After another weird experience with Thai immigration while trying to enter Thailand, I want to share my experiences and get your opinions about it.

 

1st time trying to enter Thailand about 1 year ago on a visa exemption: at the immigration checkpoint I got stopped and taken apart. I had to wait 45 minutes till an officer took me to the office of the supervisor. He asked some basic questions like: Why I come to Thailand? What places I plan to visit? Do I work in Thailand? Then he wanted to show my hotel booking confirmation. It took about 10-15 minutes time to find and open the hotel reservation, but then he didn't even want to look at it and he said ''nevermind, it's fine, you can go now''. Total duration of my stay: 2 months (no visa extension).

 

2nd time trying to enter Thailand about 6 months later on a visa exemption: at the immigration checkpoint I got stopped again and was taken apart again (in a room with a Cambodian man and a Burmese man who also had troubles to enter Thailand). I thought this might be serious, but I'm a genuine tourist who has nothing to hide. After 60 minutes of waiting a supervisor took me to his office. He asked me at which hotel I'm staying. I named the hotel and then he said ''ok you can go now''. I told him this also happened the last time I was entering Thailand. Is there anything wrong or have I stayed in Thailand too much? He said ''nothing is wrong. Just for answering some general questions''. This time also no visa extension as I didn't feel welcomed by the Thai immigration and choose to stay not for too long as I wanted to avoid any problems / suspicions to enter Thailand in the future.

 

When I left Thailand I got stopped at the immigration checkpoint again. Again I had to visit a supervisor, who told me to not come back to Thailand for the next 2-3 months.

 

3rd time trying to enter Thailand about 3 months later (just for a quick shopping trip). With the new and stricter visa rules, I applied for a paid tourist visa and it was approved. You can guess it already, again I was stopped and taken apart by the Thai immigration and again I had to visit a supervisor. He asked me how long I will stay in Thailand? I said not long, I just want to go shopping a few days and maybe a few days holiday. The supervisor told me ''I give you 10 days''. I said okay, thank you. Will I have any problems entering Thailand in the future? When is the next time I can come to Thailand again? He said: don't talk anymore, you can go now''. I entered Thailand and I saw that the supervisor stamped my passport with a 2 month tourist visa. I'm actually confused right now if I can stay 10 days or 60 days? (I don't want to stay 60 days but I might want to stay 12-14 days if my visa allows that ofcourse).

 

Alltogether I found it weird experiences with Thai immigration. Obviously I feel that something is wrong but they don't want to tell anything about it and neither they are refusing me entry to Thailand. It left me with a bitter feeling, this is not how any tourist wants to be welcomed in a country. Well, time to enjoy my quick shopping holiday!

You are good for 60 days as what the stamp is. 

Chin Chan ........ would you be kind enough to DESCRIBE  what your appearance looks like"

Hair ?  Type of clothing?  Race ?   Age ?   Grooming ?   How many eyes ?

 

if known...... maybe we can guess at a reason you are being singled out . 

 

 

Just read the OP's post history, as there is quite a bit that doesn't add up to his story.

OP, frankly find your thread not credible. 

At very least based on perfect English script. 

 

It's probably a colour thing unfortunately. But why keep coming here and repeatedly getting the shaft by immigration? Go to Vietnam dude, where the rest of us will probably be in short order anyway. 

18 minutes ago, rumak said:

Chin Chan ........ would you be kind enough to DESCRIBE  what your appearance looks like"

Hair ?  Type of clothing?  Race ?   Age ?   Grooming ?   How many eyes ?

 

if known...... maybe we can guess at a reason you are being singled out . 

 

 

 

I have a white skin, from Europe, 30-35 years old. I would describe my style as casual / business (long pants, casual business shirt, no flip flops). Shaven face. Especially when visiting immigration officers I always like to look fresh. I have read the stories that sometimes they target Indians / begpackers (tourists with no money) / dirty looking foreigners.

mmm, summat amiss. I smell a rat. 🙂

9 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

It's probably a colour thing unfortunately. But why keep coming here and repeatedly getting the shaft by immigration? Go to Vietnam dude, where the rest of us will probably be in short order anyway. 

