Anyone living in Cambodia is suspect. I really love the Khmer but the barang that live there are total dead enders. Many are paedophiles. I lived there three years but left in 96 when the creepers got the all-clear. It was more than that but certainly a factor. Further, Poipet has to be one of the sketchiest border xings in East Asia. He was right to question you.

Edited January 8, 20206 yr by Number 6

2 hours ago, thequietman said:

There is a rumour and it is only a rumour mind, that someone wants foreigners out of Thailand for 3 to 5 years, to re-direct the Thai populace in the right direction and to get them thinking like the old days again. Many are not showing deference to the appropriate person/s and that needs to be addressed.

 

Only a rumour now!, so take it as stated. ????

What a laff.

 

Is this some general's wet dream?

 

I ask because if they wanted us out it could be accomplished in 30-45 days.

 

Does that include specialists, engineers, professionals or ten thousand public school teachers?

 

The schools alone would be thrown into chaos for a minimum of a few months.

 

Love to know which pub you got that gem.

Edited January 8, 20206 yr by Number 6

1 minute ago, Number 6 said:

What a laff.

 

Is this some general's wet dream?

 

I ask because if they wanted us out it could be accomplished in 30-45 days.

 

Love to know which pub you got that gem.

Probably quite a bit higher up than a general or even PM, nudge nudge, wink wink, know what I mean John.

 

You really need to get on the right page mate. ???? 

2 hours ago, freeman01 said:

The rules state that you need these 3 things to cross a land border successfully visa-exempt (max twice per year) :

- print of flight ticket out of Thailand

- print of hotel booking

- 20'000 THB or equivalent in cash

All three of your points are wrong

No flight ticket required

No hotel booking required

Only 10,000 THB cash required

1 minute ago, Golden Triangle said:

Probably quite a bit higher up than a general or even PM, nudge nudge, wink wink, know what I mean John.

 

You really need to get on the right page mate. ???? 

If they wanted it to happen, it would happen tomorrow.

 

Yes, it's very apparent the sentiment expressed towards foreigners in the past 15 years but life and running nations is complicated. There are repercussions and quid pro quo not to mention looking like an international pariah. Maybe it all starts to smell like April 18, 1975 and the very woke and highly connected world freaks out.

 

Modem nation states just don't behave like this. Who knows what it would do to the currency.

9 hours ago, Isaan Alan said:

When you're lost in the rain in Juarez when it's Easter time, too
And your gravity fails and negativity don't pull you through

 

She'll leave you howling at the moon

 

Yikes, now that brought back an unexpected memory ...!

2 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

If they wanted it to happen, it would happen tomorrow.

Doubtful. How would they manage that?

I imagine some 'round up', followed by a mass expulsion of foreigners would cause irreparable long-term damage to Thailand's already frail tourist industry, let alone her equally frail international reputation (especially in Human Rights). 

They seem to be on the right track as it is with the slow squeeze.

I predicted many times at the time of the 'good guys in, bad guys out' campaign, especially when faced by the smug schadenfreude on these (and other) forum pages, that  that campaign was just the beginning and the 'hoops' the foreigners would be demanded to jump through would get higher and hotter, and that Thailand will only be open for a few weeks of the year to all but the super rich, or those with the skills to be of benefit to the nation. 

My posts were met with protests from those with far too high an opinion of their own statuses with replies like 'I know the Mayor of XXXX', 'my wife's cousin is XXXX' and such like. Now I see those same posters crying for help or expressing outrage at their 'treatment', clearly getting no help from Mayors or cousins...

It is a fact. Things will get hotter over the coming years, and if we ever see a return to the good old days of 'Thailand 365' I'll be most surprised. 

10 hours ago, TSF said:

Anyway, all you can do is spread the word around to avoid Thailand. Unless you belong to that group of unfortunate wretches who are married to Thais and own homes there, just give the place a wide berth.

If you hate the place so much why are you posting? Maybe you’d find Moldova or Liyba, or Kyrgzstan more to your liking. It is people like you that are constantly complaining and disrespecting the Thai culture that give Europeans/Australians/Americans a bad name. 

51 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

The same old answer. This is a third world country with a third world mentality.

By definition Thailand is not and has never been a third world country.

 

The same old false statement. It's a developing country.

44 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

What a laff.

 

Is this some general's wet dream?

 

I ask because if they wanted us out it could be accomplished in 30-45 days.

 

Does that include specialists, engineers, professionals or ten thousand public school teachers?

 

The schools alone would be thrown into chaos for a minimum of a few months.

 

Love to know which pub you got that gem.

Remember that article on English teachers from the Philippines a few weeks ago?

 

China has a surplus of engineers, chemists, and various specialists.

