Illegally denying entry with a tourist visa or visa exempt at an airport?

[JoseThailand]

We all read the horror stories about how people were denied entry and deported simply based on the fact that they "stayed in Thailand too long". But what are the legal grounds for that? From what I read, in these situations immigration officials falsify the reason for deportation, citing "insufficient funds" or similar, where the person clearly meets all the legal requirements (holds enough money on them, has an hotel booking, return ticket etc.). There is no official rule about "staying in Thailand too long", that's why they need to make up some false reason. 

 

Of course, not everyone who gets a hard time with immigration at an airport gets deported. Often they are allowed entry after an interrogation. I had a similar experience myself. I was allowed entry but was offered a "special service" for the future - a guaranteed entry for $100. The officer even showed me his phone with a lot of customers paying for this service. This means that they create these obstacles to make people pay them.

 

What can we do in such situations? As law-abiding tourists, we don't overstay, we don't work in Thailand illegally. Our only "crime" is that we stay in Thailand too long, which is ridiculous. We need to assert our rights. There is an immigration hotline number, which we can call if our rights are violated. In case of unlawful deportation, we have time to file an appeal. And if we encounter a fact of corruption ($100 for entry), we should report it. 

[Gottfrid]

2 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

There is an immigration hotline number, which we can call if our rights are violated. In case of unlawful deportation, we have time to file an appeal. And if we encounter a fact of corruption ($100 for entry), we should report it. 

Yep, sure! However, that might just be the department that get 20 out of the hundred. Then everything goes wayward, right?

[JoseThailand]

Just now, Gottfrid said:

Yep, sure! However, that might just be the department that get 20 out of the hundred. Then everything goes wayward, right?

Sometimes reporting helps. I complained to the Bangkok Bank head office about a branch employee who tried to make me buy an insurance to open an account. The next day they they called me back from the branch, apologized and offered to open an account without an insurance.

[Olmate]

2 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

Sometimes reporting helps. I complained to the Bangkok Bank head office about a branch employee who tried to make me buy an insurance to open an account. The next day they they called me back from the branch, apologized and offered to open an account without an insurance.

And you.declined! Why complain then! 

[JoseThailand]

Just now, Olmate said:

And you.declined! Why complain then! 

Because it's corruption. The bank doesn't want to lose a customer because of a corrupt employee.

[Gottfrid]

4 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

Because it's corruption. The bank doesn't want to lose a customer because of a corrupt employee.

If you have a problem with corruption, then Thailand might not be the smartest choice for you. However, to get rid of that problem, It would be a pretty fair guess that you have to leave the planet.

[JoseThailand]

Just now, Gottfrid said:

If you have a problem with corruption, then Thailand might not be the smartest choice for you. However, to get rid of that problem, It would be a pretty fair guess that you have to leave the planet.

It doesn't mean that we need to bend over, spread our butt cheeks and try to enjoy the process.

[Gottfrid]

3 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

It doesn't mean that we need to bend over, spread our butt cheeks and try to enjoy the process.

No, you are totally free to leave Thailand alone and chose, in your opinion, a better country. Or, you can, of course, continue to visit/stay/live here and keep up the complaining.

[JoseThailand]

1 minute ago, Gottfrid said:

No, you are totally free to leave Thailand alone and chose, in your opinion, a better country. Or, you can, of course, continue to visit/stay/live here and keep up the complaining.

This can happen in any country if you are being pussy and don't care if your rights are violated.

[Olmate]

4 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

It doesn't mean that we need to bend over, spread our butt cheeks and try to enjoy the process.

You would.moan even if you did enjoy the.'process"????

[JoseThailand]

3 minutes ago, Olmate said:

You would.moan even if you did enjoy the.'process"????

And you try to keep your mouth shut and just take it in?

[Gottfrid]

8 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

This can happen in any country if you are being pussy and don't care if your rights are violated.

There is no rights violated. They set their own rules. Here it clearly stands in the immigration law, that a decision is at the discretion of the immigration officer. If that does not suit you, then Thailand does not suit you. It can of course be another reason for it all. That is, you can not fill the requirements for a visa/extension, that is designed for long stay. Therefore a lot of wining. ???? 

I can, and never had a single problem.

Edited July 17, 2022 by Gottfrid

[Gottfrid]

5 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

And you try to keep your mouth shut and just take it in?

Why would we keep quiet and just listen to you (take it in)? This is a forum where people have different opinions and share them. Not nice of you to violate other members rights.

[JoseThailand]

4 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Here it clearly stands in the immigration law, that a decision is at the discretion of the immigration officer.