 

I will definitely visit Vietnam in the future. Thailand seems to have lost a lot of tourists to Vietnam already. Unfortunately every time I wanted to visit Vietnam there was a natural disaster going on (floods / landslides / forest fires).

To be honest, I don't give a single <deleted> anymore about staying in Thailand, but at this time it was a convenient option for a quick shopping trip. If I was denied entry to Thailand, I would have indeed gone shopping in Vietnam!

46 minutes ago, ChinChan said:

Obviously I feel that something is wrong but they don't want to tell anything about it and neither they are refusing me entry to Thailand.

 

Why do you think their being bolshy?  Maybe your history?

1 minute ago, ChinChan said:

I will definitely visit Vietnam in the future.

Does your thread actually have a point? 

The travel history you outline does not (in general) match what happened with immigration

Entry point was not clear. 

In any event yes go to Vietnam. 

eVisa multi 90 day application is simple. 

 

10 minutes ago, treetops said:

 

Why do you think their being bolshy?  Maybe your history?

 

I have no idea, that's why I posted my experience on this forum. An expat / business owner in Thailand told me that maybe a visa agent can find out if something is wrong with my case because they have contacts who can run checks through the immigration systems? Do you think that could help? The expat / business owner told me I must have some kind of red flag next to my name as every time I try to enter Thailand they take me apart.

 

On the other side, actually nothing is wrong as I could just enter Thailand every time, after a 45-60 minutes delay without any proper given reason despite trying to ask for any reason multiple times. TiT

11 minutes ago, ChinChan said:

I will definitely visit Vietnam in the future. Thailand seems to have lost a lot of tourists to Vietnam already. Unfortunately every time I wanted to visit Vietnam there was a natural disaster going on (floods / landslides / forest fires).

To be honest, I don't give a single <deleted> anymore about staying in Thailand, but at this time it was a convenient option for a quick shopping trip. If I was denied entry to Thailand, I would have indeed gone shopping in Vietnam!

Don't bother shopping here. Everything is now proper inflated unless you plan on buying up loads of Mama noodles etc. Thailand is now so old hat. Only Thaier than Thais and loved up folk stay here now.

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

The travel history you outline does not (in general) match what happened with immigration

Entry point was not clear.

It seems to be a case of translation app butchering of the English language.

15 minutes ago, ChinChan said:

 

I will definitely visit Vietnam in the future. Thailand seems to have lost a lot of tourists to Vietnam already. Unfortunately every time I wanted to visit Vietnam there was a natural disaster going on (floods / landslides / forest fires).

To be honest, I don't give a single <deleted> anymore about staying in Thailand, but at this time it was a convenient option for a quick shopping trip. If I was denied entry to Thailand, I would have indeed gone shopping in Vietnam!

You come to Thailand to shop?  Little strange and what is on your shopping list?

1 hour ago, ChinChan said:

1st time trying to enter Thailand about 1 year ago on a visa exemption: at the immigration checkpoint I got stopped and taken apart. I had to wait 45 minutes till an officer took me to the office of the supervisor. He asked some basic questions like: Why I come to Thailand? What places I plan to visit? Do I work in Thailand? Then he wanted to show my hotel booking confirmation. It took about 10-15 minutes time to find and open the hotel reservation, but then he didn't even want to look at it and he said ''nevermind, it's fine, you can go now''. Total duration of my stay: 2 months (no visa extension).

 

How about this OP? There is more to see in hist post history,.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1282881-entry-to-thailand-denied-at-the-poipet-cambodia-border/

 

 

I've never heard of anyone getting sent to a supervisor when leaving Thailand. Unless you're on overstay or you're wanted, that part in particular sounds like fiction. 

19 minutes ago, novacova said:

It seems to be a case of translation app butchering of the English language.

 

No I'm not using a translation app. Who cares about someone's English not being perfect, especially online... 

