After 11 years in Chiang Mai, I was Denied Entry

[balo]

3 hours ago, Olmate said:

Any similar bad reports at Phuket, I’ve not heard of any?

They don't dare to touch Phuket, the mafia is strong there and tourists is the main income for many of the locals.  

[Formaleins]

What exactly was the education course that you were studying that took 7 years to complete?

[jspill]

4 hours ago, Old Croc said:

As someone who put up the 800k and jumped through the hoops, I have no sympathy.

You don't 'put up 800k' you just keep it in your account for a few months, it's still your money. Under 50s like the OP don't have that easy ride or we'd all be doing that already.

 

 

[watcharacters]

10 hours ago, chrisc38 said:

the Air Asia guy asks for 5000 baht for the tickets lol, righteo whatever dude, here's the money go get the tickets.

 

 

I think Air Asia had ownership of getting you to another country since you'd done no wrong.

 

 

[Jingthing]

8 minutes ago, jspill said:

You don't 'put up 800k' you just keep it in your account for a few months, it's still your money. Under 50s like the OP don't have that easy ride or we'd all be doing that already.

 

 

That is incorrect. Under the new rules you need to not go under one baht from 800K for FIVE months, including THREE months AFTER your annual extension is approved. That means that if you (and some offices are now ordering required bank book check ins THREE months after the extension) then you will then be an illegal. We don't know the exact consequences of that yet, but they can't be good and it's fair to assume it would at least involve an order to leave Thailand or even worse. For the remainder of the year, you must not go one baht under 400K baht. People are guessing the consequences of that would probably mean ineligibility from applying a new extension the next year, although nobody knows yet, and technically such a "violation" would put the expat into ILLEGAL ALIEN status. 

These new rules are very onerous. They mean government oversight of your personal bank account every day of every year as long as you stay here on a bank account application. 

Edited March 22, 2019 by Jingthing

[BritManToo]

5 hours ago, dbrenn said:

ไม่มีปัจจัยยังชีพ translates more directly to 'doesn't have a current occupation'

Are you sure of that?

I read it as 'not enough money for living' nothing to do with occupation.

Edited March 22, 2019 by BritManToo

[Number 6]

2 hours ago, JackThompson said:

Yes.  Avoid both airports in Bangkok, plus Phuket, Krabi, and Samui.  No bad reports from CM airport, or the other smaller ones (that I've seen), but any air-entry is risky, in comparison to a land-border entry - simply because by land, there is no risk of detention.

I would though alert everyone to something that happened to me round about 2007 or so. Thus was when I was living on a mix of TRs and border hops.

 

The border xing below Poipet had been opened dunno a year. I was hopping back and forth.

 

I was stamped out and came back in. There they said they couldnt let me in because I was well over 180 or whatever. At that time it really wasn't easy to get back into central Cambodia. All that was in the village was one gh which appeared more a whorehouse.

 

What the cops did was cancel my exit and had me cancel Cambodia entry exit. Then they told me to just go find another way out.

 

I could have easily sorted my way in Cambodia as I'd lived there 93-96 but I'd just come for a daytrip.

 

So, it was both cool and a bit <deleted>. I ended running down to Penang and was overstay 3 days. My only overstay.

 

So while no detention, they may well turn you away and you don't want to be in rural Myanmar or Cambodia perhaps if you get turned out.

 

Really, for so many of you it's obviously, so obviously time to move on. Stop fighting it and then crying about it and being angry and bitter. It was a good thing and now it's done. Pack up and prepare and don't get stuck with possessions in country.

 

 

[Thaidream]

It's obvious if one is under 50 and staying in Thailand on  exempt entry or Tourist Visa- they are looking carefully at you.

 

The purchase of the Elite Visa makes everything go away and allows entry on a long term expensive-Tourist Visa with extensions  for 5 years.  At no point does anyone care about money to live on ; where the  applicant gets their funds or how they plan on supporting themselves while in Thailand.

 

It's just like the agent system- pay an agent   x amount and everything that was a problem becomes cleared up quickly.

[Number 6]

@jingthing

 

You state:

offices are now ordering required bank book check ins THREE months after the extension

 

Please cite this source.

 

How is this done? Especially where?

 

First personS anecodotes please

 

[Misty]

2 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

I think he said he had no need to earn an income, could be independently wealthy,  

Yes, could be, I was just responding to this post:

 

7 hours ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Sorry to hear about your experience. You sound like a digital nomad so you have been earning money abroad and spending it in Thailand.

