New Rule on re-entry to Thailand?

[ChrisKC]

A French friend of mine while doing his 90 Day report at Lampang Immigration yesterday, 31 March, was told through his Thai wife, that from 1st of April, upon entering Thailand with a re-entry visa (while on retirement extension), would need to show B800,000 in the bank. 

 

This information relayed to me by my wife who's Thai friend was discussing this with an Immigration Officer.

 

As it relates to me, I am returning from Malaysia (after about four days) to Chiang Mai by air in late June and need to be sure this is a fact.

 

I do use an Agent and yesterday they told me they knew nothing of it. In the meantime, I ask on this forum if anyone else knows anything that resembles the opening sentence or if something has been lost in translation.

 

In my written conversation later with the Agent they told me something I am not prepared to publish direct in this forum. Please PM me to find out out what it was - it was very surprising!

[Smokey and the Bandit]

This is Aprils Fools Day!!

Good One!

[DrJack54]

OP, relax it's nonsense. 

[ChrisKC]

I should have pre-fixed my story with a disclaimer of it not being an April Fools joke.

 

[proton]

Not a bad idea though which would only trouble the cheaters

[mikeymike100]

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, relax it's nonsense. 

Quite, it is !st of April today?

[mikeymike100]

1 minute ago, proton said:

Not a bad idea though which would only trouble the cheaters

The only way they could do it,  would be to check the 'bank book', I assume?

Most folks including Myself keep the bank book, amongst other things,  in a safe place, actually in a safe. How many people carry it around with themselves when traveling internationally?

[Tod Daniels]

9 minutes ago, ChrisKC said:

I should have pre-fixed my story with a disclaimer of it not being an April Fools joke.

 

This sounds a LOT like a "lost in translation" where the immigration officer is taking AT a foreigner thru his thai significant other???? (who as a rule doesn't know ANYTHING about visas/extensions/re-entry etc).. I am calling this "suspect info" at best ????

[KannikaP]

11 minutes ago, proton said:

Not a bad idea though which would only trouble the cheaters

And what about us who legitimately transfer 65k every month from abroad?

[Lemsta69]

5 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

The only way they could do it,  would be to check the 'bank book', I assume?

Most folks including Myself keep the bank book, amongst other things,  in a safe place, actually in a safe. How many people carry it around with themselves when traveling internationally?

They'd just ask you to open the banking app on your phone. Simples.

[KannikaP]

1 minute ago, Lemsta69 said:

They'd just ask you to open the banking app on your phone. Simples.

And if you do not have a phone or the app?????

[Dante99]

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

And what about us who legitimately transfer 65k every month from abroad?

Well then you are refused entry.  But most likely the info posted above is incorrect or at least incomplete.

[Lemsta69]

Just now, KannikaP said:

And if you do not have a phone or the app?????

One-way ticket to IDC.

[mikeymike100]

2 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

They'd just ask you to open the banking app on your phone. Simples.

What about those folks that don't have a smartphone? Or if they do, don't have the banking app?

[ChrisKC]

4 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

And what about us who legitimately transfer 65k every month from abroad?

Good point. I would also argue why B800,000, when after retirement extension granted, only B400,000 needs to be in the bank!

[mikeymike100]

3 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

One-way ticket to IDC.

So let me get this straight, a person has a valid extension of stay stamp in a passport, a valid re-entry permit and because he or she doesn't have the correct app, or it doesn't work, or the battery is flat or some other technical reason, they will be refused entry?????

[Lemsta69]

5 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

What about those folks that don't have a smartphone? Or if they do, don't have the banking app?

A very long wait in a holding cell until you can come up with the goods. Bring a good book or three.

[KannikaP]

5 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

A very long wait in a holding cell until you can come up with the goods. Bring a good book or three.

Please stop your silly answers. I know it is 1st April, but yours are beyond a joke. Thanks.

Edited April 1, 2023 by KannikaP

[mikeymike100]

4 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

A very long wait in a holding cell until you can come up with the goods. Bring a good book or three.

IDC better get a much larger holding cell?????????

[mikeymike100]

Just now, KannikaP said:

Please stop your silly answers. Thanks.

Quite, I did my yearly extension last week in Jomtien/Pattaya with a multi re-entry, nothing was said, its complete garbage!

If they had changed the rules which would impact a significant number of folks, somebody would have heard something?

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Quite, I did my yearly extension last week in Jomtien/Pattaya with a multi re-entry, nothing was said, its complete garbage!

Exactly.....however apparently TM47 and reentry permits can soon be done at all 7-11 stores. 

 

[KannikaP]

13 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Quite, I did my yearly extension last week in Jomtien/Pattaya with a multi re-entry, nothing was said, its complete garbage!

If they had changed the rules which would impact a significant number of folks, somebody would have heard something?

The OP did say that this would apply from 1st April.

[Lemsta69]

25 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Please stop your silly answers. I know it is 1st April, but yours are beyond a joke. Thanks.

You're the one that's being silly. If such a rule was actually implemented how else could the Immigration folk at the borders enforce it without being able to see the person's bank account in real or near-real time?

 

If passbook, assuming it is deemed acceptable, is not available and neither is phone banking then what other choice does the IO have? They'd either deny entry or hold you somewhere until you can provide the proof of ฿800k.

[mikeymike100]

6 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

The OP did say that this would apply from 1st April.

Yes i read that, but don't you think they would have said something, plus nobody else, as yet, has confirmed it?

Don't you think if there was any truth in it, there would be a hot news item on the subject?

[Rimmer]

Unattributed scaremongering hearsay 

 

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