How many is too many?

[Bkkbound]

I,ve come across reports in other forums where claims are made that Thai immigration are saying people have 'too many' Thai visas in their passport, be it 30 day or 60 day, is this new or common, if so what is too many?

I am married with two Thai/English kids and visit two or three times a year, should I be worried?

[DrJack54]

No. What your referring to is about tourist visas and visa exempt.

Especially running into trouble at airports with a history of basically los continuously over 18 months up. 

[elviajero]

No problem as long as you use a Non-Immigrant 'O' visa. They are continuing the clampdown on long term tourism.

[BritTim]

The use of visa exempt entries (30 days as a tourist without a visa) as a means of long term stay in Thailand will get you into trouble. Immigration receives a notification when you have received six visa exempt entries since about the middle of 2015. This notification prompts the immigration official to scrutinise you more closely as a genuine tourist. If entering visa exempt at major airports, a history of frequent visa exempt entries, and/or recently spending a lot of time in Thailand, will likely result in questioning and possibly denied entry.

 

When entering with an actual tourist visa, the chances of trouble are much lower. However, there is still a risk if you have almost uninterrupted periods of six months or more in Thailand as a tourist.

 

If you can get a tourist visa, and then enter Thailand at most land crossings (exception Poipet/Aranyaprathet) you should be pretty safe.

[dougiemac52]

Yea I was told the same thing. Had been in Myanmar for 5 months. Came to Thailand with TR then went out to HCMC for another TR.

When I arrived at Don Mueng I was taken aside and given a right hard time in frontof other passengers. Not very professional however when I thought I had answered everything the IO started shouting people not do things right. I felt here we go rejection. I told her to give me 10 days so that I could go back to Roi Et pack my suitcase and say goodbye to my wife. She then hummed and based then stamped my passport for 60 days without any RED STAMP. NOW I don't know where I stand about getting another although my passport could be suddenly lost. Get another number then ........

[Crossy]

10 minutes ago, dougiemac52 said:

don't know where I stand about getting another although my passport could be suddenly lost. Get another number then ........

Which will not help, computers, even Thai immigration ones, are pretty clever these days.

 

Since you have a wife why are you using tourist visas? At least one consulate in the region will issue a 12 month multi-entry non-o with no finances.

 

[Suradit69]

1 hour ago, dougiemac52 said:

although my passport could be suddenly lost. Get another number then

Embassies won't know about past visas issued at other embassies if you get a new passport, but immigrations will still have your history of prior entries in their computers .

[DrJack54]

OP in my reply #2, I just (incorrectly) assumed you had non-o. You should obtain the appropriate visa. Seems now you may have been using visa exempt or even TV. This is not correct visa for your situation. I would suggest for next visit obtain non o. While here in Los obtain supporting docs for application. Cheers

[Thomas J]

I was told the same thing by immigration official at Jomtien.   She handles to long term Visa's.  She said tht entering Thailand too many times on a tourist visa will get you blacklisted.  They want tourists to use tourist visa and those staying here to get long term visa

[JackThompson]

6 hours ago, dougiemac52 said:

Yea I was told the same thing. Had been in Myanmar for 5 months. Came to Thailand with TR then went out to HCMC for another TR.

When I arrived at Don Mueng I was taken aside and given a right hard time in frontof other passengers. Not very professional however when I thought I had answered everything the IO started shouting people not do things right.

Yes - that being her "not doing things right" - threatening to break the law, and shouting you are in the wrong, at the same time.  Amazing.  You did nothing wrong, but at a bad-checkpoint, that isn't what matters - just the opinion of the IO and/or supervisor matters. 

 

They made a big show to everyone, because their agenda is to terrorize visitors - to keep more foreigners out.  And ...

3 hours ago, Thomas J said:

I was told the same thing by immigration official at Jomtien.   She handles to long term Visa's.  She said tht entering Thailand too many times on a tourist visa will get you blacklisted.  They want tourists to use tourist visa and those staying here to get long term visa

... to keep those who stay paying them off (lots of that, at that office).  There is no "blacklisting" for legal use of Tourist Visas.  Only overstay and other criminal offenses can get you blacklisted. 

 

6 hours ago, dougiemac52 said:

I felt here we go rejection. I told her to give me 10 days so that I could go back to Roi Et pack my suitcase and say goodbye to my wife. She then hummed and based then stamped my passport for 60 days without any RED STAMP.

Immigration don't put red-stamps.  Consulates do that.

 

6 hours ago, dougiemac52 said:

NOW I don't know where I stand about getting another although my passport could be suddenly lost. Get another number then ........

That will only help with getting new tourist visas - minor effect with immigration, depending on if they dig through your history, vs seeing all the visas/stamps as they flip through the pages.  Also, no evidence of where you were since in Thailand before, as some report they discriminate against those who don't "go home" (like a good little doggy) between visits to Thailand.

 

As others have said - get a Non-O-ME Visa - available in Savannakhet, Laos w/o any problems.  Then you won't have to worry about this problem any more.

 

If you intend to keep coming here with Tourist Visas, you need to use law-abiding entry-points only.  That includes all land-borders other than Poipet/Aranyaprathet, and be sure to have 20K Baht worth of cash or travelers checks to show. 

 

If coming from afar, the best path is fly to Penang, Train into Thailand, then fly out of Hat Yai to your destination.

[DrJack54]

OP as some have posted, you are in position of having readily available non o that would suit your needs. Forget convoluted plans re border entry points etc suggested. 3 visits a year (most likely because still working home country). Coming for quality time to visit wife and lids. Using TV and VE? What the!

[DrJack54]

Actually rather take previous post back. Depending on length of each visit, setv might suit your needs. 

[Bkkbound]

21 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP as some have posted, you are in position of having readily available non o that would suit your needs. Forget convoluted plans re border entry points etc suggested. 3 visits a year (most likely because still working home country). Coming for quality time to visit wife and lids. Using TV and VE? What the!

Thanks for the reply, we do live and work in UK and are fortunate enough to be able to travel during school breaks, the wife and kids are also based in UK, I have always enjoyed the simplicity of tourist visas and always enter via main airports the rest of the family have both Brit and Thai passports.

 

 

 

 

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, Bkkbound said:

Thanks for the reply, we do live and work in UK and are fortunate enough to be able to travel during school breaks, the wife and kids are also based in UK, I have always enjoyed the simplicity of tourist visas and always enter via main airports the rest of the family have both Brit and Thai passports.

If you are always entering with your wife and/or kids, I think you can safely use tourist visas. When asked why you often visit Thailand, point at your family and explain that you are visiting with them. I just cannot imagine any immigration official denying you under those circumstances.

[dougiemac52]

On ‎2‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 4:11 PM, Crossy said:

Which will not help, computers, even Thai immigration ones, are pretty clever these days.

 

Since you have a wife why are you using tourist visas? At least one consulate in the region will issue a 12 month multi-entry non-o with no finances.

 

Will they, how can I do

[ubonjoe]

21 minutes ago, dougiemac52 said:

Will they, how can I do

If you are married to a Thai you can apply for a multiple entry non-o visa with no financial proof at the Thai consulate in Savannakhet Laos.

You would need your marriage certificate plus a copy, copies of you wife's house book registry and ID card signed by her.