Can't return to Thailand

[graexx]

Late january when exiting at savunabumi airport i was taken aside and told my next attempt to enter as a tourist would fail because i had been to Thailand too often. I mentioned to the io that i only spent 100 days in thailand in 2019. They also weren't sure, at all, when the ban would be lifted.

After more discussion and light-hearted chat they mentioned my chances would be rather better at savurnabumi than don meuang (most of my previous entries were via don meuang).

[jackdd]

Ok, thanks for letting us know.

[BritManToo]

If you were banned, there would be a stamp in your passport.

[mockingbird]

I'm confused.  They told you that you were now banned (obviously you aren't), and then told you that your chances of entering are better at savurnabumi. 

....and you only spent a little over 3 months in Thailand the previous 12 months? 

 

Ya sure? ????

[Pib]

This thread has me scratching my head.

[PatOngo]

Scare tactics, disregard it!

[OJAS]

18 minutes ago, graexx said:

I mentioned to the io that i only spent 100 days in thailand in 2019.

You really don't strike me as a bona fide tourist if you spent that colossal amount of time in Thailand last year!

[Chivas]

32 minutes ago, OJAS said:

You really don't strike me as a bona fide tourist if you spent that colossal amount of time in Thailand last year!

Why have exceeded that annually for 30 odd years bar the last 2

[ubonjoe]

Several off topic and inflammatory posts have been removed.

[BritTim]

They were telling you that, at that particular airport, your history of tourist entries had triggered an unofficial rule that could see you denied entry in the future through some airports and land crossings. You should take this as a hint to use safer entry points, and (if entering by air) make sure you are entering with an actual visa. Almost all land crossings are safe. With a visa, Chiang Mai airport and U-Tapao airport have been fine historically.

[yellowboat]

14 hours ago, BritTim said:

They were telling you that, at that particular airport, your history of tourist entries had triggered an unofficial rule that could see you denied entry in the future through some airports and land crossings. You should take this as a hint to use safer entry points, and (if entering by air) make sure you are entering with an actual visa. Almost all land crossings are safe. With a visa, Chiang Mai airport and U-Tapao airport have been fine historically.

DMK is the worst, but both Bangkok airports should be avoided if possible.   

Also having a Vietnamese or Cambodian visa is helpful if a cranky Thai IO decides to bar you from entering the country.  You can still have a similar good time that is cheaper and hassle free,

[DrJack54]

44 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

DMK is the worst, but both Bangkok airports should be avoided if possible.   

Also having a Vietnamese or Cambodian visa is helpful if a cranky Thai IO decides to bar you from entering the country.  You can still have a similar good time that is cheaper and hassle free,

If denied entry at an airport you would fly back to where you embarked.

[Alidiver]

Are you on Visa exempts, single or multi entry tourist visas? 

[AgMech Cowboy]

20 hours ago, graexx said:

Late january when exiting at savunabumi airport i was taken aside and told my next attempt to enter as a tourist would fail because i had been to Thailand too often. I mentioned to the io that i only spent 100 days in thailand in 2019. They also weren't sure, at all, when the ban would be lifted.

After more discussion and light-hearted chat they mentioned my chances would be rather better at savurnabumi than don meuang (most of my previous entries were via don meuang).

Well, that was confusing. An exiting IO at Suvanabhumi told your next attempt to enter would fail (nothing about a ban), but if you come back to Suvanabhumi your chances of getting in were better or your chances of failure would be greater. You're not real clear here.

 

Nonetheless, the IO said nothing about being banned, just that your chances were high of being refused entry.  Well, you've been warned. Good luck!!!

Edited March 5, 2020 by AgMech Cowboy

[tomauasia]

I would say your not banned just a smarty you got.. Avoid flights to that airport. You are not banned. This is absolutely mind boggling and the handling of immigration is a disgrace. New government is priority and a full immigration reform is beyond urgent Just cowboys detroying the Thai economy.

[DaveK68]

I've heard/read/seen that the tourist economy is down. I have been around Bangkok and seen it with my own eyes. I've talked to folks who have been down to Phuket and over to Pattaya. I was down in Hua Hin and it was dead.

Yet, these IOs and the Thai government still seems to have a thing for destroying what little is left after their big Chinese gamble was hit by the coronavirus.

It's as if they want to destroy tourism in Thailand.

Yeah, yeah...I know. Thailand doesn't care. Expats aren't the movers and shakers in the Thai economy.  Tell that to the guys and gals who have to pay rent at places like JJ Market and are making zero dollars. JJ Market owners are now giving steep discounts for rents [FACT] to keep their stalls rented because the folks who are there are making zero dollars because tourism has taken such a huge hit. And places like JJ have been down for some time [FACT]. MBK just had a sit in because of this. Yet, Thailand Immigration and Customs seems hell bent on crushing tourism by chasing off the few people left who want to come to this country. "Hey, you've spent way too much money in Thailand. You should go to some country that doesn't border Thailand and spend  your money there for a while or we will ban you from coming here and spending money."  Brilliant!  lol

What defines a tourist? Does Thailand have some official definition to which I'm not privy. It seems that there are quite a few special expats who have a special definition of the word. "What?! You spent 101.4 days in Thailand screwing off and enjoying yourself!!!  You're not a tourist. You're a...I don't know what you are but you're not a tourist by my special god given privilege to define the word. Go home! We don't like you being here in our safe place."