9 hours ago, post said:

Do you mind telling your immigration history in Thailand before your recent return?

Can you not read it for yourself? the information is clearly there.

26 minutes ago, Traubert said:

By definition Thailand is not and has never been a third world country.

 

The same old false statement. It's a developing country.

Thailand has not developed in the past 30 years.

 

They have been absorbed by western marketing and greed.

 

Developing nations develop things.

 

Thailand is far from that. Textiles does not make a developing nation.

 

Developing nations have their own cars, space programs, you name it.

 

Thailand is the slave labor for Japanese and Chinese factories.

 

That does not make a developing nation.

 

And education? Every year the scores go backwards.

11 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

Thailand needs to learn a lesson about how to treat people who are putting money into their economy.

 

I believe there is a concerted effort by Thai immigration to create an atmosphere of uncertainty...fear...angst...unfriendly experience...to discourage some tourists and retirees...

 

The real question remains...why?

 

 

 

Poipet is well known to be the worst border crossing and people are advised to avoid it.  

40 minutes ago, IvorLott said:

Doubtful. How would they manage that?

I imagine some 'round up', followed by a mass expulsion of foreigners would cause irreparable long-term damage to Thailand's already frail tourist industry, let alone her equally frail international reputation (especially in Human Rights). 

They seem to be on the right track as it is with the slow squeeze.

I predicted many times at the time of the 'good guys in, bad guys out' campaign, especially when faced by the smug schadenfreude on these (and other) forum pages, that  that campaign was just the beginning and the 'hoops' the foreigners would be demanded to jump through would get higher and hotter, and that Thailand will only be open for a few weeks of the year to all but the super rich, or those with the skills to be of benefit to the nation. 

My posts were met with protests from those with far too high an opinion of their own statuses with replies like 'I know the Mayor of XXXX', 'my wife's cousin is XXXX' and such like. Now I see those same posters crying for help or expressing outrage at their 'treatment', clearly getting no help from Mayors or cousins...

It is a fact. Things will get hotter over the coming years, and if we ever see a return to the good old days of 'Thailand 365' I'll be most surprised. 

Too many people overstate the benefit of the expat financial injection into Thailand.

 

Thailand is courting China and India, which seem to be the kind of tourist they are after. Come for a week or 2, spend your money and go home. Seems to be an ample amount of these tourists to satisfy Thailand.

 

No sexpats, no marrying their women, etc.

 

How many Chinese and Indian's do you see manning the bar stools at Nana?

 

When Taksin was in charge, we did not see this anti-expat behavior. But now with a military government, it seems they are no expat friendly at all. That is the big question?

 

I suspect, with all the billion dollar development programs going on around Thailand, many in the govt are becoming super rich and they don't want anyone (western expats) that would question corruption or how they obtained their riches.

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, possum1931 said:

Really?? "Only few people"???? There are plenty of reports appearing in this forum about westerners having to deal with IOs and their hostile attitudes nearly every day, sounds like more than a few to me.

Yet in just about every case the OP was allowed to enter Thailand after answering

a few questions.

 

Some people expect wais and red carpets. 

 

In this case the OP didn't say how long he had been in Cambodia, which may have a 

bearing on the matter.

11 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

Thailand needs to learn a lesson about how to treat people who are putting money into their economy.

 

I believe there is a concerted effort by Thai immigration to create an atmosphere of uncertainty...fear...angst...unfriendly experience...to discourage some tourists and retirees...

 

The real question remains...why?

 

 

 

Now wait. I am always hearing Thais care only about money. But now you are upset at them because that is obviously not the case?

 

I am wondering which is it? Are they fully consumed by the almighty dollar? Or are they an evil empire that wants to expel all retirees. People can't have it both ways. 

31 minutes ago, Traubert said:

Remember that article on English teachers from the Philippines a few weeks ago?

 

China has a surplus of engineers, chemists, and various specialists.

Yes, and I've worked with a few. The decisions they make on solving most problems are based on what their boss tells them. Doesn't matter if it's right or wrong, boss says so, so that's the way it is.

11 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Posts like that should always include pictures or at least honest descriptions of the people who have problems. Because it seems only few people have these problems... 

 

It is far more than a few in the case of Poipet.

44 minutes ago, Traubert said:

By definition Thailand is not and has never been a third world country.

 

The same old false statement. It's a developing country.

Well they sure have an awful lot of developing still to do.

The clue could be in OP's handle "youbuyshirt"??

9 minutes ago, shy coconut said:

Yet in just about every case the OP was allowed to enter Thailand after answering

a few questions.

 

Some people expect wais and red carpets. 

 

In this case the OP didn't say how long he had been in Cambodia, which may have a 

bearing on the matter.

