I've been denied entry to Thailand - Now What ! ?

[Tod Daniels]

The first thing is DO NOT panic, many many hundreds of people per week are denied entry and it is not the end of the world OR of your time in thailand.  

If you are being denied entry it does not mean you're being "deported" (to get deported you have to be stamped IN to thailand) what they are doing is not letting you in this time.

DENIED AT A LAND CROSSING
When you are denied entry at a land border, all they do is put a denial of entry stamp in your passport and send you back to the country you just stamped out of. That country voids your exit stamp and they let you back in. Then you either fly in, go to a consulate and BUY a real tourist visa to come back OR try to "work something out" with the people at the border to get in the next day when the border opens. Most land borders have people approach you as soon as you go back to the country you just left when you're denied. They'll offer a way to "get you in tomorrow" for a fee. It really does work and I know people who ended up cutting a deal with those people showing up at the border at 6am the next morning and skating right in no issue.

Usually what you can't do once you have a denial of entry stamp from one border is to go try another border because that seems to not work at all. I know peopled denied entry at one Cambo boder, slog over to another one and be told, nope you can't cross out here, go fly back to thailand      

DENIED BY AIR ENTRY
If you're denied entry flying in, you'll get pulled aside, questioned about what you're doing coming into thailand so much on free stamp entries, told you're being denied entry, given some story about 90 days in 180 (which is a fake rule) even shown a sheet in english stating that.
 

First tip - remain calm, you're not the first person denied entry, you're not even the first person that day. It happens, in fact it happens a LOT; especially at BKK (Suvarnabhumi), DMK (Don Mueang) and now we're seeing more and more denials at HKT (Phuket)
Interestingly there hasn't been a confirmed denial of entry at CNX since the country re-opened after covid 😮 )   

Second tip - DO NOT SIGN the denial of entry forms (which are usually all in thai except your name). If you don't sign them they can't put a denial of entry stamp in your passport. Don't get me wrong, they will still deny you entry and it'll be in the computer database that you were denied, but they won't put that GIANT half page stamp in it for everyone to see everytime an officer pages thru your passport

Generally you're sent back to the airport you just flew in from, but they can let you go to any country you can get in to. One thing to keep in mind is the officer has the right to make you go back to country of passport origin (doesn't matter in the least if you live there or not). So if push comes to shove they can make you use a flag carrier and go back there.  The flight out is your expense.      

You'll get put into IDC holding at the airport, it is not fun, BUT it's about 1000 times better than IDC lock up at Suan Plu in Bangkok, so be glad that's where you are. Depending on the officer you can sometimes "pay" to have them take you around, get food, get money out of an ATM, you can still use your mobile phone, etc. You just kill time until your flight out. Usually they'll give your passport to the steward on the flight and you'll get it when you land.

Sadly once you're in lock up at the airport it's WAY too late to call a safe entry company to help you get in. That is something you have to set up BEFORE you fly in. Although believe it or not, if you contact one of them when you're denied you can set it up so you can fly in the next day (even at the same airport) and you'll get right in.   

No matter what they tell you the reason is, 99.99% of the denial of entry by air and land all say the same time "no means of support" the thai will say ไม่มีปัจจัยยังชีพตามสมควร. That's because it's one of the ONLY reasons you can be denied entry. There is no "you used too many visa exempt entries by air" rule, there is no 90 in 180 rule, there is no "you stay too long in thailand" rule. Those are just b/s excuses parroted to you by the officer. they will write "no means of support" stamp on the denial of entry stamp. They will write that as the reason even if you show them the proof of funds in CASH that you can be asked for (20K baht or the equivalent), it's just the reason they stamp in why you were denied  

Many people ask, IF I have a valid tourist visa to thailand will I get in? The answer to that is no, a tourist visa does not guarantee you get in to thailand. It only means that if they let you in, you get in for the 60 days that visa allows. It's your previous entry/stay history that controls you getting in free stamp or on a tourist visa, whereas if you have a new Non-Immigrant type visa you will get in no matter your entry/stay history.

