Back you go! Thirteen foreigners with no money denied entry to Thailand

[emptypockets]

  On 7/30/2019 at 12:45 AM, BritManToo said:

None of them were white or came from western countries.

Why would anyone on this forum care?

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Cruel but oh so true.

[Olmate]

  On 7/30/2019 at 12:31 AM, emptypockets said:

Australia doesn't charge you a departure tax at departure.

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Not sure your correct there. Ah at departure,yes apologies,it’s included in the ticket????

[brianthainess]

  On 7/29/2019 at 1:43 AM, stillhereandlovinit said:

And so it should, either money in the bank or mandatory insurance.

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But you can't spend your money in the bank if you want next years extension.

[brianthainess]

  On 7/29/2019 at 9:01 PM, Derek B said:

Where did the 20,000 baht come from..........is it not 10,000 baht?

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NO its 20k........ where did the 10K come from ?

[Salerno]

  On 7/29/2019 at 8:36 AM, mlmcleod said:

Most people, especially women, have never had the equivalent of $600 on their person in their lives.

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555555555

 

  On 7/29/2019 at 12:48 PM, Traubert said:

My point exactly. At my local minimart I pay by facial recognition.

 

Quite how you would tie that into being able to afford your holiday I don't know but then again it's not my problem to solve.

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It certainly isn't the Thai IOs problem.

 

  On 7/29/2019 at 1:02 PM, Chivas said:

What the hell is that creature.....

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A Thai police officer.

 

  On 7/29/2019 at 1:52 PM, doontp said:

Would a computer printout of the transfer suffice as proof of funds?

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No.

 

  On 7/29/2019 at 1:52 PM, doontp said:

I traveled to Thailand this past April and the immigration officer would not allow me to enter using my Thai passport.  She insisted I use my US passport.

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Must be more to the story; If you have a Thai passport you should use that to enter Thailand. Next time insist on it (don't even offer the US passport).

 

  On 7/29/2019 at 12:49 PM, Razek said:

Isn t all people same same?

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No.

 

  On 7/30/2019 at 1:28 AM, brianthainess said:

NO its 20k........ where did the 10K come from ?

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10K for a single on visa exempt. 

[justin case]

next they want 20.000 BAHT from fresh arriving tourists that never set foot in thailand and as you cannot buy baht outside of thailand... lol

 

is insurance needed with  400k on a thai bankbook and less than 50 years old ?

[Salerno]

  On 7/30/2019 at 1:36 AM, justin case said:

as you cannot buy baht outside of thailand

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Yes you can.

[Briggsy]

  On 7/29/2019 at 8:04 AM, mogandave said:

 

So have you had to show ฿20K in currency at immigration?

~20 years of going in and out at least five times a year and I have never been asked to show any money.

 

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I have never been asked either.

[tideout]

  On 7/29/2019 at 4:52 AM, grantbkk said:

Immigration looks at travel history and many other factors besides not carrying cash. These are people taken to secondary and questioned before they are expelled. I personally think they are lazy thinking they will get back in again without any cash on them.  

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It may be due to my having a temporary residency card in a neighboring country but I've never gotten anything more than a nod at immigration - never think to carry more than $150 or even less as I assume I'll be using a credit card for purchases or just stop by an ATM. I've entered and left on Air Asia via Don Muang 6-8 times in the last 4 years.

 

Re: Baht outside of Thailand - always get some baht in HCM before the trip.

[RocketDog]

  On 7/29/2019 at 2:08 AM, Badbanker said:

Sadly this Article 12 (2) and (9) has been used against people without them knowing about it on many occasions when arriving in the kingdom.  This has become the most common excuse to deny foreigners entry into Thailand.

 

The real reason is that the person has too many visa exempt entries into Thailand in the computer and in their passport!  

 

I know that in the past year on some days at land borders, 30 plus people were denied entry on visa exempt stamps and sent back.

 

I have gone so far at to recommend that friends who visit Thailand on a regular basis on a visa exempt stamp, actually have the requisite 20,000 baht cash and a return ticket in hand and put them on the counter with their passport when approaching the immigration officer.

 

Most times it works, but sometimes it doesn't!

 

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Really? Put cash on the immigration counter?

 

Good luck with that.

[TigerandDog]

  On 7/29/2019 at 1:40 AM, Sticky Wicket said:

The insurance thing keeps popping up.

It's a slow burner but it's coming soon for everybody!!

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The insurance they're referring to is travel insurance NOT health insurance. It has been a requirement since around 2011/2012 for tourists to have travel insurance to enter the kingdom, but like everything else it hasn't been enforced. Looks like they are finally beginning to enforce that requirement.

[mogandave]

  On 7/29/2019 at 10:31 PM, Darkside Gray said:

I cannot think of another country in the world that asks you to show cash at the airport. in this day and age who walks around with large sums of cash on them especially in a lawless country like Thailand, where lady boys and motor cyclists will rip your cash from you!

Yes, $650 is a large sum of cash. Perhaps you can hire armed guards to walk you through town?

