe that an IO tried to extort someone for $15K USD?    

[NanLaew]

10 hours ago, Just Weird said:

You heard wrong.

 

10 hours ago, lkv said:

Yeah, cause you are working in Immigration?

 

I heard of a guy that came in by showing his Bitcoin wallet on the smartphone once.

So basically all you are claiming here is that your hearing is better than JW's.

[NanLaew]

8 hours ago, lkv said:

Well, let's just say that,  when I got a reentry permit in Suvarnabhumi, I exited the country via Immigration 3, came back into the country via Immigration 2, to the application and photo printing service, which is located before Immigration 2 booths, then onto the reentry permit office which is past the Immigration booths, then onto transit again skipping Immigration 2 since I had been stamped by Immigration 3.

 

So this "in the country" or " out of the country" is quite relative in Thailand, even more relative at some land borders.

To be more precise you shuttled between departure immigration hall 1 and departure immigration hall 3. You did not come anywhere near any arrivals immigration so you were still at all times in-country or 'land-side' as it's called.

 

It's how they also handle departing pax using the Priority Lane who require a re-entry permit. The IO stamps you 'out', gives back your passport and you're escorted to the departure immigration hall with the re-entry permit desk. Once you get that, you make your own way back to the IO who stamped you out and that's when he gives you back the boarding pass. Then and ONLY then can you exit 'air-side' from departure immigration and be considered to have left the Land of Smiles.

[lamyai3]

51 minutes ago, ericthai said:

If you had $100 then you met the 20K thb requirment, so they denied you for another reason. 

$100 is less than 3300 thb. 

[cookieqw]

11 hours ago, lkv said:

Yeah, cause you are working in Immigration?

 

I heard of a guy that came in by showing his Bitcoin wallet on the smartphone once.

hearsay not admissable in court   -   judge judy

[cookieqw]

11 hours ago, rhodie said:

Good luck mate. I would agree with other posters that say entering by land is your safest bet. If it was me, I would head over to Laos and enter from there by land but have the 20,000 equivalent in cash. I think you can withdraw US$ in Vietnam at some ATM's?

why not take the cash out in thailand cross the border with it then come back in  ??????

[balo]

Digital nomads are allowed to work from their laptops as long as the income is outside of Thailand. Even immigration officers in Chiang Mai have confirmed that . 

 

They just need a valid visa . And of course need to show they can afford to live here,  I would think at least 20 000 are digital nomads in Thailand.  I am one of them . 

 

 

 

 

[cookieqw]

8 hours ago, SammyT said:

 

As far as I'm aware "But there are other people doing it, so I should be allowed to as well" is not a defence in any court anywhere in the world. 

You played the game, you lost. While you might not be taking someone elses job, I presume you're also not paying tax. They've clearly picked up on what you're doing with multiple tourist visas and it has come at a time where immigration is in the spotlight (if you haven't already, read through some of the "big joke" threads). 

 

While I sympathise with your situation, Thai immigration have the absolute right to stop people from just continually refreshing tourist visas here. Sure, they don't do it to everyone, but you happen to be one of the people caught out playing the game. 

 

I'd look into an education visa or something if I were you. 

plus he said he gets accomodation free so cant show receipt if asked

[lkv]

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

 

So basically all you are claiming here is that your hearing is better than JW's.

No, what I am claiming is that the cash requirement is relative. Here you go, an example, courtesy of a member of another forum: 

 

https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/Phuket-visa-runners-caught-cash-immigration-scare

 

"By this afternoon, however, Sadao Immigration Deputy Superintendent Banphot Kittivira told the Gazette that cash was not the only way for foreign arrivals to provide evidence of funds.

“I don’t know what happened with those foreigners, but we had a meeting of all officers today to make sure that everyone understood that cash is not the sole way to meet the requirement,” said Lt Col Banphot.

Balance slips printed by any of the ATMs at the checkpoint are accepted, but bankbooks are not, he added."

 

That is was specific to Sadao land border at the time.

 

But listen, anyways, they keep changing their interpretation of "laws" as the wind blows.

 

Have 20K cash.

Edited October 21, 2018 by lkv

[chado]

12 hours ago, rhodie said:

Good luck mate. I would agree with other posters that say entering by land is your safest bet.

For years I've been hearing the opposite on this forum.

[onera1961]

12 hours ago, lkv said:

But obviously, the Chinese are not scrutinised since they are the "golden goose".

It is not that they are not scrutinized but they don't stay in Thailand. They don't have multiple entry stamps in Thailand in their PP. They come as tourist and go to their country and wait for one more year before returning if they want to visit Thailand again as genuine tourist. As many posters said here often, by the time they ask for 20K, they have already decided to reject you and trying to find a valid cause. Chinese tourists are every where. From Zurich airports to Rio. The rich are buying PPs from Singapore or Hong Kong and the upper middle class is buying from the USA, Malta, Portugal, etc. 

