currently stuck in Phuket airport (denied entry)

[siwiek]

I haven't been to Thailand for 5 months already, spent a few months in my home country and then other countries. Came back to Thailand for Christmas, absolute nutjob IO picks me out of the line because I was checking my phone off to the side and says to follow him. He asks for my boarding passes from prior flights to make sure it's not "fake" (they were not) but then comes back after 30 minutes and has a young girl hand me a form agreeing to be denied entry for lack of funds despite never even asking me for proof of funds (I have lots of money).

 

The same IO was screaming at several Asian tourists who were trying to take a photo to "stop being Chinese!!!!" (they were not Chinese).

 

I hadn't been in Phuket for over a decade, and now I remember why I never transfer here. What an absolute third world shet hole, might be my last trip to Thailand. I guess that's what they want, anyways?

 

And before trolls come, no I didn't have drugs, no I'm not lying about anything, and no I didn't do back to back border runs. I was in Thailand for several months early in the year, followed all rules and laws, that's it....

 

 

[lopburi3]

Do you have a visa for entry?  Did you have a visa for previous visit(s).  Was there more than one previous visit?  What country was your current travel from?

[Old Croc]

Were you taking photos in the arrival hall? That could set them off.

Were you disrespectful when questioned, many have a fragile ego.

I'm not right up on procedures, but I think you have an appeal right, others may know more. To refuse for lack of funds without checking would be grounds.

[BritManToo]

42 minutes ago, siwiek said:

has a young girl hand me a form agreeing to be denied entry for lack of funds despite never even asking me for proof of funds (I have lots of money).

Don't sign the form.

Ask to appeal to the minister.

[Andre0720]

This IO was certainly looking for a reason to deny you an entry. Earlier boarding passes, nobody ever asks for that, then walking away to find a better reason. Lack of funds, with no supporting documentation.

Hopefully you did not sign that form.

And you are in a position where you need to make him 'lose face', by contesting his decision.

Can you go back to this same IO, totally apologetic that you forgot to show 'proof of funds'. They used to take brown envelopes, I do not know if this is still the case.

But try appealing to him, with deep 'wai's, otherwise, you might at least be at this airport for a while...

Good luck...

[ChaiyaTH]

13 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Don't sign the form.

Ask to appeal to the minister.

Yeah at least try to go for it until near the very end, good chance they wanna avoid the hassle and stamp you in. Find it a weird story anyway, why would he be taken out of line and then be given a form, details are missing. Random BS happens anyway, I had a german friend being refused a tourist visa while he only had 1 before too. He then decided to just fly in for the next 4-5 times, extend each time, and so far got no complaints at all. It's just random as fk.

[richard_smith237]

Stand your ground... 

 

 

IF you have funds and a visa. OR... IF you have funds and an onward ticket.

 

Funds need to be 20,000 baht or currency equivalent. 

Ticket out needs to be within one month (if entering visa free - i.e. visa stamp on arrival).

 

Ask to speak with a supervisor - remain calm, polite, but confidently firm. 

 

Tell them they are attempting to deny you for having no funds, and that is incorrect - ask they why they really want to deny you.

 

They may well suspect you of working here, so be prepared to show proof of your work at home (or overseas) which indicates proof that you will not be working here. 

 

 

 

[DrJack54]

Sounds like strange story.

Even statements such as "show all previous boarding passes" 

That's weird as not possibl.

 

In similar situation, I would be asking for advice .

The first piece would have been "don't sign anything" 

 

First post ever.

Bit unusual to to ask important advice first time ever. 

[JWNZ]

Guess a lot comes down to your history, not the break in between, maybe he doesn't think you are a tourist, based on past accumulated days here maybe?

[bamnutsak]

New sheriff in town.

 

https://thai.news/news/thailand/shrouded-beginnings-the-enigmatic-rise-of-phukets-new-immigration-chief

 

Surprised you weren't shown the tip jar.

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

First post ever.

Bit unusual to to ask important advice first time ever. 

 

Not at all....   Thats the very purpose of this forum at inception (Thai Visa.com)... 

 

It makes perfect sense he's posted for a first time here... he's in a tough spot and is now scrambling for advice, he probably found this forum after doing a search - this forum is the perfect place for the advice he needs.

 

 

 

 

[siwiek]

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

Do you have a visa for entry?  Did you have a visa for previous visit(s).  Was there more than one previous visit?  What country was your current travel from?

No visas in 2023. Current travel was from Indonesia where I lived a few months, my home country was before that also a few months...

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, siwiek said:

No visas in 2023. Current travel was from Indonesia where I lived a few months, my home country was before that also a few months, reason seems like the IO was super grumpy (and queer, so, super grumpy).

 

It seems there is no legal reason to reject you entry. 

 

They can't reject you on a whim, they need to have a valid reason or knowledge of you working, or you have too many entries (which you don't)

 

It seems their legal reason at the moment is to cite that you do not meet the entry requirements - insufficient funds. 

