Forced to book a hotel on the spot

[Saigon]

Hi all,

 

This is exactly what happened to me at the Thai land crossing in Cheng Mek the other day, and that was a dialog I had to have with the IO (female).

 

IO: What did you do when you last stayed in Thailand for a few months last year?

 

Me: I travelled and saw my friends.

 

IO: How long are you staying in Thailand this time?

 

Me: 30 days. (I put '30 days' in the 'Length of stay' column in the immigration card before handing it over to her!) 

 

IO: What are you doing?

 

Me: I'll have to renew my passport in Bangkok now. They say that the process will take about 3 weeks.

 

IO: Do you have a flight ticket back to your home country from Thailand already?

 

Me: No, I'm going back to Vietnam after I've got my new passport.

 

IO: Do you have a flight ticket to Vietnam from Thailand already?

 

Me: No, I'm going back there by land. (I know it'd be better to fly out with both the new & old passpors, though.)

 

IO: Did you book a hotel room in Bangkok already?

 

Me: No, not yet.

 

IO: You must book a room in Bangkok and show me the booking confirmation right now!

 

And I ended up having to book a room in Bangkok right on the spot.

 

That wasn't a back-to-back border bounce at all and I last left Thailand almost a half year ago and was my 1st visit to the kingdom of the year.

 

Please beware!

[DrJack54]

51 minutes ago, Saigon said:

And I ended up having to book a room in Bangkok right on the spot.

So you booked a room that you could cancel without penalty and then allowed to enter Thailand. 

From memory didn't you spend many years in Thailand with a Non B? 

Perhaps io was suspicious. 

[Upnotover]

I'll be at Chong Mek tomorrow morning, I'll look out for her!

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

I'll be at Chong Mek tomorrow morning, I'll look out for her!

Positive reports at end of attached thread.

Please update with your experience.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1347203-chong-mek-border-bounce-any-one-done-this-bounce-lately/

[Saigon]

I wasn't even able to cancel it because it was too soon, but I booked the damn cheapest room I could find in BKK so No Wuckers! haha..

 

I have a few question now. Does the IO have the right to force me to book a room on the spot before they let me in? And does the IO have the right to deny me entry into Thailand if I refuse to book a room on the spot? I got really surprised when that IO asked me if I had booked my flight back home yet, though.

 

The Immigration at Chong Mek was so busy when I got there in the Lao-Thai international bus that there was 1 officer ushering the passengers into each of the 3 immigration booths available at the time, so I wasn't even able to choose which one to proceed to. That IO did look MALE to me at first, but later on turned out to be FEMALE as I got closer to HER.

 

PS Apparently all the Thai & Lao people had to give Tea Money to the IOs on the Lao side but I didn't. They might ask you for that if you should go through there at the weekend as overtime fee, so please beware! Good luck!

[Harrisfan]

5 minutes ago, Saigon said:

I wasn't even able to cancel it because it was too soon, but I booked the damn cheapest room I could find in BKK so No Wuckers! haha..

 

I have a few question now. Does the IO have the right to force me to book a room on the spot before they let me in? And does the IO have the right to deny me entry into Thailand if I refuse to book a room on the spot? I got really surprised when that IO asked me if I had booked my flight back home yet, though.

 

The Immigration at Chong Mek was so busy when I got there in the Lao-Thai international bus that there was 1 officer ushering the passengers into each of the 3 immigration booths available at the time, so I wasn't even able to choose which one to proceed to. That IO did look MALE to me at first, but later on turned out to be FEMALE as I got closer to HER.

 

PS Apparently all the Thai & Lao people had to give Tea Money to the IOs on the Lao side but I didn't. They might ask you for that if you should go through there at the weekend as overtime fee, so please beware! Good luck!

Plenty of hotels offer no card to book.

[A1Str8]

Since she's a female you should have had some chocolate or candy in your pockets. She would have let you go. 