[EVENKEEL]

  On 7/30/2019 at 12:49 AM, emptypockets said:

No idea what a TSA visa is. I fly out of Australia frequently. Never been asked for money. Ever

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I got the name wrong,

Australian etaVisa Application | Australia etaVisa Form Online

 

My company told me to go online and get one, is it absolutely necessary...….I don't know.....cost $20.00

 

[essox essox]

  On 7/29/2019 at 2:14 AM, userabcd said:

If they were genuine tourists then, as a minimum, they would have before their departure from their home country purchased a travel insurance for the duration of their stay. Not very expensive.

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depends ....my friend who has being coming here for many yrs (he now 70) was quoted 375 english pounds for travel insurance....and you say NOT expensive !!???

[mogandave]

  On 7/30/2019 at 5:02 AM, essox essox said:

depends ....my friend who has being coming here for many yrs (he now 70) was quoted 375 english pounds for travel insurance....and you say NOT expensive !!???

For how long?

[essox essox]

  On 7/30/2019 at 5:05 AM, mogandave said:

 

For how long?

 

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to cover himself from Oct until early April 2020

[mogandave]

  On 7/30/2019 at 5:08 AM, essox essox said:

to cover himself from Oct until early April 2020

Doesn’t seem very expensive to me, depending on what it covers.

[BernieOnTour]

  On 7/29/2019 at 2:21 AM, BritTim said:

Note that having the required 10,000/20,000 baht as laid out in the regulations will not help if the immigration official wants to deny entry. That only prevents denied entry under the Immigration Act Section 12 (9). The officials are now denying entry under the vague Section 12 (2) which (on its face) seems to imply lack of funds, but is being twisted to mean not a genuine tourist.

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Thanks for the clarification.

 

I assume, most of the readers of ThaiVisa will not be affected ... not so many participants from „Ethiopia, India and Myanmar“ here. 

 

I think, you are spot on with „twisted...not a genuine tourist“, easier to send them back immediately than having to raid businesses, trying to find those working here illegally without work permit.

[RJRS1301]

  On 7/30/2019 at 12:31 AM, emptypockets said:

Australia doesn't charge you a departure tax at departure.

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He was not talking about Australia, it was the Sultanate of Brunei

However the Oz tax is included in your ticket price

[BernieOnTour]

  On 7/29/2019 at 1:47 AM, darksidedog said:

I find it hard to believe that so many people in one day arrived without any money

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... I am more astonished, how low the figure is.

 

At ~ 140,000 international arrivals per day, these 13 guys are just a mere 0.09 promille - I assume, the number of rejections by Homeland Security at US borders is by powers of 10 higher.

[RJRS1301]

  On 7/30/2019 at 1:28 AM, brianthainess said:

NO its 20k........ where did the 10K come from ?

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10K individual

20K family

[denby45]

  On 7/29/2019 at 4:09 PM, sunnyboy2018 said:

Never give authorities anything they dont ask for. Its classified as over compliance.  But be ready to show them that which you know may be required. The foreigners in this story were sadly, all from 3rd world countries, many of whom have a reputation for working illegally. 

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Was being flippant not serious. Sorry you didn't get that. It appears I'm not very good at it. Hahaha

 

Den

[RJRS1301]

  On 7/30/2019 at 7:02 AM, RJRS1301 said:

 

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[cracker1]

  On 7/29/2019 at 2:14 AM, userabcd said:

If they were genuine tourists then, as a minimum, they would have before their departure from their home country purchased a travel insurance for the duration of their stay. Not very expensive.

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The cost of travel insurance very much depends on the age of the applicant, and is almost impossible if the traveller is more than 75 years old !

[Don Mega]

  On 7/30/2019 at 7:34 AM, cracker1 said:

The cost of travel insurance very much depends on the age of the applicant, and is almost impossible if the traveller is more than 75 years old !

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Does the travel insurance that often comes with booking air tickets with a credit card not cover  the elderly ?

[cracker1]

  On 7/30/2019 at 7:35 AM, Don Mega said:

Does the travel insurance that often comes with booking air tickets with a credit card not cover  the elderly ?

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It is usually limited to 90 days cover and is not available to those above 75 years. (My Visa Card travel cover)

[atyclb]

  On 7/29/2019 at 4:27 PM, emptypockets said:

Which country or countries would that be?

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if i recall happened in sri lanka, viet and/or cambodia.  had to also stop at money changer in viet.  an uncommon problem but has happened. maybe some other countries also

[ukrules]

  On 7/30/2019 at 7:34 AM, cracker1 said:

The cost of travel insurance very much depends on the age of the applicant, and is almost impossible if the traveller is more than 75 years old !

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I believe there are specialist insurance companies who cater mainly to older travellers. Seek them out for big discounts

[S0S]

Immigration Bureau Thailand - Visa On Arrival

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Qualification required for visa on arrival
Having appropriate means of living. (10,000 Baht/person, 20,000 Baht/family)

 

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand - Thailand Visa Information : Questions & Answers on Thai Visa

  Quote

However, please make sure that you are in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months, a round-trip air ticket, and adequate finances equivalent to at least 10,000 Baht per person or 20,000 Baht per family. Otherwise, you may be inconvenienced upon entry into the country.

 

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[Reigntax]

  On 7/29/2019 at 2:14 AM, userabcd said:

If they were genuine tourists then, as a minimum, they would have before their departure from their home country purchased a travel insurance for the duration of their stay. Not very expensive.

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Not necessarily. I have travel insurance with my credit card provider on the condition of purchasing a certain amount of the travel costs with the card.