Was refused to leave Thailand

[Hellfire]

Hello everyone and Ubonjoe

 

 May be somebody could advise on my situation.
I stayed in Thailand for 3 years on Covid visas. My last covid extension expires in 3 days on 22.11. Because of many covid extensions my passport had no any more free pages and I visited my embassy and got the new passport + the embassy letter. Then I visited the Pattaya immigration in order to transfer the stamp to the new passport. There I was told that since I don’t apply for any new extensions - they are not supposed to transfer the stamp and this will be  done while leaving the country (at the border crossing).

Yesterday I took a bus from Pattaya to the Cambodian border. In the departure window on the border they first told me to pay 500 baht for the transfer of the stamp to the new passport. However, 10 minutes later I was told that they will not let me out to Cambodia because «have too many visas».

I asked what am I supposed to do - and he told me to go to Chaeng Wattana to transfer the stamp and to get 7 days extension then leave the country.

What are my options? Why am I supposed to go to Bangkok if I am registered in Pattaya immigration? Are there any options for me to leave the country and then to come back again (from Laos or Cambodia)? Thank you for help

 

[richard_smith237]

I may be mistaken... 

You don’t have ‘visas’ you have exemptions based on Covid-19...  (and have had these for approx 3 years you mention / I think you mean about 2.5 years from mid 2020  ?).

 

As Immigration no longer issue Covid exemptions I suspend that they are telling you IF you leave you may not be permitted to return as you have ‘too many visas’.... (exemptions).

 

I’m not sure IF a covid extension can be transferred into a new passport - but your expires anyway... so there is no point transferring that. 

 

Also, I’m don’t think you can do a ‘passport swap’ at a land border. 

i.e. Exit on one passport (your full one), enter Cambodia on your new passport, then exit and re-enter Thailand on your new passport. 

 

If I’m not mistaken is a 'passport swap’ is only permitted when travelling by air. 

 

 

I think what Immigration have suggested is that you go to Immigration and Apply for a new 7 day extensions to get your affairs in order (so you don’t end up on overstay) and then find another way to remain in Thailand... 

i.e. Non Imm Visa (if you have that option available to you), or obtain a Tourist Visa in a neighbouring country (if they’ll issue one to you), or Tourist Visa in your home country etc... 

 

 

As you specifically wrote to UbonJoe, I’m sure he’ll be here with better advice - but from what you have mentioned it seems Immigration have ‘protected you’ from being ’stuck’ outside of Thailand with them not permitting your return on a visa exempt based on too many Covid extensions (and not proper visa’s).

 

 

 

Edited November 20, 2022 by richard_smith237

[ubonjoe]

You try doing what the suggested at border crossing.

Stay in hotel for one night in Bangkok and ask for a screen shot of the TM30 report they will do online.

Then go to to get the 7 day stamp to leave the country after your current extension stamp is transferred to your passport.

It appears you will need to go the Laksi Square office to get it done. Info is at the bottom of this page.

https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/courses/muangthongthani-will_be-closed/

[richard_smith237]

8 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You try doing what the suggested at border crossing.

Stay in hotel for one night in Bangkok and ask for a screen shot of the TM30 report they will do online.

Then go to to get the 7 day stamp to leave the country after your current extension stamp is transferred to your passport.

It appears you will need to go the Laksi Square office to get it done. Info is at the bottom of this page.

https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/courses/muangthongthani-will_be-closed/

Doesn't his current Covid exemption stamp expire on 22-Nov ??

 

What would be transferred into his new passport ? - the same stamp expiring on 22nd Nov and a 7 day extensions on top of that ?

 

And then fly out to either his home country or a neighbouring country and secure a ‘real’ visa on which to enter Thailand ? (i.e. A Tourist Visa) 

Edited November 20, 2022 by richard_smith237

[richard_smith237]

7 minutes ago, Jack1988 said:

Thai immigration makes it difficult as always. To me this country is finished since many years already 

Every country makes it difficult to game the immigration rules...  Thailand has in fact made it extremely easy by offering Covid extensions well beyond the period travel was restricted due to Covid-19.

