4 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Even those banned on previous overstay ? (Just curious, I've never overstayed.)

 

If you're currently banned from entering Thailand,  you cannot use a safe entry service to circumvent that official ban.

 

A safe entry service doesn't magically make an inadmissible person admissible. It simply ensures that you'll get an IO who doesn't use their discretion to deny you entry.

6 hours ago, impulse said:

 

I'm not doubting that at all, but how does the Safe Entry company guaranty that their customer isn't blacklisted or otherwise barred from entry, perhaps by virtue of a checkered entry history?  Do they have a method of checking the passport against immigration records?

 

Certainly, they can't guaranty entry to any and all, regardless of history.  Or do they just inform the customer not to even try if there are red flags?

 

Again, I'm not doubting that it's a worthwhile service.  Just wondering how it works...

 

 

   You send your passport details to the agent .  

The agent sends those details to I.O

I.O then says whether you will be allowed in or not

Why don't you fly to Malaysia, and try to enter Thailand overland. If they let you in, you are not blacklisted. If refused, go back to Malaysia. 

Alternatively, apply for a visa in Spain. If blacklisted, they will be denied. 

They saw you had an ED in the past, and that put you out of the "occasional tourist" category, whom they are forbidden to hassle.  You are now in the "can hassle" category, so need to pay them "tribute" money via their agent-partners to enter by air.  They seem to have a "quota" of denials to reach, to increase the fear of denial-of-entry, which increases their extortion-racket revenue.

 

Airport-Immigration don't get a cut of the student-visa agent-money.  Different entry-points and offices are in a competition of sorts for cuts of the corruption-money.  This is also evident when folks on long-term extensions move offices, and report being required to "re-prove" qualification for their last extension at the prior office.

 

If unwilling to use "safe entry," you can probably enter through any land-border other than Poipet/Aranyaprathet w/o issue, so could fly to Malaysia, or Cambodia, and enter by land.  Worst-case in that situation, is you just walk back and cancel your exit-stamp - no detention and forced-flights.

17 hours ago, TaoNow said:

OP should have told the Immo officer that he was a student in a Thai boxing course -- and could demonstrate the basics right there and then.

Or any other language one can study here but Thai - or cooking, etc.

13 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

Not sure your reason for insisting on returning to Thailand. The IO have smelled a rat in your intention meaning the visa you had applied for and your last method of coming to Thailand does not satisfy their requirement to allow you entry. Was it that the IO was in a bad mood, can’t say but it is what it is. 

There is no legal reason to deny-entry for, "Didn't learn Thai well enough in a course, before."

The rats (more like termites or ticks, as regards their effect on the health of the country) are those stuffing their pockets with "agent" brown-envelope money, driven by denying-entry on a lie (not enough money), when the OP had the required money.

10 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

 

You will be pre-cleared by the agent's contacts at the airport.  They will have already sent your passport information to the contact and will get approval from that contact along with the price to get you in. You will have to upload a photo of yourself shortly before arriving.  You will then meet an immigration officer before you get to immigration (hence the photo) and they will walk you through the Fast Track area, open a new window just for you, and stamp you in. This will all be arranged before your arrival. If the agent cannot do it, they will not accept your case.

That's exactly what happened with my Filipina GF last month. She had been denied entry in December 2024. She had a few VE entries in '23-'24, then got an ED visa, which she cancelled in early December. She was told it was because ED visas are "no good" (according to her). She protested because she had videos of her classes, her notebook, and could speak basic Thai. They told her to stay out for a few months, get a new passport, and return. We did the guaranteed entry when she came back at the beginning of April. Piece of cake. We explained to the agent exactly what had transpired. The agent got a copy of her PP front page to precheck (before payment) of any possible problems. When we got the good-to-go, we paid via QR code transferred from Thai bank.

The only difference was that the agent also wanted a picture of what she would be wearing the day of her return!  🙂

26 minutes ago, Peabody said:

The only difference was that the agent also wanted a picture of what she would be wearing the day of her return!  🙂

 

   That is so that the agent can spot them and take them to the designated kiosk 

What other past Visa classes are getting "hassled" trying to enter Visa Free? Like if someone had a marriage visa in the past and is trying to enter visa free?

Marriage? Retirement? Investor? Multiple Entry in the past?

Don't pay to check if you are on a blacklist, that's completely foolish. It's obvious why they denied you entry.

 

Let me guess, when they sent you to secondary inspection you spoke english with them? That looks very bad because you were in Thailand before on an education visa so you should know some basic Thai. They definitely thought you were a fake student (depriving the Thai government of Elite visa money) and abusing the system. Probably thought you were working in Thailand illegally. Now you come after 5 months trying to enter as a tourist.

