Denied Entry

[shdmn]

32 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes that was a whoopie. 

BTW which DTV did you opt for. 

Digital nomad or soft power etc. 

Where did you obtain it. 

Some would be interested. 

Seems great option

Nomad.  It's cheaper than getting 5 years worth of METVs, only have to apply once, don't need to pay close attention to travel dates every (less than) 60 days, and also no need to pay close attention to the 6 month expiry date which starts from the day you are approved.  Totally worth it imo.

[bkkcanuck8]

On 5/30/2025 at 6:55 PM, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   He wanted to take Muy Thai classes and so he needed to get the correct visa for that 

That is like saying someone taking a couple of cooking courses now needs a visa... It really depends on length of the courses... 

[bkkcanuck8]

13 hours ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

 

How is spending 6 months or less in a country not being a 'genuine' tourist?

 

If I want to spend 6 months in Thailand one year and 5 months the next, why should I be grilled by immigration when I enter, again when I return from a short side-trip to a neighbouring country, and worry about being refused entry?

 

I'm quite happy to prove that I have enough, in fact over and above, the necessary funds for my stay.

 

Also, there is no such thing as 'the appropriate visa'. The correct visa, or visa exempt stamp, is the one that is appropriate for me. I will choose the legal method that best suits me because I am the paying customer.

 

Look at the visa options available for Thai tourists in the UK, my home country. Are they not 'genuine' tourists if they avail themselves of these options?

 

 

Canada's Visa Waiver gives you up to 6 months.  I had a friend from Japan stay for 18 months on a 6 month visa waiver plus two extensions... which was not a problem since she could easily prove she could stay without employment or support -- so it was a non-issue.    Thai Retirement Visas are glorified tourist/visitor visas that last up to 12 months (non-permanent - same rights as a tourist just longer).

[K2938]

On 5/30/2025 at 7:03 PM, ChangIsMyFavBeer said:

Even if i use this service, is there a cooldown period before i can attempt another entry, or will the agent take care of this?

This is a border run service when you are already IN Thailand.  But as far as I understood, you are not, but were rejected.  So this is not going to do you any good.

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, K2938 said:

This is a border run service when you are already IN Thailand.  But as far as I understood, you are not, but were rejected.  So this is not going to do you any good.

The OP was  not asking about border run service. 

He is asking about "safe entry airport" 

The agent will advise him of cost and option. 

There will not be a waiting period. 

He can return after organising with agent. 

 

Here is one. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1V4UMpb27x/

[impulse]

9 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

9 hours ago, Equatorial said:

For the same reason drivers in Thailand are often fined for "speeding" when they are not speeding. 

  What reason is that ?

 

Baby needs a new pair of shoes. 

 

I used to get pulled over occasionally for whatever.  Usually a non-existent infraction.  500 baht seemed to be the right amount.  Never a receipt, of course. 

 

I'm not recommending it.  Bribery's illegal.  Just relating my experience.

[oldcpu]

5 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I'm not entirely sure a 90 day non-o will allow you to open a Thai bank account.

Read somewhere they want you to have permission to stay 9 months.

 

I don't think what you are "not entirely sure" about is the case.

 

My understanding, from

(1) talking to expats who obtained bank accounts when on type-O,

(2) from posts on this forum,

(3) from the notification sign at the local Bangkok Bank branch (where I have a few bank accounts), and

(4) from one of my Thai wife's friends (where this friend is the manager at a Phuket based Krungsri bank branch) , is foreigners on a non-immigrant 90-day type-O visa, can open a bank account.  It is considered a 'long stay' even thou it is only 90-days.  

The bank logic is typically foreigner on this visa, plan to stay in Thailand longer than just the 90-days.  

Typically advising the bank of any one of these reasons will also further help (but may not be needed) :
* the foreigner advises they need this bank account to transfer money into Thailand so to obtain the 1-year extension on the Visa so to stay in Thailand longer
* the foreigner can point to a condominium they own in Thailand, or are about to buy (with funds passing through the bank)
* the foreigner notes they plan to transfer a substantial amount of money into Thailand into this bank account
* the foreigner has a Thai spouse  
* the foreigner agrees to buy some bank investment/insurance scheme from the Bank Manager (where likely Bank branch manager obtains some commission).

 

I would be curious to hear of anyone who has not been able to open a Thai bank account on a Type-O.  I have not heard of anyone noting this (on a type-O visa) that I can recollect.