 

 

[ubonjoe]

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

What would be transferred into his new passport ? - the same stamp expiring on 22nd Nov and a 7 day extensions on top of that ?

They would transfer the stamp allowing him to stay in the country as proof he was legally in the country when his stamps were transferred and the 7 day extension stamp.

[JoseThailand]

Was it at the Ban Laem border crossing?

[Hellfire]

36 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

Was it at the Ban Laem border crossing?

Yes

[BritManToo]

Land borders, they won't let you out, if they think you intend to return but they are likely to refuse your return.

Fly somewhere and you won't encounter that problem.

[Pla Simon]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Doesn't his current Covid exemption stamp expire on 22-Nov ??

 

What would be transferred into his new passport ? - the same stamp expiring on 22nd Nov and a 7 day extensions on top of that ?

 

And then fly out to either his home country or a neighbouring country and secure a ‘real’ visa on which to enter Thailand ? (i.e. A Tourist Visa) 

No need to fly anywhere, unless really wants to..

 

Hellfire is still entitled to a border bounce before the end of the calendar Year - regardless of how many covid stamps he has had.

 

Indeed, I just enjoyed my second bounce yesterday - after similarily being on covid stamps since the start.

 

Got 45 days without any problems atall @ O'smach - which can be extended for a further 30 in Thailand.

[JoseThailand]

3 hours ago, Hellfire said:

Yes

I had the same problem there (almost 3 years on covid extensions), but with persistence and determination managed to cross the border. They have no legal rights to refuse you exit.

 

I didn't need to transfer stamps to another passport though.

Edited November 20, 2022 by JoseThailand

[JoseThailand]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Land borders, they won't let you out, if they think you intend to return but they are likely to refuse your return.

Fly somewhere and you won't encounter that problem.

This happens all the time. They let people out, but refuse them entry.

[Hummin]

8 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

This happens all the time. They let people out, but refuse them entry.

Those who are stopped pushed their luck to far, violating the easy in and out travel aimed for true tourist. Thats why they are denied return, or do you believe immigration  are just evil deleted bastards, just deleting with you? 

Edited November 20, 2022 by Hummin

[JoseThailand]

2 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Those who are stopped pushed their luck to far, violating the easy in and out travel aimed for true tourist. Thats why they are denied return, or do you believe immigration  are just evil deleted bastards, just deleting with you? 

There is a clear defined rule for visa exempt countries - no more than 2 entries via a land border per calendar year. Some people are unaware of this rule and get justly refused entry.

[Hummin]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

I hated going to immigration, and ended up using agent so as not have to.

Just as well there were other things to want to go through the hassle for.

Only hassel if you can not meet the requirements set for visa or reenter the country. 
 

You guys continue the false truths about complicated immigration based on false information. 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

Only hassel if you can not meet the requirements set for visa or reenter the country. 
 

You guys continue the false truths about complicated immigration based on false information. 

Perhaps you didn't have to use the Chiang Mai office. Every year they invented stupid new rules, or changed the size or colour of photo, or changed colour of pen.

[Hummin]

54 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Perhaps you didn't have to use the Chiang Mai office. Every year they invented stupid new rules, or changed the size or colour of photo, or changed colour of pen.

I had a few f ups with them had to get new pics of home and us, and tried to deliver one day to early, and we living 86 km away. I can understand your frustration when <deleted> like that happens to many times. Except from that they have been great to me and very helpful. 

[BritTim]

11 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

Was it at the Ban Laem border crossing?

That is surprising. Usually, that kind of issue arises at Aranyaprathet/Poipet.

 

Easiest, frankly, would have been to leave by air if you were unable to transfer stamps where you last did an extension of your permission to stay. There is no difficulty getting an exit stamp in the new passport when leaving via Suvarnabhumi as long as you allow extra time.

[ArtVandelay]

I'm still confused.  They wouldn't let the OP out of Thailand because of what specifically?   

A few years ago I was able to change to my new passport at Aranya Pratet.  Paid the 500 Baht.  Took almost an hour, though.  

[Pla Simon]

3 hours ago, ArtVandelay said:

I'm still confused.  They wouldn't let the OP out of Thailand because of what specifically?   