 

My point being that if he is a "digital nomad" and most of his time is spent working in Thailand, then, well, he isn't earning money abroad...  so many have difficulty with the fact that digital nomads are in fact working in Thailand....  they are not working "remotely"

[Misty]

Overall, have to agree with many here: assuming OP is independently wealthy, why not just get an Elite Visa?

[tabarin]

It has been very clear Don Muang Airport is there to avoid when living like this in Thailand (and not speak Thai to Thais who studied English as they want to show off their horrible skills). Keeps surprising me people still take the risk, that while there is a direct flight from Hanoi To Chiang Mai as well.

Edited March 22, 2019 by tabarin

[tabarin]

3 minutes ago, Misty said:

Overall, have to agree with many here: assuming OP is independently wealthy, why not just get an Elite Visa?

Perhaps because you generally not become wealthy when throwing your money on nonsense visa's and other things.
You can start a business with less than that.

Edited March 22, 2019 by tabarin

[Thingamabob]

Just follow the rules, or go somewhere else.

[tabarin]

Just now, Thingamabob said:

Just follow the rules, or go somewhere else.

Go play with the soldiers, seem you would become friends with them easily.

[bander]

10 hours ago, elviajero said:

Virtually everyone is denied under section 12 (2) of the immigration act.

 

“2. Having no appropriate means of living following entrance into the Kingdom.”

 

You were not denied for not having money, but for not having an appropriate means (way) of living in the country.

Basically it means if you have money invested in Thailand and/or proof of supporting a thai GF and her family all is good.

You are of no use to Thais living and spending money on yourself. 

[StevieAus]

7 hours ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Sorry to hear about your experience. You sound like a digital nomad so you have been earning money abroad and spending it in Thailand. If Thailand had an ounce of sense it would make efforts to legitimize your types as a net asset to the country. Oh and you speak Thai and aren't some beer-sodden, sexpat cheap charlie - what's not to like? (massive assumptions on my part). 

 

Good luck with whatever you do elsewhere.

I think you will find that the majority of tourists who visit Thailand do not meet your discription of being beer-sodden, sexpat, cheap Charlie’s and even if some are as long as they comply with the Immigration laws and leave when required what is the problem.

Also Thailand is not the only country that scrutinizes tourists and refuses entry if the IO believes the tourist is not genuine.

I know that it happens in both the UK and Australia.

When my wife visited Australia for the first time un accompanied many years ago she was heavily questioned by a male IO then referred to a female IO who grilled her checked all her clothing in the suitcase including her underwear and asked if she was going to work in the sex industry.

She was eventually allowed to enter and I wrote to the Minister at the time and lodged a formal complaint.

After several weeks I got a reply from a senior person in Immigration quoting various policies and practices but virtually stating that it is the role of the IO’ s to satisfy themselves that the tourist is genuine and is going to satisfy the terms of the visa.

So it seems it’s the role of the IO the world over.

The happy ending is that because a mistake was made on the visa she was able to remain in Aus, gained residency citizenship and a passport and I0’ s in Aus were then always very nice people.

[Jingthing]

52 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

@jingthing

 

You state:

offices are now ordering required bank book check ins THREE months after the extension

 

Please cite this source.

 

How is this done? Especially where?

 

First personS anecodotes please

 

Jomtien definitely.

It's already been well documented by multiple people here.

It is a fact.

You can find this already on this forum including pictures.

You are given a paper ordering you to report in 90 days to show bank book.

Information about non-compliance is not provided.

Jomtien of course has a massive volume of retired expats using the 800K method.

Cheers!

[Andycoops]

9 hours ago, JimmyTheMook said:

Bottom line is you were living in Thailand under the pretense of being a tourist - 

those days are long over.

 

 

 

Correct !

[chrisc38]

For the record i'm not a digital nomad never worked a day the whole time i've been there, I stay in Thailand for the booze the girls and the temples *sic. I agree, i milked the system for a long damn time, i'm not bitter about the whole thing, just thought i'd share my experience. Could i get Elite Visa? sure, could i do other visas, sure, no problem, just never did because what i was doing really did work well for me. I don't see why i should have got a visa when clearly i never needed one for past few years. I expected this to eventually happen, my only mistake here I think was i thought there was a fly thru to buriram but there wasn't so i had to go through the general immigration line where the damn supervisor is buzzing around hoping to catch me.

What i was doing was actually more expensive than ED visas 11,400 for extensions a year and 6-8 flights out a year + hotels etc, do the math.

As for speaking Thai, actually I think it worked well cause that ugly short Tom got out of my face before i could say something i would later regret. Believe me she isn't the decision maker there.

I could speak Thai before i finished high school so please don't question my ability, and yeah some of your translations for the only Thai words i wrote in my piece show your inability not mine.