[Saigon]

Yes, I've lived in Thailand on Non-B for years, but have spent most of my time in Vietnam for the last few years now, so I didn't even know why that IO felt suspicious of me. Yes, she did sound rude and arrogant to me at first but had a big smile on her face when she gave my passport back to me in the end! I could see how stressful it must of been to her, even though it was her job. I'm going back to Vietnam with my new passport anyway!

 

PS  I didn't even know that there would be some hotels that let you cancel your booking with a penalty even if you did at the last minute.

[chondan]

A friend of mine traveled to airport in BK from USA and was going to VN same day.  The women IO asked what phone he had.  He told her he doesn't like phones and he has not had one for over 10 years.  She got very upset and stapled a note in Thai in his passport.  He can read Thai.  It said "Do not allow this farang back in Thailand if he does not have a phone."  He bought a cheap phone in VN.  When he flew back to Bangkok the IO asked to see his phone.  He showed it to them.  He laughed cause it did not even have a sim card.  It just lite up saying no sim.  He tried to sell it in Bangkok but no shop would buy it.  He threw it in the garbage can outside the the shop.

[BrandonJT]

54 minutes ago, Saigon said:

I have a few question now. Does the IO have the right to force me to book a room on the spot before they let me in? And does the IO have the right to deny me entry into Thailand if I refuse to book a room on the spot? I got really surprised when that IO asked me if I had booked my flight back home yet, though.

All entries to Thailand (and any country for that matter) are at the discretion of the immigration officers at border control.  They can deny you entry if they want for whatever reason, it's at their discretion.

 

There are 3 requirements to enter as a tourist, but not often asked for:
1) Proof of funds (20,000 baht in cash or equivalent in another major currency)

2) Proof of onward travel (a ticket out of Thailand within the number of days you'll be stamped in for, not counting any potential extensions)

3) Proof of lodging (most often a hotel booking for the first few nights)

[Jack1988]

Always this female immigration. Nothing new. I always use immigration male and never had these kinds of problems

[Caldera]

8 hours ago, Saigon said:

Does the IO have the right to force me to book a room on the spot before they let me in? And does the IO have the right to deny me entry into Thailand if I refuse to book a room on the spot?

 

Yes. Entering visa exempt, you're required to be able to show the following if you are asked for it:

 

Cash (10,000 baht)

Accommodation

Ticket out of Thailand

 

Being asked for any of that is quite rare. Maybe the IO wasn't satisfied with whatever you wrote in the "Address in Thailand" field of the arrival card. Or maybe she thought, as you didn't have a ticket out, that at least you should show "something".

[nomad22]

16 minutes ago, Caldera said:

Yes. Entering visa exempt, you're required to be able to show the following if you are asked for it:

 

Cash (10,000 baht)

Accommodation

Ticket out of Thailand

 

20,000 baht is required when entering visa exempt.  

[StayinThailand2much]

Don't you get tired of such "Welcome to Thailand" routine at the border? Yes, already! 😆

[Hummin]

8 hours ago, chondan said:

A friend of mine traveled to airport in BK from USA and was going to VN same day.  The women IO asked what phone he had.  He told her he doesn't like phones and he has not had one for over 10 years.  She got very upset and stapled a note in Thai in his passport.  He can read Thai.  It said "Do not allow this farang back in Thailand if he does not have a phone."  He bought a cheap phone in VN.  When he flew back to Bangkok the IO asked to see his phone.  He showed it to them.  He laughed cause it did not even have a sim card.  It just lite up saying no sim.  He tried to sell it in Bangkok but no shop would buy it.  He threw it in the garbage can outside the the shop.

Quality tourists arriving Thailand, and you wondering why there are problems at the border for a few to get in? 

[DrJack54]

17 minutes ago, nomad22 said:

 

20,000 baht is required when entering visa exempt.  

Thinking you're referring to family.

Here is link to link to guide to entry to Thailand. Not official gov site.  

https://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-visa/thailand-visa-exemption-and-visa-on-arrival.php

[ChaiyaTH]

So just a random comment of a random IO with a person who most likely has a really full passport and then did a dodgy border run. With other words; nothing new here, move along. Reports like this are pathetic and nothing but fake news, specially on the low frequency this site is still used.

