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

[sqwakvfr]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What did you expect her to do, just wave you through without checking?   What you are reporting is that she checked your passport and then stamped you in.

Ah no. She checked every page of the passport even after I pointed to where the Re Entry permit was.  In my case the relevaant documents wereL 1) The passport 2) The Re Entry Permit 3) OA Visa Health Insurance 4) Boarding Pass. All were presented when I arrived at the check in counter.  In the past this process took about 2 minutes.  This time it took 10 minutes.  Is this enough of an explanation to you? 

[sqwakvfr]

46 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

.

?? Nothing? 

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said:

You are the one who seems to defend them while you clearly not travel much, if you saw how they were treating people you would not state this. They were quite stupid too accusing people of did having applied for a Laos visa, not knowing you get those on arrival same as Cambodia.

 

They also act contradictory to the actual immigration laws by implementing these own made rules at immigration entry points, as well as embassies and consulates. For example a non-o now requires 400k baht already to get the single entry visa, while this is only in reality needed for a yearly extension. It also goes against the UN convention child rights that Thailand committed too. 

 

I know anecdotal information is 'thin'... But, I've only ever had one issue where a young male immigration officer was making a mistake (limiting my entry permission), it was senior female officer who resolved the issue.

 

Its seems that in all but rare circumstances, those having difficulties are doing border bounces, or are missing funds or lack documentation, they get upset and post bias but are less than 100% clear themselves with their complaints on here.

 

... for example: You complained that a Single Entry Non-O now requires 400,000 Baht in the Bank - it always has a requirement, so your information (complaint) is wrong.

[for a Non-Imm O (i.e. based on Marriage) you need proof of 400,000 baht, and then for an extension that needs to be seasoned].

 

You also complain about the UN convention of Children's rights?? 

What convention is this ?

Does the UK not have similar requirements - if our son, schools in the UK, my Wife can only get guardian rights until he's 12.

 

The issue with complaints such as yours if you voice anecdote without knowing the rules - no wonder people complain, their sense of entitlement exceeds their knowledge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BangkokReady]

22 hours ago, falangUK said:

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

 

Twas ever thus and ever thus shall be.

[Liverpool Lou]

58 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Could you be specific about some of your alleged "many entry denials regardless of everything being in order", please?

Do you read this forum regularly?  IOs have literally waived-away those trying to present their list of the required items - money, etc. 

 

They say, "You come too much" - then they break their own laws, by stamping a LIE reason in the passport for why they denied entry - "not having funds" - after refusing to look at the person trying to present the required funds.

Do "they"?  Yet you can not refer to one single specific case from your "knowledge" of the "many"?

 

"IOs have literally waived-away those trying to present their list of the required items - money, etc."

"Waived-away [sic]"?  You mean waived the requirements?  That doesn't bolster your argument at all.  An example would be a good idea.

[Liverpool Lou]

25 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What did you expect her to do, just wave you through without checking?   What you are reporting is that she checked your passport and then stamped you in.

Ah no. She checked every page of the passport even after I pointed to where the Re Entry permit was.  In my case the relevaant documents wereL 1) The passport 2) The Re Entry Permit 3) OA Visa Health Insurance 4) Boarding Pass. All were presented when I arrived at the check in counter.  In the past this process took about 2 minutes.  This time it took 10 minutes.  Is this enough of an explanation to you? 

All that it explains is that your passport/documents were checked as is normal and required and you were stamped in without an issue.

[BrandonJT]

2 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

They also act contradictory to the actual immigration laws by implementing these own made rules at immigration entry points, as well as embassies and consulates. For example a non-o now requires 400k baht already to get the single entry visa, while this is only in reality needed for a yearly extension. It also goes against the UN convention child rights that Thailand committed too. 

What? A non-O visa DOES require money to get it. To apply for a non-O based on marriage you must show proof of 400,000 baht. That IS the rule. 

 

And embassies and consulates don't make any rules about entering Thailand, that's immigration that does that.  And wtf does the UN and child rights have anything to do with entering Thailand? 

[LittleBear57]

Flew in from Danang last Thursday to BKk no issues at all minimal queues lady polite and friendly. I'm on a retirement visa and came back from a holiday with my Thai family. Maybe it's down to the type of visa held.

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, LittleBear57 said:

I'm on a retirement visa and came back from a holiday with my Thai family.

The OP was relating entering Thailand visa exempt back to back.

Nothing at all to do with folk with a reentry permit.

[ujayujay]

On 4/28/2025 at 8:35 PM, Hellfire said:

 Next time put 300 baht into your passport before handing it to the offcer. 

Stupid as stupid......

[Chalky0w]

Don’t think anyone should be overly concerned by this. 

Rightly or wrongly, there are red flags:

- Previous Ed visa

- Previous covid extensions

- Only 2 days out

- Visa exempt & extension rather than METV

 

Think that is reasonable justification for immigration to ask a few questions and they let him in.

 

[frank83628]

Its all down to the officer on the day, I blagged tourist visas at ranong for at least 7yrs, but was always polite and dressed respectively.  if  got asked for a duty free birthday present in the form of a Johnny Walker whiskey for 500BT... so be it...I am today legal since 15 years and have absolutely no issues with my stamps, and even have preferential treatment from previous the same officers.

[BrandonJT]

2 hours ago, Chalky0w said:

Don’t think anyone should be overly concerned by this. 

Rightly or wrongly, there are red flags:

- Previous Ed visa

- Previous covid extensions

- Only 2 days out

- Visa exempt & extension rather than METV

 

Think that is reasonable justification for immigration to ask a few questions and they let him in.

 

METV doesn't even mean anything anymore.  Multiple reports of people doing a 3rd border bounce at the end of their METV and being pulled out of line and interrogated about what they think they are doing, as they've already spent almost 6 months in Thailand and are clearly not a tourist.  Tourist visas don't mean anything anymore.  Either act like a tourist or expect problems if you don't have a long-term visa.