Expelled no questions asked at Don Muang

[Tayaout]

1 hour ago, Essecola said:

Funny thing about the new appointment system in Vientiane, there are only 250 slots per day. Some days in past, before this system, there would be 600 ppl submit applications. So actually they are in a sense giving up 500,000 baht or so of income per week in order to stop people from coming to Thailand easily. Nice.

Funny also how the guy outside sell the queue number for 1500 baht now. There is way more than 250 applicants per day. If I remember right it was close to 500 when I went there. 

Edited March 11, 2019 by Tayaout

[ukrules]

On 3/8/2019 at 10:01 AM, onera1961 said:

That's the problem with Thailand. They cant make up their mind and set the rules and follow it accordingly. That's what happens to a country that is yet to learn democracy, lacks intellectualism,  and love to live under police rules that can change at the whim of the enforcer. 

Yes, it sounds like they're randomly refusing entry to people who've been before - this is something foreign governments should warn tourists about.

 

I would like to see warnings issued that people will be randomly refused entrance to Thailand based on the lie that you don't have enough funds, even if you do have the funds. I've read about this many many times on this forum in the last year.

 

If they want to refuse entrance then they need to use the correct laws or expect some kind of push back from foreign governments.

 

[Caldera]

3 hours ago, Tayaout said:

Funny also how the guy outside sell the queue number for 1500 baht now. There is way more than 250 applicants per day. If I remember right it was close to 500 when I went there. 

A friend who was in Vientiane recently told me the same. I'm curious if that will still work after the overhaul of their booking process. If yes, the "guy outside" clearly works with someone "inside". If not, he might have just gamed the system.

[Essecola]

4 hours ago, Tayaout said:

Funny also how the guy outside sell the queue number for 1500 baht now. There is way more than 250 applicants per day. If I remember right it was close to 500 when I went there. 

That's awesome news. A well priced payment option. Too bad they wouldn't offer a 120,oooTHB option for one year visits. Oh well. 

[Tomtomtom69]

On 3/8/2019 at 9:32 AM, Tayaout said:

By the way there is 3 other farang in a similar situation than me and like 4 Chinese. For all farang the issues seems to be too much visa run. The Air Asia officer said that's a new thing. Before it was no common to see farang expelled like this. He said the IO got pressured after a meeting with their superior because too much farang stay in Thailand.  

You mean they don't want too many "farang" (or foreigners in general, because I know this applies to all foreigners not just farang) to spend too much time in Thailand on visa waivers or TRs?

[Tomtomtom69]

On 3/11/2019 at 1:34 PM, JackThompson said:

And now, an increasing percentage of both legal and illegal English teachers also come from 3rd world countries - because officials, in conjunction with lazy school admins, have made it a PITA to teach here, which people from most native-English countries will not put up with.  Compare to Cambodia, which has an easy process to teaching legally, and much better results.  Vietnam is following Cambodia's lead, and is also ahead of Thailand in English proficiency rates. 

 

Yes - longer-stay expats are great "free money" for Thailand and support many Thai people.  The "problem" is, Thai Immigration don't have a way to make corruption-money off of Tourist type entries.  Taking cash at entry points gets reported - causing trouble, and not passed up to the bigwigs (see "No Tips" crackdown) - and there is no "agent" or "school payoff" type system they can use to use to keep the payments in the back-room.  

 

Tourist-entry availability also cuts into potential elite-visa money, as many with enough to buy elite-visas also have enough to travel frequently, so Tourist Visas or Visa-Exempt entries would be fine - which would explain why they are going after snowbirds entering on those, now. 

 

When an immigration system is based on bribery-scams and rip-offs, the only way to "corral" people into those raw-deals, is to make other legal paths difficult or impossible to use.  Most of the customer-base is lost, harming the Thai people and country as a whole - but only the payoffs are of interest to the corrupt - not the well-being of Thais or their country.

Good points. Probably why it's so difficult for Cambodian officials to give up on the whole "pay me an extra $5-10 for a visa" at the border scam. Otherwise they'd be more like Thailand too. Just happened to me at a Cambodian land border - but because one of the officials had a huge goiter I felt sorry for him. Perhaps the extra $5 I was charged would be going towards his goiter removal surgery or something.

Still, I was asked where I was going and the guy "assumed" I was meeting a friend. Well I was, but why the strange question? Never been asked such things by Thai immigration.

[Tayaout]

10 minutes ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

You mean they don't want too many "farang" (or foreigners in general, because I know this applies to all foreigners not just farang) to spend too much time in Thailand on visa waivers or TRs?