Edited October 21, 2018 by onera1961

[onera1961]

10 hours ago, Vacuum said:

EU has several of those countries, you even don't have to be in possession of a passport to enter the country.

Can you name a few countries like that? As far as I know all EU countries enforce three months permission to stay in rules Schengen area strictly (for US passport holders)

Edited October 21, 2018 by onera1961

[chado]

2 hours ago, onera1961 said:

It is not that they are not scrutinized but they don't stay in Thailand. They don't have multiple entry stamps in Thailand in their PP. They come as tourist and go to their country and wait for one more year before returning if they want to visit Thailand again as genuine tourist.

 

As many posters said here often, by the time they ask for 20K, they have already decided to reject you and trying to find a valid cause.

1) Are you familiar with all the chinese and how long and often each of them stay in the country?

 

2) Wrong. I was asked to show the money right away and was let in then.

 

[Vixiena]

17 hours ago, Rc2702 said:

Real schoolboy error not having 20k on hand. Not having 20k is now going to cost you a minimum of 20k and you should not be disappointed with thailand but yourself.  All could have been avoided. Suggest you spend a bit more time on here and try to understand what mistakes you made and how to avoid making them in future. 

Yeah I agree you're right. I've never seen any information about having to have 20k cash. I thought that I just had to have 20k in my account when I applied for my visa, as they asked for bank statements.

[Vixiena]

5 hours ago, balo said:

Digital nomads are allowed to work from their laptops as long as the income is outside of Thailand. Even immigration officers in Chiang Mai have confirmed that . 

 

They just need a valid visa . And of course need to show they can afford to live here,  I would think at least 20 000 are digital nomads in Thailand.  I am one of them . 

 

 

 

 

And what visa do you need for this?

[Vixiena]

13 hours ago, Odin Norway said:

i can vividly imagine what a person looks like and how he/she is dressed if asked by immigration to show 20k Baht.

 

Yes, It does matter how you are dressed at the immigration counter. A singlet and flip-flops are not the dress code to get of easy if a discussion is started. Seen that many times

It wasn't due to how I was dressed. It was because they thought I was working there. They even wrote down that I didn't have 20k before they even asked to see my money. They just didn't want me there. Even if I had 20k they'd probably find another reason. Maybe they wouldn't like the fact I have blue eyes or size 10 feet. They can basically do whatever they want even if you provide them with everything they ask.

[rhodie]

5 hours ago, chado said:

For years I've been hearing the opposite on this forum.

Sure, normally the case, but these days if you have a TV to enter and have been spending a lot of time here, you are less likely to get denied at a land border other than Poipet.

[ubonjoe]

I have just gone through the last few pages of this topic and removed 30 posts for various reasons including, flaming, baiting, bickering and just plain trolling.

Closing it for a few minutes to complete the cleanup. 

Edit: Open now.

Edited October 22, 2018 by ubonjoe

[JackThompson]

7 hours ago, chado said:

For years I've been hearing the opposite on this forum.

Other than Poipet/Aranya, not in the last 2 to 3 years, though, I would not think.  Before that, there had been some sporadic problems - especially at Sadao. 

Someone linked to an issue at that checkpoint in 2014 regarding "show the money" - and various acceptable means to do so.  I found the article hilarious, since it failed to mention the actual cause of the problem - that the van-driver had failed to alert all his passengers to put 100-Baht in each of their passports, which was widely-known as the way to get in there at the time. 

[Duke of Earl]

18 hours ago, JackThompson said:

I never carry that much cash.  I bought travelers checks just in case Thai Immigration ever asked to see cash.  Where would I spend 20K Baht on in cash - where I could not use plastic, instead? 

 

I never paid condo-rent in cash. 

My last apartment was cash only- first last and security.

My money belt holds the equivalent of 60,000 baht easy, and looks and feels just like a regular belt, no metal either so I keep it on at the airport.

Best exchange rates for cash too. 

This money thing is a non-issue for me. Never a problem in 30 years of travel.

[dcnx]

21 hours ago, Vixiena said:

My tourist visa was not stamped but it's a single entry tourist visa. I am currently in Hanoi where I was sent back to. I booked a flight from here to Chiang mai this time, instead of BKK, where I was stopped. Do you think I should cancel the flight and maybe go by train?

I fly in and out of Chiang Mai several times per month and have never been asked for cash, neither has anyone I personally know. However, one person was asked to present their exit ticket.

 

It amazes me that while boasting about wanting to be a cashless society they require cash upon entry.

[dcnx]

2 hours ago, Vixiena said:

It wasn't due to how I was dressed. It was because they thought I was working there. They even wrote down that I didn't have 20k before they even asked to see my money. They just didn't want me there. Even if I had 20k they'd probably find another reason. Maybe they wouldn't like the fact I have blue eyes or size 10 feet. They can basically do whatever they want even if you provide them with everything they ask.

