The abrupt welcome on my 3rd Visa Exempt

[TaoNow]

Many posters on the Forum seem to think that Thai Immo officers should be more welcoming to VE types.

 

Understand that Immo are all police officers, and have no connection to the Ministry of Tourism...

 

As such. Immo police are gatekeepers - whose primary function is to keep bad folk out, or those who might become a burden to society.

 

Being allowed entry is a privilege - not a right.

[kevozman1]

3 minutes ago, TaoNow said:

Many posters on the Forum seem to think that Thai Immo officers should be more welcoming to VE types.

 

Understand that Immo are all police officers, and have no connection to the Ministry of Tourism...

 

As such. Immo police are gatekeepers - whose primary function is to keep bad folk out, or those who might become a burden to society.

 

Being allowed entry is a privilege - not a right.

 

There are ways to treat people. Say if a deaf 80 year old Chinese man turns up at Rome int airport, and there are question marks on his visa, should the officer give him a clip round the back of the head and tell him to hold on a while, or behave in a respectful manner, especially considering the individual is vulnerable and explain in a polite way what is happening? 

[Briggsy]

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

The clobber you wear is irrelevant.

Another myth. If anything would perhaps suggest you are working in Thailand. 

Totally agree. This one is trotted out regularly usually to blame somebody for being questioned at the border. It makes no difference at all. (unless you look like a homeless dude)

 

When I was denied entry, it was purely based on the fact that I had stayed too long on METV's. I was wearing smarter clothes than 95% of the other people queueing up at Immigration.

 

Your record of staying and the visa and visa exempts you use are what they are interested in.

[norfolkandchance]

He's a tip for the OP. In addition to the wheelchair don dark sunglasses and carry a white walking stick. Works every time.

[DrJack54]

Baiting/Trolling post removed..

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, kevozman1 said:

 

There are ways to treat people. Say if a deaf 80 year old Chinese man turns up at Rome int airport, and there are question marks on his visa, should the officer give him a clip round the back of the head and tell him to hold on a while, or behave in a respectful manner, especially considering the individual is vulnerable and explain in a polite way what is happening? 

Wow, my memory must be getting bad. I totally forgot the bit where the OP was clipped round the ear. I only remember the part where he was asked a couple of bog standard questions and then stamped in - I guess I should go back and re-read it.

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, josephbloggs said:

I only remember the part where he was asked a couple of bog standard questions and then stamped in - I guess I should go back and re-read it.

Nup you read it correctly.

Thread is a chit chat about nothing.

For anyone entering visa exempt via air with some previous history be prepared for basic questions.

These can be ......

How long do you plan to stay?

Where do you plan to stay?  etc.

Non invasive questions.

Should carry cash however rarely asked for. 

[Kalorymetr]

If you feel unwelcome maybe you are. You can go somewhere else 🙂

[CLW]

18 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

She asked you basic questions and you were stamped in.

BTW she helped with fingerprints.

 

If you want some balance to travel experience fly into Vietnam and compare  immigration personal.

Or China 🤣🤣🤣

 

Small anecdote: before the great plague I was doing a solo trip to Shantou. Relatively small city near Shanghai. At that time Air Asia had really cheap flights from Thailand to there. So I got my visa in order before. No issues. However, at immigration I was taken aside and the officer took my passport into some back office room. After 10 minutes another officer came back and told me in basic English, that he had never seen a passport from my country (EU) before and had to consult with his colleagues if it was a genuine passport or a fake document 🤣🤣🤣

[Toby1947]

Much ado about nothing 🤣🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[Blueman1]

20 hours ago, popabear said:

On my onward trip to Thailand in November last year, I got that uneasy feeling of going through Immigration, which most of us do,

as this was my 3rd VE I was a little more uneasy than usual, not that makes much difference I am uneasy on the 1st VE for the year .                               

 

    I am 81 years old and wheelchair assisted, so when I was wheeled into  immigration for wheelchair assisted people, I could see that what was Coming and to my horror a young female immigration officer and straight away new that things would not be easy .   