 

It's also interesting how having an Education visa disqualifies you for an elite visa. I thought they just cared about money. 

 

You need to pay for a safe entry or enter through a land border at this point. 

 

On 5/25/2025 at 5:58 PM, kiwi147 said:

I just recieved a response from thailand lawyer than they can provide a full immigration and blacklist check for 6500 bath.

 

Seem cheap. I saw Channanat Leeds at 9,000 baht per hour for the same,

 

On 5/25/2025 at 9:49 PM, StayinThailand2much said:

 

You mean a 'Refused...' stamp, no doubt, not an exit stamp.

 

When I left Thailand through Suvarnabhumi in March this year, it was through the electronic gates so there is no exit stamp in my passport for that trip. I also had to get a new passport because my old one is expiring in August so I will take both the new and the old one with me next trip.

19 hours ago, hovercraft said:

It's also interesting how having an Education visa disqualifies you for an elite visa. I thought they just cared about money. 

 

 

 

I thought it was any history volunteer visa that disqualifies Elite. Now education visa also?

1 hour ago, Asean Tiger said:

I thought it was any history volunteer visa that disqualifies Elite. Now education visa also?

There has been a disclaimer about ED visa for many years already for Elite.  Stating that any visa sponsored by an institution not endorsed by the Department of Education could be disqualifying.

The lawyer sent me the report today. I'm not banned, and the last record of me at immigration is my exit in December 2024. There's no information regarding this month's entry denial.
I'll have to play the "safe entry" card. The company has already confirmed that I can use their service after sending them my passport and checking something with their immigration contact. 5,000 baht for the service.
I hope my next message is from inside Thailand.

3 hours ago, kiwi147 said:

The lawyer sent me the report today. I'm not banned, and the last record of me at immigration is my exit in December 2024. There's no information regarding this month's entry denial.

This mirrors my experience. When I was denied entry, they put a stamp in my passport. At one of the Jantaburi / Cambodia border crossings later that year, the stamp gained the attention of the IO. He asked his boss what to do explaining "there was nothing about it in the computer". (I was allowed in)

 

The point being is that they don't seem to record denials of entry as official denials of entry in the Immigration database. Rather it seems informal with just a stamp or now a small note in the passport.

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

This mirrors my experience. When I was denied entry, they put a stamp in my passport. At one of the Jantaburi / Cambodia border crossings later that year, the stamp gained the attention of the IO. He asked his boss what to do explaining "there was nothing about it in the computer". (I was allowed in)

 

The point being is that they don't seem to record denials of entry as official denials of entry in the Immigration database. Rather it seems informal with just a stamp or now a small note in the passport.

How I see this:  It would be self-defeating, for the purpose of creating "safe entry" revenue, to put things in the Immigration computer which could land an IO in hot-water for letting you in via "safe entry."  The goal isn't "keeping you out" - only making you pay them via agent.

5 hours ago, Briggsy said:

This mirrors my experience. When I was denied entry, they put a stamp in my passport. At one of the Jantaburi / Cambodia border crossings later that year, the stamp gained the attention of the IO. He asked his boss what to do explaining "there was nothing about it in the computer". (I was allowed in)

 

The point being is that they don't seem to record denials of entry as official denials of entry in the Immigration database. Rather it seems informal with just a stamp or now a small note in the passport.

 

 I was deny at nong khai border last december but without any stamp on passport and they let me in after 2 days without any question 

4 minutes ago, thai006 said:

 

 I was deny at nong khai border last december but without any stamp on passport and they let me in after 2 days without any question 

Yes, I recall reading your story. I suppose it is a bit different at a land border. They sort of just turn you around. When you fly in, there is a lot more palaver. They need to take you to the airport detention centre, have an IO of maybe colonel rank stamp your passport, co-ordinate with the airline, have your baggage collected and re-routed because you are not allowed to collect it. It has the appearance of an official process, but nothing is noted in the computer.

 

As @Rob Browder said, the goal is to inconvenience you and make you incur extra expense so that the cost of safe entry suddenly changes from being unnecessary to being an unmissable bargain.

6 hours ago, Briggsy said:

It has the appearance of an official process, but nothing is noted in the computer.

 

Strange. I've had a different experience. No problems entering for two decades, then, suddenly, almost denied at Don Muang, next almost denied at Suvarnabhumi, before entering overland, where I was almost denied as well. Numbers 2 and 3 involved tense interviews, so, yes, I suspected that 'something' was in the database. Strangely, all started after possessing a METV earlier...