IF you have cash funds of more than 20,000 baht - you do meet the 'funds' requirement - in which case you can ask to speak with a supervisor and prove that you have the cash and that their reason is wrong. 

 

They may well try and find another reason (i.e. suspect you of working) but they can't prove that.

 

But you need to keep politely pushing.

 

[OJAS]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Don't sign the form.

Ask to appeal to the minister.

 

Which I believe he can do by submitting a completed TM11 form:

 

https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/8.อุทธรณ์คำสั่งของพนักงานเจ้าหน้าที่ที่ให้เดินทางออกนอกราชอาณาจักร-ตม.11.pdf

 

Definitely a form which he should sign IMHO!

 

[TroubleandGrumpy]

Ask what the fine is that you need to pay for taking photos or whatever else you did wrong unknowingly.

Dont sign any paperwork - none.

If they dont want you to pay a fine, then ask to leave the country ASAP.

If your Passport is stamped (blacklisted in Thai?), then never come back to Thailand.

If your passport is not stamped, then never arrive in Phuket again

And never use a phone in an airport near the Immigration Checkpoint - or whatever it was you did that made you look 'suspicious'.

[TroubleandGrumpy]

6 minutes ago, OJAS said:

Which I believe he can do by submitting a completed TM11 form:

https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/8.อุทธรณ์คำสั่งของพนักงานเจ้าหน้าที่ที่ให้เดินทางออกนอกราชอาณาจักร-ตม.11.pdf

Definitely a form which he should sign IMHO!

I think that only applies to someone already in Thailand that is being thrown out.

[impulse]

To the OP. Please post back with your results and any additional insights you may gain during the process.

 

Thanks, from a lot of us.

[Maestro]

31 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

I think that only applies to someone already in Thailand that is being thrown out.

 

It is for denial on arrival. Section 22 of the Immigration Act.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IIR4rIcSf8i8hr01Zr5YwXbsN-ojnIjF/view?usp=drivesdk

[expat_4_life]

I don't want to imply that the OP has any "checkered history" only they know

There are only a few ways refused entry could happen (with the limited info avail)
1) something popped up on the immigration computer (rightly or wrongly)
2) they met the wrong IO on the wrong day (possible)
3) they were traveling/acting in some perceived suspicious pattern/manner (singled out)

I been singled out on arrival several times over the decades (worked for an airline, traveled internationally thousands of times), twice in Thailand, several times elsewhere ... been drug tested, had the sniffer dogs appear, strip searched, luggage searched and extensively questioned, it happens - my best guess is simply extensive travel.

Certainly be interesting to see how this works out for the OP, my guess is singled out as that is my experience, best of luck

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

 

If your Passport is stamped (blacklisted in Thai?), then never come back to Thailand.

 

A denied entry isn't the same as being blacklisted. Nobody stops you from re-attempting to enter at any point of entry on any other day. Of course it would be a good idea to choose wisely. 

[Sheryl]

@siwiek you mention having been in-country for several months earlier in  the year but also said no visas which would imply a visa-exempt entry, which only provides for max 60 day stay. Did you do some sort of extension after that such as a "volunteer" extension or extension through an agent?  As they seem to feel something was amiss in your prior stay.

 

 

[novacova]

1 hour ago, expat_4_life said:

I been singled out on arrival several times over the decades (worked for an airline, traveled internationally thousands of times), twice in Thailand, several times elsewhere ... been drug tested, had the sniffer dogs appear, strip searched, luggage searched and extensively questioned, it happens - my best guess is simply extensive travel.

Wow you are a walking red flag. I’ve traveled the world over countless times over the years, the only incident of the above I’ve ever experienced was routine dogs checking the baggage areas for dope and money. Never been targeted, not once, not yet anyways.

[sd44]

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Stand your ground... 

 

 

IF you have funds and a visa. OR... IF you have funds and an onward ticket.

 

Funds need to be 20,000 baht or currency equivalent. 

Ticket out needs to be within one month (if entering visa free - i.e. visa stamp on arrival).

 

Ask to speak with a supervisor - remain calm, polite, but confidently firm. 

 

Tell them they are attempting to deny you for having no funds, and that is incorrect - ask they why they really want to deny you.

 

They may well suspect you of working here, so be prepared to show proof of your work at home (or overseas) which indicates proof that you will not be working here. 

 

 

 

The ticket out is understandable but i came last week, visa excempt, married to a Thai for 13 years, and my return is for 23rd January. I did buy an onward ticket just in case, but neither Klm or the lady at immigration asked to see one. She just asked how long i was staying for, and i replied that i would extend later. I did the same last year too. 

[The Fugitive]

30 minutes ago, sd44 said:

The ticket out is understandable but i came last week, visa excempt, married to a Thai for 13 years, and my return is for 23rd January. I did buy an onward ticket just in case, but neither Klm or the lady at immigration asked to see one. She just asked how long i was staying for, and i replied that i would extend later. I did the same last year too. 

