Hello everyone

 

I arrived to Phuket from Japan without Visa and was denied entry by immigration. Currently I'm being held against my will in "stuff room" kind of prison which I have to pay for (100thb/hour).

 

Some background informations:

- I'm Polish (rules says I don't need Visa if my stay won't be longer than 30 days).

- I had ticket out of Thailand within 30 days which I showed to them

- I wasn't asked about funds for my stay (20k thb?)

- I already have 5-10 tourist visas in my passport

- it was my first entry into Thailand without visa

 

Reason for denial wasn't clearly stated to me. From what I understood it was: suspicious activity (frequent Visa runs). Also from what I understood I will have to go to the same airport I came from and pay for the ticket.

 

Right now I'm stuck in a prison room with no information. Security guard told me that airline stuff is coming (2hours ago) but no one showed up so far.

 

Can they keep me like that?

Shouldn't airline cover my ticket?

Can I book flight to other destination?

 

I'm looking for advice. Any help is appreciated

Don't sign anything they want u to sign.

the airline has to organize your flight back, i guess they either fly u back to japan or poland (eu in general).

 

I fear theres not much u can do tho... how long did u stay in thailand in the last years?

~10months/year

 

When I was checking in at Japan airport I was given form to sign but it was about issue that my second name (in passport) wasn't written in my reservation

 

So you're saying that it won't be possible for me to choose (and pay) for flight to some different destination?

 

 

I didnt think you could get detained for that, but if youve been here for 10 months out of 12 months in every year it will definitely look suspicious to them even if they dont have any evidence of you doing anything illegal like working

 

what kind of visas were you using before? tourist visas

what happens if you dont pay?

From the threads I have read (there have been few recently), you will be flown back to where you embarked. Meaning Japan.

You will be paying for flight ticket. The airline company will be along. 

You'll have to leave on the airline you arrived on. If it's Airasia or perhaps Malaysia Airlines worth asking if you can get a flight to KL, where you'd be able to get a visa and enter again by land. 

I don’t think you did anything wrong by the way if Thailand does not want people to stay 10months on TV they should not issue them! Please don’t argue with the airline staff about paying for your flight back to Japan (if that is where you are sent) Your behavior will be used as a standard to judge other foreigners who use Japanese airports and airlines. You played the tourist visa game, time to pay up! Let us know what happens.

 

2 hours ago, Cheesus said:

Can they keep me like that?

Yes. You can be detained until handed over into the custody of the airline.

 

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Shouldn't airline cover my ticket?

No. They will be responsible for returning you to Japan, but you’ll have to cover the cost.

 

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Can I book flight to other destination?

Yes, but only if immigration allow it; which they don’t have to.

Be on your best behavior as immigration officials hold all the cards in your case.

 

You may inquire...ask for options on a flight destination out of Thailand...do not protest immigration's decision...

 

Leave quietly and quickly...good luck!

Have you signed anything yet?

 

Asking to go to Kuala Lumpur is probably the safest and possibly the cheapest. The dude that got knocked back flying via bkk to chiang mai, didn't sign anything - refused to, and this somehow allowed him to choose his destination, I'm not sure it's a good idea though as could bring out a spiteful side but I mention it as it happened a few days ago.  Maybe an idea to save your phone battery incase you need to book a flight etc..

 

This type of attitude by Thai immigration officials will undoubtably set a precident within the Airlines industry.

I anticipate the airlines will become more strict in letting any passenger board.

They will not want these type of situations to continue or develop further as it cost them time and money, hence imo all passengers will be requested to show flight out,  especially anyone without a visa.

hence imo all passengers will be requested to show flight out, 

 

The OP states that he had a flight ticket out within 30 days..

50 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I anticipate the airlines will become more strict in letting any passenger board.

It seems people are being rejected who have a valid visa - the airlines are going by the published rules and lack the ability to use telepathy to access the unpublished ones. If this spreads to BKK I expect pushback from the airlines - especially as I think if someone refuses to buy a ticket they still have to take them.

Sorry for the OP, but if this happens a few more times maybe the airline can make some pressure to give more information about when someone could be denied. As the Airline also not happy to bring back more and more "tourists" without prior notice.

Or maybe someone higher up will see that the immigration person doing something wrong… anyway something hopefully will change in future

16 minutes ago, simon43 said:

 

 

 

The OP states that he had a flight ticket out within 30 days..

sorry simon, my bad. Yes ....  it looks like he's been denied entry because he has traveled extensively on legitimate tourist visas. So it appears the Thai immigration are attempting to enforce their own rule that ' it is illegal to have numerous legitimate tourist visas in your passport '  ....  or to that effect.

With persons with valid visas, onward ticket, and valid passports refused entry (often) what ARE the airlines to do? Demand a repatriation bond be held on account? The last “nail in the coffin” of Thai tourism

Thanks for all replies.

 

Around 3am representative of Thaiairways (I came with China Eastern, apparently they were not available) came to the room and said I'm allowed to go to KL, but immigration in KL will not accept me. Is that true? If yes then the only option for me is to take the same flight back to Nagoya (Japan). She was surprised when I asked if airline would cover my ticket.

 

I'm not allowed to talk with immigration so all the information had to be passed by her. No offence to her but she didn't seem sure of anything, so I'm waiting till 8am and will try to talk with China Eastern representative to confirm and make sure

 

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

I anticipate the airlines will become more strict in letting any passenger board.