Highly plausible but since no official explained anything, asked anything and stamped probably a bogus reason for expulsion then it's hard to know for sure.

Edited March 12, 2019 by Tayaout

[Tomtomtom69]

Why has everyone missed the overstay part? Perhaps one of the main reasons the OP was given the go-around is because of his overstay, no matter it was just for a day. In many countries around the world, overstay just one day as a tourist and you could be banned for life (in theory at least).

[jspill]

On 3/11/2019 at 5:36 PM, moe666 said:

It is called a computer when you come in they can see your travel history into Thailand. Even a new passport and a name change will not guarantee you entry. Ask the drug dealer lady from England who trird it after being away for 5 years. If you have a history that shows you are coming and going on various entry visas and visa exempt they will see yor history figure out real fast you are not a tourist

IOs certainly seem to get an immediate alert pop up on-screen if someone is a criminal / on some other blacklist, that'd probably be what happened to her.

 

But they don't seem to get any alert for 'too much travel history', they do have the ability to look up past entries but from reports that usually only happens once they get pulled aside to a supervisor. People spoke about having a list of their entries 'printed out'. 

 

That's why sometimes you can get lucky, I certainly have been getting lucky for 10 years so far. And why sometimes the 'fresh passport' strategy can certainly help, although isn't foolproof

[yuiop]

On 3/12/2019 at 3:27 AM, Essecola said:

Funny thing about the new appointment system in Vientiane, there are only 250 slots per day. Some days in past, before this system, there would be 600 ppl submit applications. So actually they are in a sense giving up 500,000 baht or so of income per week in order to stop people from coming to Thailand easily. Nice.

The question would be:

who is instead paying out for the missing income?

We're talking about millions baht every month...

[JackThompson]

3 hours ago, yuiop said:

The question would be:

who is instead paying out for the missing income?

We're talking about millions baht every month...

To some extent, those "extras" are getting pushed to submitting on Fridays, where one has to spend the weekend there to pick-up on Monday.  Those were very slow days in the past. 

[Lovethailandelite]

3 hours ago, JackThompson said:

To some extent, those "extras" are getting pushed to submitting on Fridays, where one has to spend the weekend there to pick-up on Monday.  Those were very slow days in the past. 

As somebody on another forum pointed out, an interesting addition too the T&C's added to the Vientiane booking site today regarding data collecting and cross checking.

 

[raccos21]

It simple if you come bring your money in cash. No argument. Otherwise don’t come to Thailand go somewhere where you can have stress free holiday. Juntas will take care about the country and the people, they don’t really need the foreigners contributions anymore.Change your holiday destination to the peaceful land where can enjoy yourself. 

Edited March 15, 2019 by raccos21

[Krupps]

I have a Hongkong passport, and since last year we can use the echannel 

at BKK and DMK, have not yet tried it.

I guess that means I can avoid all the potential trouble with immigration officers.

 

[JackThompson]

29 minutes ago, Krupps said:

I have a Hongkong passport, and since last year we can use the echannel 

at BKK and DMK, have not yet tried it.

I guess that means I can avoid all the potential trouble with immigration officers.

Yes, if "the computer" doesn't flag your entry for some reason, and send you to "a human" for further examination.

[1RDN]

I got an expulsion today at BKK Airport. 

2 years flying in using the Visa on Arrival. 

I usually stay up to 1 month, go back to the US for a week or two. 

They didn't say anything to me. Explain nothing, did a bunch of paper work and the airline escorted me back. 

I did get some part about border runs. I made 1 in 2018 and 1 in 2019.

Now I have no idea if I can get back in the country. 

Does anyone know how I can find out, or go to Malaysia or similar and get a 60 day tourist visa. 

?? 

Edited March 18, 2019 by 1RDN

[lamyai3]

36 minutes ago, 1RDN said:

I was expelled today at BKK Airport. 

2 years flying in using the Visa on Arrival. 

I usually stay up to 1 month, go back to the US for a week or two. 

They didn't say anything to me. Explain nothing, did a bunch of paper work and the airline escorted me back. 

I did get some part about border runs. I made 1 in 2018 and 1 in 2019.

Now I have no idea if I can get back in the country. 

Does anyone know how I can find out, or go to Malaysia or similar and get a 60 day tourist visa. 

?? 

Escorted you back to where - are you in the detention room now? Have you been told you have to fly right back to the US or given the option to fly to a neighbouring country?

 

You won't have been expelled, simply denied entry on this occasion. Denied entry isn't the same as deported, so you'll be able to continue to obtain visas and enter Thailand in the future. You're allowed to make two land border entries per year, so that shouldn't be an issue.

