Almost Refused Entry at Chiang Mai Airport -Be Warned! - 2nd Visa Exemption

[DrJack54]

Trolling post along with reply removed. 

[ChrisKC]

18 hours ago, Jack1988 said:

Always these female officers make trouble, nothing new. 

 

Just use safe entry and problem solved. Easy 

 

Better avoid to come back to Thailand after just a few days out of the country, but no issues with the safe entry service 

Not always!!

[Rob Browder]

19 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

You just ned to get a proper visa .

You can no longer stay in Thailand long term on visa exempts .

Get the correct visa for your stay 

Yes, he can.  He just needs to pay-off immigration through their agents - "safe entry" at airports, or a border-run service.  Do that, and Immigration NEVER give folks any problem, even on the umpteenth same-day border-bounce in a row.   Alternatively, an agent can 'set up a visa" solution - but it doesn't matter which, other than one's own convenience. 

 

The "refused entries" are just drumming up agent-service money.  It's not like Westerners are coming to Thailand to compete with Burmese for under-the-table illegal jobs.  They know that.  They know all we do here is spend money into the Thai economy - helping create Thai jobs.  They only care about their "cut" of the money.

[falangUK]

16 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Do the second visa exempt entry via a land border bounce using an agent minivan company.

Zero issue

I've not used a border run company recently, but when I asked about the second entry, they weren't too confident. For Chiang Mai, they probably don't have much influence at Chiang Khong or whichever border they use to cross into Laos.

[Rob Browder]

19 hours ago, falangUK said:

Was actually stuck in Thailand during COVID,

Oh, Immigration HATE that.  Remember how they dragged their feet on issuing the covid-extensions to the last minute?  Their brown-envelope money was severely cut by that option - us foreigners "getting away" with spending our money here w/o paying them off - THE NERVE!! /s  This could explain why they went nuts on your first re-entry visa-exempt.

 

19 hours ago, falangUK said:

I’ve never used a safe entry service before — didn’t even think about it, honestly.

If anyone has tips or recommendations on a reliable one (especially for Chiang Mai or Bangkok), would appreciate it.

The best price I've seen quoted is here:
https://aseannow.com/topic/1336926-setv-metv-still-around-now-that-visa-exempts-are-now-60-days/?do=findComment&comment=19217493

 

[falangUK]

Just now, Rob Browder said:

Yes, he can.  He just needs to pay-off immigration through their agents - "safe entry" at airports, or a border-run service.  Do that, and Immigration NEVER give folks any problem, even on the umpteenth same-day border-bounce in a row.   Alternatively, an agent can 'set up a visa" solution - but it doesn't matter which, other than one's own convenience. 

 

The "refused entries" are just drumming up agent-service money.  It's not like Westerners are coming to Thailand to compete with Burmese for under-the-table illegal jobs.  They know that.  They know all we do here is spend money into the Thai economy - helping create Thai jobs.  They only care about their "cut" of the money.

Well said, spot on! All their acting by immigration — surely they realize when there are more immigration officers than foreigners entering the country? Maybe they're just trying to justify their jobs. They’ll be in trouble if automated entry gates like in Malaysia get introduced, lol. I don't think they bother flipping through passport pages, doing interviews, checking for 20,000 baht, or verifying accommodation when it’s "Safe Entry" — meaning immigration handled through agents.

[Burma Bill]

19 hours ago, Jack1988 said:

Always these female officers make trouble, nothing new. 

 

Just use safe entry and problem solved. Easy 

 

Better avoid to come back to Thailand after just a few days out of the country, but no issues with the safe entry service 

 

For reference, just over a week ago I flew from Siem Reap to Bangkok (DMK) and onwards to Khon Kaen. 

Because I was in a wheelchair, and to avoid all the long queues at the Immigration desks in International Arrivals, I was wheeled to the Diplomatic/VIP desk where a charming, efficient and friendly young Thai lady processed my passport and gave me 60 days entry into Thailand. Within a couple of minutes I was being wheeled to the baggage collection hall.  No trouble from this Thai Immigration lady.

[falangUK]

5 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

Oh, Immigration HATE that.  Remember how they dragged their feet on issuing the covid-extensions to the last minute?  Their brown-envelope money was severely cut by that option - us foreigners "getting away" with spending our money here w/o paying them off - THE NERVE!! /s  This could explain why they went nuts on your first re-entry visa-exempt.