8 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Strange. I've had a different experience. No problems entering for two decades, then, suddenly, almost denied at Don Muang, next almost denied at Suvarnabhumi, before entering overland, where I was almost denied as well. Numbers 2 and 3 involved tense interviews, so, yes, I suspected that 'something' was in the database. Strangely, all started after possessing a METV earlier...

I too was denied on an METV. And I had been warned at Don Meuang several months earlier. However, the IO at the Jantaburi was adamant as was his supervisor that there was nothing in the computer about any denial. And he was addressing his supervisor in Thai.

 

Perhaps Bangkok Region (Immigration Division 1) have something that only they can see or a marker.

 

Who knows?

8 hours ago, Briggsy said:

I too was denied on an METV. And I had been warned at Don Meuang several months earlier. However, the IO at the Jantaburi was adamant as was his supervisor that there was nothing in the computer about any denial. And he was addressing his supervisor in Thai.

 

Perhaps Bangkok Region (Immigration Division 1) have something that only they can see or a marker.

 

Who knows?

don't understand thailand  got METV and can get denied at airport unbelievable 

57 minutes ago, thai006 said:

don't understand thailand  got METV and can get denied at airport unbelievable 

 

 

It still amazes me that people who post on this forum still do not understand that, no matter what visa you may have obtained outside the county, it is up to the Immo officer at the border you cross to decide whether to let you in or not.   Thai Immo officers are gatekeepers -- not a welcoming committee.

 

Entry is not a right.  It is a privilege.  Act accordingly.

31 minutes ago, TaoNow said:

 

 

It still amazes me that people who post on this forum still do not understand that, no matter what visa you may have obtained outside the county, it is up to the Immo officer at the border you cross to decide whether to let you in or not.   Thai Immo officers are gatekeepers -- not a welcoming committee.

 

Entry is not a right.  It is a privilege.  Act accordingly.

they  done their job  extremely bad so , look the news in pattaya phuket lol 

20 hours ago, TaoNow said:

Entry is not a right.

i.e: You pay for a visa, and get screwed anyway ...

20 hours ago, TaoNow said:

It is a privilege. 

... which is "for sale" via their agents - can stay forever on serial tourist-entries.

20 hours ago, TaoNow said:

Act accordingly.

Recognize you are dealing with a mafia, which has taken control of a government-agency, and pay them off "or else."

I've just finished six months on a work permit and plan to fly back to Thailand this week. It will be my first tourist visa exemption this year, but the problem is that I spent most of 2022-2024 coming in as a tourist and was questioned once at the airport. Am I "reset" since I haven't had a tourist visa since last year, or should I also get the guaranteed entry service?

2 hours ago, mark999 said:

I've just finished six months on a work permit and plan to fly back to Thailand this week. It will be my first tourist visa exemption this year, but the problem is that I spent most of 2022-2024 coming in as a tourist and was questioned once at the airport. Am I "reset" since I haven't had a tourist visa since last year, or should I also get the guaranteed entry service?

They are do look at time in-Thailand from prior-years.  Whether they will target you after you were in Thailand for work (legally / with permit) is not a case I recall from recent reports - though one from years back was denied for this.

 

If I had been here for more than 60-days in the prior or current year, and not entering with a Non-Imm visa or DTV, I would either pay them for "safe entry" - or, fly to a neighboring country and use a land-border. If flying long-haul, the consequences are even worse for a denied-entry in time/cost.  There is simply no way to know if they will have reached their "Arbitrary-Denial Fear-Quota" when you arrive.

1 hour ago, Rob Browder said:

They are do look at time in-Thailand from prior-years.  Whether they will target you after you were in Thailand for work (legally / with permit) is not a case I recall from recent reports - though one from years back was denied for this.

 

If I had been here for more than 60-days in the prior or current year, and not entering with a Non-Imm visa or DTV, I would either pay them for "safe entry" - or, fly to a neighboring country and use a land-border. If flying long-haul, the consequences are even worse for a denied-entry in time/cost.  There is simply no way to know if they will have reached their "Arbitrary-Denial Fear-Quota" when you arrive.

Thanks. So it's basically the same predicament that many people are in - it'll probably be fine to enter the country as usual, but no one really knows for sure. I feel like it's probably fine to try to enter without paying for "guaranteed entry", but there's always a small risk.

One thing to remember is that this is the low season. That means that the immigration officers have more time to look at your entry/exit history since there is less queue. Arriving during the low season might also raise questions of the legitimacy of your stay since most tourists arrive from October and onwards (especially if you have been coming and going to Thailand frequently).