I still stand by what I have said, there are far too many IOs here with hostile attitudes.

13 hours ago, youbuyshirt said:

had read that Poipet was now very strict

And still you were stubborn enough to use that crossing. Unbelievable.

Removed two off-topic posts.

12 minutes ago, shy coconut said:

....

 

In this case the OP didn't say how long he had been in Cambodia, which may have a 

bearing on the matter.

Why should it when he hadn't been in Thailand for more than 2 years?

 

Poipet Xing does not have an issue with expats resident in Cambodia per se.  In fact I have the impression they make an exception to the 2 VE entries a year for some who live and work near the border and like to cross for weekend shopping etc. 

 

Resident expats in Cambodia come in all shapes & flavors just like ecpat communities anywhere. I know the grungy types some have referred to but there are as many or more professional people there. You don't find them hanging out in the same places of course.

 

I have no idea why this particular person was singled out for questioning. But my niece's husband, a highly respectable Brit with advanced degrees married to a Khmer & working (legalky) in Cambodia was taken aside in same manner recently at the Koh Konf Xing.  He had had only 1 other entry to Thailand in  the past 3 years and that was of less than a week stay. In his case the issue seemed to be that he had previously -- more than 3 years ago -- been in Thailand for several years on an ED visa. (In a degree program).  This seemed to set them off even though more than 3 years had passed since then and he now lives in Cambodia and has longstay Camb visa to prove it. He was simply trying to attend his brothers wedding on Koh Chang.

 

14 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I still stand by what I have said, there are far too many IOs here with hostile attitudes.

I've only met one outwardly cheerful IO in Thailand, but to be fair, I've never met that many

cheerful one anywhere.

 

Despite the lack of charisma, I don't recall a "hostile" attitude.

7 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Why should it when he hadn't been in Thailand for more than 2 years?

 

Poipet Xing does not have an issue with expats resident in Cambodia per se.  In fact I have the impression they make an exception to the 2 VE entries a year for some who live and work near the border and like to cross for weekend shopping etc. 

 

Resident expats in Cambodia come in all shapes & flavors just like ecpat communities anywhere. I know the grungy types some have referred to but there are as many or more professional people there. You don't find them hanging out in the same places of course.

 

I have no idea why this particular person was singled out for questioning. But my niece's husband, a highly respectable Brit with advanced degrees married to a Khmer & working (legalky) in Cambodia was taken aside in same manner recently at the Koh Konf Xing.  He had had only 1 other entry to Thailand in  the past 3 years and that was of less than a week stay. In his case the issue seemed to be that he had previously -- more than 3 years ago -- been in Thailand for several years on an ED visa. (In a degree program).  This seemed to set them off even though more than 3 years had passed since then and he now lives in Cambodia and has longstay Camb visa to prove it. He was simply trying to attend his brothers wedding on Koh Chang.

 

Well, there lies the confusion in this case.

 

The OP posted a thread just before Christmas asking how to get to Pattaya bus station

from his hotel in Soi Buakow with a whole load of luggage.

 

This seems to contradict his assertion that he hasn't been in Thailand for more than

2 years, perhaps he has a visa in Cambodia and has used a border crossing too

many times, he hasn't offered enough information really.

 

 

Anyway, as it stands, he was asked a few more questions and allowed entry, so not a

big deal really.

2 hours ago, MeePeeMai said:

No, I'm sad because you now find 50-60 year old women attractive.  To each his own, but the thought of that made me feel sad and the thought of myself reaching that point in my own life made me even more sad.  Thanks

If you read any studies on it you'll find that in general the 'happines status' actually increases as you get older. OK, you still get a few grumpy BOF's about but in reality older means happier. Sometimes on TVF you might get a different impression but read between the lInes. ????????

Edited January 8, 20206 yr by overherebc

13 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Poipet staff need firing

For asking an old bloke that doesn't have a visa what he plans to do in the country, while asking to see his hotel printout?

 

 

Yeah, How dare they. ????

It seems that those on Thai Visa think that anybody should be able to rock up with their passport, smile, then be stamped straight in a second later, even without a visa. 

 

Should they be asked a question, or asked to show where they're staying, the Thai IO are treating them like common criminals!!

 

 

Don't they know that you're white!! With a Western passport???

 

 

Fire them. 

 

Fire them all. 

Edited January 8, 20206 yr by Happy Grumpy

3 hours ago, possum1931 said:

Really?? "Only few people"???? There are plenty of reports appearing in this forum about westerners having to deal with IOs and their hostile attitudes nearly every day, sounds like more than a few to me.

How many people go through immigration every day? And how many have problems? Maybe 1%? Or maybe less? That's "a few" in my book.