 

The best price I've seen quoted is here:
https://aseannow.com/topic/1336926-setv-metv-still-around-now-that-visa-exempts-are-now-60-days/?do=findComment&comment=19217493

 

Absolutely, it was so stressful. Had to go twice for the first extension in Chiang Mai. The officer told me "no more free visa" even though I was actually on a tourist visa at the time, lol. Shame "Big Joke" couldn’t sort these things out along with the "fully functioning" biometric system. Thanks for the link 🙂

[falangUK]

4 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Yeah, Siem Reap $297 per year retirement visa, hi, pay, bye. No reports, no extensive forms, no rentry costs, 2 hours from the border.

 

I had to fix a bank problem a few weeks back. The Thai lady IO asked why I was coming to Thailand. I told her I had to go to ATM and was only staying 15 minutes or so. No problem, she thought that was funny. 

Immigration officers think it’s funny until things go wrong in Thailand. There’s a huge debt crisis, at least in the middle class, but I think it’s more widespread. Maybe they realize it, but they still have to push for immigration agents and the "safe entry" route.

[pacovl46]

20 hours ago, falangUK said:

Just posting my recent experience coming back into Thailand in case it helps others.

I flew into Chiang Mai Airport after a two-night trip out of the country.  
Before that, I had stayed in Thailand for three months, under a 60-day Visa Exemption + extension.

 

I had everything ready  
- A booked onward flight leaving in 3 weeks time  
- 20,000 baht cash  
- Full hotel bookings

 

— but it didn’t matter. As soon as I handed over my passport and boarding pass, the problems started.

 

The immigration officer was extremely rude. She flipped through my passport like she was looking for trouble.  
The moment she saw I had only been out for two nights after staying three months, she flagged me immediately — no smile, no explanation.  
She passed me off to a younger officer who was a lot more polite. I got sent to secondary inspection.

 

At secondary:  
- They made me fill out a form with my flight details and hotel booking info.  
- They asked to show cash — and the officer literally counted each note one by one, like they were trying to find something wrong.

 

Luckily I had everything organised.  
The younger officer checked with the older ones sitting around, and after some discussion they stamped me in.

While I was waiting, I saw loads of people being pulled aside, filling out forms, and getting interviewed.  
It was clear some were going to be sent back. You could see the panic on their faces.

 

 

Meanwhile, the flight itself was half-empty.  
Hardly any foreigners are coming into the country anymore, and hotels are struggling like mad — but immigration officers still act like they’re managing an invasion.

There’s zero friendliness at the border anymore.  
It’s pure suspicion.  

 

Feels almost identical to just before COVID, when they were trying to push as many foreigners out as possible.  
Even back then they were rude when you were leaving.  
COVID destroyed the tourism industry — it’s like they haven’t learned a thing.

 

 

Warning if you're planning to come back in
- Book an onward flight  
- Carry 20,000 baht cash minimum   
- Keep hotel bookings offline too.  
- Mentally prepare for being treated like a criminal, even if your paperwork is perfect.

Final Thought
Thailand may still want your money — but it clearly doesn’t want you.  
If you still plan to come back, you better come back with your eyes wide open.

Why I'm Posting:
I’m sharing this because this forum (ASEANNOW / old Thaivisa) has been a huge help to me over the years.  
Guys like the late Ubonjoe helped me and so many others with their advice.  
So I just wanted to give back a bit — this isn’t drama or fear-mongering.  
It’s exactly what happened.

They do want you, but they do also want tourists to stick to the visa rules and let’s face it, there’s way too many people who abuse it to stay illegally or not in accordance with the law in Thailand, hence the suspicion! But somehow that always gets overlooked by people who complain about being treated like ““criminals!“

[falangUK]

7 hours ago, zzzzz said:

NEVER, ever use a young female IO 
They are trying to score points and show how efficient they are
always go for male IO's 

My experience is mixed too. I've had long chats with young immigration officers before — very friendly, educated, well-spoken, polite, good English. The one who stamped me last time was young but not friendly. This time it was an older second-generation Chinese female, rude and barely spoke any English, though English isn't really an issue since I speak passable Thai. So far, the young male immigration officers have been respectful and quick.

[falangUK]

17 hours ago, norsurin said:

When i read this story between the lines i think that the OP was expecting problems when entry Thailand again.

Why he did all this things about bookings..20.000 baht cash etc Its more about this story what the poster want to tell.I guess he didn't tell the whole truth about border runs back and forward to Thailand.

 

 

Not sure what else to include for this to be the "whole truth." If you have specific questions, just ask. Always be prepared — it’s silly things like entering via BKK/DMK that you should avoid. Always expect problems when entering, even at "easy" points. Keep a minimum of 20,000 baht, onward flight, and hotel booking if and when required — the basics are simple. The "story" I was trying to tell was that this situation was very unusual for CNX.

