Hello,

I've been reading this forum for a few days now and I really regret not following the thai visa development on social media/forums for the last months.

 

So just a few days ago I've been denied entry and I can get why: I've had a METV for more than 2 times, never had problems with it and thinking that it gets me through this time. Paid €175 for it, had to go to Frankfurt two times (alreday quite the hassle) and really didn't expect to get denied and send back to Germany. I was very confused, they let me wait for 2-3 hours without saying anything until I realized they actually want to send me back. I wanted to argue a bit, but the answer: you are not a tourist, what do you do here? - I explained I'm just a tourist, have savings and wanting to visit my girlfriend. The answer seemed predefined, already made the decision to kick me out but with the comment I should try again with a non-immigrant visa.

 

Very frustrating, costly and emotional breakdown experience. Well, I get that, IO's aciting arbitrary, rules have become more difficult.

 

Two more notes: my passport was filled with lots of stamps, my dress was just normal: good-looking shirt, jeans. I guess that was both a bad alarm for the IO.

 

Just wanna report another denied entry, and I have to say it scares me a lot. Now I'm a bit indecisive about what to do next. getting a non immigrant ed-visa? - What if they can even deny that again with my current history? What about getting a new passport? - Mine is already almost full and looks "used", so I guess I really increase my chances doing it, allthough that costs 4 weeks more where I can't get back to my girlfriend. Hard decisions.

Thai times they "are a changing"  other than that let your topic help others.

Vote with your wallet and take your girlfriend to a different country nearby. If she's not willing to go with you get a new girlfriend. 

 

If Thailand doesn't want your money it's their loss. 

Edited October 13, 20196 yr by DougM

Its a strange country that can decide that people with money and time off are not welcome. Why Thailand has decided that frequent visitors cant be tourists is beyond me but I suppose another country will finally pick up the business. Good luck with whatever you do next.

One thing in common with all people posting about being denied is that all have been living in Thailand on tourist visa’s 

 

so it appears immigration is targeting all those on tourist visa’s but living in Thailand . Which in their mind means either working or doing something illegal . If rich enough to have such long holidays then they believe should obtain elite visa. 

They are telling him to get a non-O when they almost certainly know that he won't qualify for one! Very scummy behaviour.

 

Oh well, that's a few thousand Euros that Thailand won't be getting - do as others say and go somewhere else where you will no doubt be welcomed!

 

These reports are becoming almost daily now, something needs to be done about getting it out into the public domain.

Edited October 13, 20196 yr by SteveK

It's becoming risky to visit Thailand these days if you've been before.

 

I can see a situation where people arrive in December 2019 for their annual winter holiday having spent 3 months say December 2018 to March 2019 (90 days) the previous winter only to be rejected for their annual holiday.

 

They're now rejecting people who don't live here and aren't doing 'visa runs' - they're rejecting people who like to go on holiday frequently.

 

Airlines should take action on this.

 

I would like to see some official warnings from the European governments about tourists being subject to random rejections on arrival.

5 minutes ago, amykat said:

I don’t think these people are necessarily living here.  Many might like to live here but cannot retire yet.  So what I found a lot of men doing who are in relationships, or addicted to life here, is working to save money for half the year or more, and then spending their off time here.  Some people have some type of work, they can pick work when they need and leave when they want or have seasonal work ...they are not chained to a career at a desk for years at a time.

 

 

Desk for years at a time.

In some countries that doesn't compute.

Back in around 2006 I wasn't particularly well off, but had a job where I could work as and when I wanted. I used to work for 3-4 months at a time, spending as little as possible, in order to save money and go back to Thailand and stay with my then girlfriend. I used to have to travel around for work, staying on my own, it was lonely and depressing and getting back to Thailand was constantly on my mind. I don't know what I would have done if after all that time and effort I would have been denied entry, it doesn't bear thinking about. Working all that time and then travelling for 12+ hours just to be sent all the way back home, when the IO could just as easily have let you in, the situation is ridiculous especially when the embassies give no hint that this could happen.

Times will keep changing. Thailand has the right to choose — just like Europe. Contrary to popular belief, they do not need every single person’s money. When the new requirements of retirement visas broke out, a minority of the 75,000 retirees in Thailand thought the country was going down the drain because of their threat to go elsewhere.  Seriously? All they are asking for is BE a proper tourist. Or BE a proper retiree. Just BE. No, really.

Edited October 13, 20196 yr by mduras01

I guess IO looking for a return to home country which is good, but the additional how long one stays there before returning maybe coming into play.

All we can do is copy & paste these stories and email them to our governments' foreign affairs departments and national newspapers.

 

Every year nearly a million people from Germany holiday in the Land of Scowls.

It doesn't have to be SHE, but fly to Vietnam
and offer her a ticket to HCMC.
(Thais like to travel especially for someone else's money)

if she doesn't arrive, you'll find many substitutes in Distrykt 1.

 

Don't fight the Thai immigration system if you don't have to,
waste of time and money!

Surprise surprise....Another falang trying to live in Thailand on a tourist visa being denied. When will people learn that the times have change in Thailand. Thai immigration is right saying that your not a tourist as you know your not a tourist, so why are you acting all shocked?. I would get the hint and save yourself the money on the ED visa and choose another country to live in.

 

I wonder what German immigration will say if a Thai citizen will have a history of tourist visas keep coming into Germany????

the one thing in common with most posts is the METV

 

yes, it is kind of weird and arbitrary after a few METV's your being denied maybe people are not leaving enough time .