 

The IO was even nice, not demanding a flight ticket but only a hotel booking in Bangkok. She did not believe him and this was the minimum she wanted.

[Yagoda]

I believe there is a proportional connection between Immigration complaints posted here and the dodginess of ones immigration status.

[nomad22]

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Thinking you're referring to family.

Here is link to link to guide to entry to Thailand. Not official gov site.  

 

From the official Thai embassy in Washington DC

 

• Travelers entering Thailand under the Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme must possess adequate cash of or equivalent to 20,000 Baht per person or 40,000 Baht per family.

 

https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/page/visaexempt-voajul2024

[Yagoda]

13 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Don't you get tired of such "Welcome to Thailand" routine at the border? Yes, already! 😆

In 40 years the only hassle I have had was when I had a temporary passport. Oh wait, once an IO didnt say Hello to me.

 

But, I have always bent over backwards to follow the rules.

[ChaiyaTH]

13 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

I believe there is a proportional connection between Immigration complaints posted here and the dodginess of ones immigration status.

Yes as well as semi to really full passports. I know a handful of newbies that are here now 1-3 years total, all have clean passports, leave for 3-5 days every 60-90 days, come back after and except for the question 'you come back again?' with answers like: yeah i work online, never a single issue.

Each time I do see people with issue they actually look wasted, broke, both, or worse. As well they then are a bit older already + have semi full passports. Thais can smell if you are broke or not, even you hide it with brand clothes.

[Yagoda]

1 minute ago, nomad22 said:

 

From the official Thai embassy in Washington DC

 

• Travelers entering Thailand under the Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme must possess adequate cash of or equivalent to 20,000 Baht per person or 40,000 Baht per family.

 

https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/page/visaexempt-voajul2024

I stopped carrying cash in 1990 ish. If they ask, I have my Krungsri card. 

[ChaiyaTH]

6 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

I stopped carrying cash in 1990 ish. If they ask, I have my Krungsri card. 

Never seen anyone in 14 years that needed to show actual cash, if it already came to that even a bank balance was sufficient. The classical doubt cases always get the same: flight ticket / hotel or just the hotel at least. Not that strange to ask in the first place if someone stays since years but somehow not rents a place too.

 

Like it becomes a bit a doubtful case if someone says to live here or renew a passport here, while also having years of history, to then not have lease or permanent address + says to have vague plans. In a way the Thai IO's are very nice, I think most countries would ask more from such people.

 

I had a few times the question where I was going, I always say I go home to here on X address. It seems they are very aware of that since these new systems of the last years, and then it is always right away fine. I assume they can see this recent or historic TM30 check-ins anyway too, that would also tell a lot of one always stays a cheap places, but i doubt it goes that far.

 

Be happy I not work at immigration, I would make an AI algo that filters out all of those people lol.

[Yagoda]

2 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Yes as well as semi to really full passports. I know a handful of newbies that are here now 1-3 years total, all have clean passports, leave for 3-5 days every 60-90 days, come back after and except for the question 'you come back again?' with answers like: yeah i work online, never a single issue.

Each time I do see people with issue they actually look wasted, broke, both, or worse. As well they then are a bit older already + have semi full passports.

I was coming into Poipet once and the line was FULL of unwashed dreadlocked backpackers. My back was really hurting bad and since the line was long and slow, I asked an agent for a chair showing him my Long Term Visa in Cambodia, he took me right to the front of the line to stamp me in. Nice guy.

 

Let me also note that if you saw me ordinarily, you would hand me spare change out of pity. However, I know enough about life to understand that CLEAN AND GROOMED makes life easier when dealing with authority. There is a market right next to the border where one can buy things like a clean tshirt, hair ties, etc to make yourself look presentable. 

[StayinThailand2much]

7 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

In 40 years the only hassle I have had was when I had a temporary passport. Oh wait, once an IO didnt say Hello to me.

 

But, I have always bent over backwards to follow the rules.

 

Same here, well, mostly. Never a problem for 20 odd years. Then, suddenly, in early 2020, things changed. (My theory is, that, possibly, those female dragons at Arrival in Bangkok have a 'denial quota' they have to meet.)