           

I know The Lady IO was only doing her job, but as I put my fingers onto the finger print test,  she started how long you stay in a very very abrupt high tone non welcome voice, 39 days I replied in a soft voice ( had bite my lips ) ,next who are saying with,  are staying with someone  ( meaning a lady  ) ,that's my private life, anyway I replied going fishing  and to get Thai massage  for the bad legs I have, next where you stay ,I replied I have a hotel booking on my phone do you want to look, so she l looked and then stamp me in. 

 

I do understand the lady IO was only doing her job, but in the all  44 years  of  coming to Thailand  nothing has changed ,this time I felt so un welcome , it would be nice to be spoken to nicely,  I use to think Thais had a lot of respect for older people 

 

I had the  feeling my 3rd VE was maybe some of the issue in her abrupt tone, but  she did not bring that up.  Kind Regards Popa

 

 

 it would be nice to be spoken to nicely,....YES Wouldn't It, But I Don't think that is in SOME IO's Remit !!

[Blueman1]

19 hours ago, popabear said:

Sorry, you don't get the meaning of my post ,why be spoken to like I am a piece of Sh,,,t    Kind Regards Popa.

But....Did SHE Speak to you " Like a Piece of Sh....t ?? I Very Much Doubt that....

[Nid_Noi]

7 minutes ago, Blueman1 said:

 it would be nice to be spoken to nicely,....YES Wouldn't It, But I Don't think that is in SOME IO's Remit !!

It has been many moons since an IO said “please” or “Welcome to…” . In the late 60s and early 70s Thai immigration officers at Don Mueang used to say: “Welcome to Thailand” with a smile but is Thailand still the Land of Smiles?

Also the use of “Please” seems to have been eradicated from Thai people’s mouth in general. In the contrary the use of “Sorry” has been abused.

[DrJack54]

Offensive post removed 

[ChrisKC]

I can sympathise a little with the OP. It is a bit irritating when Officers appear to be other than what you expect or prefer...(being officious)

 

But It isn't worth making it an issue important enough to put it in writing, particularly as it didn't affect the positive outcome!

[marin]

1 hour ago, Nid_Noi said:

t has been many moons since an IO said “please” or “Welcome to…” . In the late 60s and early 70s Thai immigration officers at Don Mueang used to say: “Welcome to Thailand” with a smile but is Thailand still the Land of Smiles?

When there were less than a million international arrivals a year. A lot easier to deal with immigration back then. Building up to 50,000,000 visitors again. 

[popabear]

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Non invasive questions.

Not true, I was asked who are you staying with; that to me is my private life and in a tone as if was dirty old man, come on is this a really nice way to welcome some one into your country and you say the thread is a chit chat about nothing ,,, come on. Kind regards Popa

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, popabear said:

Not true, I was asked who are you staying with; that to me is my private life and in a tone as if was dirty old man, come on is this a really nice way to welcome some one into your country and you say the thread is a chit chat about nothing ,,, come on. Kind regards Popa

Seriously you are showing strange signs imo.

The io asked "who are you staying with" .....

Coincidentally that is exactly the same question I received on my first and only trip to Canada (lovely country) with Oz pp.

Was then asked series of questions from travel plans to accommodation etc etc.

No big deal..

As pointed out by many posters you seem to have pre packed notions.

 

Bottom line you (according to you) had armchair ride with wheelchair assist even to the taxi outside airport exit.

You had an io that assisted with fingerprints to avoid you having to stand? 

You were asked very basic standard questions for visa exempt entry. 

Mountain out of mole hill. 

Enjoy your holiday. 

 

[popabear]

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Seriously you are showing strange signs imo.

The io asked "who are you staying with" .....

Coincidentally that is exactly the same question I received on my first and only trip to Canada (lovely country) with Oz pp.

Was then asked series of questions from travel plans to accommodation etc etc.

No big deal..

As pointed out by many posters you seem to have pre packed notions.

 

Bottom line you (according to you) had armchair ride with wheelchair assist even to the taxi outside airport exit.

You had an io that assisted with fingerprints to avoid you having to stand? 

You were asked very basis standard questions for visa exempt entry. 

Mountain out of mole hill. 

Enjoy your holiday. 

 

Please close the thread i have no more to say on this matter thanks , Kind Regards .Popa

[DrJack54]

Thread closed at OP request