 

Possibly in the future, the Banks may ask to see one's passport on a regular basis (once every year or two) to ensure one is still on a long-stay visa, but this sentence is 100% speculation by me.  It may never be the case, or it may have been the case for some now by some banks .

[BritManToo]

9 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

I would be curious to hear of anyone who has not been able to open a Thai bank account on a Type-O.  I have not heard of anyone noting this (on a type-O visa) that I can recollect.

It's only been a week since the new rules, so what you recall won't be relevant.

[oldcpu]

Just now, BritManToo said:

It's only been a week since the new rules, so what you recall won't be relevant.

 

I will ask my Thai wife to call her friend the Bank Manager. And then it will be relevant and your "not entirely sure" will be irrelevant.

[DrJack54]

25 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

I would be curious to hear of anyone who has not been able to open a Thai bank account on a Type-O.  I have not heard of anyone noting this (on a type-O visa) that I can recollect.

First up your post is a good summary. 

With a Non O 90 day stamp you will be able to open a bank account. 

Some banks may be fussy and also ask for COR or address letter from embassy. 

However some embassies do not provide that service. 

 

Back in the day when CW required you to have made a TM47 in order to obtain a COR, I had trouble opening bank account with BBL. 

 

I has existing savings account with another bank and on extensions from a Non O retirement. 

BBL said no go without the COR. 

I subsequently opened account with Kasikorn. 

It was the Non O they wanted. 

Think I provided lease but don't recall it being a big deal. 

 

Suggest if anyone (in current climate) has the option to obtain the Non O prior to entering Thailand then that's best option. 

Even if you already have a bank account. 

 

[Equatorial]

5 hours ago, oldcpu said:

I would be curious to hear of anyone who has not been able to open a Thai bank account on a Type-O.  I have not heard of anyone noting this (on a type-O visa) that I can recollect.

 

 

I was unable to open a bank account with my marriage-based 90-day Non O. 

 

It's possible that the reason is that I live in a small town in Sri Saket, where they don't get many foreigners. (Although each time I go a bank I see at least one foreign customer...) 

 

I went to the three bank branches in my small town, as well as to all of the bank branches in a slightly bigger town nearby. That covers all of the big ones - BBL, SCB, Kasikorn; Ayutthaya. I was turned down by all of them. One required a 1-year visa (sic); another required a pink card; yet another required a COR; yet another demanded to see a translated and certified marriage certificate; and - my personal favorite - another one required an international driver license. WTF! 

 

Later, when I went to my Immigration Office to do my TM30, I told the officer that I was unable to open a bank account, so how exactly am I supposed to comply with the financial requirements. He did not seem surprised, and he actually wrote a letter for me requesting that a bank lets me open a bank account! 

 

It was only thanks to this letter that SCB finally opened an account for me. 

[DrJack54]

6 minutes ago, Equatorial said:

yet another required a COR;

Why didn't you just obtain the COR that one bank asked for. 

[BexMan]

15 hours ago, oldcpu said:

 

If no Thai bank account then I recommend you follow DrJack54's recommendation.   Why ?

 

If you arrive Thailand visa exempt, you will need to open a bank account to obtain a non-immigrant type-O visa.  But you will find it almost impossible to open a bank account if you enter Thailand visa exempt.  Which means you nominally then can not obtain a type-O visa inside Thailand (with no Thai bank account). 

 

One work around in such a case is to find an agent and pay them $$ in order to help you open a bank account.  But recent new articles have noted Bangkok Bank pushing back on those who opened accounts when Visa exempt, and freezing their accounts (until long term visa can be shown).

 

To avoid all the hassle, if you obtain the 90-day Type-O visa when outside of Thailand (while in your home country), then when you arrive in Thailand, you can immediately open a bank account on the Type-O (as Thai banks accept that visa), and start moving money into Thailand so to be ready for applying for a 1-year extension on your Thai Type-O visa (which you nominally should do after being in Thailand for about 60-days when on a 90-day Type-O visa).

 

I recommend you do NOT come to Thailand on a one year-Type-OA visa (this is DIFFERENT from the Type-O).  For the Type-OA 1-year extensions on the permission to stay in Thailand, it has health insurance requirements with a 'Thai twist' to them. The Type-O does not have that 'twist'. 

