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.

[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 😉

 

[DrJack54]

12 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!      😂

Spare a thought for extensions based on retirement.

For married guys annual extension it's a sweet deal.

Basically living in Thailand the 400k would sustain living (family) for few months as it can be used after stamp from under consideration period.

Thinking OP is basically a nonsense. 

 

[hotandsticky]

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Finally a perceived benefit of the pink card

 

 

There are many PERCEIVED benefits (especially by those who have them), there a few ACTUAL benefits.

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, hotandsticky said:

There are many PERCEIVED benefits (especially by those who have them), there a few ACTUAL benefits.

The OP is implying that pink id is assisting ongoing living in Thailand using visa exempt entry+ 60 day to visit wife extension. Crazy.

From the OP ...

"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." 

 

What the....perhaps possible however moving forward.

@FARANG KIWI what is plan for next 15 out of 18.

What is point of your thread.

Get a non O based on marriage+ annual extensions.

Buy a multi reentry permit if needed. 

[jippytum]

12 hours ago, Caldera said:

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.

I agree with some of your comments.

However i see no reason why a long term resident should not take advantage of fee visa exempt entries if he chooses to do so. 

No 800/400 thousand baht tied up.  No 90 day reports.  probably no tax on foreign income. 

[impulse]

12 minutes ago, jippytum said:

I agree with some of your comments.

However i see no reason why a long term resident should not take advantage of fee visa exempt entries if he chooses to do so. 

No 800/400 thousand baht tied up.  No 90 day reports.  probably no tax on foreign income. 

 

The OP's new strategy may work great.  Until it doesn't.  And all that takes is an encounter with the wrong IO on arrival.

 

The idea of showing evidence of long term residence to gain a short term entry sounds like a recipe for disappointment. 

 

[brianthainess]

14 hours ago, FARANG KIWI said:

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! 🙂 

Thanks

[brianthainess]

15 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

The OP's new strategy may work great.  Until it doesn't.  And all that takes is an encounter with the wrong IO on arrival.

 

The idea of showing evidence of long term residence to gain a short term entry sounds like a recipe for disappointment. 

 

So you don't have a pink card then ?

[brianthainess]

14 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Finally a perceived benefit of the pink card

And for DL and Registering a vehicle for most, as you would also have a yellow book.

[impulse]

19 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

So you don't have a pink card then ?

 

I do not.  Never did.  When I worked in Bangkok, I had a DL and a BOI WP. 

 

Now that I only visit BKK once a month on Visa Exempt, I wouldn't dream of pulling out proof of residence at Arrivals to support my short term entry.  That would be counter intuitive. 

 

That would be like a Thai lady showing a London based job offer letter to the UK Embassy to apply for a tourist visa.

 

[Caldera]

8 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

And for DL and Registering a vehicle for most, as you would also have a yellow book.

 

For the driving license, the visa status is also important though. If you do what the OP does and promotes here (entering visa exempt), you can only renew for 2 years, not for 5 years as those on a non-immigrant visa/extension. 

[FARANG KIWI]

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

The OP is implying that pink id is assisting ongoing living in Thailand using visa exempt entry+ 60 day to visit wife extension. Crazy.

From the OP ...

"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." 

 

What the....perhaps possible however moving forward.

@FARANG KIWI what is plan for next 15 out of 18.

What is point of your thread.

Get a non O based on marriage+ annual extensions.

Buy a multi reentry permit if needed. 

 

As far as I am aware THIS site is a Forum.

 

I simply gave my experience and hoped it MAY assist others.

 

I did not seek or request ANY advice from anyone - and it is NOT needed as I travel my own path.

 

I prefer to keep my funds getting 100% plus returns....    Take a look at  Ticker MSTY!!!

[DrJack54]

6 hours ago, FARANG KIWI said:

I prefer to keep my funds getting 100% plus returns.... 

That's surely a joke. 100% returns.

Granted for retirement tying up 800k basically all year round has an opportunity cost associated to it.

In the case of extensions based on marriage the funds can be used after extension stamp issued. 

What did you live on for the 12 months. Surely more than 400k.

To suggest that the pink card helps with back to back visa exempt entries is not correct. 

Opposite in fact.

[richard_smith237]

14 hours ago, Caldera said:

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.

Agreed, I suspect the Ops conclusion is based on the coincidence of engaging with a more chilled / less officious Immigration offer than anything else.

 

As pointed out by others - the possession of a Pink ID (for Non-Thais) implies a more permanent connection to Thailand than a simple visa exempt entry offers. 

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, Caldera said:

 

For the driving license, the visa status is also important though. If you do what the OP does and promotes here (entering visa exempt), you can only renew for 2 years, not for 5 years as those on a non-immigrant visa/extension. 

I did say for "Most"

[tandor]

18 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Finally a perceived benefit of the pink card

also gets you a Tax Filing Number.

[goldenbrwn1]

18 hours ago, raz0r21 said:

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.

 

I been coming here for over 25 years and have been stopped at immigration 3 x . All 3 x by women, now I always avoid the line with women immigration officers. Maybe a thing or not but for me, it’s def a thing.

[raz0r21]

maybe it will go smoother next time if I say I want to see Moo Deng. From Khaosod English (I dont know if I am allowed to link): 

 

"The female immigration officer recounted that while she was on duty at the passenger checkpoint, Miss Molly approached with a smiling face. She asked Miss Molly the usual questions about the duration of her stay and the purpose of her visit. The passenger replied, “I came to Thailand to see Moo Deng.”

She admitted that when she first heard it, she couldn’t believe it. So she asked again and got the confirmation that it was indeed “Moo Deng.” At that moment, she was stunned and thought of the famous hippo named Moo Deng, so she further inquired, “How do you know about Moo Deng?”.

[raz0r21]

8 minutes ago, goldenbrwn1 said:

I been coming here for over 25 years and have been stopped at immigration 3 x . All 3 x by women, now I always avoid the line with women immigration officers. Maybe a thing or not but for me, it’s def a thing.

 

I tried to find a booth with a male IO, but it was impossible.  And it was so packed with people I couldnt see into all of them....

[Maestro]

9 hours ago, FARANG KIWI said:

...I prefer to keep my funds getting 100% plus returns....    Take a look at  Ticker MSTY!!!

 

Is this the MSTY you are talking about?

 

[Rob Browder]

Visiting Family was added to the reasons to use Visa-Exempt entries since the change to 60-days.  If they see family-based extensions, that might be a factor. 

 

I doubt the pink-ID is any help, other than it gives them an address to use.  Years ago, on VE / TV entries, I found showing the business-card of my condo made IOs happy, when they asked where I would be staying.  The scribble in the tiny space on TM6 cards (still in-use then) was mostly useless.

[FARANG KIWI]

4 hours ago, Maestro said:

Yes  -  see the Monthly Dividend...

https://www.yieldmaxetfs.com/our-etfs/msty/

4 hours ago, Maestro said:

Is this the MSTY you are talking about?