Popular Post noone223 Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 Anyone here has an idea / or knows someone that speaks fluent or good thai and got rejected entry? They've always questioned me due to many years of Tourist visas and every time they heard my thai (which isn't fluent nor perfect) Yet, conversational enough, they've always decided to let me in with a big smile. Wondered if there's any cases here where this didn't work? 4 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DrJack54 Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 Why should it work? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matzzon Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 What is working or not? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jackdd Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 (edited) The underlying reason for denying people is that they think these people work in Thailand In regards to be able to speak Thai: Positive: You might get some sympathy points from them because you are able to speak Thai Negative: You spent quite some time in Thailand (no secret, they also see this in their system), and they might think you can speak Thai because you do business in Thailand (I don't know if they are aware that most illegal western workers work as English teachers and usually can't speak Thai) Imho overall it doesn't make a difference if you are able to speak Thai or not. When looking at a single entry it could of course matter, maybe an IO totally appreciates it if a foreigner can speak Thai, or he has the fixed opinion that people who can speak Thai work in Thailand. But you won't know this beforehand, so it doesn't matter if you speak Thai with him or not, could go in either direction. Edited December 30, 2019 by jackdd 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noone223 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, jackdd said: The underlying reason for denying people is that they think these people work in Thailand In regards to be able to speak Thai: Positive: You might get some sympathy points from them because you are able to speak Thai Negative: You spent quite some time in Thailand (no secret, they also see this in their system), and they might think you can speak Thai because you do business in Thailand (I don't know if they are aware that most illegal western workers work as English teachers and usually can't speak Thai) Imho overall it doesn't make a difference if you are able to speak Thai or not. When looking at a single entry it could of course matter, maybe an IO totally appreciates it if a foreigner can speak Thai, or he has the fixed opinion that people who can speak Thai work in Thailand. But you won't know this beforehand, so it doesn't matter if you speak Thai with him or not, could go in either direction. do you speak thai? It makes such a difference when they start the interrogation and you can calmly explain to them that you have a passive income (in thai), and that you love their culture (in thai) If you can't speak thai, you wouldn't be able to articulate those things with so much ease. Edited December 30, 2019 by noone223 1 3 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post faraday Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 1 minute ago, noone223 said: do you speak thai? What would you like to know? 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noone223 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 (edited) 2 minutes ago, faraday said: What would you like to know? how many people actually speak it and still think it doesn't help when dealing with IO @ the border. Edited December 30, 2019 by noone223 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jackdd Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 16 minutes ago, noone223 said: do you speak thai? Yes 16 minutes ago, noone223 said: It makes such a difference when they start the interrogation and you can calmly explain to them that you have a passive income (in thai), and that you love their culture (in thai) If you can't speak thai, you wouldn't be able to articulate those things with so much ease. For me personally it's quite easy to stay calm while saying something in English like: "I have a business in Germany, so i don't need to work in Thailand. I like to stay in Thailand". Most IOs would also be able to understand this. Speaking Thai does of course make a further conversation easier, but i wouldn't say that it will change the outcome (on average). 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BritManToo Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 (edited) 39 minutes ago, noone223 said: how many people actually speak it and still think it doesn't help when dealing with IO @ the border. Me for one. They don't seem to like it, they think you've been here too long Edited December 30, 2019 by BritManToo 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post kartoshka Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 that makes the difference is the phrase of the moon, the mood of an officer, today's wether, time of a day, the amount of sugar an officer added to his soup this morning and other 302 things you have no control over. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post EricTh Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, noone223 said: do you speak thai? It makes such a difference when they start the interrogation and you can calmly explain to them that you have a passive income (in thai), and that you love their culture (in thai) If you can't speak thai, you wouldn't be able to articulate those things with so much ease. Speaking two sentences in Thai doesn't qualify you as being fluent or good in Thai. If some Thai people were to say 'I have my own income', 'I love the culture in America', I wouldn't think this is considered fluent English because they can practice just these two sentences all the time. It's only elementary Thai and I don't think the immigration would be impressed. Most foreigners ignore the tones, pronounce the words wrongly or use the wrong grammar. Edited December 30, 2019 by EricTh 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 (edited) 13 minutes ago, BritManToo said: Yes. They don't understand 'passive income' so they think you're lying and working in Thailand. Their culture is one of greed and selfishness, they know this, so know you're lying. 'I'm here on holiday', there's nothing else they need to know, or you need to say. 'Passive' income is too general so of course they won't understand. One should be more specific like I have pension money, dividends, rental income etc . Then they will understand. Edited December 30, 2019 by EricTh 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post noone223 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 4 minutes ago, EricTh said: Speaking two sentences in Thai doesn't qualify you as being fluent or good in Thai. Now now, let's not put words in other people's posts. Those two sentences were only an example. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKresonant Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 6 hours ago, noone223 said: ...... Wondered if there's any cases here where this didn't work? I suppose if you suggested they stop being such a Bannana, that may get a result..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BestB Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 4 hours ago, noone223 said: do you speak thai? It makes such a difference when they start the interrogation and you can calmly explain to them that you have a passive income (in thai), and that you love their culture (in thai) If you can't speak thai, you wouldn't be able to articulate those things with so much ease. How to say passive income in Thai? 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jak2002003 Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 4 hours ago, EricTh said: 'Passive' income is too general so of course they won't understand. One should be more specific like I have pension money, dividends, rental income etc . Then they will understand. Yes, I have no idea what 'passive income' is and I am English! I suppose its better then 'aggressive income'. That might be a bit frightening. 