1 minute ago, ChinChan said:

 

No I'm not using a translation app. Who cares about someone's English not being perfect, especially online... 

Again IMO your thread is not credible. 

 

 

11 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

How about this OP? There is more to see in hist post history,.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1282881-entry-to-thailand-denied-at-the-poipet-cambodia-border/

 

 

 

It's a post from 3 years ago.

What do you want to know?

Bogus thread

1 minute ago, ChinChan said:

 

It's a post from 3 years ago.

What do you want to know?

 

You said 

 

1 hour ago, ChinChan said:

1st time trying to enter Thailand about 1 year ago on a visa exemption:

 

You did already a visa run 3 years ago, and was refused entry, because you already had many previous trips.

 

Thread not credible. 

Folk can read OP experience. 

Thread closed. 

8 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

You said 

 

 

You did already a visa run 3 years ago, and was refused entry, because you already had many previous trips.

 

 

Let me clarify this:

 

3 years ago I stayed in Thailand (during covid) (special times). and that time I stayed "only" 4 months / year in Thailand. During that time there were many people staying in Thailand for up to 7-9 months without getting into any problems, and entries by air were almost unlimited during that time.

 

I also never got an official "denied entry" stamp, neither did I ever had to sign any document about a "denied entry". To clarify it more: 1 day later I flew back to Thailand and was approved entry without any questions asked.

 

I should have written it down differently as with my "1st entry to Thailand " I meant the first time coming to Thailand again after a 1 year break + previous years staying only for about 4 months / year. My travel records to Thailand started fresh this year (no visa exemptions / any other kind of visa / no visa extensions) so that's why I said "1st entry to Thailand".

9 hours ago, atpeace said:

You come to Thailand to shop?  Little strange and what is on your shopping list?

 

I was on a hiking trip in Laos and my hiking shoes broke (old and used). Unfortunately there are not many branded shops / quality shops in Laos (with also many fake Chinese copy products going around in that country). I'm specifically looking for hiking shoes of "The North Face" or "Columbia sportswear" so I had the option to buy those in Thailand or Vietnam. I checked for Vietnam first but they had a sale going on with 9 of 10 shoes not available anymore

Your immigration file has been flagged. You have even been denied entry once already. You continue to enter repeatedly using tourist options. 

 

How are you not surprised at being questioned? 

 

What nationality do you hold? What is your country of residence? How do you fund your lifestyle? 

Interesting post. .. ...

 

So the 'immigration checkpoint' this time was at a land crossing or at an airport?

 

Something is definitely flagging you in the system if they are pulling you aside every entry 😕 , especially with as much time out of country as you say you do between entries.

 

Be that was it may,

 

No matter what the officer told you when he stamped you in, you got stamped for 60 days..

 

As I said, strange tale indeed..

 

 

10 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Again IMO your thread is not credible. 

 

 

 

Quite sure this poster is on some list and has a long story since at least 2023.

 

Link already above.

3 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

Something is definitely flagging you in the system if they are pulling you aside every entry 😕 , especially with as much time out of country as you say you do between entries.

 

Something like that (being pulled aside every time) happened to me in early 2020, too. However, very strange that it happened to the OP after a long absence, and when departing...

9 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

Interesting post. .. ...

 

So the 'immigration checkpoint' this time was at a land crossing or at an airport?

 

Something is definitely flagging you in the system if they are pulling you aside every entry 😕 , especially with as much time out of country as you say you do between entries.

 

Be that was it may,

 

No matter what the officer told you when he stamped you in, you got stamped for 60 days..

 

As I said, strange tale indeed..

 

 

 

1st entry in this year (January 2025): entry by air at Don Muang airport.

2nd entry in this year (August 2025): entry by air at Suvarnabhumi airport.

3rd entry this year (December 2025): land border crossing at Nong Khiaw (with a paid Tourist Visa) (because of their announcement of stricter visa rules in November)

 

Note: this was my first entry by land border crossing (which according to the rules are limited to 2 entries per year?) while I did 0 visa extensions this year