[falangUK]

16 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Certainly have. Obtaining any visa from places such as Savannakhet and Vientiane consulates ended end of 2024. 

Now visas for Thailand are obtained via e-Visa platform. 

Do you need to be back in your home country to apply for an e-visa for thailand?

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, falangUK said:

Do you need to be back in your home country to apply for an e-visa for thailand?

No.

There are few visas for Thailand that can only be obtained in own country or country where you have Permanent Resident status.

Non O-A one example.

[falangUK]

16 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

what was happening before that 3 months though? were you on tons of visa exempts over years? Were you dressed strangely and wearing elephant pants and dreadlocks or anything like that which could annoy them? Something must have set that woman off in your case.

 

Just bad luck maybe, you could have had a totally different experience with another officer probably.

Was away from Thailand for about 15 months.
Good question, might be useful for others...

Were you dressed strangely, wearing elephant pants and dreadlocks or anything like that?
— Jeans, short haircut, shoes, shaven, Bleu de Chanel parfum.

Could something have annoyed them? Something must have set that woman off in your case.
— Most probably not using an agent/safe entry.

Just bad luck maybe, you could have had a totally different experience with another officer.
— 100%, old Chinese man/woman no like no agent/safe entry.

[Homburg]

20 hours ago, falangUK said:

Final Thought
Thailand may still want your money — but it clearly doesn’t want you.  

 

That is not a change.

[Rob Browder]

11 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

They do want you, but they do also want tourists to stick to the visa rules and let’s face it, there’s way too many people who abuse it to stay illegally or not in accordance with the law in Thailand, hence the suspicion! But somehow that always gets overlooked by people who complain about being treated like ““criminals!“

Somehow, some folks seem to think immigration 'really care" about "the rules," as they run a payoff agent-workaround on the side.  This system makes a mockery of "accordance with the law." 

 

Legally, there is no limit in the law for "how long" a person can be a "tourist" in Thailand - nor any published set of "rules" regarding how long you need to stay out between tourist-type entries.  They clearly do not want people to be able to simply follow stated rules, as that would not facilitate their agent-system.

 

It's time to take off the blinders - things work "differently" here.  Ask any Thai how it goes dealing with their rural land-office; this is not a problem limited to Immigration.

[falangUK]

15 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

I forget but you may be right, however they have been known to clamp down on air travel if there is a long history. Were you doing the visa exempts more than twice a year for multiple years? That may have been the reason. I don't think you can get away with that anymore and Chiang Mai isn't what it used to be, they're getting inundated by people too and it's change a lot over the recent years in particular.

more immigration officers than aliens trying to enter CNX

[Rob Browder]

4 hours ago, StandardIssue said:

Fine, but what if you are not interested in doing a border run? What if you just say, want to visit Philippines for a week or two?

Answer: Just have your paper work in order. Make sure and check what visa free requirements are. Like the OP make sure and have all your ducks in a row. After all was said and done he was let in because he had prepared. This is quite simply the answer.

,..

That worked at Chiang Mai, this time - but many reports at the Bangkok airports of them ignoring you "checked all the boxes" - refusing to even look at your paperwork / money - and denying-entry, regardless.

[falangUK]

11 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

You can still get 60+30 even if they change it. Just apply for a tourist visa online through the e-visa system before your trip. Takes all of 5 minutes.

always assumed you had to be in your home country to apply for a Thai visa online

[Liverpool Lou]

20 hours ago, falangUK said:

this isn’t drama or fear-mongering.  
It’s exactly what happened.

Indeed, it is,  You were temporarily checked and then you were stamped in.

The IOs were just doing the job that they are paid to do.  You were here legitimately but you may not have been.

[falangUK]

8 hours ago, impulse said:

 

Though the OP is a good heads up, I'd suggest that someone without 14 years of experience needn't worry so much.  There's people reading in that are now unnecessarily worried about their 2nd or 3rd ever entry. 

 

And even with 14 years of entering Thailand, the OP was still allowed in on visa exempt after filling in some paperwork and answering some questions.  Which is a good cautionary tale to have your documents and cash lined up. 

 

 

one should definitely worry about the 2nd entry if there’s no significant break between the previous visa exemption + extension and the new entry with visa exemption, especially since this happened at an easy entry point like Chiang Mai

[Liverpool Lou]

20 hours ago, falangUK said:

the officer literally counted each note one by one, like they were trying to find something wrong.

The IO was, literally, making sure that everything was in order, as is his job.

