Not sure about posting links to a story from the English language newspapers in the forum. But giving a heads up, this 'service' could be going by the boards at some point.

An in-depth article in the paper on its website, the one that's not the BP, goes in-depth about an investigation by immigration officials into the so-called "guaranteed entry' schemes being employed at Suvarnabhumi airport.

The report states the investigation is focused on the facilitated entry of Chinese arrivals. Obviously it's a dodgy practice, folks paying not for a fast-tracked entry but paying agents who work, or you might say collude, with immigration officers to give a pass for arrivals so they can avoid scrutiny, where they otherwise might not be allowed entry.

Well, we'll see how it shakes out. Who knows how it could go? Not a good look though, for immigration to let it slide after it's gotten this out-in-the-open.

Edited June 23Jun 23 by rwilem

38 minutes ago, rwilem said:

Well, we'll see how it shakes out. Who knows how it could go?

And you expect some sort of discussion about this news article.

This is Thailand. Once the news dies down and the next scandal breaks in the morning news, things will be back to normal (possibly with a few changes like Chinese no longer eligible).

Being discussed here

Well, on one hand you have directives coming down in recent months for immigration to tighten enforcenent of entry regulations, thus we've seen the emergence of services for 'guaranteed entry'. Some folks have reported here having used the services.

On the other hand, the government has proposed and is pursuing immigration policies that will reduce by some degree the numbers of visitors and make it more difficult for people to skirt 'the rules'.

The two don't wash. Enacting stricter entry guidance, but having an off-the-books scheme to allow folks to bypass thise checks.

Mentioned in the article, from the nation btw, is abuse of visa exempt stays. From the article:

"Misuse of visa-free entry: unusually frequent entries and exits (Visa Run) or stays longer than appropriate."

They're investigating what's going on out at the airport, with an apparent emphasis on big numbers of Chinese and a cadre of agents facilitating their 'no scrutiny', paid-off entry. So will agents who offer 'guaranted entry' piecemeal to the likes of people posting in this forum or in facebook groups get caught up in this?

This quote makes it appear they mean business, that immigration personnel could face criminal prosecution.

"If any official is found to have sought benefits or been involved, decisive criminal and disciplinary action will be taken."

Of course, talk is cheap. It's possible, though, a change could be a comin' out there at the airport.

Edited June 24Jun 24 by rwilem

2 hours ago, rwilem said:

So will agents who offer 'guaranted entry' piecemeal to the likes of people posting in this forum or in facebook groups get caught up in this?

Suvarnabhumi Airport immigration officers have nearly absolute and final discretion to allow or deny entry under Section 12 of the Immigration Act.

So Immigration officers may be getting paid off by agents to influence their discretion. Whodda think there could ever be such a thing?

6 hours ago, rwilem said:

Not sure about posting links to a story from the English language newspapers in the forum. But giving a heads up, this 'service' could be going by the boards at some point.

An in-depth article in the paper on its website, the one that's not the BP, goes in-depth about an investigation by immigration officials into the so-called "guaranteed entry' schemes being employed at Suvarnabhumi airport.

The report states the investigation is focused on the facilitated entry of Chinese arrivals. Obviously it's a dodgy practice, folks paying not for a fast-tracked entry but paying agents who work, or you might say collude, with immigration officers to give a pass for arrivals so they can avoid scrutiny, where they otherwise might not be allowed entry.

Well, we'll see how it shakes out. Who knows how it could go? Not a good look though, for immigration to let it slide after it's gotten this out-in-the-open.

Yes someone else posted a picturer and pointed out below the article was an advert for safe entry lol

Crackdowns they come and go. Some safe entry companies are diverting their customers elsewhere (already seen this), others will take the opportunity to upsell you to obtaining a "proper" visa with their help, ultimately it will be business as usual and whoever has some money gets in.

I don't know about the mechanics of these things but I presume it will involve the co-operation of an IMM Officer sitting on active duty at an airport and cannot be sent upcountry.

If the investigation finds that any immigration officer was involved or personally demanded benefits, disciplinary action and criminal proceedings will be taken decisively and without exception.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40067752

So as per the two 'back to business as usual' posts above, any officer found taking benefits will be dealt with severely and any officer taking benefits but NOT found will be back and available for benefits as usual.

1 hour ago, JerryM said:

If the investigation finds that any immigration officer was involved or personally demanded benefits, disciplinary action and criminal proceedings will be taken decisively and without exception.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40067752

So as per the two 'back to business as usual' posts above, any officer found taking benefits will be dealt with severely and any officer taking benefits but NOT found will be back and available for benefits as usual.

"We've investigated ourselves and found no wrongdoing"

16 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

"We've investigated ourselves and found no wrongdoing"

As I've oft posted: RTP Immigration arrest thyself ain't gonna happen.

But there now has been a large human trafficking ring using forged documents broken up this month because someone at ThaiAir suspected a departing passenger with a phony Canadian passport.

From such little things big %^&* can happen even to the most well-oiled machinery.

Edited June 25Jun 25 by JerryM

On 6/24/2026 at 10:16 AM, rwilem said:

"If any official is found to have sought benefits or been involved, decisive criminal and disciplinary action will be taken."

Maybe someone has just made it known that they want in on the action? That's all. Nothing to see here, move along now.

3 hours ago, JerryM said:

If the investigation finds that any immigration officer was involved or personally demanded benefits, disciplinary action and criminal proceedings will be taken decisively and without exception.

It's just another smokescreen to give the impression they are doing something about corruption.

