Almost refused entry

[Aerosolist]

I just wanted to share my experience i had back in July 2018. I report this now after a few months, because i wanted to wait a bit to share it.

My background: I'm swiss, 33 years old travelling to thailand 2 times per year on tourist visa. I have a normal job in switzerland (accountant)

Im able to travel quite a lot cause i just have to take care of quarters closings in my job, but i get salary every month from a swiss company.

My passport was almost full, since i travel since 7 years to thailand and of course i had several tourist visas from the past.

 

When i landed in BKK suv. airport in July 2018 at the immigration they looked through my passport, the lady officer started to look at me very unfriendly, asked of proof of where i stay and what i do here. I told her, i come for vacation and i will visit my parents, they also stay here. Unfortunately my condo contract ran out after 1 month of stay, so she pressed the alarm button, to check everything clearly, security came, they took me to an other small office and there they started to question my like i am a criminal. the lady asked me about 6 times, if i work there, i always refused, as im a tourist (i also stay there with my parents which do not speak english at all, so they need help). She asked me to show the 20000 Baht, which i didn't know about it at this time. I had absolutely no money in my pocket. The bank statement i had, showing more than 40k USD wasnt interesting for her at all. I also couldn't go to the ATM, which was visible from the small office and just a few steps away, just behind the barriers. The officer (also a lady) was really acting like a 10 year old girl, very unfriendly, asking questions with no sense and several times the same questions. After she realised that i don't get mad or upset (i was just calm and quiet) she told me: I let you enter the country now anyway, but remember that you can not travel anymore to thailand like this. I got the the stamp and left.

I checked the stamp and nothing special was written, so i guess she was just bluffing, that i can not enter the country anymore like this.

 

I made a new passport now, because i had only 1 page left. I'm curious, what will happen in 3 weeks, because i will fly to thailand again on a tourist visa. Im very well prepaired now: Condo contract for 3 months, 20k cash is ready, proof of income in switzerland, travelling together with my parents and new passport.

 

I will let you know, if i will have trouble again next month.

 

It's fine for me that they want to get rid of people who abuse the tourist visa for working purposes, but this was the most unprofessional experience i ever had with an official. (both the one at the counter and the other one in the small office)

Just as hint for you all, try to be calm always, if you go nuts, you will lose the game.

 

[moontang]

The 20k rule has been Around for ages.  They were randomly asking for it in Maesai 12 yeas ago.  

[Crossy]

Did you  / will you have a Tourist Visa (from a consulate) or did you / will you be using a visa-exemption?

 

The law is quite clear, 20k or the equivalent in cash must be carried. And, just like back home, ignorance of the law is no excuse.

 

I'm sure you will be just fine, but it's always best to have your ducks in a row.

[Aerosolist]

4 minutes ago, moontang said:

The 20k rule has been Around for ages.  They were randomly asking for it in Maesai 12 yeas ago.  

I didn't know that it was active already since that long. They should make such things clearer for all tourists. When i applied for the visa in the swiss consulat, nobody ever told me about this.

[Aerosolist]

7 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Did you  / will you have a Tourist Visa (from a consulate) or did you / will you be using a visa-exemption?

 

The law is quite clear, 20k or the equivalent in cash must be carried. And, just like back home, ignorance of the law is no excuse.

 

I'm sure you will be just fine, but it's always best to have your ducks in a row.

I had the visa from the swiss consulate, also have one now already for next month from the same consulate

[moontang]

2 minutes ago, Aerosolist said:

I didn't know that it was active already since that long. They should make such things clearer for all tourists. When i applied for the visa in the swiss consulat, nobody ever told me about this.

actually, the sign was up in 1998 at DM, and they weren't real happy that I had travellers cheques...and an open return...but let me in, anyway.  

[bbi1]

"My passport was almost full, since i travel since 7 years to thailand and of course i had several tourist visas from the past. as im a tourist (i also stay there with my parents which do not speak english at all, so they need help). She asked me to show the 20000 Baht, which i didn't know about it at this time. I had absolutely no money in my pocket."

 

lol.....you've been coming to Thailand for 7 years and many times on a tourist visa and you don't know that you need 20k baht cash on you? What the hell lol

[scorecard]

Understand that you had an unpleasant experience.

 

Also happens in many other countries, just from my personal experience watching an Indonesian family being very rudely and frighteningly interrogated at Melbourne passport control and my Thai MBA students, all nicely dressed and groomed all had valid visa from US embassy in Bkk, being very rudely and frighteningly interrogated with nasty comments about 'what Thai girls' do at our arrival airport in the USA. Plus the rudeness from Indian passport officers to my Thai professional consulting team on arrival at New Delhi. 

Edited October 30, 2018 by scorecard

[Aerosolist]

1 minute ago, bbi1 said:

"My passport was almost full, since i travel since 7 years to thailand and of course i had several tourist visas from the past. as im a tourist (i also stay there with my parents which do not speak english at all, so they need help). She asked me to show the 20000 Baht, which i didn't know about it at this time. I had absolutely no money in my pocket."

