I have booked flight for DMK only to realize afterwards how picky immigration became lately

[DrJack54]

25 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

That would be ideal but do they accept cash on arrival for payment?

No. They accept things such as QR Code sent from Line and Whattsapp etc. In advance naturally. 

[Upnotover]

13 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

No. They accept things such as QR Code sent from Line and Whattsapp etc. In advance naturally. 

Indeed.  But the OP has mentioned he is cash only at this time.  Hence could be an issue.

[Magictoad]

DMK?

[Upnotover]

1 minute ago, Magictoad said:

DMK?

Don Mueang

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, Magictoad said:

DMK?

Don Mueang airport

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Indeed.  But the OP has mentioned he is cash only at this time.  Hence could be an issue.

In fact he has less than 20k.

Cannot afford safe entry service. 

Doesn't have an onward flight.

 

Crazy situation IMO. 

[2long]

I did EIGHT visa exempt 'visa runs' in eight months from May 24 until Jan 25. All but a couple were through DMK.

In most cases I spent around a week outside Thailand, but I did switch it up regarding which countries I went to.

I would say that in those 10 months I spent less than 2 months out of the country.

 

It really is pot luck, and I guess a bit of karma thrown in. I would advise presenting yourself well, but not being smarmy or overdressed.

Good luck

[Upnotover]

5 minutes ago, 2long said:

I did EIGHT visa exempt 'visa runs' in eight months from May 24 until Jan 25. All but a couple were through DMK.

In most cases I spent around a week outside Thailand, but I did switch it up regarding which countries I went to.

I would say that in those 10 months I spent less than 2 months out of the country.

 

It really is pot luck, and I guess a bit of karma thrown in. I would advise presenting yourself well, but not being smarmy or overdressed.

Good luck

Presumably you were getting 60 day entries since July?  Probably they thought you were an actual tourist.

[sr_mueang_25]

53 minutes ago, 2long said:

I did EIGHT visa exempt 'visa runs' in eight months from May 24 until Jan 25. All but a couple were through DMK.

In most cases I spent around a week outside Thailand, but I did switch it up regarding which countries I went to.

I would say that in those 10 months I spent less than 2 months out of the country.

 

It really is pot luck, and I guess a bit of karma thrown in. I would advise presenting yourself well, but not being smarmy or overdressed.

Good luck

Yes, my last entry in thailand was in january , i was 6 months prior with merely one week - 10 days out with no problems yet it seems last months it got nastier......  Thats my concern.

[sr_mueang_25]

58 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

In fact he has less than 20k.

Cannot afford safe entry service. 

Doesn't have an onward flight.

 

Crazy situation IMO. 

Agreed , might end up going to cambodia border , being treated like a criminal not smtg looking forward to ....

 

And losing potentially € worth two hcmc - dmk flights would shortened budget fir next two weeks....

[cjinchiangrai]

Immigration at DMK is exactly the same as BKK.

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, sr_mueang_25 said:

Agreed , might end up going to cambodia border , being treated like a criminal not smtg looking forward to ....

 

And losing potentially € worth two hcmc - dmk flights would shortened budget fir next two weeks....

 

Yeah, just do it overland. Choose your border crossing wisely and you'll just sail through, having been out for this long.

[NedR69]

Not to sound harsh, but I when I read similar, someone nearly always says ‘time to get a real visa’.  Maybe they already told you, I didn’t read all comments.  Good luck to you.

[Rob Browder]

11 hours ago, sr_mueang_25 said:

I doubt any of the up to 20 probably more  border crosses i had this previous 3 years from autumn 2022 - northern hemisphere - i had 20k on my pocket .... who the hell goes around with that amount in cash unless some transaction needed anyways.... i could however easily proof  online to be well funded ... not the case for some days now ... 

What you need to understand - Thai Immigration don't "really care" if you live here 360+ days/year, IF you pay them off via their agent partners - either safe-entry by air, or a agent-van border-run.  They simply are not "allowed" to shake-down the short-term tourists, because that would anger "deep pocket" people (big hotels, etc). 

 

If you don't have the 20K, OR a flight-ticket out, you are (bleeped) if they single you out - then airport-detention, forced to buy a flight to Vietnam, then who knows what they do when you get there.  Even meeting all requirements can fail if "coming too much/often as a tourist" - without paying agent-tribute.  

 

Back when I was here on tourist-entries, I carried 20K Baht in travelers checks, purchased from Bangkok Bank.  They do not care if you can prove you "really have" the money in a Thai or foreign bank - will not even let you get it from an ATM to prove it beyond all doubt.  They are just using these "requirements" as a rationale.  On several (reported here) occasions, they have even refused to let the foreigner prove they met them - just "not a tourist" and denied. 

[JJ-Thailand]

The government is cleaning up everything suspicious. Travelling, bank accounts, money transfers, visas, taxes etc.

[Saigon]

On 5/13/2025 at 9:47 AM, sr_mueang_25 said:

Itinerary :

Jan-feb-mar 23 Thai

Apr-may.   23 malaysia

May- jun-jul 23 viet

August-sept. 23 Thai

Oct 23 malaysia

Nov dec 23 Thai. --- jan feb 24 Thai

Feb mar april 24 malaysia

April-may-june 24  Thai

June-july-august. 24 viet

August-sep-oct 24 Thai. - one week malaysia then nov- dec Thai...

 

3 days out in penang then jan-feb - march 25 Thai....

Arrive viet early april...1,5 months spent at HCM...

Hi!

 

Are you staying in VN now? So am I. I'm enjoying BIA 333 (15 baht per can) every day!

 

You're going to fly to BKK or DMK from SGN later this month, aren't you? I'm afraid that

you might get stopped at Passport Control when you arrive in Thailand because of your

travel record. And you're going to Cambodia (Poi Pet?) for a border bounce after that,

aren't you?