They can do exactly whatever they want, and do. That’s why planning a long term stay here is very poor judgment, especially if you’re older and financially tight. They won’t hesitate to yank the rug out from under you despite having a family and a life here, and it usually happens when you least expect it. The trend is getting worse, not better. Prepare accordingly. Or live in denial about it and see how that works out for you. I know what my future plans are and they don’t include Thailand.

[dennis123]

11 hours ago, balo said:

Digital nomads are allowed to work from their laptops as long as the income is outside of Thailand. Even immigration officers in Chiang Mai have confirmed that. 

 

Really, I didn't know that. I was always wondering about those people working in co-working centers, high-risk of getting busted but apparently not if you say so.

[SammyT]

11 hours ago, balo said:

Digital nomads are allowed to work from their laptops as long as the income is outside of Thailand. Even immigration officers in Chiang Mai have confirmed that . 

 

They just need a valid visa . And of course need to show they can afford to live here,  I would think at least 20 000 are digital nomads in Thailand.  I am one of them

That's great, but this guy was using a tourist visa, therefore he's invalid. I've nothing against DN's, in fact I'm slightly envious of being able to make money online from anywhere in the world, however if a DN decides to play the tourist visa lotto and loses, they can't very well complain they've been hard done by. Sounds like you've got all your ducks in a row for it. 

[balo]

5 hours ago, Vixiena said:

And what visa do you need for this?

A valid visa , tourist visa is a valid visa . But you can't live here all year round on a tourist visa doing constant visa runs . If you do so you'll get in trouble sooner or later . But in this case 20k cash would probably let you through . 

 

Edited October 22, 2018 by balo

[balo]

22 minutes ago, dennis123 said:

I was always wondering about those people working in co-working centers, high-risk of getting busted but apparently not if you say so.

Co-working centers are used by the younger generation , they travel around the world and need a place to meet and work from . I think at least 10 co-working centers in CM and even more in Bangkok. Yes , I would be surprised if we will see crackdowns there. 

 

But as always you need a valid visa and avoid overstays or face problems at the border. 

 

 

[sanemax]

4 minutes ago, balo said:

A valid visa , tourist visa is a valid visa . But you can't live here all year round on a tourist visa doing constant visa runs . If you do so you'll get in trouble sooner or later . But in this case 20k cash would probably let you through . 

 

You can currently stay in Thailand all year round on tourist visas , well , apart from the trips abroad every three months to get a new visa

[Misty]

12 hours ago, balo said:

Digital nomads are allowed to work from their laptops as long as the income is outside of Thailand. Even immigration officers in Chiang Mai have confirmed that . 

 

They just need a valid visa . And of course need to show they can afford to live here,  I would think at least 20 000 are digital nomads in Thailand.  I am one of them . 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of these newer policies such as the Chiang Mai Immigration officer's stated one above may not have thought through the broader implications. Tax residency in Thailand happens after 180 days in any given tax year.  Income earned from working in Thailand is taxable to tax residents in Thailand.  Since I work from my laptop year round and all my income is booked overseas, does the Chiang May IO think I do not need a work permit and to pay Thai income tax on that income?

 

Unfortunately at this point every credible source in Thailand that I've consulted has said that I do, and this includes the Thai Labour and Revenue Departments. But if anyone has a credible source that can go on record saying otherwise, I'm all ears! 

 

 

 

[PAWNEESE]

2 months ago my adult son and my nephew arrived for their first holiday in Thailand. They had no money at all on them as I was treating them .... (Its not cheap funding 2 young lads on a first time ever trip to Pattaya .. jeez cost me a fortune ... and NO Im not adopting you .. been asked that by a few old codgers I told).  (And I paid for flights and hotels though not directly .. reimbursed them but thats by the way .. I need therapy me thinks)

 

Immigration might not totally believe that if they had been asked to show funds and had none.

 

They (and one other) coming again (they love Pattaya .. no idea why ) in May (but Im only funding my son then) and we not planning he has funds other than maybe a credit card.  

 

Do the 3 now have to have 60,000 baht or equivalent in English pounds now ?

 

Or is it just people on umpteenth entry. Credit cards used by many tourists I guess and they get local money on arrival.

 

My English bank told me 7 years ago, travellers cheques very old fashioned. Credit cards is what people use .. they wont have cash ... well perhaps they better have £500 or 20,000 baht each now ? 

 

 

[balo]

50 minutes ago, Misty said:

oes the Chiang May IO think I do not need a work permit and to pay Thai income tax on that income?

I don't see the problem here , you pay your income tax in your home country. In my case it's Norway , I pay my tax there, but it doesn't mean I have to live there , except for keeping an address.