Will they let me enter Thailand under these circumstances?

[thaiasia]

Hello, I'm from Finland.

 

A few years back (2016-2018) I went to Thailand, and did several visa runs to Malaysia and Laos. So I stayed in Asia for about 2,5 years. Then, one time at Don Mueang, they almost denied entry, took me to a separate area where I had to show them how much cash I had. They went thru my passport stamps and calculated how many days I had spent in Thailand, altogether. After about 2 hours, someone told me they can let me enter Thailand just this one more time, but that I'm somehow "marked" in their computer system and would be denied entry next time if I come back to Thailand without a visa or with just a tourist visa. They also mentioned both Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports.

 

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Also, if I were to go to Thailand again, and they deny entry at Suvarnabhumi, is it possible for me to choose the destination and go to Malaysia (or some other country) instead of going all the way back to Finland?

 

Edited August 6, 2022 by thaiasia

[DrJack54]

You can enter thailand no issue.

You can enter visa exempt or obtain tourist visa. 

[MrJ2U]

You shouldn't have any problem.  

 

Perhaps fly into Cambodia then fly or crossover from there.  Phnom Penh is pretty fun city!  Easy, cheap flights to BKK.  Evisa makes it a breeze. 

 

 

Edited August 6, 2022 by MrJ2U

[DrJack54]

19 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

You shouldn't have any problem.  

 

Perhaps fly into Cambodia then fly or crossover from there.  Phnom Penh is pretty fun city!  Easy, cheap flights to BKK.  Evisa makes it a breeze. 

 

 

Would make zero difference.

OP has not stated where he is flying from.

Going via Cambodia would be zero advantageous 

[thaiasia]

13 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Would make zero difference.

OP has not stated where he is flying from.

Going via Cambodia would be zero advantageous 

Thanks for the replies DrJack54 and MrJ2U. I'm currently in Finland, and was planning to take a straight flight to BKK from Finland. I have a new passport too.

 

I'm still a little anxious over my travel history, and if they see it in their computers and how strict they are if they do. It was a slightly traumatic experience last time at Don Mueang ????

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, thaiasia said:

I'm still a little anxious over my travel history, and if they see it in their computers and how strict they are if they do. It was a slightly traumatic experience last time at Don Mueang ????

Seriously you have ZERO issue.

On an aside, DMK has history of over zealous io at the time you had an issue.

Relax and fly to thailand.

My guess is you will enter at BKK airport.

You will have zero problem. 

 

Edited August 6, 2022 by DrJack54

[DrJoy]

16 minutes ago, thaiasia said:

I have a new passport too.

 

They finger print each arrival, you may/may not escape by holding a new PP.

 

I assume your fingerprints/biometrics are unchanged.????

[thaiasia]

6 minutes ago, DrJoy said:

They finger print each arrival, you may/may not escape by holding a new PP.

 

I assume your fingerprints/biometrics are unchanged.????

Fingerprints and everything else are the same than before, only a new passport ????

[thaiasia]

25 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Seriously you have ZERO issue.

On an aside, DMK has history of over zealous io at the time you had an issue.

Relax and fly to thailand.

My guess is you will enter at BKK airport.

You will have zero problem. 

 

Thanks again. Yes, it would be BKK. I'm not gonna worry about it too much then ????

[DrJoy]

4 minutes ago, thaiasia said:

Fingerprints and everything else are the same than before, only a new passport ????

Just buy a throw away ticket here -

 

https://onwardticket.com/form

[MrJ2U]

8 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

flying from

Finland.

 

"Hello, I'm from Finland" 

 

If he's forced to return he'll be sent back to Cambodia.

 

It's also a great place to go and easy to enter Thailand from.  Land or air.  

 

As stated I said he'll have no problems in my previous post.

 

 

 

[DezLez]

8 hours ago, DrJoy said:

They finger print each arrival, you may/may not escape by holding a new PP.

 

I assume your fingerprints/biometrics are unchanged.????

Were they doing fingerprints in 2018,?

I thought that was quite new!

[DrJack54]

27 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

9 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

flying from

Finland.

 

"Hello, I'm from Finland"

If you quote me don't take 2 words out of context.

 

I actually stated..."OP has not stated where he is flying from.".

 

Cambodia suggestion is a red herring.

 

[bendejo]

You were razzed for doing visa runs, you didn't mention if they suspected you of some sort of monkey business.  If not it's only imm. stuff, they wouldn't have let you in otherwise.  You've been away 4 years and have a clean passport, relax.

If you want to see Cambodia, here's your excuse.

