I have an METV, valid for use until mid-April. I am 60+, European, but still with some work back home. I obtained the METV (eVisa) easily from my local embassy back in October.

I had a very unpleasant experience at Don Mueang recently, after returning from a few days in Laos. After a long time scrutinising my passport, the IO summoned a supervisor and I was taken aside and questioned. Actually, not questioned, but lectured to and told that I could not possibly be a tourist (too much time in Thailand …). I was eventually stamped in for 60 days, but told I couldn’t use my METV again to enter. It is valid until mid-April, and I had planned to go home to Europe for 3 weeks before then (for work reasons), and a further spell in Thailand with side-trips to Malaysia and Japan before returning to Europe at the end of May. That’s now all up in the air.

Instead, I now have a note in my passport saying my next entry must be on a non-immigrant visa. The IO also said I was not allowed to enter visa-exempt.

As a datapoint, my travel history is as follows:

On this visa: Entered start November, 4 weeks Thailand, 2 weeks Japan, 6 weeks Thailand, 4 days Laos

Previously in 2023: 2 trips to Thailand, total 11 weeks (first 45-day visa-exempt; second SETV)

2022: 3 trips to Thailand, total 22 weeks (first SETV, carried over from 2021; second SETV + extension, third 45-day visa exempt)

2021: 2 trips to Thailand, total 17 weeks (first 45-day visa exempt (inc 14 days quarantine) + extension; second SETV).

All visas issued by my home embassy.

I am a genuine tourist, in the sense that I just like spending time in Thailand. I don’t have a relationship here, and I’m certainly not doing business or working here. I know that the retirement option is open to me (and may be the only solution now), but I am loathe to do this when I still intend to carry out some work (accounting) back home for a few years. So frustrating.

I’m interested in any positive ideas or feedback.

That schedule does not look like a tourist travelling around, it looks like a person doing business with Thailand as a base. Many others do the same, that said ,  I'm not at all surprised that you got pulled over. Just bad luck that you picked on a conscientious IO 

Sadly, I got nuthin' for the OP, but this is another data point that anyone with any doubt at all about their immigration and visa status should avoid flying into DMK.

 

11 minutes ago, Orient Express said:

I have an METV, valid for use until mid-April. I am 60+, European, but still with some work back home. I obtained the METV (eVisa) easily from my local embassy back in October.

I had a very unpleasant experience at Don Mueang recently, after returning from a few days in Laos. After a long time scrutinising my passport, the IO summoned a supervisor and I was taken aside and questioned. Actually, not questioned, but lectured to and told that I could not possibly be a tourist (too much time in Thailand …). I was eventually stamped in for 60 days, but told I couldn’t use my METV again to enter. It is valid until mid-April, and I had planned to go home to Europe for 3 weeks before then (for work reasons), and a further spell in Thailand with side-trips to Malaysia and Japan before returning to Europe at the end of May. That’s now all up in the air.

Instead, I now have a note in my passport saying my next entry must be on a non-immigrant visa. The IO also said I was not allowed to enter visa-exempt.

As a datapoint, my travel history is as follows:

On this visa: Entered start November, 4 weeks Thailand, 2 weeks Japan, 6 weeks Thailand, 4 days Laos

Previously in 2023: 2 trips to Thailand, total 11 weeks (first 45-day visa-exempt; second SETV)

2022: 3 trips to Thailand, total 22 weeks (first SETV, carried over from 2021; second SETV + extension, third 45-day visa exempt)

2021: 2 trips to Thailand, total 17 weeks (first 45-day visa exempt (inc 14 days quarantine) + extension; second SETV).

All visas issued by my home embassy.

I am a genuine tourist, in the sense that I just like spending time in Thailand. I don’t have a relationship here, and I’m certainly not doing business or working here. I know that the retirement option is open to me (and may be the only solution now), but I am loathe to do this when I still intend to carry out some work (accounting) back home for a few years. So frustrating.

I’m interested in any positive ideas or feedback.

60 weeks total. A lot. You should have said you have a Thai partner with sick parents. Trying to help out. Thais view such actions very favourably.

17 minutes ago, Orient Express said:

I know that the retirement option is open to me (and may be the only solution now), but I am loathe to do this when I still intend to carry out some work (accounting) back home for a few years.

 

Having a retirement visa here doesn't prevent you from working outside of Thailand.

