21 hours ago, sungod said:

Was asked where my arrival card was, showed the email on the phone and said its digital. The IO wanted a hard copy.......

 

20 hours ago, impulse said:

 

How did you solve that?

"Officer, I can email it to you and you can print it out. I don't travel with a printer."

My friend looked further into this,the lady concerned was allowed in a few days later different land border i believe.Also it happens to many and they are refused entry

47 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Link data bases... that would mean empires would have to share information... that would never do

This. Information is power.

 

The main point of using computers (and IT/IS has been there for decades) is the network feature to link databases and smoothly sustainably gather, merge and extract interconnected information. If not, rather keep using paper ledgers (they do).

16 hours ago, sungod said:

 

It would be saved on my cloud and able to access from any device, welcome to the digital age!!!!

We're dealing with a system which distrusts black biros because of concerns about photocopying!

22 hours ago, impulse said:

I see a lot of people being kicked back to the TDAC kiosks, which probably sucks after they've been in the queue for half an hour, and a few jumbo jets have disgorged while they were in the queue and it's an hour long now. 

 

On my last trip to Bangkok, I had to, of all lines, pick one where there was a problem with a (possibly) Chinese guy. IO needed 15min. to process him. I was next; 30 seconds and a smile later, and I got my passport back... 😆

23 hours ago, sungod said:

Was asked where my arrival card was, showed the email on the phone and said its digital. The IO wanted a hard copy.......

 

My brother just arrived from UK. They didn't want to see either online or hard copy. They said they could see in the system.

 

17 hours ago, sungod said:

 

It would be saved on my cloud and able to access from any device, welcome to the digital age!!!!

 

I agree with you, but recently when I extended my visa, I booked a time online. The officer wanted a hard copy of the booking. Crazy!

PETEDK is correct regarding TDAC. Arrived in Bkk Intnl weds night had applied for TDAC on laptop in oz . I could not printout and do not have phone connection to take photo of so had written down number of approval.

 

I got to immigration said I had number of approval but could bring up on my laptop as in thailand I have AIS connection to phone and laptop. She said no I can see while looking at her screen.

I guess they are trying to reduce the number of broke troublemakers let into the country.

15 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Some of you are just slow learners on The Thai Way...

 

The Thais have never liked rules or regulations to be in black and white... A to B to C to D to ect...Is just not how they like to roll....

 

The Thais seem to quite like things fuzzy and murky in a gray area regarding a whole lot of stuff..

 

I think they quite like the murky visa rules just the way they are....

 

They operate a Rule by Law system

 

"Fuzzy and murky" facilitates that.

 

The West, generally speaking, operates on Rule of Law.

 

https://vannormanlaw.com/rule-law-vs-rule-law/

 

 

 

 

23 hours ago, Enoon said:

"limiting foreigners to two visa runs"

 

Are they sure about that?

 

Not complaining, but initial entry + 2 "visa runs" would give 180 days........just one extension alone would take it to 210.

 

 

 

I know folks that come into Thailand to join an event, then a week or so later head to Vietnam to join a similar event, returning a week later , then after another couple of weeks maybe head to Malaysia or Vietnam for another event, then back to Thailand. 

Now the uncertainty has them rethinking whether to head to this part of the world as one denied entry messes everything up. They're not working or doing anything more than enjoying life.

1 hour ago, petedk said:

 

My brother just arrived from UK. They didn't want to see either online or hard copy. They said they could see in the system.

 

My last two entries, both since the new digital arrival card requirement came into being, neither time was there any request to see it, nor did I offer it, so I just assume its in the system along with my visa details. 

18 hours ago, billd766 said:

Out of curiosity, just now many tourists actually ARE harassed and denied entry per year (...)

 

Perhaps the number is as low as or lower than 0.1% or even 0.01% (...)

 

Media reports in mid November talked about '2,900' ('2,000' at Phuket International Airport alone), so about 3,000 out of 30 million, if correct.

1 hour ago, petedk said:

 

I agree with you, but recently when I extended my visa, I booked a time online. The officer wanted a hard copy of the booking. Crazy!

I've booked the past four times and on the first time they wanted a hard copy, since then I've always printed it out for the appointment. 

3 minutes ago, 8OA8 said:

I've booked the past four times and on the first time they wanted a hard copy, since then I've always printed it out for the appointment. 

 

They could easily print it out for filing purposes, but instead they let us do it... 😆

It's also unclear for the foreigners who live in Laos, and want or need to cross the border to Thailand more than 2 times per year. Most of these people only stay for a day or max a long weekend and they are back to Laos. There are a lot of confusing stories from the border. 

1 hour ago, petedk said:

 

My brother just arrived from UK. They didn't want to see either online or hard copy. They said they could see in the system.

 

 

When I returned via Suvarnabhumi recently from Cambodia, she wanted the hard copy of my DTV, even though it is already in the system.

 

Because I always carry hard copies of everything, I could produce it.

 

However, as others have said, it depends who you get on the day, what type of mood they are in etc

On 12/11/2025 at 12:05 PM, impulse said:

 

I don't understand why they don't flag potential denials when we apply for TDAC.  They have our passport number, and the computer has our travel history tied to that passport. 

 

I'd rather find out before I hop on the plane than after I land. 

 

 

The airline is supposed to do the ensuring you have the necessary permissions/visa documentation and will be allowed entry, as my understanding is that they are responsible for returning you to where you came from, or your home country (at their cost) should your entry be denied.