Down to the airline and to a certain extent the check-in agent. I was asked for sight of my retirement extension in September when checking-in on Thai Airways at Munich airport. On another occasion in Lisbon the check-in agent explained that if I was flying TAP Air Portugal there is no requirement but I was flying Air Europa who have. However, she felt it was unfair to treat passengers differently so exercised her discretion and permitted me to board. Unfortunately, upon transit in Madrid staff didn't agree and I was deboarded.

[siwiek]

Thanks for all the help. I haven't been able to respond to everything but here's a summary:

 

I refused to sign the confession despite the IO getting in my face multiple times and screaming at me and also locking me and another guy in a holding room for 2 hours. 

 

He then had his intern girls tell me that I was going to have my passport blacklisted but wouldn't let me see it. The girls told me to book a ticket asap back to Kuala Lumpur which was my transfer airport between Indonesia and Phuket. 

 

Anyway the IO was lying, no such blacklist stamp in my passport after Air Asia gave it back to me. I think he's trying to hide from legal liability because he knows this entire thing was just Thai temper from losing face after my boarding passes were proven not fake like he accused me of.

 

I can't overstate how crazy this IO was acting literally running around screaming at various people. He must be the supervisor because he was not at a booth.

 

Now I'm stuck in KL airport because despite their police being very nice and professional and Air Asia being awesome throughout this, the official policy is that I can't pass into Malaysia for 1 week apparently. So they have instructed me to find another outgoing flight anywhere, but it should be Air Asia. I can't leave this terminal.

[siwiek]

Ps. nope I wasn't taking photos or being disrespectful and in fact, right before this IO told me to "follow him" he actually first told me to be sure my return ticket was before January 9. It's like a flip switched in his brain and he U-turned and starting screaming at "Chinese" people and then me.

[Caldera]

9 minutes ago, siwiek said:

Now I'm stuck in KL airport because despite their police being very nice and professional and Air Asia being awesome throughout this, the official policy is that I can't pass into Malaysia for 1 week apparently. So they have instructed me to find another outgoing flight anywhere, but it should be Air Asia. I can't leave this terminal.

 

That's quite an ordeal. Maybe you can find a flight from KL to Laos (Vientiane) and enter Thailand overland from there.

[richard_smith237]

53 minutes ago, sd44 said:

The ticket out is understandable but i came last week, visa excempt, married to a Thai for 13 years, and my return is for 23rd January. I did buy an onward ticket just in case, but neither Klm or the lady at immigration asked to see one. She just asked how long i was staying for, and i replied that i would extend later. I did the same last year too. 

Individual anecdote - proof an onward ticket or proof of visa is commonly requested at airline check-in.

 

[richard_smith237]

15 minutes ago, siwiek said:

Ps. nope I wasn't taking photos or being disrespectful and in fact, right before this IO told me to "follow him" he actually first told me to be sure my return ticket was before January 9. It's like a flip switched in his brain and he U-turned and starting screaming at "Chinese" people and then me.

 

The IO sounds like an absolute lunatic and most definitely not someone who should be in that position.

I imagine there are many in the forum with the right knowledge and connections in Thailand to put this vermin in his place. 

 

Your treatment seems not only wholly unfair, but also illegal - its just a shame there is no opportunity to get a face to face with someone reasonable. 

 

Do you know the final reason for your refusal of entry ? - did they still claim lack of funds even when you showed them funds ?

 

----

 

Moving forwards... You can't leave the airport and you can't enter Malaysia (as per your comment).

There are no direct flights from KL to Laos.

Your options are

- fly into Bangkok and try again (any stamp in your passport / do you know of any online record of refused entry?)

- fly to a neighbouring country and bus to the border.

 

You mentioned Air-Asia so are you now at the LCCT (low cost city terminal and not the main KLIA terminal) ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[novacova]

34 minutes ago, siwiek said:

Thanks for all the help. I haven't been able to respond to everything but here's a summary:

 

I refused to sign the confession despite the IO getting in my face multiple times and screaming at me and also locking me and another guy in a holding room for 2 hours. 

 

He then had his intern girls tell me that I was going to have my passport blacklisted but wouldn't let me see it. The girls told me to book a ticket asap back to Kuala Lumpur which was my transfer airport between Indonesia and Phuket. 

 

Anyway the IO was lying, no such blacklist stamp in my passport after Air Asia gave it back to me. I think he's trying to hide from legal liability because he knows this entire thing was just Thai temper from losing face after my boarding passes were proven not fake like he accused me of.

 

I can't overstate how crazy this IO was acting literally running around screaming at various people. He must be the supervisor because he was not at a booth.

 

Now I'm stuck in KL airport because despite their police being very nice and professional and Air Asia being awesome throughout this, the official policy is that I can't pass into Malaysia for 1 week apparently. So they have instructed me to find another outgoing flight anywhere, but it should be Air Asia. I can't leave this terminal.

Why not fly into Vientiane and walk across the border.