 

maybe its the worst type of visa to apply for

 

plus OP  never said what he did with his previous visas which can be squeezed to 8 month stays

Similar stories coming from Russian groups.

59 minutes ago, En Vision said:

my passport was filled with lots of stamps

So I will ask...... how long in days/months did you spend in Thailand the past 18 months?

30 minutes ago, ukrules said:

They're now rejecting people who don't live here and aren't doing 'visa runs' - they're rejecting people who like to go on holiday frequently.

 

That's certainly what it's increasingly looking like, especially at Swampy and DM.

 

13 minutes ago, yogi100 said:

All we can do is copy & paste these stories and email them to our governments' foreign affairs departments and national newspapers.

 

Every year nearly a million people from Germany holiday in the Land of Scowls.

what good does that do it proves nothing without supporting documentation
this is just a bunch of stories
newspapers want a bleeding heart photo with the hapless victim holding up his open passport on the visa page

Its absolutely insane that a consulate/embassy can issue a visa and then be refused entry on IOs opinion.....

 

Theyre really gonna <deleted> themselves here regarding euro tourists.....especially guys doing rotational work etc

9 minutes ago, mduras01 said:

Times will keep changing. Thailand has the right to choose — just like Europe. Contrary to popular belief, they do not need every single person’s money. When the new requirements of retirement visas broke out, a minority of the 75,000 retirees in Thailand thought the country was going down the drain because of their threat to go elsewhere.  Seriously? All they are asking for is BE a proper tourist. Or BE a proper retiree. Just BE. No, really.

Well I think many of these type of men that I wrote about above, seem to be good tourists to have.  The ones I met a lot of them were staying at hotels where I used to go for the pools.  They would stay for 2 months at a time on a regular schedule for example.  They had girlfriends they supported.  They had a bit more of a vacation mentality than your average person who is really living here, so they were out spending and having fun.  They knew they had work so we’re not on such a limited budget as some retirees.  If these people don’t matter to the economy than why is Thailand giving 1000 baht out to Thais to stimulate tourism.  Those guys spent more each day.  And brought it from outside ...what good is it to get broke Thais to spend more traveling around for a tiny discount on some <deleted> item??

It seems that they consider one METV more than enough opportunity to explore the country as a tourist, and I suppose in most cases that they are right, especially if you make maximum use of it.  But if you meet a new boyfriend/girlfriend when travelling and try to come back to see them then you're SOL. If you're on a tourist visa and meet someone new, it seems that you have to get married first and think later, or you might never be allowed back in!

Edited October 13, 20196 yr by SteveK

Two options:

1. As others have suggested, fly to somewhere else in SE Asia and have your girlfriend join you there. Does she yet have a passport?
2. Fly to a neighbouring country (such as Malaysia) and enter Thailand by land. If you do that, avoid trying to enter via Padang Besar or Poipet. Your METV will still be valid.

12 minutes ago, nightfox said:

I wonder what German immigration will say if a Thai citizen will have a history of tourist visas keep coming into Germany????

 

1) German immigration will follow the law. Which is written, clear to everybody, and is the same at all airports.

2) They would not have given him a visa to begin with. 

 

 

19 minutes ago, andy72 said:

what good does that do it proves nothing without supporting documentation
this is just a bunch of stories
newspapers want a bleeding heart photo with the hapless victim holding up his open passport on the visa page

Well don't bother doing it then.

Currently can book 40m2 hotel room in Patong for two people
with pool, morning breakfast included, three stars, good condition

for 350 baht with webside booking fees !

(smaller room even below 300 baht)

 

And they still don't let customers in "los"55555

Edited October 13, 20196 yr by marqus12

So people work for months to save for their trip, plan for months, spend money on expensive plane tickets, book hotel rooms, travel for as much as 30+ hours to get there.....and all the time wondering am I going to be let in or sent back home. Seriously, is it worth the stress, time, money aggravation?

1 minute ago, wisperone said:

So people work for months to save for their trip, plan for months, spend money on expensive plane tickets, book hotel rooms, travel for as much as 30+ hours to get there.....and all the time wondering am I going to be let in or sent back home. Seriously, is it worth the stress, time, money aggravation?

Really TAT should be made aware of this....i would imagine a lot of people are thinking like you..

7 minutes ago, wisperone said:

So people work for months to save for their trip, plan for months, spend money on expensive plane tickets, book hotel rooms, travel for as much as 30+ hours to get there.....and all the time wondering am I going to be let in or sent back home. Seriously, is it worth the stress, time, money aggravation?

No, it's not worth it - we need to get the word out on this kind of arbitrary treatment

 

If they would post a clearly defined set of rules then there would be no excuse but they don't do this.

 

The rules appear to be some kind of secret. Not only that - they've changed them and appear to be denying entry to plenty of people on METV visas - this is new. They're stepping it up and this could be a big problem for a lot of people returning for the winter. If it's one METV per year then they will catch out many of the winter tourists.

Edited October 13, 20196 yr by ukrules

39 minutes ago, nightfox said:

Surprise surprise....Another falang trying to live in Thailand on a tourist visa being denied. When will people learn that the times have change in Thailand. Thai immigration is right saying that your not a tourist as you know your not a tourist, so why are you acting all shocked?. I would get the hint and save yourself the money on the ED visa and choose another country to live in.

 

I wonder what German immigration will say if a Thai citizen will have a history of tourist visas keep coming into Germany????

Willkommen Willkommen.

 

Welcome Welcome.

 

Ask Mad Ma Merkel.