 

One of the best bets would be for you to apply for a Cambodian e.visa before entering

Thailand to stay on the safe side.

 

You never ever know what will happen at Passport Control in Thailand in these days, at

airports or land borders! Maybe you'd avoid female officers there! Good luck!

[DrJack54]

Some off topic posts along with replies removed

[Maestro]

14 hours ago, Saigon said:

...And you're going to Cambodia (Poi Pet?) for a border bounce after that, aren't you?...

 

Avoid Poipet, if you can. Everyone on this forum has nothing good to say about it.

[Equatorial]

On 5/13/2025 at 4:29 PM, DrJack54 said:

They accept things such as QR Code sent from Line and Whattsapp etc. In advance naturally.

 

How does that work? (The context was a reference to a form of payment...) 

[DrJack54]

36 minutes ago, Equatorial said:

 

How does that work? (The context was a reference to a form of payment...) 

You contact them via Line, WhatsApp, Facebook etc. 

They advise on payment options. 

One of which is QR code. 

Link to that mob:

 https://friendlythaivisa.com/

 

[DrJack54]

Trolling post removed

[Bangkok Alex]

As someone who has used safe entry services at both DMK and BKK airports, I confirm it is the best solution. No hassle, worry free and out of the airport within minutes. Cheaper than changing to a new flight and airport too. 

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Alex said:

As someone who has used safe entry services at both DMK and BKK airports, I confirm it is the best solution.

The OP was provided the link to this option. Apparently very short on funds. (AKA skint) 

[Bangkok Alex]

49 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

The OP was provided the link to this option. Apparently very short on funds. (AKA skint) 

Well, too bad then. Good luck

[Saigon]

Hi All,

 

I nearly forgot to tell you that I would apply for and get a Cambodian

e.visa before re-entering Thailand and use an agent for a border run

to Cambodia to stay on the safer side.

[sr_mueang_25]

1 hour ago, Saigon said:

Hi All,

 

I nearly forgot to tell you that I would apply for and get a Cambodian

e.visa before re-entering Thailand and use an agent for a border run

to Cambodia to stay on the safer side.

 My idea was come back after only few days ....so i just went on a same day  visa run  this morning ,  within 3 hours went from main bus station NE ho chi minh so called ben xe an suong ....took first van  5:20 am with some company named Dong Phuoc - 100k dong compared by 1000k asked by agencies on D1.  .....,.. 

.....by 8:30 all 4 stamps made included visa on arrival 35 us$ upfront ..not id  picture needed/asked for ...contrary to  statements around by travellers ......

 

I shall fly in 2-3 weeks when i am not skint man   🤣 anymore and can get one of those phony tickets , show cash and perhaps even pay for a special vip no hassle service mentioned above .....actually i will probably have a legit ticket going back this time but i need to go through bkk as i have rented a locker with a good deal of my belongings piled there.

 

 

Come on man whats not to like here , really !?! ... chillling out with a 25 bath half a liter   saigon beer , waving beloved  gogo girlfriends as i stroll through bui vien  then them chicks  imaginary shooting me back it feels like Martin phookin' Sheen in that famous movie does not it?!?

 

Cheers

[sr_mueang_25]

Took flight finally last week , had a proper flight ticket and 20k on hand....

 

....it was smoother than ever ..maybe it was the timing...late flight arrived at DM after 23:...,.not crowded ..went " by the book " with male officer...easy peasy ..i doubt they even check flight number on this new arrival card system ...just sheer luck ....or probably not do tough as pictured...just came here to leave account of it accordingly..

 

Cheers !

[Tomtomtom69]

On 5/13/2025 at 11:42 AM, sr_mueang_25 said:

 

I am flying from HCMC 

,  done it 3-4  times allready never been asked for onward ticket , in this case id probably prefer it  rather than been done at dmk and be left dumbfaced in no man's  land 

 

I doubt any of the up to 20 probably more  border crosses i had this previous 3 years from autumn 2022 - northern hemisphere - i had 20k on my pocket .... who the hell goes around with that amount in cash unless some transaction needed anyways.... i could however easily proof  online to be well funded ... not the case for some days now ... 

 

 

.....at the end it all goes down to wether the guy in uniform feels up to it !!.

If i end up going shall try to pick a line with a man agent at the end of it by the looks of so many comments read here and everywhere else .....

 

at least i have a thai sim with package going so working fine and shall have a way to maneuver  ...

 

I'd honestly be VERY surprised if check-in agents at HCM don't ask for onward tickets. I've observed them checking for visas OR onward tickets since around 2012 when flying to Thailand. You're being VERY naive here. 

[sr_mueang_25]

Again..this is 4-5 th time i fly off hcmc and i can recall being asked ever for onward ticket ..... Honestly ...i am not 100 sure maybe one of the first times lady asked if i had , probably just answered yes and did not even had to show it....

 

...maybe its couse even tough i am clearly not tourist usually spend good deal of time there and make them feel good about it..i dunno...

 

 

...this time i flought with air asia and got lucky as they offered  free of charge luggage to be carried at cargo due to overloaded cabin stewardess claimed...no probs thx ...

 

 

Cheers

[sr_mueang_25]

1 hour ago, Tomtomtom69 said:

 

I'd honestly be VERY surprised if check-in agents at HCM don't ask for onward tickets. I've observed them checking for visas OR onward tickets since around 2012 when flying to Thailand. You're being VERY naive here. 

 

 

Check for visas ....?

 

Most nationalities get v exempt...why would they boder to do so ...waste of time ...like passangers can not properly take care of their business and yes i know frequently airlines have to take care of return flight of those being stranded at inmigration andbthat why they try to avoid it ...