Good luck - let us know how you get on!

9 hours ago, DFpad said:

2. I am going to make the land border crossing anyway as I need to know. I have researched the various land crossings from Malaysia and Cambodia - is there any border crossing that you would advise that may make this easier?

As you have no recent long-stay history in Thailand, the choice of border-crossing is mostly irrelevant - though I would avoid the Poipet/Aranyaprathet border from Cambodia, as they are generally unhelpful.    Your decision to come via a land-border is wise - just in case of issues.

In general, you could  be asked to show a flight-out (to anywhere) within the permitted-stay given, a hotel-booking (can be just a few-days), and 20K baht worth of cash (in any convertible-currency).   They generally only ask this of people with recent longer-stay histories - but maybe your old-ban could flag you for this treatment.

 

What DOES matter, is that the immigration database does not flag you as banned.  All entry points will deny-entry for this. 

Hopefully, your lawyer is correct, in which case you will be fine.  I recall old reports of banned-status not being revoked after the ban-period had passed, but they have apparently / hopefully updated this in your case. 

OP, perhaps I missed it howeverw you did not mention departure airport.

From most countries a border entry would involve transit airport. 

Eg KL. 

You could try onward flight to Thailand. 

Worst case scenario flown back to departure point at your expense.

Why not apply for tourist visa to Thailand and fly direct. 

 

you should be fine.  a friend was blacklisted for 2 yrs, came right back no problem, without talking to a lawyer or anything I will add.  same guy got blacklisted again and for 5 yrs the second time.  some people never learn. 

 

his 5 yrs has now expired and he is planning on coming back again sometime this yr.  pretty sure when he left last time they told him, "see you in five years"

 

if they wanted you blacklisted for life that is what you would have gotten, not just ten years.  enjoy your trip!

On 8/20/2024 at 3:05 AM, DFpad said:

Hi,

 

Thank you for all of your input. I have decided to go and do a land border crossing in two weeks.

 

To confirm, the situation. One lawyer told me recently:

 

"The immigration office has informed us that your name is not listed on the list of people prohibited from entering Thailand."

 

Incident was 12 years ago.

 

Within the first year of the incident, I was on a trip with Thai Airways from Malaysia to Vietnam that transited in BKK. Whilst in transit, I tried to get through immigration for a couple of hours and they stopped me, but let me go into the business lounge to wait for my connection as I already hard the boarding pass for the onward flight (i.e. I wasn't deported).

 

Two years later I had a similar trip to Hanoi with a transit in BKK. First flight was with Thai Airlines and the connection was with Vietnam Airlines from BKK to Hanoi. When I checked in for the first flight I got a "DNB" but after a lot of discussion they let me board because of my connection through to Hanoi.

 

So, certainly 10 years ago I was on a "list".

 

1. Is it possible that immigration perhaps migrated within the last 10 years to a new system and my blacklist hasn't been carried across? This would explain the lawyer getting a response form an immigration officer that I am not on any list at this time?

 

2. I am going to make the land border crossing anyway as I need to know. I have researched the various land crossings from Malaysia and Cambodia - is there any border crossing that you would advise that may make this easier?

 

Thanks

How did everything go?  Was you allowed to enter?