 

lol.....you've been coming to Thailand for 7 years and many times on a tourist visa and you don't know that you need 20k baht cash on you? What the hell lol

don't blame me ???? they never asked for it, and i also never heard of a friend that they had to show it, as well it's not written on the swiss thai consulate website... it's funny indeed, but im sure a lot of tourists still do not know that.

[Aerosolist]

Just now, scorecard said:

Understand that you had an unpleasant experience.

 

Also happens from my personal experience watching an Indonesian family being very rudely and frighteningly interrogated at Melbourne passport control and my Thai students, all had valid visa from US embassy in Bkk, being very rudely and frighteningly interrogated with nasty comments about 'what Thai girls' do at our arrival airport in the USA. 

It's the first experience that you well get from a country, and this should never be like this. Being nice and polite should be basics for all those officers, it's like advertisement for their country.

But anyway, i love thailand, the next day my anger was gone already ???? But they still have a lot of work to do.

[Lungstib]

Unlike other posters, you have my sympathy. Why shouldn't a guy with a good job and plenty of holiday time come here twice a year as a tourist? And surely the country should welcome him with open arms and be pleased. Why should a person in this day and age have a large amount of cash in his pocket? Many of these rules and regulations are just stupid and a decent immigration official should be able to spot a man of means and have the ability to check your funds. With a mindset to catch and deter people they are chasing away good visitors with their endless need for papers and documents. Good luck next time.

[ubonjoe]

A off topic inflammatory post and the resultant replies to it have been removed.

[elviajero]

I suggest you lose the condo contract. Tourists don't rent condos. 

 

I would get copies of your parents passports and permits to stay, as that is a legitimate reason for you to want to frequently visit.

[ukrules]

People who hate foreigners really shouldn't be allowed to be the first point of contact when foreigners arrive in the country.

[JackThompson]

15 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

lol.....you've been coming to Thailand for 7 years and many times on a tourist visa and you don't know that you need 20k baht cash on you? What the hell lol

Only those who read these and similar forums have any idea of this.  It's not on the airline check-in list - though it should be. 
 

42 minutes ago, Aerosolist said:

I also couldn't go to the ATM, which was visible from the small office and just a few steps away, just behind the barriers.

The "show the money" is an old, antiquated requirement - never removed from the list when world-wide electronic banking came into being - now used as a faux-reason to deny-entry.   It's strange that ATMs exist airside on the way out, but not on the way-in, no?

 

41 minutes ago, Aerosolist said:

The bank statement i had, showing more than 40k USD wasnt interesting for her at all.

I'm not surprised she wasn't interested in his bank-statement, since it's not really about him having the money or not.

 

9 minutes ago, Lungstib said:

With a mindset to catch and deter people they are chasing away good visitors with their endless need for papers and documents.

I would guess their mindset is, "The boss says we get no cut from these Tourist Visas.  We have to stop people using 'too many' of them, or we will be transferred to Nakhon Nowhere, and get no more bonuses." 
 

40 minutes ago, Aerosolist said:

the lady asked me about 6 times, if i work there

Certainly their mindset is not, "This impoverished Swiss guy is coming here to take a Thai's job, because the pay is higher here, than in his home-country."  No one could be that stupid.

[RickG16]

Lady officer.... recurring theme?

[MekkOne]

1 hour ago, Aerosolist said:

I'm curious, what will happen in 3 weeks, because i will fly to thailand again on a tourist visa

avoid ladies at the checkpoint...

[moontang]

1 minute ago, MekkOne said:

avoid ladies at the checkpoint...

I still got a crush on the IO at Maesai....damn near perfect...but I always had my ducks in a row..and I'll bet she is more like an SS Officer to some of the trash Packers.  And that place was just about ground zero for the visa runner crackdown.

[Aerosolist]

58 minutes ago, Lungstib said:

Unlike other posters, you have my sympathy. Why shouldn't a guy with a good job and plenty of holiday time come here twice a year as a tourist? And surely the country should welcome him with open arms and be pleased. Why should a person in this day and age have a large amount of cash in his pocket? Many of these rules and regulations are just stupid and a decent immigration official should be able to spot a man of means and have the ability to check your funds. With a mindset to catch and deter people they are chasing away good visitors with their endless need for papers and documents. Good luck next time.

The funny thing is, when i left Thailand 2 months later, at the passport control, the lady (it was an other one of course) smiled, stamped, and said: I hope you enjoyed your stay in thailand, have a good flight... really very very friendly.

So it was totally the opposit.

Anyway, with the paperwork i totally agree, hopefully this will change in the next years.

 

[Aerosolist]

27 minutes ago, MekkOne said:

avoid ladies at the checkpoint...