I probably get 10 or more messages each week from people being denied entry at land borders or some airport here. Not much can be done once the decision is made to deny you entry, you just go thru the process and get sent back out. THEN you come up with a plan to get back in. This is one reason I tell people not to burn BOTH their free stamp land entries and to keep one in reserve because that way IF you're denied by air, you can just fly to a border country and enter by land. That's actually how most people who are denied by air get back in. They fly to KL, then to Penang and cross at Sadao      

Hope this helped, sorry it was long, perhaps it had some value

Here's a denial of entry stamp and the reason I mentioned

[NativeBob]

Brilliant and very clear. 

Too many fear mongers and now - complete instruction "how to do".

Sadao and something Bazar - are the most polite and kind checkpoints, meanwhile Aranyapratet (???) - the worst. Been denied there once.

 

Yes, I saw a couple in Dong Muang denied by the officer just "because he didn't like their attitude" - I guess they were pretty drunk. Some baltics according to their look and very thick accent 

[John2021]

I got a lady at suvarnabumi and she started looking at every page on my passport even from 2022 complaining i come to Thailand too often despite i spend lot of time abroad or traveling around the world for work (i think they dont like stamps from laos and cambodia/vietnam) , then called her supervisor and got scrutined and let me in for "the last time" and got told to get a proper visa. Another friend at Dmuang in a new passport was stopped after some trips to philippines or cambodia (3-4 trips) but let in for the "last time" as well. A friend on ed visa was stopped asking at suvarnabumi to write in thai by a lady officer, and denied as he could not as just started the school.

Some people say to try men officer, but not sure. What about trying other airports or CM? some have international flights, even pattaya one or krabi.

Everyone say get a visa, but if someone is really a tourist or travel few months per year, whats the problem with that? need to do a smart visa? crazy

There is even a METV visa for travel 6 months, why they would deny entry if is even allowed to do that with a paid visa? They allow to buy. Dont understand really.

[Moncul]

1 hour ago, John2021 said:

I got a lady at suvarnabumi and she started looking at every page on my passport even from 2022 complaining i come to Thailand too often despite i spend lot of time abroad or traveling around the world for work (i think they dont like stamps from laos and cambodia/vietnam) , then called her supervisor and got scrutined and let me in for "the last time" and got told to get a proper visa. Another friend at Dmuang in a new passport was stopped after some trips to philippines or cambodia (3-4 trips) but let in for the "last time" as well. A friend on ed visa was stopped asking at suvarnabumi to write in thai by a lady officer, and denied as he could not as just started the school.

Some people say to try men officer, but not sure. What about trying other airports or CM? some have international flights, even pattaya one or krabi.

Everyone say get a visa, but if someone is really a tourist or travel few months per year, whats the problem with that? need to do a smart visa? crazy

There is even a METV visa for travel 6 months, why they would deny entry if is even allowed to do that with a paid visa? They allow to buy. Dont understand really.

There seems to be one particular harridan at Swampy who takes delight in ruining peoples' days.

[Jack1988]

I always use men officer at the airport, never had a problem, officer man always polite with me. Also the last time I come back to Thailand. I always avoid thai women officer, i don't really like the way they treat foreigners, they looks like a bit racist and always moody

[Liverpool Lou]

35 minutes ago, Jack1988 said:

they looks like a bit racist

What does an IO racist look like?

[tomazbodner]

3 hours ago, NativeBob said:

Sadao and something Bazar

Padang Besar

[NativeBob]

@tomazbodner Yes that too. Thx

[ChristianPFC]

Often, there is staff who distribute people at the head of a long general queue to various shorter queues at individual immigration counters, in that case there is no choice what kind of immigration officer you get.

 

My one experience 2016 from Malaysia to Hat Yai at Sadao was a very unfriendly reception and means of funding checked for everyone; another passenger from my van was not with us any more on the Thai side because he didn't have proof of funding.

 

https://munich.thaiembassy.org/de/page/visaexemption

Please note that a visa-exemption total stay of 90 days within 180 days (from the first day of entry) may not be exceeded. If a longer stay is planned, a visa must be applied for in advance.