 

The 'twist' I refer to is the health insurance for a Type-OA pretty much MUST be from the Thai branch of a health insurance company. Even if your original out of country health insurance (to get a type-OA) was from outside of Thailand, that can NOT be used when applying for the 1-year extensions of the permission to stay in Thailand.  Typically when going for the extension of a permission to stay in Thaliand (on a Type-OA visa), health insurance from a branch of a health insurance outside of Thailand is not accepted.

 

But the Type-O does NOT have health insurance requirements.

 

Which all gets back to why DrJack54's suggestion should be considered - get a Type-O outside of Thailand first, is the optimal way to do this if you can.

.

Thanks for the advice. Wouldn’t I need some sort of proof of address, like a lease to open a bank account? We have booked a month in a condo while we look around for a long term rental.

Also I have looked at the Thai government EVisa site and it appears you can only get a 60 day visa.

 

 

[Rob Browder]

21 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

It seems she’s got you on abusing the immigration visa system. Unfortunately for you she’s right. You keep mentioning overkill but it doesn’t really matter what you think as you’ve figured it by now. Get proper advice and do as the advice says and not what you think you should do. 

Abusing - LOL!!!  But paying them via agents, then it's all OK to stay visa-exempt forever.  Which side is being "abusive"??

 

21 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

The Government wants genuine tourists, NOT foreigners who stay for months on end and not having a reason to be in Thailand .

   If you have a reason to stay long term, then get the appropriate visa 

There is no such thing as "genuine tourist," other than not working, and has money to spend.  Coming more/often means the entrant has more money (is why they can afford to travel) = "a good reason to be in Thailand."  If not working here, and spending one's own money, "tourist" is "appropriate."

 

18 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Look  we all know , everyone is aware that there are no exact rules and that Immigration officers use their discretion when enforcing guidelines  about long term stay in Thailand .

  Its common knowledge, does it really need to be stated again ?

I know, You know , everyone knows the situation about long term stay in Thailand and getting the correct visa 

Where "discretion" means:

"I don't see an agent-laundered payoff for you, and you aren't in the class of visitors protected by the big-hotel lobby." 

 

18 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

  If there are no rules, then why are people denied entry ?

They deny-entry to those who are clearly moneyed and not here to work, in order to use FEAR of denial-of entry, to force people to pay them off via their agent-partners.

 

19 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Save it for the immigration officers who uphold the rules , its not me who makes the rules or enforces them 

What rule was being enforced?  They don't "uphold" any rules - they mock the laws and visa/extension rules they are sworn to uphold - none of which state how long one can be in Thailand as a tourist.   For context, ask business owners about the importance of paying "police fees." 

 

It's one thing to say, "Beware, traveler" - and I do this regularly.  But something else to pretend those taking payoffs are "enforcing rules," which don't even exist.

[BexMan]

15 hours ago, oldcpu said:

 

If no Thai bank account then I recommend you follow DrJack54's recommendation.   Why ?

 

If you arrive Thailand visa exempt, you will need to open a bank account to obtain a non-immigrant type-O visa.  But you will find it almost impossible to open a bank account if you enter Thailand visa exempt.  Which means you nominally then can not obtain a type-O visa inside Thailand (with no Thai bank account). 

 

One work around in such a case is to find an agent and pay them $$ in order to help you open a bank account.  But recent new articles have noted Bangkok Bank pushing back on those who opened accounts when Visa exempt, and freezing their accounts (until long term visa can be shown).

 

To avoid all the hassle, if you obtain the 90-day Type-O visa when outside of Thailand (while in your home country), then when you arrive in Thailand, you can immediately open a bank account on the Type-O (as Thai banks accept that visa), and start moving money into Thailand so to be ready for applying for a 1-year extension on your Thai Type-O visa (which you nominally should do after being in Thailand for about 60-days when on a 90-day Type-O visa).

 

I recommend you do NOT come to Thailand on a one year-Type-OA visa (this is DIFFERENT from the Type-O).  For the Type-OA 1-year extensions on the permission to stay in Thailand, it has health insurance requirements with a 'Thai twist' to them. The Type-O does not have that 'twist'. 

 

The 'twist' I refer to is the health insurance for a Type-OA pretty much MUST be from the Thai branch of a health insurance company. Even if your original out of country health insurance (to get a type-OA) was from outside of Thailand, that can NOT be used when applying for the 1-year extensions of the permission to stay in Thailand.  Typically when going for the extension of a permission to stay in Thaliand (on a Type-OA visa), health insurance from a branch of a health insurance outside of Thailand is not accepted.