Honestly, when i was choosing the line, i took the one because of the nerdy looking lady at the counter. Small, cute, wearing glasses... but she was a real beast ????

[elviajero]

46 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

The "show the money" is an old, antiquated requirement - never removed from the list when world-wide electronic banking came into being - now used as a faux-reason to deny-entry.   It's strange that ATMs exist airside on the way out, but not on the way-in, no?

Not really. The law is 38 years old, but they reaffirmed/announced confirmation of the requirement for 10K/20K in 2010.

[ozmeldo]

Travel twice a year... total six months. Under 35. What could be the alarm?

 

Visiting retired parents i think perfect, but your obviously staying to long, coming too often

 

[Aerosolist]

1 minute ago, ozmeldo said:

Travel twice a year... total six months. Under 35. What could be the alarm?

 

Visiting retired parents i think perfect, but your obviously staying to long, coming too often

 

It was even a bit less than 5 months. Everytime with a break of few months. I think it was just the relatively young age and the amount of visas and stamps... i think it's totally ok to ask questions, but in a normal way.

Anyway, i think it won't be a problem anymore when i will carry the 20k Baht. I'll post my experience again next month.

 

[elviajero]

24 minutes ago, Aerosolist said:

It was even a bit less than 5 months. Everytime with a break of few months. I think it was just the relatively young age and the amount of visas and stamps... i think it's totally ok to ask questions, but in a normal way.

Anyway, i think it won't be a problem anymore when i will carry the 20k Baht. I'll post my experience again next month.

 

You should carry 20K (it can be in currencies other than Baht), but if they want to deny entry they can even if you have the cash.

 

Your age and time spent in the country are almost certainly the reasons for their suspicion. Not many 31 year olds can spend 5/6 months a year on holiday.

[Pepper9187]

2 hours ago, Aerosolist said:

2 hours ago, bbi1 said:

"My passport was almost full, since i travel since 7 years to thailand and of course i had several tourist visas from the past. as im a tourist (i also stay there with my parents which do not speak english at all, so they need help). She asked me to show the 20000 Baht, which i didn't know about it at this time. I had absolutely no money in my pocket."

 

lol.....you've been coming to Thailand for 7 years and many times on a tourist visa and you don't know that you need 20k baht cash on you? What the hell lol

don't blame me ???? they never asked for it, and i also never heard of a friend that they had to show it, as well it's not written on the swiss thai consulate website... it's funny indeed, but im sure a lot of tourists still do not know that.

Remind me of someone's story, wait who was it... mmmm, oh right, it was mine !

 

Very similar except i was on VOA, the thing it that they were worried about my passport because i've been using it for years, so it was almost full too, they just didn't try to understand the dates, there were just too many stamps for them.

Had the same remark when they finally let me go through, last time, get married, blablabla, didn't had any special stamps on the passport.

 

I got a new passport since it was almost full and i was able to get a tourist visa and re-enter via Don muang the next month without any problem.

 

I'm even more surprised in your case, Swiss national with a tourist visa. Better be Chinese nowadays i guess !

[MARK74]

4 hours ago, moontang said:

actually, the sign was up in 1998 at DM, and they weren't real happy that I had travellers cheques...and an open return...but let me in, anyway.  

That signs not much good to tourists that have just got to the airport

[moontang]

Just now, MARK74 said:

That signs not much good to tourists that have just got to the airport

Doesn't help people on the wrong side of the bridge in Myanmar,can't it is posted there, too.  Even saw some missionaries pass the money back through the fence.

[persimmon]

If I remember correctly the sign on the bridge at Mair Sai states 10 k bt not 20 k - why the difference ?

[rwdrwdrwd]

5 hours ago, RickG16 said:

Lady officer.... recurring theme?

Indeed, Don Muang again. Somebody there has a few issues with foreigners in general, it's becoming a common story with the same theme.

She was extremely abrasive and rude with my friend last year when he got the same treatment - "You know, we have a new [probably shouldn't mention] now, things are going to change for you people" was a specific example.
 

She wasn't going to let him in, he had the cash but she was demanding to see a flight ticket back to the UK. Then told him he must buy a ticket back to the UK on the internet before she would allow him in. My wife ended up speaking to her on the phone and was of the informed opinion that she was a total and utter <deleted>, but she did eventually relent and "allow" him to book a flight to Malaysia as proof of onward travel once she'd had a nice little rub of her ego.

 

She also told him he had to leave in 30 days and could not extend, and then couldn't come back for a year. He's still here, perfectly legally - in fact he extended the next day.

She DID put a "mark" on his record though, the officer who did the extension mentioned it in passing as he stamped the extension.

Edited October 30, 2018 by rwdrwdrwd

[elviajero]

2 hours ago, persimmon said:

If I remember correctly the sign on the bridge at Mair Sai states 10 k bt not 20 k - why the difference ?

10K is for visa exempt entries.

20K is for visa holders.