Almost refused entry

[moontang]

57 minutes ago, elviajero said:

10K is for visa exempt entries.

20K is for visa holders.

The old sign was 20 for families and 10 for individuals.

[elviajero]

31 minutes ago, moontang said:

The old sign was 20 for families and 10 for individuals.

Visa exempt = 10K individual; 20K family

Visa = 20K for individuals; 40K family.

[elviajero]

6 hours ago, Pepper9187 said:

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 !

You don't see many Chinese doing visa runs and staying for months/years as a tourist.

[Maestro]

3 hours ago, elviajero said:

Visa exempt = 10K individual; 20K family

Visa = 20K for individuals; 40K family.

I wonder if any law, ministerial regulation, police order or other rule or directive specifying these amounts was ever published in the Government Gazette.

[Nong Khai Man]

14 hours ago, Aerosolist said:

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.

 I had absolutely no money in my pocket.".....Wow, Why would anybody arrive like this ??

[ParadiseLost]

13 hours ago, ukrules said:

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

They probably did not hate foreigners when they took the job? ...I think it would take around 2 weeks for me to start losing my shit!

[ParadiseLost]

2 hours ago, Maestro said:

I wonder if any law, ministerial regulation, police order or other rule or directive specifying these amounts was ever published in the Government Gazette.

But those laws are just 'guidelines'...

 

Here, laws are enforced/made up at whim, depending on the race, attire and perceived wealth of the victim in front of the 'officer'.

[JackThompson]

10 hours ago, MARK74 said:

14 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

Yes, given they have put the ATM-machines out-of-reach (but have them air-side on the way-out).  Were the sign there, with an ATM machine under it, the request might be considered antiquated, but not completely unreasonable.

 

5 hours ago, elviajero said:

You don't see many Chinese doing visa runs and staying for months/years as a tourist.

How many can afford it?  It would seem (based on shifting Thai offers / discounts) that a large percentage of them can only afford to come when the 2000 Baht VOA-charge is reduced or waived, which takes a significant % off the package-tour offer. 

 

50 minutes ago, Nong Khai Man said:

 I had absolutely no money in my pocket.".....Wow, Why would anybody arrive like this ??

Only those who thought they were entering Thailand, a developed country, where plastic buys anything over a few hundred baht, and ATMs are plentiful.  They didn't understand the nature of the 3rd-world style fiefdom, which sits between the airplane and the rest of the nation.

[bbi1]

15 hours ago, elviajero said:

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

 

Sure they do! In my condo I see some very short-term rentals being done to tourists staying for a week or so. Annoying to see these types of people but they do happen throughout most condos.

[Aerosolist]

 I had absolutely no money in my pocket.".....Wow, Why would anybody arrive like this ??

By thinking: no worries, theres directly an atm at the airport and in worst case, if all my cards dont work, there are plenty of possibilities to get money sent immediately from my home.
I also have friends who pick me up directly at the airport, which also gave me a safe feeling.

Never had any problems in the past, but yea, the more i think about it, the less i understand it as well.... [emoji28] but i learned from it, thats most important.


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[thecyclist]

Don't think you will have any problems next time :You were extremely unlucky this time :Picked the wrong officer in the wrong mood. 

[whitemouse]

18 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

 

People who have been coming here for decade on TR, have never heard of the 20k rule. Nowhere is it clearly stated and embassies and consulates, it's not clearly pointed out anywhere, where a tourist can learn about it.

You got to realize, most tourists do not spend time reading Thai Visa Forum's visa, residency and work permit sub forum. 

 

One thing would save all these people with plastic, but not carrying cash (most Westerners, by far) -  ATMs before passport control. It would be so simple, so logical, it will never work in this country!

[whitemouse]

18 hours ago, ukrules said:

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

But who, then, is going to work there? They'd have to hire Cambodians.

[chainarong]

19 hours 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.

Yep , I had have the  "T" crossed and the "i" dotted and I still carry 20 thousand Baht in, then spend 300 thousand baht or there about's.????

[AlQaholic]

Strange about that 20,000 rule, I heard about it but never cared much. I used to come frequently on holidays here many years ago (now I'm living here) and never bothered to have any cash on me, in any form, just what happened to be in my pocket wallet. My Sisters family travel here for holiday every year, they also do not carry any money and are also never asked about it. Can it be that the officers target single travelers with a large number of stamps only?

[MARK74]

5 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Sure they do! In my condo I see some very short-term rentals being done to tourists staying for a week or so. Annoying to see these types of people but they do happen throughout most condos.

Most condos do not rent out short term to tourists and I believe it is often illegal. Perhaps many in your condo block do but then you are also a tourist which is why I find it odd that you are annoyed seeing 'these types' when you yourself are 'these types'.

TVF, what a place LOL

[Suradit69]

21 hours ago, Aerosolist said:

this was the most unprofessional experience i ever had with an official.

Totally meaningless statement. Just because you found the experience annoying and uncomfortable doesn't mean it was an "unprofessional experience," whatever that means.

 

Also saying "almost refused entry" is a little like saying " I almost won the lottery " or " I was almost on time to board the train."   Either something happened or it didn't. 

 

 

[toolpush]

12 hours ago, elviajero said:

You don't see many Chinese doing visa runs and staying for months/years as a tourist.

Wait........

[bbi1]

10 minutes ago, MARK74 said:

Most condos do not rent out short term to tourists and I believe it is often illegal. Perhaps many in your condo block do but then you are also a tourist which is why I find it odd that you are annoyed seeing 'these types' when you yourself are 'these types'.