 

But the Type-O does NOT have health insurance requirements.

 

Which all gets back to why DrJack54's suggestion should be considered - get a Type-O outside of Thailand first, is the optimal way to do this if you can.

.

If I put 90 days in the Thai website this is what I get. Plus for a Non O I need to show wife’s bank savings of £20k. No sure they would accept an ISA savings account with amount in.

 

 

[oldcpu]

1 hour ago, BexMan said:

Thanks for the advice. Wouldn’t I need some sort of proof of address, like a lease to open a bank account? We have booked a month in a condo while we look around for a long term rental.

Also I have looked at the Thai government EVisa site and it appears you can only get a 60 day visa.

 

Yes.

 

This is the COR (certificate of residence) which was mentioned above. You get this from your local immigration when you are in Thailand.  It doesn't hurt to bring a copy of your lease.

 

Ensure that the place where you stay has done a TM30 for you (typically done by the Landlord) - this may or may not be required by your Immigration Office, but if an Immigration Officer ( IO) asks for this when you go to immigration, its not something that can be done on the spur of the moment - so ask your landlord (or hotel where you stay) for this before going to immigration. 

 

For example, Phuket immigration purportedly requires a TM30:

https://piv-phuket.com/residence-certificate/

 

Bring a passport sized/style photo, as it is needed for the COR.

 

With passport, copies as noted in the link, passport sized photo, the TM30 in hand (and it doesn't hurt to bring the 1-month lease from your rental - or what ever from your proof of rental is provided, with that in hand)  go to the local immigration and ask that they provide you a  COR letter. They may have you fill in another form, but if so, that can likely be done on the spot.

 

Then take the COR with you (and your passport that has the Type-O visa inside) when you go to open up your bank account.

 

Its been almost a decade since I had to do the above.  I have a different visa now (LTR) and I have a yellow-book & pink Thai ID so I have not needed a COR to open a bank account. Instead I have different requirements (re: the LTR visa).

[geisha]

What’s a safe entry? Agent  ?

[DrJack54]

Trolling post removed 

@richard_smith237 stop

[DrJack54]

14 minutes ago, geisha said:

What’s a safe entry? Agent  ?

Safe entry agents refers to agent assisted entry at airports.

Good option for visa exempt entries.

 

[Lemsta69]

6 hours ago, BexMan said:

 

 

That's a tourist visa mate, you want the Non-Immigrant Visa, Retirement, Single Entry.

 

 

[DrJack54]

Offensive posts and a reply removed. 

@ChaiyaTH 

[it is what it is]

 

millions of people manage to visit thailand every year without any issues. all you need to do is follow thailand's immigration rules, as you would for any country, and have the visa appropriate for your visit. next.

[BexMan]

2 hours ago, Lemsta69 said:

 

That's a tourist visa mate, you want the Non-Immigrant Visa, Retirement, Single Entry.

 

 

Aah, see it now. 🤦Thanks a lot for the heads up, I really appreciate it.

[DrJack54]

44 minutes ago, it is what it is said:

 

millions of people manage to visit thailand every year without any issues. all you need to do is follow thailand's immigration rules, as you would for any country, and have the visa appropriate for your visit. next.

Read the thread. 

As has been pointed out... there are NO stated rules. 

Please post the ones you are aware of. 

In addition even folk with a "Visa" can and are refused at various times. 

[Rob Browder]

9 hours ago, it is what it is said:

all you need to do is follow thailand's immigration rules, as you would for any country, and have the visa appropriate for your visit.

Please link to the "immigration rules" which specify how much time one can spend in Thailand as a tourist - how long to "stay out" before returning is allowed - etc.  These rules should be specific, so there is no confusion - and enforcement likewise consistently applied to every entry.  A link to the legal reason to deny-entry for "coming too much/often" would also be interesting (hint: denying entry for this reason is illegal under Thai immigration law).

 

Why do you think that which is deemed "appropriate," and/or the paperwork / qualifications change, when an agent is used for an entry (land or air) or to obtain a permitted-stay extension in-country?  Do you see how this creates a perverse incentive to deny-entry / make applications difficult for those who are obviously only here to spend money (creating Thai jobs), in order to take a "cut" of that money via an agent-payoff?