Suvarnabhumi Visa Exempt - Change of Tactic Applied

[FARANG KIWI]

I have been in Thailand for 15 out of the last 18 months on Visa Exempt plus Extensions ( including Family - Thai Wife ) plus Border bounces.

 

I started to get questioned entering via BKK from immigration officers about "Do I have a Visa" etc....

 

Now when I hand over my passport ( last two Visa Exempt entries ) I also pass over the Pink Thai ID Card...

 

That appears to have placated any further lines about Visas questions.

 

That has now past smoothly for my last 2 x Visa Exempt entries since June 2024.

 

I'm rather thinking that it is because of having a permanent address in Thailand that is sighted....

 

Hope this experience of mine ( only ) may assist others! 🙂 

[scubascuba3]

Finally a perceived benefit of the pink card

[Pattaya57]

This makes no sense to me. You say you were hassled for staying too long without a visa, so show your pink card. If anything that should provide IO more proof to think you are living in Thailand on visa exempt instead of the right visa?

 

Maybe you find it easier now just because all visa exempt entries seem more relaxed since they announced the new 60 days and dropped the land border limits.

[raz0r21]

I don't know how relaxed they are tbh. I had a weird encounter yesterday when entering with a tourist visa after 5 months stay back home in Sweden. I got questioned for 15 min at the booth by a female IO who seemed very new at the job, she even let me come and look at her screen to see if my old passport photo was indeed me.

 

After a while the IO in question called over a supervisor. Then they asked how long I will be staying, I said 3 months. And because I had my girlfriends name on the luggage tag in my boarding card the IO asked if I came alone or not, so I said I came with my girlfriend, which I did. 

 

Then the senior IO told her something in thai and kind of gestured her to let me in. I have no idea what, but she stamped me in. But before handing over my passport she said "next time come with marriage visa". I said okay lets see, I am not married. That was it, if its of interest to anyone. 

 

ps. they were questioning alot of people yesterday at the booth. I saw one girl get taken away somewhere aswell.

Edited 28 minutes ago by raz0r21

[Caldera]

If you have a pink ID card, that's all the more reason to have a longterm visa/extension.

 

I really can't tell if you just got lucky or if airport IOs have a different take on this, but I'd be surprised if having a pink ID card but entering visa exempt excessively won't get you into trouble eventually. With people who spend a lot of time in Thailand visa exempt, immigration is more worried about them working illegally than them not having a place to stay.

[Liquorice]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Finally a perceived benefit of the pink card

There are more, you just haven't found them. 😉

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, FARANG KIWI said:

I'm rather thinking that it is because of having a permanent address in Thailand that is sighted....

One of the most bizarre posts I have read in some time.

You are married to a Thai and opt for this nonsense.

Obtain a non O and subsequent 12 month extension.

Only requires 400k in bank for couple of months and then you can use it.

If anything the pink id would suggest that you have visa options.

 

[Liquorice]

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Obtain a non O and subsequent 12 month extension.

Only requires 400k in bank for couple of months and then you can use it.

Doesn't want to put 400K in a Thai bank where he'll only get 2% interest, when he can invest it elsewhere for 5/6/7/%.

Well, that's the usual excuse!      😂

[Pattaya57]

4 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Doesn't want to put 400K in a Thai bank where he'll only get 2% interest, when he can invest it elsewhere for 5/6/7/%.

Well, that's the usual excuse!      😂

Surprised this old chestnut is still being raised when most currencies have lost 8-9% to the baht in the last year.  That means he is much better off with that 2% gain 😉

 

Edited 3 minutes ago by Pattaya57