I guess eventually the Chinese will start coming back...until the next virus starts killing Chinese, the Chinese government covers it up until they no longer can and this whole mess starts over again. 

I've never seen a place that is so hell bent on chasing away revenue.

I just can't see why they think a bunch of Westerners want to find a job or work in Thailand illegally. The pay here is atrocious. It's laughable.

Then I look over at Cambodia and see how easy it is to get visas one after the other and to transform them to work or retirement visas. 

Edited March 5, 2020 by DaveK68

[yogavnture]

21 hours ago, OJAS said:

You really don't strike me as a bona fide tourist if you spent that colossal amount of time in Thailand last year!

100 days can be a long vacation if you come and go.  i disagree with your statement.  all i know is they only want to give one extension per year.  they dont care if you come for 15 day stints.  its the 30 day over and over stints they start to question/?

[CH1961]

22 hours ago, graexx said:

i was taken aside and told my next attempt to enter as a tourist would fail because i had been to Thailand too often.

Fairy tale ????

[firemans35]

I work in Iraq. My schedule is 3 month on 28 days off. I usually go to Thailand on my off time. That doesn't make me a tourist?

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, firemans35 said:

I work in Iraq. My schedule is 3 month on 28 days off. I usually go to Thailand on my off time. That doesn't make me a tourist?

I don't think you will have a problem with that pattern.

 

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, Caldera said:

I don't think you will have a problem with that pattern.

 

That's what 9 months per year in total. He didn't mention what visa he is using. If setv extension each time, I see it as maybe a problem.

I agree it should not be an issue...but

[donnacha]

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

The procedure will be flown back to where you embarked (last leg) or original.

If then rejected entry to that country you will be flown to your passport country. At your expense. 

That may be correct in theory but, in practice, Thai IOs usually allow you to fly to another country in the region. Source: the majority of cases reported on this forum.

No one should bet on that, of course, so, the smart play is to avoid flying long distance into either of the Bangkok airports. Fly into the hubs of countries in the region with sane, consistent approach to visitors, such as KUL, SIN, HKG.

 

Edited March 5, 2020 by donnacha

[Caldera]

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That's what 9 months per year in total. He didn't mention what visa he is using. If setv extension each time, I see it as maybe a problem.

I agree it should not be an issue...but

He wrote: "My schedule is 3 month on 28 days off."

 

I read that as being away from Thailand for 3 months, then coming to Thailand for 28 days.

 

[jacko45k]

13 hours ago, firemans35 said:

I work in Iraq. My schedule is 3 month on 28 days off. I usually go to Thailand on my off time. That doesn't make me a tourist?

Have you yet to be told you are not? Are you being admitted into Thailand based on a Visa Exempt (for tourism purposes) or a Tourist Visa?

[DrJack54]

8 hours ago, donnacha said:

That may be correct in theory but, in practice, Thai IOs usually allow you to fly to another country in the region. Source: the majority of cases reported on this forum.

No one should bet on that, of course, so, the smart play is to avoid flying long distance into either of the Bangkok airports. Fly into the hubs of countries in the region with sane, consistent approach to visitors, such as KUL, SIN, HKG.

 

The opposite in fact is the case. I can recall of 2 cases only of folk being allowed to fly to nearby country. One was a guy fly in from Bali denied entry and somehow managed to be able to fly to nearby destination. Also one other similar story.

Both posters flew with Thai Air.

To the contrary many cases where the folk denied are flown straight back to where they embarked. That is the norm.

 

[Sambotte]

I have read somewhere that the "non-official" rule is about 2 visit per year on exemption, maybe on tourist visa too.

 

Anyway since it's unofficial rules (with excuse of lack of money without even asking for it), i mean uncertainty, better to come via Kuala Lumpur for example, with a cheap frequent ticket from Air Asia for example. Could be just a 100$ extra, and it's a good Back-up plan.

Back-up plan indeed ????

No but it's not funny at all, to put people in detention for no reason even short time is a shame, first. Uncivilized. Like USA i must add.

Should be clear rules.

 

But here actually the IO has been imo very nice to you OP, at least you get warned, so you know what to expect, and you can prepare.

[mockingbird]

33 minutes ago, Sambotte said:

I have read somewhere that the "non-official" rule is about 2 visit per year on exemption, maybe on tourist visa too.

 

 

Not true.  Has absolutely nothing to do with the amount of times you come to Thailand, it's the amount of time you spend here that they care about. 

 

There is an official enforced rule of only 2 land entries per year on visa exemption, but no limit on flying in. 

[graexx]

On 3/4/2020 at 5:51 PM, BritTim said:

They were telling you that, at that particular airport, your history of tourist entries had triggered an unofficial rule that could see you denied entry in the future through some airports and land crossings. You should take this as a hint to use safer entry points, and (if entering by air) make sure you are entering with an actual visa. Almost all land crossings are safe. With a visa, Chiang Mai airport and U-Tapao airport have been fine historically.

Tanks BritTim, I'll keep it in mind.

[graexx]

On 3/5/2020 at 9:05 AM, Alidiver said:

Are you on Visa exempts, single or multi entry tourist visas? 

Usually sgle entry visas

[graexx]

On 3/4/2020 at 3:21 PM, Chivas said:

Why have exceeded that annually for 30 odd years bar the last 2

You might fit in harmoniously with some of the IOs I've come across of late ????