 

There'll be a stamp in your passport which will indicate their reason, possibly citing section 12.2 of the immigration act (that you've been unable to demonstrate means of living in the country long term). If you can post a copy of the stamp people on here will confirm what it says.

 

Although it's a similar topic, it might be better to start a new thread on this, it'd get much more attention than buried inside this one, which is now mostly resolved. A separate thread is also useful in drawing further attention to how often this now seems to be happening at the airports. 

Edited March 18, 2019 by lamyai3

[1RDN]

I am flying back now. 

I asked for the chance to fly to a neighboring country. I was ordered back to the country I originated the journey. 

Currently the airline holds my passport. I know they stamped and wrote on the passport. I don't know what is written until I see it. 

They didn't ask about sufficient means for supporting myself. However, that might just lump it all together. 

I did say that I stay with my Thai girlfriend when I am here. They called her to verify. I think that was a mistake to volunteer that information. 

 

A question, if I obtain a 2nd or renewed passport, would the name or the passport number be recognized? 

 

I will start a new thread when I get on the ground. 

Edited March 18, 2019 by 1RDN

[raccos21]

This was clearly kinda nonsense because I don't understand why they don't let you fly to neighboring countries if they don't want you to enter Thailand. Unless you have been in trouble before they remark in the system. Most of the immigration staff at the counters are young and inexperienced they have no ideas because their county immigration rules, change very often. You can call your embassy to find out.

[1RDN]

I agree that this is nonsense. 

The first group suggested that I go to Laos. 

I think that it's up to the airline, and in this case EVA takes me back to SFO. 

Based on what I read, 

I will turn around and go to Malaysia. 

I will apply for a 60 day tourist visa. 

Cross or fly from Malaysia. 

Never been in any kind of trouble. 

Speed trap traffic tickets is it. 

 

Edited March 19, 2019 by 1RDN

[Tayaout]

I started this thread. I suggest you go to Laos and get a SETV. Use the Nong Khai land border crossing and don't ever try flying to Bangkok again.  You can fly from Udon Thani to Bangkok. 

Edited March 19, 2019 by Tayaout

[raccos21]

I think this was best option man. Good luck.

[Dnyy]

2 hours ago, 1RDN said:

Currently the airline holds my passport.

Why is the airline holding your passport?

[Tayaout]

1 minute ago, Dnyy said:

Why is the airline holding your passport?

I guess they are scared we would try to run. On landing the passport is handed over to immigration again for more paperwork and questioning.

Edited March 19, 2019 by Tayaout

[1RDN]

15 minutes ago, Dnyy said:

Why is the airline holding your passport?

The airline keeps the passport and provides escort, possibly because they are liable. In San Francisco, the will turn the passport over to US immigration. 

[1RDN]

1 hour ago, Tayaout said:

I started this thread. I suggest you go to Laos and get a SETV. Use the Nong Khai land border crossing and don't ever try flying to Bangkok again.  You can fly from Udon Thani to Bangkok. 

Would you suggest Malaysia? Much easier to get a flight. 

?? 

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, 1RDN said:

The airline keeps the passport and provides escort, possibly because they are liable. In San Francisco, the will turn the passport over to US immigration. 

Long distance flights to Thailand are becoming a serious financial mistake for 'frequent flyers'.

Better to fly to KUL or HCMC, stay a few days then fly with a different airline to Thailand (if you really must).

Why not visit your gf in Cambodia, doesn't cost her much to travel there, or pick a new gf from the Cambodian lady forest.

Edited March 19, 2019 by BritManToo

[Tayaout]

1 minute ago, 1RDN said:

Would you suggest Malaysia? Much easier to get a flight. 

?? 

I can't tell because I never tried but other members seems to say it's an option.

[Tayaout]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Long distance flights to Thailand are becoming a serious financial mistake.

Better to fly to KUL or HCMC, stay a few days then fly with a different airline to Thailand (if you really must).

Why not visit your gf in Cambodia, doesn't cost her much to travel there, or pick a new gf from the Cambodian lady forest.

I you fly from Vietnam then get bounced back without a visa to re-enter Vietnam they will bounce you back to your passport country.

Edited March 19, 2019 by Tayaout

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, 1RDN said:

Would you suggest Malaysia? Much easier to get a flight. 

?? 

KUL had a 90 day VISA waiver on entry, as many as you like as long as you're out for a month between (long term) visits.

Seems a bit of a waste to give me 90 days when I only usually spend 6-8hrs there.

Time for the bus to town, a meal in the mall, then a bus back to the airport.

Edited March 19, 2019 by BritManToo