A few years ago I was able to change to my new passport at Aranya Pratet.  Paid the 500 Baht.  Took almost an hour, though.  

It confused me also, and in stark contrast to my own experiences.

 

I can only assume Hellfire was at the wrong border point at the wrong time.

 

Over the Years, I have transferred stamps here 3 times over 4 passports - twice at Laotian border points - once at my local office. The only sticking point I have ever encountered was the last time - it was a weekend - the senior i/o was playing football, so I had to wait for him to be contacted, to make a phonecall to a subordinate, to sort it out.

 

I must point out, I can't recall ever being charged for the service.

 

I'm sure once Hellfire jumps through the appropriate hoops, he'll get sorted - I would perhaps avoid such a checkpoint in the future.

[ubonjoe]

3 hours ago, ArtVandelay said:

I'm still confused.  They wouldn't let the OP out of Thailand because of what specifically?   

  

Apparently to prevent him from being stuck in Cambodia since they would of denied him entry to here.

[VocalNeal]

14 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

or changed the size or colour of photo, or changed colour of pen.

Then get different pictures and use a Blue pen.

[Hellfire]

14 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

I had the same problem there (almost 3 years on covid extensions), but with persistence and determination managed to cross the border. They have no legal rights to refuse you exit.

 

I didn't need to transfer stamps to another passport though.

Yes, they cannot refuse you to exit. But if one intends to cross the border back in a matter of 1-2 hours  - do they have a right to refuse him the entrance then? I think they do.  
 I try to solve my problem the way ubonjoe has offered (although I figured it out myself before he posted). What I need is to request a 7 days extension from the immigration (this one they cannot refuse). And that new 7 days stamp can only be issued to the new passport. Next time at the border, I will only show my new “clean” passport and not the one with 15 covid stamps in it. Hope this should work.

[Hellfire]

15 hours ago, Hummin said:

Those who are stopped pushed their luck to far, violating the easy in and out travel aimed for true tourist. Thats why they are denied return, or do you believe immigration  are just evil deleted bastards, just deleting with you? 

Every single Covid stamp that I got - was issued by the same Thai immigration which then accuses me of “too many stamps” on the border. And every single stamp was paid for. So, how exactly I violated the law? How can I know if  I violated anything if one and the same instance has different opinions about its own actions? Are they allowed be so inconsistent ? 

 

Edited November 21, 2022 by Hellfire

[Lemsta69]

3 minutes ago, Hellfire said:

Are they allowed be so inconsistent ? 

Yes.

[Hellfire]

23 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Apparently to prevent him from being stuck in Cambodia since they would of denied him entry to here.

Exactly. If my intention was to leave Thailand for Cambodia and not to come back the same day - I would, of course, insist on letting me out.

[Hellfire]

1 minute ago, Lemsta69 said:

Yes.

And should we consider this behavior normal and acceptable? And to blame everything on the end user (a person traveling)? 

[Lemsta69]

23 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Apparently to prevent him from being stuck in Cambodia since they would of denied him entry to here.

Thanks for the explanation, it's starting to make more sense now. Usually people who intend to do out/in border bounces don't plan for contingencies like getting denied re-entry to Thailand and may not have the resources to make it from the border to Phnom Penh for a tourist visa etc

 

They don't want to strand the guy in rural Cambodia with no chance of getting back in so refusing exit is the order of two evils.

[Lemsta69]

3 minutes ago, Hellfire said:

And should we consider this behavior normal and acceptable? And to blame everything on the end user (a person traveling)? 

Yes, we should consider it normal and acceptable behaviour otherwise we'll go mad trying to fight it ????

 

Blaming the end user is of course ridiculous and you're right to get upset about that. 

Edited November 21, 2022 by Lemsta69

[Hummin]

10 minutes ago, Hellfire said:

Every single Covid stamp that I got - was issued by the same Thai immigration which then accuses me of “too many stamps” on the border. And every single stamp was paid for. So, where exactly I violated the law? And how can I know if  I violated anything if one and the same instance has different opinion about its own actions? Are they allowed be so inconsistent ? 

 

I see this one, and understand your frustrations, my reply was more of a general observation based on those I know who have been stopped in immigration.

 

At least he stopped you from exit, with no return.