TVF, what a place LOL

It is illegal but it's the owners who are renting it out to short-term one week or so tourists. They do it all over the place where tourists like to stay. I'm a long-term tourist who likes to enjoy touring beautiful Thailand and has lived in the same condo for many years ????

[MrBingley]

Hello OP, how mamy tourist visas and stamps did you have in your pasport? 

[Aerosolist]

Totally meaningless statement. Just because you found the experience annoying and uncomfortable doesn't mean it was an "unprofessional experience," whatever that means.
 
Also saying "almost refused entry" is a little like saying " I almost won the lottery " or " I was almost on time to board the train."   Either something happened or it didn't. 
 
 

I bet, that if you would have heard the conversation you would agree. Almost shouting for no reason, i mean whats the point in asking me 6 times the same question and every time getting a bit louder and more agressive, also she threw the bank statement back at me when i gave it to here. I would understand that if i acted like an idiot, but i just said yes and no and explained short and quick how it is in a very friendly way. Sorry but that is unprofessional indeed.

Almost refused: it was almost, but maybe not the best title, sorry. Didnt want to blow the whole thing up, if this is the impression.


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[MARK74]

11 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

It is illegal but it's the owners who are renting it out to short-term one week or so tourists. They do it all over the place where tourists like to stay. I'm a long-term tourist who likes to enjoy touring beautiful Thailand and has lived in the same condo for many years ????

that fair's enough BBi1 and there is nothing wrong with that IMO, well I couldn't care less how others choose to stay here or if a landlord rents out a place bending the rules, it doesn't affect me.

It can just be a little confusing for people with some of your comments.

For example, Elaviejero was pointing out that tourists don't rent condos. What he was implying is don't wave around a condo rental agreement to an IO if entering on a tourist visa as there is nothing to gain except suspicion of someone abusing the Tourist visas and he is correct.

[ukrules]

5 minutes ago, Aerosolist said:

 

I bet, that if you would have heard the conversation you would agree. Almost shouting for no reason, i mean whats the point in asking me 6 times the same question and every time getting a bit louder and more agressive, also she threw the bank statement back at me when i gave it to here. I would understand that if i acted like an idiot, but i just said yes and no and explained short and quick how it is in a very friendly way. Sorry but that is unprofessional indeed.

Almost refused: it was almost, but maybe not the best title, sorry. Didnt want to blow the whole thing up, if this is the impression.


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You're really lucky they let you in. I've read many posts on here over the years about people being denied entry and forced to book flights to other countries. The official reason was that they didn't have enough money on them, even if they did.

 

This woman could have had you thrown out in a heartbeat.

 

There's often a very good reason why people shout at others, for example perhaps she has a personality disorder or some other brain problem.

Edited October 31, 2018 by ukrules

[Maestro]

Removed a nonsensical post.

[Aerosolist]

It is illegal but it's the owners who are renting it out to short-term one week or so tourists. They do it all over the place where tourists like to stay. I'm a long-term tourist who likes to enjoy touring beautiful Thailand and has lived in the same condo for many years [emoji6]

What is illegal in renting out condos on weekly or even daily base? [emoji50] I never heard about it. Those things are official and there is mostly always a contract.


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[MARK74]

8 minutes ago, Aerosolist said:

 

 

What is illegal in renting out condos on weekly or even daily base? I never heard about it. Those things are official and there is mostly always a contract.


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Many landlords use Air BnB and similar to rent out short term and it is illegal.

For those landlords wanting to rent for days and weeks (less than a month) they should have a license to do so according to the hotel act of 2004, most obviously do not.

 

Edited October 31, 2018 by MARK74

[Aerosolist]

 
You're really lucky they let you in. I've read many posts on here over the years about people being denied entry and forced to book flights to other countries. The official reason was that they didn't have enough money on them, even if they did.
 
This woman could have had you thrown out in a heartbeat.
 
There's often a very good reason why people shout at others, for example perhaps she has a personality disorder or some other brain problem.

Yea you are right, i mean in the end i was thankful that she let me in of course. When i read here in the forum i knew i was very lucky, and thats also why i wrote „almost refused“

Could be that this aggressive way is a strategie to make the oppsit nervous to get the truth out of them. [emoji16]


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[lkv]

13 minutes ago, Aerosolist said:

Could be that this aggressive way is a strategie to make the oppsit nervous to get the truth out of them.

I think it's more to do with a mixture of xenophobia, lack of education and inability to think outside of the box.

Edited October 31, 2018 by lkv

[Aerosolist]

that fair's enough BBi1 and there is nothing wrong with that IMO, well I couldn't care less how others choose to stay here or if a landlord rents out a place bending the rules, it doesn't affect me.
It can just be a little confusing for people with some of your comments.
For example, Elaviejero was pointing out that tourists don't rent condos. What he was implying is don't wave around a condo rental agreement to an IO if entering on a tourist visa as there is nothing to gain except suspicion of someone abusing the Tourist visas and he is correct.

So you would recommend to have addiotional a normal hotel booking, for example for 1 week which i could still cancel after entering the country?
Btw is there any rule for how many nights the hotel should be booked? This is almost impossible to book everything in advance if i would be a backpacker for example. So i wonder about rules there.


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[Cyclone88]

22 hours 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.

I certainly don't regard 20,000 baht as being a large amount of cash.