8 minutes ago, breaky9973 said:

It's also unclear for the foreigners who live in Laos, and want or need to cross the border to Thailand more than 2 times per year. Most of these people only stay for a day or max a long weekend and they are back to Laos. There are a lot of confusing stories from the border. 

 

I went, not too long ago, via Laos border at Savannakhet, I did a quick turnaround for the 180 days.

 

She was not interested in TDAC at the border. She pushed it straight back to me and stamped me in.

On 12/11/2025 at 10:19 AM, StayinThailand2much said:

Yes, please. Thailand wants to limit entries per year, or length of consecutive visits, please publish clear rules and guidelines.

Kaya was denied entry to the Kingdom under a long established and well publicised requirement. The fact that people claim to 'not have been informed' or have incorrect beliefs such as showing their online bank account or credit card instead is their problem. Pre-approval as already suggested would be a good move. Ideally, it should include criminal record information and travel insurance for length of stay which must include repatriation. How to validate travel insurance to guard against lying to insurers to obtain a policy which would never pay out is more difficult. 

i   dont know for what all this

 

they have ETA , they knbow before and history of stamps days in thai

 

so easyyyy.........

 

 

you can have as many stamps you want , but if you exeed 180 days out of 365...go immigration or home .. could show on screen on airport how many days left

 

or  make a 5 year tourist visa multi ,( thai can even make moneymoney charge 250USD a lot of people pay it) waht alloud youz stay unlimited  ..up to 180 days per year, over go immigration or go home

 

why for all nonbrainers there ,its so difficult whats so easy

stuppitness at  a glance

Clampdown on people using visa-exempt entries for staying long-term in Thailand

Two visa-exempt entries per calendar year (not set in stone, provided you can convince the IO that you are a genuine tourist). The first by air, 60+30 and then one border bounce/border run (NOT A VISA RUN, as that is something different), No extensions when entering by land, so when you apply for an extension, you get 7 days to leave the kingdom. That's 157 days total. The minister particularly mentioned that people are not even returning to their home countries. Anybody with a history of long-term stays in Thailand using visa-exempt entries will likely be selected for secondary screening even when re-entering with a valid visa.

 

Visa-exempt rules:

20k baht cash. a return/onward flight within the initial 60 days, and accommodation booking for the first night.

 

As Dr Jack says, if an IO is not convinced you are a genuine tourist, then they will find an excuse to deny you entry.

 

Phuket seems to be the worst at the moment. My friend arrived on his second entry with a DTV and was taken aside and questioned, as were many others.

 

And how about those that have even been prevented from leaving Thailand at Nong Khai on the last day of their legal permission to stay? This is absolutely absurd! The individual reporting this stated that several others had also suffered the same fate while he was there!

This is, in Yank parlance, a pre-emptive strike. The IO determines who is likely to commit immigration fraud in the future!

 

A lot of AN folks are so anti-illegal immigrants everywhere. Who cares? How does it affect me?

13 minutes ago, Jaggg88 said:

Phuket seems to be the worst at the moment. My friend arrived on his second entry with a DTV and was taken aside and questioned, as were many others.

 

I'd be interested in more details there...

 

What was the basis for getting the DTV (medical tourism, online work, Muay Thai, etc?), what was the line of questioning, and how was it resolved?

 

There have been several anecdotal stories of people who had a 5 year multi entry DTV with 180 days allowed per entry (theoretical) who have been told they no longer qualify for the DTV they have.  Like they're no longer in classes, etc. 

 

Being questioned doesn't concern me as much as being turned away.  That seems rather routine and appropriate.

 

20 hours ago, Sigmund said:

Western media are getting hold of these restrictions and how foreigners get harassed on arrival by immigration in Thailand. Tourists, foreigner retirees will plainly choose other Asian coutries to spend their winter break. 

Imm Officers worldwide have a job to do and people gaming the system 

 in thailand get all butt hurt when the rules are applied to them.  Being questioned about your intent when your history clearly shows excess entries for extended periods of time isn't harassment. 

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

I'd be interested in more details there...

 

What was the basis for getting the DTV (medical tourism, online work, Muay Thai, etc?), what was the line of questioning, and how was it resolved?

 

There have been several anecdotal stories of people who had a 5 year multi entry DTV with 180 days allowed per entry (theoretical) who have been told they no longer qualify for the DTV they have.  Like they're no longer in classes, etc.

 

He's a digital nomad, same as me, but does have a history of staying in Thailand using visa-exempt entries. He said the questions were random: "Where have you been? What were you doing there?" etc. I've re-entered twice with my DTV and no questions at all, but I don't have the same history as him. My previous visa was a marriage extension. I expect the soft power DTV to be scrapped, as it is ridiculous to give someone a 5-year visa when they only have a 6-month cooking course.

On 12/11/2025 at 10:19 AM, StayinThailand2much said:

Yes, please. Thailand wants to limit entries per year, or length of consecutive visits, please publish clear rules and guidelines. 

Makes no difference. They will change them again in 6 months. It’s called Thainess 🙈

2 minutes ago, Jaggg88 said:

He's a digital nomad, same as me, but does have a history of staying in Thailand using visa-exempt entries. He said the questions were random: "Where have you been? What were you doing there?" etc. I've re-entered twice with my DTV and no questions at all, but I don't have the same history as him. My previous visa was a marriage extension. I expect the soft power DTV to be scrapped, as it is ridiculous to give someone a 5-year visa when they only have a 6-month cooking course.

 

Good info.  Thanks for that. 

On 12/11/2025 at 7:21 AM, Dan O said:

The systems aren't connected yet

 

They're probably incompatible.