Visa run to Laos, always fine? No problem with TDAC

[DrJack54]

13 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Not me who gave you the thumbs down responses.

That would be me. 

Not a fan of negative replies to the helpful advice you provided. 

[Maestro]

22 hours ago, Magictoad said:

With the new digital visa that has to be completed 3 days before entry or on the day of entry- this new one requires all kind of information that many people will find difficult to provide truthfully.

 

Please note that with the TDAC, only the fields marked with a red asterisk are compulsory, ie require you to input data.

 

Whether we like it or not, this system of advanced travel information input is now the new norm for Thailand, is already in place for some other countries and currently in process for more countries. If it speeds up immigration clearance on arrival, as intended, we, the travellers, benefit from it.

[Rob Browder]

On 5/9/2025 at 1:22 PM, Briggsy said:

This is a perfect example of seeing what you want to believe rather than seeing the reality, a wilful denial, if you will.

"Odds Are" he will get in ok.  They may not even ask any questions.  But I would not roll the dice - it's simply not worth the potential trouble.

 

On 5/9/2025 at 11:26 AM, anotherfarangishere said:

So, if they refuse me at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang, nobody is going to be accepted.

By air is the worst choice.  If refused, you get locked in airport-detention, and forced to fly back where you came from. 
If denied entering by land, you just walk back and cancel your exit-stamp from the other country, and sleep in a hotel that night.

[BrandonJT]

1 hour ago, Rob Browder said:

By air is the worst choice.  If refused, you get locked in airport-detention, and forced to fly back where you came from. 

A point of correction, immigration decides where you fly back to.  They have the decision to let you fly wherever you want, to make you fly back to the country your flight originated from, or to make you fly back to your passport country.  Depends on their mood, and probably your demeanor as well.

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

Depends on their mood, and probably your demeanor as well.

In vast majority of cases it will be back to point of last departure.

Anyone thinking that they can fly from eg UK to Thailand and if refused entry can nominate eg Saigon as their preferred next flight are sadly mistaken. 

 

[Briggsy]

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

In vast majority of cases it will be back to point of last departure.

Anyone thinking that they can fly from eg UK to Thailand and if refused entry can nominate eg Saigon as their preferred next flight are sadly mistaken. 

 

I completely agree with this and it matches my experience.

 

The Immigration who deal with denials of entry work closely with AOT staff or travel agents (not sure) who actually have an office within the Suwannaphum detention area.

 

The first thing they do is see if you have a return ticket. They give you no choice but to use it, even if that means a $200 change of date fee. If not, they want you to buy a ticket with the carrier that brought you in, preferably to the last airport you flew from. I believe there is a stipulation that the cost of the ticket falls on the carrier but the AOT staff or travel agents will tell you that it is not an option. It is pay up or be locked up.

 

I was denied entry flying in from the UK. When I raised the possibility of flying to Vientiane, I was told by the AOT guy or travel agent, "We don't want you to fly there because you will just come in by land."