1 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post IvorLott Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 My Thai skills are fairly good, if I may say so myself; though after the best part of thirty years working, living and studying in the Kingdom, it bally well should be. As a rule of thumb, I tend not to use Thai where the person I'm interacting with is supposed to have a good level of English, be it a bar, bank or border crossing. I was once berated by a couple of lady IOs one quiet late night at Don Muang after a trip up from Singapore, that after working in Thailand for so long (around ten years then) I was speaking English, so I gave them a bit of cheeky chat in Thai which amused them. As I have work commitments in Thailand, I am lucky enough not to fall into the 'worried' category when entering Thailand, so my level of Thai is neither here nor there. though I tend to lean with the 'side of caution' argument here as you don't want to either get yourself in a situation beyond your control, or show 'too much knowledge' of Thailand if trying to enter as a tourist. I can count the number of Westerners truly 'fluent' in Thai on the fingers of one hand. ''Fluent' is an oft overused word, especially when it comes to Thai. There are plenty (in this day and age) who are proficient, or efficient in Thai but very few truly fluent. I've had people think me 'fluent' but I'm far from it. For me 'fluency' is a total command of the language. My acid test for someone claiming to be 'fluent' in Thai is to pick a random TV station or a page of print and have them translate instantly what is being said or written. Few can. Those few Westerners who are truly fluent in Thai, usually have some long history of work/study/family or other genuine reasons to be spending long periods in Thailand. I don't think your average gimbal carrying youtuber is going to fit in this category, or have the language skills anywhere near proficient enough trying to 'wing it' through. They'd be best off 'not trying to show off' their halting, atonal 'Sawadee Kraps' on officials who have forgotten more English then they will ever know of the Thai language. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakmuay887 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 I was always told when speaking to anyone of authority to speak in English, Police, IO, Judge, etc. Not sure if this is true but someone told me a judge could take it as insulting if you speak to them in Thai as you can be indirectly saying they are not intelligent enough to speak english. Likely just hearsay though. I tend to Wai a lot and speak english very quickly, seems to work at checkpoints around here often enough. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BestB Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 3 hours ago, jak2002003 said: Yes, I have no idea what 'passive income' is and I am English! I suppose its better then 'aggressive income'. That might be a bit frightening. I am still waiting for our Thai speaking OP to tell me how to say passive income in Thai ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BestB Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 I speak well enough Thai to front court by myself yet speaking to immigration in airport never earned me any points or even a smile and they always respond in English . I am on non b though so I do not need to explain myself , can see someone on ED visa speaking Thai to be useful , for the life of me can not see how someone on tourist visa gets out of trouble by speaking fluent enough Thai and yet claim to be a tourist , but I guess on internet everything is possible ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJack54 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 3 minutes ago, BestB said: I am still waiting for our Thai speaking OP to tell me how to say passive income in Thai ???? While at it...in AU. We have saying about friend ask you about blind date. So how was she. Answer "pretty ugly" Try translate that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denim Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 It's a lottery. If you are unlucky enough to have to deal with an IO who doesn't like falangs at the best of times who also got of bed the wrong side in the morning then you are going to meet a jobsworth just aching for a chance to grill a victim. Language ability will be of no help. On the other hand if you meet the average IO without an axe to grind then if you speak Thai well they might be more friendly than otherwise and not be too strict. Whatever.....always helps to keep your cool and be polite and friendly. They have the power to spoil your day. Remember that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post cranki Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 27 minutes ago, BestB said: I speak well enough Thai to front court by myself yet speaking to immigration in airport never earned me any points or even a smile and they always respond in English . I am on non b though so I do not need to explain myself , can see someone on ED visa speaking Thai to be useful , for the life of me can not see how someone on tourist visa gets out of trouble by speaking fluent enough Thai and yet claim to be a tourist , but I guess on internet everything is possible ???? I too am fluent.... Pom not tumyarn same same khun farmer same same you country…..me satang maak my country, come tee here alot maak so pood thai can.... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emptypockets Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 8 hours ago, noone223 said: do you speak thai? It makes such a difference when they start the interrogation and you can calmly explain to them that you have a passive income (in thai), and that you love their culture (in thai) If you can't speak thai, you wouldn't be able to articulate those things with so much ease. What interrogation would that be? I'm assuming you are talking about immigration/passport control. I simply hand over my passport. No need for a conversation, a simple thankyou or kkk suffices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emptypockets Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 11 minutes ago, cranki said: I too am fluent.... Pom not tumyarn same same khun farmer same same you country…..me satang maak my country, come tee here alot maak so pood thai can.... You lost me after Pom. Any Aussie knows what that means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DrJack54 Posted December 30, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2019 9 minutes ago, emptypockets said: What interrogation would that be? I'm assuming you are talking about immigration/passport control. I simply hand over my passport. No need for a conversation, a simple thankyou or kkk suffices. I agree. I like the saying "less is best". Offer nothing until asked. Then look stupid. I find it easy. Not even need rehearsal. My Thai gf always say. Jack you say you clever but No you stupid. 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRUFC Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 1 hour ago, DrJack54 said: While at it...in AU. We have saying about friend ask you about blind date. So how was she. Answer "pretty ugly" Try translate that. +1, U.K. lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BestB Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 46 minutes ago, emptypockets said: You lost me after Pom. Any Aussie knows what that means. He was speaking kiwi.???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digbeth Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 I think the question should be how well does the immigration officers able to understand you in English? Most should be able to understand your explanation of where you're visiting and where your money came from.... so showing a bit of Thai would only endears you to them... but I have also seen people that thought they can speak Thai, but no Thai person can understand them and they'd be better off using English If they see a history of back to back visits, doing a 'Sawadee Krub' and pretending to be a fresh our of Khao San rd. tourist is not gonna help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 5 hours ago, BestB said: How to say passive income in Thai? Raai dai chooay chaa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.png.3b3332cc2256ad0edbc2fe9404feeef0.png)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now