 

Malaysia has been doing fingerprinting on arrival (and maybe departure?  can't recall) since first decade of the century.

 

 

Edited August 7, 2022 by bendejo

[BritTim]

Coming back after years away you will have no problems entering.

 

When you need to start being careful is if you again start coming often with only short gaps between your visits. At that point, it would probably be prudent to avoid the Bangkok airports (or any airports if entering visa exempt).

[JimTripper]

I don't think immigration cares where you depart to and going to a particular country is not enforcable. Just book a ticket to Cambodia on your phone and fly out if needed.

 

Same with other countries who want you out.

Edited August 8, 2022 by JimTripper

[thaiasia]

In Thailand! You guys were right.. immigration was a breeze ????

[DrJack54]

21 minutes ago, thaiasia said:

In Thailand! You guys were right.. immigration was a breeze ????

Well done and went as some predicted. 

BTW assume you entered visa exempt.

Any question re onward flight from airline at your departure? 

 

Any questions from the immigration officer at passport control upon entry? 

Edited October 7, 2022 by DrJack54

[thaiasia]

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Well done and went as some predicted. 

BTW assume you entered visa exempt.

Any question re onward flight from airline at your departure? 

 

Any questions from the immigration officer at passport control upon entry? 

Yes, I entered visa exempt. I bought the ticket from onwardticket.com but nobody asked. In Finland, I used the self check in service, and no one asked any questions at the departure gate either.

 

The immigration officer at Suvarnabhumi didn't ask any questions.

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

Why don't you apply for a visa before you come to Thailand?

That obviously doesn't guarantee that you will be able to come to Thailand, but if you don't get a visa then you don't have to try to fly to Thailand. And if you get the visa only with problems then that should also give you a better idea about your situation.

 

[DrJack54]

13 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Why don't you apply for a visa before you come to Thailand?

Why should he.

Thailand offer visa exempt entry why not use it. 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Why should he.

Thailand offer visa exempt entry why not use it. 

Because Thailand does not guarantee that everybody who wants to enter can enter.

So instead of booking a flight and finding out on arrival in Thailand that for whatever reason they don't let him in he can apply for a visa back home.

If he gets that visa, fine. And if not then he didn't waste money on a flight.

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Because Thailand does not guarantee that everybody who wants to enter can enter

And that's why Thailand recently increased visa exempt entry to 45 days. 

SETV is 60 days. 

Both have 30 day extension available.....so 75 (visa exempt) vs 90 (tourist visa) 

Think about it. 

On top of that easy border bounce for another 45 day visa exempt. 

Edited October 7, 2022 by DrJack54

[Dan O]

23 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

And that's why Thailand recently increased visa exempt entry to 45 days. 

SETV is 60 days. 

Both have 30 day extension available.....so 75 (visa exempt) vs 90 (tourist visa) 

Think about it. 

On top of that easy border bounce for another 45 day visa exempt. 

Expanding visa exempt time ( and VOA ) has nothing to do with not allowing some to not enter if imm feels it's not appropriate.

 

Its was extended as a way to allow for a long stay and more money to be spent for those categories.

 

You push visa exempt to everyone but a lot of people feel better with a visa and the longer stay it allows. Visa exempt is an easy option for some but not the end all be all for everyone.

[OneMoreFarang]

30 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

And that's why Thailand recently increased visa exempt entry to 45 days. 

SETV is 60 days. 

Both have 30 day extension available.....so 75 (visa exempt) vs 90 (tourist visa) 

Think about it. 

On top of that easy border bounce for another 45 day visa exempt. 

But that still does not guarantee that everybody under all circumstances can just come in.

And that is what this thread is about.

What's the point of arriving at the airport and thinking you get 45 or 60 days and then the immigration officers tell you: Sorry sir, no entry for you. And maybe they explain why.

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Sorry sir, no entry for you. And maybe they explain why

Go do some research of someone (recently) refused entry using visa exempt.

 

There is currently 2+ threads regarding this.

All (including this thread) were admitted entry.

Try to be informed. 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Go do some research of someone (recently) refused entry using visa exempt.

 

There is currently 2+ threads regarding this.

All (including this thread) were admitted entry.

Try to be informed. 

 

So it seems you think that nobody ever is refused entry using visa exempt, correct? 

[Sparktrader]

On 8/7/2022 at 10:01 AM, MrJ2U said:

Finland.

 

"Hello, I'm from Finland" 

 

If he's forced to return he'll be sent back to Cambodia.

 

It's also a great place to go and easy to enter Thailand from.  Land or air.  

 

As stated I said he'll have no problems in my previous post.

 

 

 

Good idea.