 

  

8 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

...send you back to the country you just stamped out of. That country voids your exit stamp and they let you back in.

 

For that reason, it's a good idea to leave some days validity of stay in that country to sort something out. Even when making the most of my permission to stay in a country, I leave one or two days before the last day.

 

I'm curious to hear particular cases why members were denied entry Thailand and what they did afterwards (where they departed to elsewhere, and how they got back in to Thailand).

[MMCHKG]

9 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

Sadly once you're in lock up at the airport it's WAY too late to call a safe entry company to help you get in. That is something you have to set up BEFORE you fly in. Although believe it or not, if you contact one of them when you're denied you can set it up so you can fly in the next day (even at the same airport) and you'll get right in.  

 

May I ask what exactly is a “safe entry company”? A law firm?
 

[RAZZELL]

Can we please have links or names of a "safe entry company"? 

 

RAZZ

[novacova]

6 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What does an IO racist look like?

Apparently they look like women.

6 hours ago, Jack1988 said:

. I always avoid thai women officer, i don't really like the way they treat foreigners, they looks like a bit racist

 Though none looked raciest to me, then again I don’t look at IO’s with indifference, maybe that’s why I’ve never had a problem with any of them, not in the slightest bit.

[Chivas]

How many times have I said down the years on this forum always dress nicely, speak nicely and behave nicely at that immigration booth. Its not remotely difficult

The state of 95% of those that arrive make the other 5% that act nicely stand out should an immigration officer be in "two minds" over entry

 

I' bet very few denials are in that 5% element

 

Some of the utter peasants in those immigration queues defy belief

[Liverpool Lou]

24 minutes ago, novacova said:

 

7 hours ago, Jack1988 said:

. I always avoid thai women officer, i don't really like the way they treat foreigners, they looks like a bit racist

 Though none looked raciest to me

"...none looked raciest to me".

So you are able to identify a racist by appearance? What does a racist IO look like, then?

[novacova]

4 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"...none looked raciest to me".

So you are able to identify a racist by appearance? What does a racist IO look like, then?

I suppose if walking up to a IO and they said something such as “hey whitey why do you want to bring your smelly white dog face to my country?” then I guess that would look a little raciest. But I never experienced anything like that except for once on an Indian reservation back in the mid 70’s…”white shiett what do you want!”

[sidneybear]

6 hours ago, Chivas said:

How many times have I said down the years on this forum always dress nicely, speak nicely and behave nicely at that immigration booth. Its not remotely difficult

The state of 95% of those that arrive make the other 5% that act nicely stand out should an immigration officer be in "two minds" over entry

 

I' bet very few denials are in that 5% element

 

Some of the utter peasants in those immigration queues defy belief

True. If you present yourself to immigration with dreadlocks, a Beer Chang vest and fisherman's trousers, don't be surprised if they give you a hard time. Thais value neat appearance and politeness. 

[sidneybear]

6 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"...none looked raciest to me".

So you are able to identify a racist by appearance? What does a racist IO look like, then?

They scowl a lot.

[shdmn]

Quote

First tip - remain calm, you're not the first person denied entry, you're not even the first person that day. It happens, in fact it happens a LOT;

Unpossible. I was told by all the visa experts here in TF that this never happens just because it never happened to them, and that I must have done something wrong, stayed to long, or maybe looked/smelled bad.  Yes, someone on this forum actually suggested something to that effect. 🤣

[shdmn]

14 hours ago, Moncul said:

There seems to be one particular harridan at Swampy who takes delight in ruining peoples' days.

Hmmm, I think this was what happened to me. She matches that description and almost denied me.

[shdmn]

23 minutes ago, sidneybear said:

True. If you present yourself to immigration with dreadlocks, a Beer Chang vest and fisherman's trousers, don't be surprised if they give you a hard time. Thais value neat appearance and politeness. 

What would you suggest one wear for a 15 hour flight in cattle class?  Suit and tie or is business casual good enough?  If you didn't immediately detect that is sarcasm you have lost the plot.

[ravip]

and she started looking at every page on my passport 

 

Now it seems many countries are going the electronic way and don't stamp anything on the passport - in or out.