As for paying for the flight out, right, air asia could have paid it, but they could have made me wait in the detention center while they "found me a flight out", for $70 and you know you gonna have to go anyway why be an idiot for? You the cheap one not me, and if you leave it up to them they would send me back to HCMC where i'd have to get a express visa which costs a few hundred, honestly the people who suggested this i hope they follow their own advice.

I didn't argue anything i just asked a few questions, gave up cause it was obvious didn't matter what i said, how much money i have, I was getting denied. If you want to be the dumb guy who kneels down and takes it in the mouth that might be you, certainly ain't me, i know full well if i'm denied entry i can still get in another way. People who say this probably work for someone and are used to being pushed around, good for you, if you were in my shoes you would have signed the paper! lulz

If i had shown attitude i'm sure they would have put me in the hole and not let me walk out that easy.

So now I'm swimming in my 4 star resort pool drinking dollar beers and a bevvy of cambo/viet girls waiting on my new passport, somehow damaged my last one (saves you $100).

So yeah I don't really care if you think I'm breaking the law or not, 11 years mate that's a long time you can't do that buy being an idiot and throwing your money around like a moron, I had a real long run, probably more than most people here were able to get away with as well.

I'll be back from my extended holiday soon. can count on that.

[Happystance]

4 hours ago, madmen said:

That means going full service airlines =$$

Wrong. Try a Google Flight search before posting fake news.

 

BKK, UTP, Hua Hin all service budget airlines.

 

If only you look...

 

Edited March 22, 2019 by Happystance

[Felt 35]

8 hours ago, thinkingman said:

Discretionary authority is what feeds the corruption.

Could it be the intention.......????

[gamini]

Most countries have a limit on tourist visas and only allowed to stay 180 days. It's the same in Australia and New Zealand all and a lot of other countries. People seem to think that Thailand should be different. At a young age. If he can afford to stay in Thailand so long without working.

He must be wealthy enough to afford an elite visa

Edited March 22, 2019 by gamini
spelling

[gamini]

11 hours ago, elviajero said:

Virtually everyone is denied under section 12 (2) of the immigration act.

 

“2. Having no appropriate means of living following entrance into the Kingdom.”

 

You were not denied for not having money, but for not having an appropriate means (way) of living in the country.

Most countries allow only 180 days as a tourist. Australia is one of them. So why did he and the others on this forum expect Thailand to be any different

[Happystance]

8 hours ago, Tayaout said:

 I know exactly who...

 

6 hours ago, hyku1147 said:

Perhaps avoiding DM is a good idea?

 

4 hours ago, cerox said:

....Also DMK should be avoided.....

 

Both is around the same cost per year, the ED visa is more hassle to organize each year...

 

....I would advice people not to get too attached here - not having too much stuff, condo, cars etc. You should be able to leave within a few months if another place becomes much more favorable.

DMK is a no-go and I've been reading about that for ages, it seems.

So many other budget options to arrive, why risk it?

 

A plus to the ED Visa is you might actually learn something, meet people, ya know, actual bang for your buck ????

 

It seems the current falang climate tho, is leaning towards exit strategy. But that would be days, not months...

Edited March 22, 2019 by Happystance

[joecoolfrog]

11 hours ago, chrisc38 said:

Since when is having a pocket full of cash not an appropriate means of living in the country

As you have pots of money why not get the 5 year elite visa , no hassles then.

[chrisc38]

1 minute ago, joecoolfrog said:

As you have pots of money why not get the 5 year elite visa , no hassles then.

So if i had bought the 5 year elite visa 3 years ago i would have wasted 3 years of it now no? Why would that be better?

[sanemax]

5 minutes ago, gamini said:

Most countries allow only 180 days as a tourist. Australia is one of them. So why did he and the others on this forum expect Thailand to be any different

Because Thailand is indeed different as in Thailand doesnt have those rules

[lovesthespicy]

 

 

 

2

4 hours ago, cerox said:

 

 

With all this corruption and many changes in immigration, for me it is just risky to buy elite card for 20 years. But the main reason is still to be flexible. Who knows where I want to be in 2 years.

 

 

I would never trust the elite card to be around in 20 years. Sure it could last 10+ years. They also could decide to get rid of it next year or to add on a new fee for those who want to continue with it because some random corrupt guy has some power. Nothing is consistent in this country. 

[sanemax]

6 hours ago, nightfox said:

Another OP who thinks because he can read and wright Thai is above the law thinking he can live in Thailand with a tourist visa and visa exempt..When will people learn

"Write" Thai , that should be .