If so, why do they falsify the evidence, citing "insufficient funds" for example?

[JoseThailand]

8 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

That is, you can not fill the requirements for a visa/extension, that is designed for long stay.

I meet all the official requirements for a tourist visa or visa exempt. The law doesn't limit the number of entries by air. The corruption does.

[EVENKEEL]

38 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

Sometimes reporting helps. I complained to the Bangkok Bank head office about a branch employee who tried to make me buy an insurance to open an account. The next day they they called me back from the branch, apologized and offered to open an account without an insurance.

Bangkok Bank wanted me to buy insurance as well. When I refused she got a bit huffy and said then I would need to open account with 20K thb. My response, fine here you go 20K.

[FriendlyFarang]

14 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Here it clearly stands in the immigration law, that a decision is at the discretion of the immigration officer.

Why do you make up things? That's not what Thai immigration law says.

[JoseThailand]

1 minute ago, EVENKEEL said:

Bangkok Bank wanted me to buy insurance as well. When I refused she got a bit huffy and said then I would need to open account with 20K thb. My response, fine here you go 20K.

In my case, she plainly refused to open an account for me without an insurance. That's why I had to complain and make her lose face.

[EVENKEEL]

1 minute ago, JoseThailand said:

In my case, she plainly refused to open an account for me without an insurance. That's why I had to complain and make her lose face.

In Isaan BB told me farang no have account. In Bangkok they told me I had to get a letter from my Embassy. Went to Patts just to open account. 

[JoseThailand]

Just now, EVENKEEL said:

In Isaan BB told me farang no have account. In Bangkok they told me I had to get a letter from my Embassy. Went to Patts just to open account. 

In Pattaya they ask for insurance. That's where my story happened.

[ubonjoe]

4 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

What can we do in such situations? As law-abiding tourists, we don't overstay, we don't work in Thailand illegally. Our only "crime" is that we stay in Thailand too long, which is ridiculous. We need to assert our rights. There is an immigration hotline number, which we can call if our rights are violated. In case of unlawful deportation, we have time to file an appeal.

You would not be deported since you never entered the country. You would be denied entry  for one of the reasons listed in the immigration act. This has been discussed ad nauseam in the past.

You can submit a appeal and immigration would have 7 days to approve or disapprove it. 

 

This is the form: TM11 appeal form.pdf135.52 kB · 165 downloads

 

Edit: It is time to get back on topic. if you want to discuss opening bank accounts there are many other topics about it.

Edited July 17, 2022 by ubonjoe

[Gottfrid]

23 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

I meet all the official requirements for a tourist visa or visa exempt. The law doesn't limit the number of entries by air. The corruption does.

Once upon a time, before individuals started to decide what the meaning of words is for them, it was very clear what tourism meant. That was something people did on their holidays from work. Like visiting a country and then going home. That is why your visa has the part name tourist.

[JoseThailand]

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You would not be deported since you never entered the country.

That's a very useful clarification, thanks.

[Gottfrid]

32 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

If so, why do they falsify the evidence, citing "insufficient funds" for example?

Because it´s easier. That´s Thailand. Like it or not.

[JoseThailand]

7 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Once upon a time, before individuals started to decide what the meaning of words is for them, it was very clear what tourism meant. That was something people did on their holidays from work. Like visiting a country and then going home. That is why your visa has the part name tourist.

But why does this tourist visa allow up to 3-month stay? That's way beyond the normal 2-week holiday tourism you're talking about.

Edited July 17, 2022 by JoseThailand

[itsari]

56 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

It doesn't mean that we need to bend over, spread our butt cheeks and try to enjoy the process.

The process as you call it can be helpful too . Just go with the flow 

[Dante99]

22 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

This has been discussed ad nauseam in the past.

ad nauseam

 

Thanks Joe.

[ubonjoe]

46 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

If so, why do they falsify the evidence, citing "insufficient funds" for example?

They can deny entry under chapter 2  section 12 of the immigration act.

"2. Having no appropriate means of living following entrance into the Kingdom."

See: Immigration Act B.E. 2522 English translation

[JoseThailand]

9 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

"2. Having no appropriate means of living following entrance into the Kingdom."

Yes, that's what they cite. But the problem is that they falsify the facts. The individual may have enough funds in cash and still get denied entry as "having no appropriate means...".

Edited July 17, 2022 by JoseThailand

[simon43]

Having read all posts in this thread, I get the feeling that Thailand might not be the best holiday or long-term destination for the OP...