26 minutes ago, Orient Express said:

I’m interested in any positive ideas or feedback.

Not saying it's correct attitude from the immigration officer however think your issue is that you have a good option since you are 60+

Have you ever had a non O? 

 

Everyone refers to "retirement visa" 

In actual fact is a non O with annual extensions and the requirement is age 50+. 

Retirement is not required.

Work in Thailand prohibited. 

 

 

 

25 minutes ago, Orient Express said:

I now have a note in my passport saying my next entry must be on a non-immigrant visa. The IO also said I was not allowed to enter visa-exempt.

 

Please post a photo of this note, they don't always (ok, rarely) say what the officer tells you they do, obviously remove any identifying data.

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Not saying it's correct attitude from the immigration officer however think your issue is that you have a good option since you are 60+

Have you ever had a non O? 

 

Everyone refers to "retirement visa" 

In actual fact is a non O with annual extensions and the requirement is age 50+. 

 

 

 

I haven't - yet. I did consider this pre-Covid but the pandemic changed things and I continued to work. I guess it is the only option now so I will pursue it.

 

1 minute ago, Crossy said:

 

Please post a photo of this note, they don't always (ok, rarely) say what the offictells you they do, obviously remove any identifying data.

Well, it is written in English so I can tell you exactly what it says. 🙂

"Next time need apply non-immigrant visa".

 

She also spent about five minutes typing something on my record, and I got pic and fingerprints taken again.

2 minutes ago, Orient Express said:

Well, it is written in English so I can tell you exactly what it says. 🙂

"Next time need apply non-immigrant visa".

 

She also spent about five minutes typing something on my record, and I got pic and fingerprints taken again.

 

The problem is that many of our members would like to see the actual message placed in your passport.

 

They are an untrusting lot.

 

Just get a non imm o based on retirement, avoid the drama and stress. First 15 months 30k incl multi re-entry permit, subsequent year 12,500 + re-entry permits.

 

If you have the financials it's a lot cheaper but more dramas

14 minutes ago, Orient Express said:

"Next time need apply non-immigrant visa".

In my earlier post I suggested that the OP (in her mind) was wanting most suitable visa and that would be a non O based on retirement and not a tourist visa.

 

Frankly I do not believe that the io wrote that phrase into pp.

Screenshot will do just fine. 

12 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

The problem is that many of our members would like to see the actual message placed in your passport.

 

They are an untrusting lot.

 

13 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Just get a non imm o based on retirement, avoid the drama and stress. First 15 months 30k incl multi re-entry permit, subsequent year 12,500 + re-entry permits.

 

If you have the financials it's a lot cheaper but more dramas

Yes, I will via an agent. I will be able to provide the funds but need to open a bank account.

21 minutes ago, Orient Express said:

Well, it is written in English so I can tell you exactly what it says. 🙂

"Next time need apply non-immigrant visa".

 

 

   Are they legally allowed to write notes in your passport ?

1 minute ago, Orient Express said:

Wooh.

I apologize.

There it is as you posted earlier.

Again sorry for that.

Thai do not even write grammar that way.

Well apart from this one

non-OA would suit OP like a glove IMHO.

3 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Are they legally allowed to write notes in your passport ?

I was surprised, but once it's done it's done.

 

This IO was very determined and I'm pretty sure had decided what she was going to do before she even spoke to me. I couldn't get a word in edgeways.

8 minutes ago, Orient Express said:

Yes, I will via an agent. I will be able to provide the funds but need to open a bank account.

Agent for opening an account is about 5k including bogus insurance, if you put the 800k in ASAP then easy to do the next steps yourself, otherwise agent will still charge 20k+ probably 

If they didn’t actually cancel the visa, then it is still valid. Perhaps try suwannaboom next time. 

2 minutes ago, khunjake said:

If they didn’t actually cancel the visa, then it is still valid. Perhaps try suwannaboom next time. 

The problem is I don't know what she wrote into my record. She did say categorically that I couldn't re-enter as a tourist, so I don't think I'd risk it.

10 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Agent for opening an account is about 5k including bogus insurance, if you put the 800k in ASAP then easy to do the next steps yourself, otherwise agent will still charge 20k+ probably 

I think I'll take the hit - I just want to get it over and done with, preferably over the next three weeks so that I can stick to my original travel plans.

