Almost Denied Entry At Bangkok Airport

[Rasmiki]

I had just arrived to Bangkok after an 8 hour flight from East Africa when I was taken aside and thoroughly questioned by IOs. I have been a regular visitor to Los over the years, mostly using SETV once a year around Dec. Their main gripes seems to come from the extension I did and the whole three months I spent a year ago. I was infact told to get non-imm visa if I wanted to stay longer.

I come here for leisure and always have family/friends do the same, who inturn spend considerable amount of money. 

I thought a few months stay each year with a single SETV would be fine, but I was clearly wrong. Time to move on to greener pastures.

 

[Nakmuay887]

what nationality are you if you don't mind me asking?

[Rasmiki]

I'm Ethiopian

[jackdd]

You didn't spend any time in Thailand in 2019 before this arrival?

 

I guess this was part of the problem:

[Rasmiki]

This was my first trip in 2019 after I left in Feb this year.

[ubonjoe]

16 minutes ago, Rasmiki said:

This was my first trip in 2019 after I left in Feb this year.

I suggest you just ignore your bad experience. The chances of it happening again are very low. 

You were unfortunate to of entered when a rogue crew of officers were on duty.

 

[kartoshka]

1 hour ago, Rasmiki said:

This was my first trip in 2019 after I left in Feb this year.

first trip after another first trip.

then this was the 2nd trip.

[ubonjoe]

20 minutes ago, kartoshka said:

first trip after another first trip.

then this was the 2nd trip.

But that entry was not done this year. It was done last December.

Nothing wrong with that.

[Rasmiki]

That's right, my entry was in November 2018. It's just frustrating that there are no clear set of rules to follow.  

[DrJack54]

56 minutes ago, Rasmiki said:

That's right, my entry was in November 2018. It's just frustrating that there are no clear set of rules to follow.  

IMO, you were questioned by crazy DM io or selected by race or both. 

Not acceptable. Hope your next trip does not include bad experience. I'm thinking this is a once off from nutwit io.

[GeorgeCross]

On 12/28/2019 at 11:18 AM, ubonjoe said:

I suggest you just ignore your bad experience. The chances of it happening again are very low. 

You were unfortunate to of entered when a rogue crew of officers were on duty.

 

 

i'll remember to tell my friends and family to be careful in case a 'rogue crew of officers are on duty'

 

this place is <deleted> up now

 

 

 

 

[emptypockets]

17 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

IMO, you were questioned by crazy DM io or selected by race or both. 

Not acceptable. Hope your next trip does not include bad experience. I'm thinking this is a once off from nutwit io.

I guess the DM IO was crazy, especially since he apparently reported for duty at Bangkok ( Suvarnabhumi) airport.

[Chazar]

18 hours ago, Rasmiki said:

It's just frustrating that there are no clear set of rules to follow.  

With anything

[SteveK]

Thailand has always shown negativity and suspicion towards people of darker skin tones. 

 

Plus there is a good reason why all the rules are vague. It allows the Thai official at the time to interpret the rules however they see fit to try and cause upset and annoyance in the hope of extracting a "fee". If the rules were super clear, everyone would be able to follow them easily and no tea money would ever cometh.

Edited December 30, 2019 by SteveK

[Langkawee]

On 12/28/2019 at 11:18 AM, ubonjoe said:

I suggest you just ignore your bad experience. The chances of it happening again are very low. 

You were unfortunate to of entered when a rogue crew of officers were on duty.

 

It happens regularly for those who've visited Thailand. I'm too worried to risk it. I go to Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos. People are much much nicer. However Thailand accommodation can not be beaten on price/value.

[NoshowJones]

19 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

IMO, you were questioned by crazy DM io or selected by race or both. 

Not acceptable. Hope your next trip does not include bad experience. I'm thinking this is a once off from nutwit io.

I do not think this was a one off, there have been far too many complaints about IOs, though I would say it was quite rare.

[AgMech Cowboy]

Was your IO a youngish male sitting next to a 35 yr old female? I met them in November. There are definitely rogue officers and you drew the wrong group. Have a nice stay.

[steven100]

I found both Thailand & Vietnam IO's to be the most misérable people god had the misfortune of placing on this earth ….

they should work in funeral parlours, not airports.

