Border Means Testing At Mae Sai

[thaiflyer1]

And it won’t help you to show THB 20-30.000 in cash. They could be income from illegal work in Thailand. You will have to prove that you have been transferring not less than THB 20-40.000,00 a month from abroad to cover the costings of your stay, going back up to 3 months depending on your visa (3 months or 30 days permit-to-stay). If you fail to do that, you will only be granted a 5-10 days permit-to-stay to give you time to pack your things and leave Thailand (again notice how fair we are).

5.

ATM receipts will do (that’s what tourists normally have), as long as you can prove that the card/account on which the money is drawn belongs to you. (To borrow ATM receipts from a friend won’t work). Whether your money comes from work, savings, or a rich aunt abroad doesn’t matter. You private economy doesn’t concern the Immigration, they just want to make sure that you aren’t working illegal or begging in the streets while you are here.

Above is an extract from the reply given by Nong Khai Immigration to a question about show of funds and ATM reciepts.......Doesnt figure does it? Nong Khai seem to be saying showing cash is no good, they are a law unto themselves! Here is the url for anyone wishing to read the full response from Nong Khai. http://www.thaiimmigration.com/inv/index.php?showtopic=53 Apologies to old hands who have read it before.

[Gazza]

http://www.thaiimmigration.com/inv/index.php?showtopic=53

Wasn't this the site that had a couple of Scandinavian guys doing the responding?

Yeah, I see the problem with ATM slips. Just don't like the idea of walking around with a lot of cash on me.

Tnx.

Gazza

[thaiflyer1]

Wasn't this the site that had a couple of Scandinavian guys doing the responding?

Not unless Police Colonel Sorrapol Payoongveeranoi the Superintendent at Nong Khai Immigration has changed his nationality recently. No seriously i/m sure its the official Immigration site........any thoughts Lopburi3?

[lopburi3]

Wasn't this the site that had a couple of Scandinavian guys doing the responding?

Not unless Police Colonel Sorrapol Payoongveeranoi the Superintendent at Nong Khai Immigration has changed his nationality recently. No seriously i/m sure its the official Immigration site........any thoughts Lopburi3?

The site appeared and appears to be under Nong Khai Immigration supervision but was using volunteers for answering some posts. It has been quiet for a long time but yesterday there was one answer posted. Believe they have to clear with Nong Khai and Bangkok to make sure all are reading from the same page.

[Maejo Man]

The notices are up in Mae Sai as of two days ago. One in Thai, and one in incomprehensible english, but the jist was, substantion of means. There was no reference to cash or bank statements, or any other forms of verification, so heaven knows how they expect you to prove means. Hopefully they will reword the notice soon

[PeaceBlondie]

Point of clarification, please: does this enforcement of the regulations apply to the usual 30-day tourist visas that some people go to Mae Sai every month to get, year upon year? On the other hand, would it apply to somebody like my friend who has a one year non-imm B and merely has to leave the country every 90 days? He's got a job and his employer deposits his salary directly into the bank, plus he's got substantial income streams from his home country. Do you think they'd even ask? If so, what should he take with him next time?

[meadish_sweetball]

Are you sure they want to see Cash?

Well, then, let ME ask YOU:

Who WOULDN'T want to see Johny Cash??!?

'A Boy Named Sue' is the song of the (previous) century.

[BlissfullyIgnorant]

I've just had this confirmed by two friends, one that renewed his Non-Imm multiple entry O yesterday, and another that is domiciled in Mae Sai and doing 30-day runs.

As of October the 1st, foreigners re-entering Thailand at Mae Sai will need to produce 10,000 baht cash for 30-day visas, or 20,000 baht cash for those on 90 day visas. No info on what might happen for those who cannot produce the cash. A sign to this effect is clearly displayed on entry/exit to the kingdom. Note that friend #1 enquired as to whether an ATM slip would suffice, to which he was told NO.

For those concerned about carrying that type of loot into Tachilek, I'm with you. Here's what I'd do:

After checking out of LOS, cross the bridge and proceed to Tachilek immigration on the right hand side of the road. Hand over your passport and 250 baht visa fee to the (terribly nice) fellow in immigration, then turn to face the door. Look straight ahead - you'll notice that there's a small walkway leading down to a reasonable sized building with a blue roof, directly inline with the zebra crossing. Walk down there, sit at one of the two tables, buy yourself a can of cold beer, do some duty free shopping (looks about 50/50 legit goods), then walk back the Thailand and check-in. Note: if you walk past a health tent and/or get asked what country you are from you've gone too far.

With 10,000 or 20,000 baht in my pocket, there's no chance I'd be venturing down into the Tachilek markets and mingling with all the toothless touts and pick-pockets.