Why? it sells them an extra last minute ticket at full price.

Airlines are about profits.

 

16 hours ago, Cheesus said:

Thanks for all replies.

 

Around 3am representative of Thaiairways (I came with China Eastern, apparently they were not available) came to the room and said I'm allowed to go to KL, but immigration in KL will not accept me. Is that true? If yes then the only option for me is to take the same flight back to Nagoya (Japan). She was surprised when I asked if airline would cover my ticket.

 

I'm not allowed to talk with immigration so all the information had to be passed by her. No offence to her but she didn't seem sure of anything, so I'm waiting till 8am and will try to talk with China Eastern representative to confirm and make sure

 

My guess is that she is semi-clueless like when I was in the same situation in Don Muang about 2-3 weeks ago. If you have a euro passport then you can fly to Malaysia and get 90 days via free. I read on this forum that Malaysia immigration don't really care and even despise Thai immigration decision. Since you have been denied in Thailand you will be handled separately by Malaysia immigration. They will probably ask to show you have funds and might ask you to buy airplane ticket out within 90 days. I'm not an expert but in your situation if I had the money and time to risk being denied in Malaysia I would do it. The Thai lady has probably no idea what she is talking about and the safest for her (not losing face) is to send you back the way they usually do (airport of origin or passport country).

 

Edit: In my case they sent me back to Laos where they canceled my exit stamp. Laos immigration asked to see money and to write a promise to buy an exit ticket within 5 days. I already had a Thai tourist visa in my passport and it was accepted in Thailand land border 4 days later.

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Why? it sells them an extra last minute ticket at full price.

Airlines are about profits.

I know they can be heavily fined (the airline and the check-in employee) by immigration if for example the passenger doesn't have an exit ticket. However the way immigration often doesn't check these thing maybe it's not enforced. 

5 hours ago, Cheesus said:

 

....- I already have 5-10 tourist visas in my passport

- it was my first entry into Thailand without visa....

How frequent did you have your tourist visas?

How many days did you stay in Thailand after your visa was used?

China Eastern flies from Japan to Thailand. Where did your flight originate? Did you only connect in Japan?

 

 

I would be concerned now the Japanese will not accept you either. They be like that. may have to buy a ticket back to Poland.

 

34 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Why? it sells them an extra last minute ticket at full price.

Airlines are about profits.

What if they still have to take you if you refuse to buy a ticket - which I understand to be the case.

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

hence imo all passengers will be requested to show flight out,  especially anyone without a visa.

Most airlines already ask for this, and you should have an onward ticket anyway. Just book a refundable ticket and cancel it later on. I know for sure from Japan to Thailand I've been asked many times. The problem here isn't that they didn't have an onward ticket - the problem is they were denied based on a made-up reason ("suspicious activity"). Nothing the airline can do to prevent this. Not that the airlines would want to prevent it - they PROFIT from it - for every passenger denied they get to sell an overpriced return ticket. Legally they are required to cover the expense of flying you back, but it seems like that never actually happens.

Don't sign anything. Unfortunately you almost certainly have already signed accepting to be detained and to pay for your "accommodation".

 

Politely insist that you are not a criminal, have done nothing wrong and you wish to purchase a ticket to Malaysia.

So, it was your first visa exempt entry in Thailand. All other entries were using TV. Are these entries back-to-back? How long are you living in Thailand? Did the immigration write the reason on passport for the denial of entry (like 12.2). With a polish passport, you don't need a visa to Malaysia. Ask politely that you want to buy a ticket to KL or Penang.  Your only option is now land border crossing which does not have any problems, yet. Don't go to Japan, if possible. It is expensive unless you have adequate fund. 

 

 

After arriving Phuket I didn't sign anything

 

The other guy in the room with me have the same situation. 15min ago representative of AirAsia just came and said his next flight back to Penang (where he came from) is already booked for free

 

48 minutes ago, Date Masamune said:

China Eastern flies from Japan to Thailand. Where did your flight originate? Did you only connect in Japan?

 

 

I would be concerned now the Japanese will not accept you either. They be like that. may have to buy a ticket back to Poland.

 

Embarked in Nagoya with transit in Shanghai

 

54 minutes ago, post said:

How frequent did you have your tourist visas?

How many days did you stay in Thailand after your visa was used?

Usually close to maximum. I live in Thailand so pretty much every 3 months. I also had METV 2 times from my home country

I once took China Southern from Nagoya, via Shanghai AND Guangzhou to Chiang Mai. Even though it was business class never again.

Just now, onera1961 said:

So, it was your first visa exempt entry in Thailand. All other entries were using TV.

Did the immigration write the reason on passport for the denial of entry (like 12.2).

With a polish passport, you don't need a visa to Malaysia. Ask politely that you want to buy a ticket to KL. 

Don't go to Japan, if possible. It is expensive unless you have adequate fund. 

 

 

Yeah, even if airline cover my flight to Japan I would still rather want to book my own flight to KL

 

The only concern now is that the lady said I will not be accepted in Malaysia. Seems illogical why would they do that, but I don't know the rules. I wish someone could confirm that, but everyone I talk with seems clueless

 

I didn't get my passport back.