Some recent examples are Dubai (on your 1st visit an entry stamp, subsequent visits - nothing), Hong Kong (was in transit), Australia. 

[ravip]

8 hours ago, Chivas said:

How many times have I said down the years on this forum always dress nicely, speak nicely and behave nicely at that immigration booth. Its not remotely difficult

The state of 95% of those that arrive make the other 5% that act nicely stand out should an immigration officer be in "two minds" over entry

 

I' bet very few denials are in that 5% element

 

Some of the utter peasants in those immigration queues defy belief

...always dress nicely, speak nicely and behave nicely at that immigration booth. Its not remotely difficult

 

Isn't this how it should be naturally?

NOT ONLY at immigration booths?

Could this be a reason many foreigners get into untold misery with locals in any given country?

Does a normal human have to try very hard to do this?

 

[ravip]

1 hour ago, shdmn said:

What would you suggest one wear for a 15 hour flight in cattle class?  Suit and tie or is business casual good enough?  If you didn't immediately detect that is sarcasm you have lost the plot.

Even on a 15 hour flight in cattle class, humans should behave like humans.

If  not, there are cattle carriers which one could choose, if one feels they would be more comfortable on a long flight or voyage IMHO.

[DrJack54]

Some off topic posts removed.

Stay on topic. 

[Chivas]

3 hours ago, ravip said:

...always dress nicely, speak nicely and behave nicely at that immigration booth. Its not remotely difficult

 

Isn't this how it should be naturally?

NOT ONLY at immigration booths?

Could this be a reason many foreigners get into untold misery with locals in any given country?

Does a normal human have to try very hard to do this?

 

 

Yep couldnt agree more

[Lorry]

14 hours ago, Chivas said:

How many times have I said down the years on this forum always dress nicely, speak nicely and behave nicely at that immigration booth. Its not remotely difficult

You are right. 

I have seen people in the immigration queues (mostly Europeans and Americans) who looked like they hadn't slept last night. 

Women without fresh make-up.

Men who were not even shaven. 

And some didn't bother to wear a freshly ironed shirt!

They don't know how to behave,  don't know how to properly wai, and don't have some nice Thai words for the IO.

5 hours ago, ravip said:

Isn't this how it should be naturally?

 

5 hours ago, ravip said:

Does a normal human have to try very hard to do this?

 

 

[sidneybear]

6 hours ago, shdmn said:

What would you suggest one wear for a 15 hour flight in cattle class?  Suit and tie or is business casual good enough?  If you didn't immediately detect that is sarcasm you have lost the plot.

Right. When asking to be let into a country, I wear clean clothes, shoes or trainers, new looking jeans or chinos, and a polo shirt. I speak to officials in a friendly but respectful way. It's not rocket science, and I've never had trouble with immigration or customs anywhere, ever.

[zzzzz]

37 minutes ago, sidneybear said:

Right. When asking to be let into a country, I wear clean clothes, shoes or trainers, new looking jeans or chinos, and a polo shirt. I speak to officials in a friendly but respectful way. It's not rocket science, and I've never had trouble with immigration or customs anywhere, ever.

after a 20+ hours of travelling?

I learned decades ago:
Never choose a young female thai immigration officer line>
Never say anything other than,   Sawasdee krup when i present my passport, UNLESS questioned, (Hardly ever)
and Khob  khun krap when he gives me back my passport

KISS

[BobBKK]

42 minutes ago, sidneybear said:

Right. When asking to be let into a country, I wear clean clothes, shoes or trainers, new looking jeans or chinos, and a polo shirt. I speak to officials in a friendly but respectful way. It's not rocket science, and I've never had trouble with immigration or customs anywhere, ever.

 Common sense - look a cheap Charlie and 99% certain you are a cheap Charlie.

[NativeBob]

1 hour ago, Angus55 said:

Why the f should i have to dress up to enter  a country

Good point, though. 
I don't think that judging foreigners outlooks is their primary (or secondary) responsibilities, but I saw few times in CW when they just denied service to the american dude for exactly same reason.

Unfortunately they got the power and it won't hurt just to bend over a bit.