 

 

 

Edited December 30, 2019 by steven100

[natway09]

The "nearly refused" is the key here.

Not nice, but they are entitled to check although skin colour being a factor is unacceptable 

but a reality I am afraid

[Letseng]

3 hours ago, Langkawee said:

It happens regularly for those who've visited Thailand. I'm too worried to risk it. I go to Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos. People are much much nicer. However Thailand accommodation can not be beaten on price/value.

But you can't stay in e.g. Singapore for months on end i.e. arrive in Nov and leave in Feb following year.

[NanLaew]

44 minutes ago, steven100 said:

I found both Thailand & Vietnam IO's to be the most misérable people god had the misfortune of placing on this earth ….

they should work in funeral parlours, not airports.

 

I would place the surly blackshirts at LAX and MIA right up there with your select Les Misérables.

[VBF]

6 hours ago, SteveK said:

Thailand has always shown negativity and suspicion towards people of darker skin tones. 

 

Plus there is a good reason why all the rules are vague. It allows the Thai official at the time to interpret the rules however they see fit to try and cause upset and annoyance in the hope of extracting a "fee". If the rules were super clear, everyone would be able to follow them easily and no tea money would ever cometh.

Nicely put.

There is unfortunately a racist undercurrent amongst some Thai people who do judge by appearances and ethnicity. It's not that long ago that women in bars would describe a black man as "chocolate man". That in itself isn't particularly nasty but it does indicate how some Thais are brought up to think.

That attitude permeates into authority so that police and immigration officers also hold it.

Regrettable but true, but then, like it or not, we all have some element of racism in our makeup - it's human nature. It's how it manifests itself that's critical, IMO.

 

Couple that with @SteveK comment about tea money, and off we go!

 

Of course, I a Brit, cannot shout too loudly about racism considering the current and recent news - once again it's that some people who are guilty.

Edited December 30, 2019 by VBF

[smedly]

this is stupidity beyond belief 

when people save and book a winter break they do not want to be worrying whether or not they will be turned away at the airport 

 

Sorry Thailand but you are tipping the scales the wrong way and overestimating what people will put up with - you're not worth it and don't deserve to have people coming here with all this unnecessary harassment

[Salerno]

2 hours ago, VBF said:

It's not that long ago that women in bars would describe a black man as "chocolate man".

What makes you think they don't now? And no it's not racist, who doesn't love chocolate ????

[Nakmuay887]

On 12/28/2019 at 10:50 AM, jackdd said:

You didn't spend any time in Thailand in 2019 before this arrival?

 

I guess this was part of the problem:

it's very sad but that is why I asked his nationality in the question right above this. I met a guy in Laos who had been stuck there over a month waiting for a business visa, he was from kenya I believe and the embassy in Vientiane told him he would be waiting 2 months because of his nationality. 

[globalspark]

Yep i know what happened to you very grubby indeed.My chinese wife experienced similar ordeal in november.Later we read tea money is what you need to do.

Same with us we will look elsewhere. Note accomadation is no longer great value. Vietnam leaves Thailand for dead in that department.

[tommyboy79]

It is funny that Thailand is totally dependent on tourism and whines when its numbers are down but makes it virtually impossible to get in/stay in the country....fact is Thais-especially the leaders-hate foreigners....sad to say but truth...to Thais, you are simply an invader....

[Nyezhov]

1 hour ago, tommyboy79 said:

It is funny that Thailand is totally dependent on tourism and whines when its numbers are down but makes it virtually impossible to get in/stay in the country....fact is Thais-especially the leaders-hate foreigners....sad to say but truth...to Thais, you are simply an invader....

Maybe you are dude, but they love me and roll out the red carpet for me. What I wonderful life I have! 

[Nyezhov]

On 12/30/2019 at 2:42 PM, NanLaew said:

I would place the surly blackshirts at LAX

Right? Right? Are those public "servants" the absolute most unsmilingish human beings on the face of the known universe? Horrible! I hate LAX. 

 

But its close to MedMen ????

[ThomasThBKK]

My german friend also got questioned hard 2 days ago when visiting me here, he's coming only once a year and stays no longer than 30 days.

 

I find it hilarious.... he wasn't amused at all.