Like this one:

On 6/24/2026 at 11:26 AM, JerryM said:

Suvarnabhumi Airport immigration officers have nearly absolute and final discretion to allow or deny entry under Section 12 of the Immigration Act.

Nothing in section12 excludes refusal for multiple entries.

6 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

It's just another smokescreen to give the impression they are doing something about corruption.

Yes. 3 guys now saying the same thing. It's just PR. Thanks.

31 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Nothing in section12 excludes refusal for multiple entries.

Well that would maybe be Sec. 16 general purpose exclusion ... shall have power to exclude said alien or group aliens from entering into the Kingdom.

But I got the quote from here:

Edited June 25Jun 25 by JerryM

From the Immigration Act.

Section 16 : In the instance where for reason of national welfare or safeguarding the public peace , culture , morality , or welfare , or when the Minister considers it improper to allow any alien or any group of alien to enter into the Kingdom , the Minister shall have power to exclude said alien or group aliens from entering into the Kingdom.

People who are deemed to abuse visa exemptions and tourist visas by de facto living in Thailand are generally denied entry under the catch-all Section 12, paragraph 2 of the Immigration Act.

The English translation is

"Having no appropriate means of living following entrance into the Kingdom."

This is sufficiently vague to have avoided scrutiny or challenge.

18 hours ago, Liquorice said:

It's just another smokescreen to give the impression they are doing something about corruption.

I posted this a few days ago in the Thailand News Forum as to why the nominee interest now:

"Several legal structures, loopholes and informal arrangements have existed for years in markets such as Phuket, Pattaya, Samui and Bangkok, often involving both foreign investors and Thai facilitators," according to Surachet Kongcheep, head of research at property consultancy Cushman & Wakefield.

Mr Surachet said such structures are not new and remain widespread because investigations are complex, document-heavy and time-consuming.

Well they ain't anymore as some people are now finding out

On 6/24/2026 at 5:26 AM, JerryM said:

So Immigration officers may be getting paid off by agents to influence their discretion. Whodda think there could ever be such a thing?

Influence their decision ???

If you're arriving with a pre approved SETV (as a minimum) proof of onward travel proof of hotels proof of 20,000 Baht what decision needs to be made ??

I'm not being nave here I assure you I'm really not.....The immigration department of Thailand via the Evisa website have vetted and approved you....unless you turn up looking like a tramp drunk and stoned how are people being turned away

I read of these people being turned away. Someone suggested 30,000 elsewhere. At $10,000 a denial fine cost to the airline plus ancillary costs thats over $300 million fines and costs to arriving airlines

No airline would continue to fly to Bangkok with these costs

I'd suggest the real problems are at check in with airlines checking that onward travel is in place etc knowing full well it now needs to be

16 minutes ago, Chivas said:

I'm not being nave here I assure you I'm really not.....The immigration department of Thailand via the Evisa website have vetted and approved you....unless you turn up looking like a tramp drunk and stoned how are people being turned away

I don't think you quite understand how things work.

Immigration has not vetted anything. Immigration has nothing to do with visas or the e-visa system. That's completely under the embassies, which are a part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Immigration is under the Royal Thai Police, and these 2 governmental agencies have completely different policies, and rarely communicate. Immigration officers will give you incorrect information about embassies all day long, and embassies will give you incorrect information about immigration all day long.

The ONLY thing a visa does, is determine how many days you will be stamped for IF you are granted entry. The decision to grant entry is completely up to the immigration officer. They have full discretion (as is the same for basically every other country in the world). The fact that you have a visa may play a part in their determination, but it will absolutely not prevent them from denying you entry.

42 minutes ago, Chivas said:

Influence their decision ???

If you're arriving with a pre approved SETV (as a minimum) proof of onward travel proof of hotels proof of 20,000 Baht what decision needs to be made ??

How long you've previously stayed in the Country within a period of time, pertaining to be a Tourist ?

1 hour ago, Chivas said:

I'm not being nave here I assure you I'm really not.....The immigration department of Thailand via the Evisa website have vetted and approved you

This is a very big misconception.

The visa was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Entry is approved by Immigration who fall under the Interior Ministry.

If you try to "stay too long" on tourist visas, you will be denied entry, guaranteed.

On 6/24/2026 at 7:44 AM, BrandonJT said:

This is Thailand. Once the news dies down and the next scandal breaks in the morning news, things will be back to normal

From the Thailand News forum:

17 minutes ago, LennyW said:

Some very clear CCTV images doing the rounds on Facebook, absolutely no doubt it is him riding the motorbike with the suitcase strapped on the rear.

Hats off to the police for quick action.

From JerryM: Yes it is great to see crack fast RTP police work when elsewhere on this website the Police esp. Immigration are said to be more complicit in crime and corruption than solving it.

10 hours ago, JerryM said:

Some very clear CCTV images doing the rounds on Facebook, absolutely no doubt it is him riding the motorbike with the suitcase strapped on the rear.

Hats off to the police for quick action.

Is that a joke.

The thread concerns "safe entry visa exempt" Services.

Nothing has changed. Or likely to.

Not lot different to VIP meet/greet

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Is that a joke.

The thread concerns "safe entry visa exempt" Services.

Then why is anyone here suggesting about 'corruption':

It's just another smokescreen to give the impression they are doing something about corruption. OR

ultimately it will be business as usual and whoever has some money gets in. OR

Maybe someone has just made it known that they want in on the action?

Edited June 27Jun 27 by JerryM