Getting into Thailand after visa history

[IlyaATL]

So here is the deal:

 

My wife and I are planning to travel to Thailand this coming December. 

 

I am a US citizen, while she is a citizen of another country (not Thailand). Since her nationality is granted a 90-day stamp on arrival (not now, but when we arrive), getting a TR visa for her is not an option.

 

The small issue is that she has a visa history in Thailand. A few TR visas, and a couple of ED visas (I think she may have had a 1-day overstay in 2017 or 2018, but that was in a previous passport). While she was applying for her visa into the US in order to reunite with me, the sickness fell upon the world. Her school ended up putting her on a "volunteer visa", then she switched to COVID extensions. Eventually, I made it in to Thailand during the sickness, and long story short, we ended up leaving Thailand for the US back in August of 2021. We haven't been in Thailand ever since. So it has already been more than 2 years.

 

Obviously, my question is whether she can expect to be scrutinized when entering through Suvarnabhumi Airport?

 

Naturally, we will have onward tickets, as well as more than the required amount of cash on us.

 

Has anyone had any experience of entering Thailand after a stint of a year or more abroad, while having a history of staying in Thailand on back-to-back TR visas, ED Visas, Volunteer visas, and/or COVID extensions?

 

Thank you in advance!

 

 

[DrJack54]

2 years out of Thailand, no issue at all to return .

Visa exempt if you wish or tourist visa for you.

Seems she can be given 90 stamp no visa..

[sidneybear]

She's been out of Thailand for two years, so she should have no problems. It's obvious she's not trying to live in Thailand.

[Bunny Silverhand]

No problem whatsoever.

[bigt3116]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

2 years out of Thailand, no issue at all to return .

Visa exempt if you wish or tourist visa for you.

Seems she can be given 90 stamp no visa..

To quote a mod here

 

"There doesn't appear to be any specific nationality they're targeting, no number of days in thailand, no previous number of entries, although ED and Volunteer visas (especially those b/s back door ones people got during covid and those covid extension stamps are considered "stamps of death" .. "

 

So actually, she can expect to be scrutinized on arrival.

[DrJack54]

22 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

 

So actually, she can expect to be scrutinized on arrival.

Scrutinized yes....denied entry very unlikely.

Friend of mine obtained one of the rubbish "Volunteer visas"

back when it was thought by many that the 45 day extensions would end.

After his volunteer visa he returned to Oz and year later he returned to Thailand and was questioned by io at BKK.

 

Edited October 19, 2023 by DrJack54

[DrJack54]

OP, you may wish to read this thread as it discusses returning to Thailand having previously had a "volunteering visa" (bent one).

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1243227-has-anyone-re-entered-thailand-after-expiration-of-a-dodgy-volunteer-visa/

[IlyaATL]

Thank you for your replies! I have read that other thread. However, it is more than a year old and I believe that the people who had that issue, were out of Thailand for a relatively short time.

 

On that topic, would it be worth it for us to buy the VIP fast track immigration service?

 

Edit: if questioned by the IO, how would we go about it? 

Edited October 19, 2023 by IlyaATL
Edit

[bear9]

2 hours ago, IlyaATL said:

Thank you for your replies! I have read that other thread. However, it is more than a year old and I believe that the people who had that issue, were out of Thailand for a relatively short time.

 

On that topic, would it be worth it for us to buy the VIP fast track immigration service?

 

Edit: if questioned by the IO, how would we go about it? 

Be able to show an onward flight ticket

Be able to show 20,000 baht in cash for each of you or the equivalent 

Print out of hotel bookings

Print out of bank statements showing sufficient funds

Some kind of travel plan written down 

[edwardandtubs]

2 hours ago, IlyaATL said:

 

On that topic, would it be worth it for us to buy the VIP fast track immigration service?

 

Edit: if questioned by the IO, how would we go about it? 

The official VIP fast track immigraton service will be of absolutely no help to you at all. You can contact an agent and they offer dodgy services where you meet a "helpful" immigration officer in another part of the airport and they give you a fast track entry but as others have said, clearly not necessary in your case.

 

A lot of people are talking about being "questioned" by immigration, which sounds mysterious and rather scary but having been through it myself, it really isn't. Here's what happened. The IO at the gate you queue up at spent ages scrutinising my entries on his computer. He didn't say a word to me but contacted someone on one of the official smartphones you can see on the desk. Another immigration officer came to get me and took me to a corner where there's an office, some desks and a waiting area with lots of seats. About 20 people are waiting there, mostly from the Middle East, India and Africa. He gave me a form to fill in and told me to wait an hour to speak to the IO in charge. The form just asks you how much money you have in cash, the accommodation you'll be staying in and your return flight number and date. When the IO in charge came over I wouldn't say I was "questioned". We just chatted about my holiday plans and then she said I needed to buy a ticket that returned me to the UK within 90 days. Everyone was polite.

Edited October 19, 2023 by edwardandtubs

[bigt3116]

3 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

We just chatted about my holiday plans and then she said I needed to buy a ticket that returned me to the UK within 90 days.

That would suggest that you entered on either a Non-Imm or a SETV ? Not visa exempt?

 

[edwardandtubs]

6 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

That would suggest that you entered on either a Non-Imm or a SETV ? Not visa exempt?

 

I was pulled aside because I tried to enter visa exempt but in the waiting area I checked my email and my SETV had arrived a couple of hours before landing. This was a definitely a factor in the head IO's more relaxed attitude so to be ultra cautious the OP and his girlfriend might consider getting one.

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

I was pulled aside because I tried to enter visa exempt but in the waiting area I checked my email and my SETV had arrived a couple of hours before landing. This was a definitely a factor in the head IO's more relaxed attitude so to be ultra cautious the OP and his girlfriend might consider getting one.

The official rules are completely different when trying to enter visa exempt rather than when you hold a visa. Indeed, when you hold a visa, there are only a few reasons (as specification in Section 12 of the Immigration Act) for which you should be denied entry. The assumption is that your eligibility for a visa has already been verified by the embassy/consulate.