[Woke to Sounds]

12 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

come back after and except for the question 'you come back again?' with answers like: yeah i work online, never a single issue.

They would actually divulge to an IO that they work online?  And never a single issue with that kind of admission?

 

Never would I recommend offering up such things to anyone, least of whom an IO, if I worked remotely.

[ChaiyaTH]

10 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Same here, well, mostly. Never a problem for 20 odd years. Then, suddenly, in early 2020, things changed. (My theory is, that, possibly, those female dragons at Arrival in Bangkok have a 'denial quota' they have to meet.)

I think they just really do their job to be honest, where most Thai male IO's are also often at least 10 years older already, it's just a different generation as well the male know perfectly well what the history and reason is foreign males like to be here. I could see the females dislike this in general.

 

However it is 100% a fact that you should always try to get a male IO queue, I notice it each time even at suva airport too. Male is 15 seconds, female is 30-60 seconds + potential questions. However with the right answers, these female IO are no issue at all too. Some even like to flirt.

 

Thais in general are very very talented, maybe one of the few things they are good at, is to know exactly when you are happy or angry, broke or not broke, have something to hide or not etc etc. They still have well developed senses that are close to nature.

 

If you would arrive with them in such condition (stressed, afraid, broke in reality) you are 0-1 behind already unless lucky. When in Rome do as the Romans: be clean, don't smell, make short proper eye contact but otherwise watch mainly to the floor. Don't be arrogant. Don't be inpatient etc.

 

So for example: things are delayed again or it is busy, instead of looking angry and annoyed, you just sit down and play a game on your phone like all Thais do.

[Yagoda]

8 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Same here, well, mostly. Never a problem for 20 odd years. Then, suddenly, in early 2020, things changed. (My theory is, that, possibly, those female dragons at Arrival in Bangkok have a 'denial quota' they have to meet.)

I had 8 entries in Thailand last year. Never a problem.

[ChaiyaTH]

14 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds said:

They would actually divulge to an IO that they work online?  And never a single issue with that kind of admission?

 

Never would I recommend offering up such things to anyone, least of whom an IO, if I worked remotely.

Is never a issue to work online since years. Let alone since the DTV now, it is like even desired. We younger online workers are like what all the oldies now want here more + tourists in general. It's the old guys / sex scene that is targeted as well as gangster types or simply brokies.

 

Seems they were schooled around covid because even the old aunties on islands in the south knew about 'digital nomads now ok' at that time. Was about time though, there has been lobby for it since 15 years already.

 

For some reason it is mainly the old foreigners here, that somehow seem to think that is not allowed. I think this came more from jealousy than anything else, they just hoped it would be like that.

[ChaiyaTH]

23 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

I was coming into Poipet once and the line was FULL of unwashed dreadlocked backpackers. My back was really hurting bad and since the line was long and slow, I asked an agent for a chair showing him my Long Term Visa in Cambodia, he took me right to the front of the line to stamp me in. Nice guy.

 

Let me also note that if you saw me ordinarily, you would hand me spare change out of pity. However, I know enough about life to understand that CLEAN AND GROOMED makes life easier when dealing with authority. There is a market right next to the border where one can buy things like a clean tshirt, hair ties, etc to make yourself look presentable. 

In most places it is even a rule to be shaved etc. I mean you could get away with being dressed as a real tourist if your stamps match it but otherwise...  I think people confuse what this means in general anyway, you can just wear sneakers with shorts and a t-shirt, as long it is looking fresh and clean.

 

If you arrive like you just partied until 5AM and stay at the cheapest places, not seem the freshest, have <deleted>ty clothes on + let's say overweight on top of that or a white ghost face, and then you claim you are financially good and live here, well, I would want to know more lol. 

They always say you need a visa but that is just because Thais are non confrontational, they actually likely mean they think you are talking BS. I can testify to this myself with 14-15 years visa run history, each time I had issues, I actually had issues in my life myself.

 

From those years and experiences it is even a miracle I got away with it most times. Exception on the rule: female IO with period.