[grain]

20 hours ago, falangUK said:

Just posting my recent experience coming back into Thailand in case it helps others.

I flew into Chiang Mai Airport after a two-night trip out of the country.  
Before that, I had stayed in Thailand for three months, under a 60-day Visa Exemption + extension.

 

I had everything ready  
- A booked onward flight leaving in 3 weeks time  
- 20,000 baht cash  
- Full hotel bookings

 

— but it didn’t matter. As soon as I handed over my passport and boarding pass, the problems started.

 

The immigration officer was extremely rude. She flipped through my passport like she was looking for trouble.  
The moment she saw I had only been out for two nights after staying three months, she flagged me immediately — no smile, no explanation.  
She passed me off to a younger officer who was a lot more polite. I got sent to secondary inspection.

 

At secondary:  
- They made me fill out a form with my flight details and hotel booking info.  
- They asked to show cash — and the officer literally counted each note one by one, like they were trying to find something wrong.

 

Luckily I had everything organised.  
The younger officer checked with the older ones sitting around, and after some discussion they stamped me in.

While I was waiting, I saw loads of people being pulled aside, filling out forms, and getting interviewed.  
It was clear some were going to be sent back. You could see the panic on their faces.

 

 

Meanwhile, the flight itself was half-empty.  
Hardly any foreigners are coming into the country anymore, and hotels are struggling like mad — but immigration officers still act like they’re managing an invasion.

There’s zero friendliness at the border anymore.  
It’s pure suspicion.  

 

Feels almost identical to just before COVID, when they were trying to push as many foreigners out as possible.  
Even back then they were rude when you were leaving.  
COVID destroyed the tourism industry — it’s like they haven’t learned a thing.

 

 

Warning if you're planning to come back in
- Book an onward flight  
- Carry 20,000 baht cash minimum   
- Keep hotel bookings offline too.  
- Mentally prepare for being treated like a criminal, even if your paperwork is perfect.

Final Thought
Thailand may still want your money — but it clearly doesn’t want you.  
If you still plan to come back, you better come back with your eyes wide open.

Why I'm Posting:
I’m sharing this because this forum (ASEANNOW / old Thaivisa) has been a huge help to me over the years.  
Guys like the late Ubonjoe helped me and so many others with their advice.  
So I just wanted to give back a bit — this isn’t drama or fear-mongering.  
It’s exactly what happened.

A farang from the UK, not allowed to work in Thailand, not ever going to get an benefits or any support or free housing or free medical. Entitled to absolutely nothing. All he'll do is spend spend spend. And they get uppity about you coming in too often to spend your money and get ripped off, and pay the foreigner price. Just imagine running a business along those line. A man walks into a pub and gets stopped at the door by the bouncer. 

"What do you want?"

"I want to come in the pub. Have a meal and have a few drinks"

"No you're coming here too often. I saw you in here a couple of days ago. And you were in here last week too. Sorry you're coming here too often now. We don't want you coming back here and spending your money." 😄

[Rob Browder]

4 minutes ago, falangUK said:

always assumed you had to be in your home country to apply for a Thai visa online

Only certain types are restricted to "only your passport country" - the Multiple-Entry Tourist Visas and "Non-OA" are among those.   The 5-year DTV, single-entry Tourist-Visas, Non-Ed, and Non-O based on Retirement or Marriage - all can be obtained in other countries. 

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, falangUK said:

always assumed you had to be in your home country to apply for a Thai visa online

As stated previously some visas could only be applied for in pp country or where you have PR status.

METV was one along with some Non O-A etc.

By contrast Non O retirement/marriage could be applied for at nearby consulates.

Savannakhet, Vientiane, Saigon were popular. 

 

[LukKrueng]

Just 1 simple question to the op: are you a tourist in Thailand?

[falangUK]

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

But why the desperate need to come to Thailand?

Vietnam 45 days

Malaysia 90 days

Philippines 30 days, but can stay 3 years.

 

If I didn't have a Thai family, I probably wouldn't be here.

 

not keen to come back to Thailand at all, except for the pups and a bit for TGF

[Liverpool Lou]

20 hours ago, falangUK said:

The immigration officer was extremely rude.

What did she do that was "extremely rude"?  Flipped through your passport?

[Liverpool Lou]

20 hours ago, falangUK said:

While I was waiting, I saw loads of people being pulled aside, filling out forms, and getting interviewed.  
It was clear some were going to be sent back.

No, it wasn't...unless you spoke to them.  What is clear is that you are speculating wildly and making a big deal out of nothing.