1 hour ago, uttradit said:

60 weeks total. A lot. You should have said you have a Thai partner with sick parents. Trying to help out. Thais view such actions very favourably.

 

60 weeks in 3+ years is not that much. Someone recently mentioned in a post that the IO at an airport actually asked for the partner's phone number in order to talk to her...

18 minutes ago, khunjake said:

If they didn’t actually cancel the visa, then it is still valid. Perhaps try suwannaboom next time. 

 

If a remark is in the passport, or computer, Suvarnabhumi IOs will act (out) the same. (Talking from experience.)

You've really got to admire the logic. You have the TAT spending many millions trying to attract tourists to Thailand. Then you have the RTP making it really difficult for a tourist who paid for a valid VISA and has been travelling within the terms of its issue.

21 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

If a remark is in the passport, or computer, Suvarnabhumi IOs will act (out) the same. (Talking from experience.)

It's ambiguous, because "next time need apply non-immigrant visa" doesn't mean this METV is not still valid for entries until its expiry date in April unless it was canceled.

1 hour ago, Ben Zioner said:

non-OA would suit OP like a glove IMHO.

OA will require medical insurance, O is better

13 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

It's ambiguous, because "next time need apply non-immigrant visa" doesn't mean this METV is not still valid for entries until its expiry date in April unless it was canceled.

 

Fair enough. I never heard of a METV questioned either, so maybe just rogue IOs at Don Muang. Suvarnabhumi may let it go, but who knows...

20 minutes ago, Woof999 said:

You've really got to admire the logic. You have the TAT spending many millions trying to attract tourists to Thailand. Then you have the RTP making it really difficult for a tourist who paid for a valid VISA and has been travelling within the terms of its issue.

 

Yes, it doesn't make sense. IOs at the two Bangkok airports were even out to deny people at the beginning of the pandemic when tourist numbers started to decline. Perhaps, every tourist who was declined should write a protest letter to the TAT. After a hundred, or so, perhaps the IOs will, at least, have to give a valid reason for this.

43 minutes ago, Orient Express said:

I have an METV, valid for use until mid-April. I am 60+, European, but still with some work back home. I obtained the METV (eVisa) easily from my local embassy back in October.

I had a very unpleasant experience at Don Mueang recently, after returning from a few days in Laos. After a long time scrutinising my passport, the IO summoned a supervisor and I was taken aside and questioned. Actually, not questioned, but lectured to and told that I could not possibly be a tourist (too much time in Thailand …). I was eventually stamped in for 60 days, but told I couldn’t use my METV again to enter. It is valid until mid-April, and I had planned to go home to Europe for 3 weeks before then (for work reasons), and a further spell in Thailand with side-trips to Malaysia and Japan before returning to Europe at the end of May. That’s now all up in the air.

Instead, I now have a note in my passport saying my next entry must be on a non-immigrant visa. The IO also said I was not allowed to enter visa-exempt.

As a datapoint, my travel history is as follows:

On this visa: Entered start November, 4 weeks Thailand, 2 weeks Japan, 6 weeks Thailand, 4 days Laos

Previously in 2023: 2 trips to Thailand, total 11 weeks (first 45-day visa-exempt; second SETV)

2022: 3 trips to Thailand, total 22 weeks (first SETV, carried over from 2021; second SETV + extension, third 45-day visa exempt)

2021: 2 trips to Thailand, total 17 weeks (first 45-day visa exempt (inc 14 days quarantine) + extension; second SETV).

All visas issued by my home embassy.

I am a genuine tourist, in the sense that I just like spending time in Thailand. I don’t have a relationship here, and I’m certainly not doing business or working here. I know that the retirement option is open to me (and may be the only solution now), but I am loathe to do this when I still intend to carry out some work (accounting) back home for a few years. So frustrating.

I’m interested in any positive ideas or feedback.

I suggest that you advise (not complain) to the issuing embassy (Ministry of foreign affairs) that their issued visa No ####### does not seem to be fulfilling its purpose expectation (including a picture of the  stamp in your passport), and ask them to please clarify. Advise them by hard copy proof of delivery post on return to home country, if no e-mail response.

 

"I now have a note in my passport saying my next entry must be on a non-immigrant visa". Very weird! The MFA may find that useful information as well, as you don't desire a continuous stay even for 60 days. issue of Visa's being MFA jurisdiction (two ministries out of sync?)

 

Look on the bright side, your not tax resident 🙂