[Maejo Man]

I've just had this confirmed by two friends, one that renewed his Non-Imm multiple entry O yesterday, and another that is domiciled in Mae Sai and doing 30-day runs.

As of October the 1st, foreigners re-entering Thailand at Mae Sai will need to produce 10,000 baht cash for 30-day visas, or 20,000 baht cash for those on 90 day visas.

Well they would seem to have got it right finally! There was no mention of cash having to be produced some days ago. They must have had an incredible ammount of questioning foreigners. They get there in the end.

It will be interesting to see how soon the first report of a foreigner being mugged or robbed in Mae Sai gets into the press after the 1st of October

Fact! Every foreigner is carrying at least ten thousand baht. It's a walking ATM zone

[astral]

I don't normally carry more than 5000 baht on my person,

let alone 20-30,000. There are some good pick pockets around,

who will slit your bag or pocket and the money will be gone before you

know it.

Take your bank book with you and show them the balance printed in there.

[PeaceBlondie]

I don't normally carry more than 5000 baht on my person,

let alone 20-30,000. There are some good pick pockets around,

who will slit your bag or pocket and the money will be gone before you

know it.

Take your bank book with you and show them the balance printed in there.

Thanks, astral. This is such a dramatic change that I'll wait a week or two before definitely advising my friend, who's going to do his 90-day run on his non-imm B (multiple) around the 9th of October. By then, his Thai bank book will have multiple entries of monthly deposits by the employer, relatively unused. Then he might print out his foreign bank statement showing huge monthly pension deposits, also not fully used. Plus a current ATM statement showing the present balance.

Do you think that should be good enough? How else can he satisfy the immigration officers, other than being well dressed and respectful?

[unbiasbob]

I must say that all of the talk about being well dressed and respectful should just be a given when dealing with immigration. Why would anyone in right mind do otherwise. Who can dig that?

[PeaceBlondie]

yessireebob, it OUGHT to be a given. But have you seen some of those slobs at the border? Short pants, reeking of alcohol and ciggies, acting impertinent and arrogant - they get what they deserve.

My favorite idiocy is when the foreigner tries to tell the government official how to do his job......that'll get you back at the wrong end of the queue.

[jackr]

print-out of a foreign bank account balance, via internet banking, ok?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I must say that all of the talk about being well dressed and respectful should just be a given when dealing with immigration. Why would anyone in right mind do otherwise. Who can dig that?

Bobby ... some of 'em have to seen to be believed. The saddest thing is these grubs are blissfully unaware of the disadvantages that arise out of such behaviour

[tahar]

Ok, I just got back from Mae Sai, so I have the goods...

First of all, I took pictures of the official announcement posted here:

http://www.hilltribe.org/article/article-visa.html

I also talked (in Thai) with several immigration officials. The longest explanation I got was that the 10,000 baht rule (which has been around for over 4 years but never been enforced) was recently enacted because the repeated entry at Mae Sai is actually against Thai law (which, really, it probably is).

The reasoning is that if you are a tourist in Thailand for one month, you will need to spend at least 10,000 baht to exist. (I think that most people spend at least 10,000 baht in their first month in Thailand.) All of this makes sense, to some degree.

But then I asked him whether I could get a signed letter from the bank stating I had enough money to eat for a month and would that be sufficient? He said that "Show money" (this part was in English) was the safest thing to do. I countered with the fact that 10,000 baht is enough to live on for a month and I don't particularly like walking around 10,000 baht on me. "That's not very much money for you, it's only 10 pieces of paper" was his thoughtful response. Ah, yes.

So, it looks like "show money" is the way to go. Some of the the other immigration officers I asked said that a bank guarantee would be sufficient. Really, I suppose it is up to the mood of the immigration officer and the appearance of the "tourist". I seriously doubt that a young, clueless Japanese girl will be given as hard of a time as an old, sunburned expat.

[PeaceBlondie]

Thanks so much, tahar, for that link to those photographs.

So it almost answers my earlier question about what my friend needs on 9 October for his 90-day stamp run on his 1-year non-immigrant visa: 20,000 "cash or cash document exchange to Thai currency." I asked him; his balance in a Thai bank at that time will be at least 45,000 baht, verified two days prior to crossing. And he can show an ATM receipt, from the date he's crossing over and back, of far more in a foreign account. Even having that documentation is risky if he's carrying either ATM card with him!

He has no dodgy stamps in his passport, but can't prove he has a work permit. Do you think he'll be safe without carrying more than the usual 4,000 baht in his wallet?

[loong]

I assume that cash document means traveller's cheques. So would assume that these will be ok?????

[tahar]

Sorry, I checked these things as well, but forgot to mention them:

- NO traveller's cheques. They don't count as real money in the "show money" sense.

- I assume ATM receipts would be a no-go because I had my bank book with me and my account has enough money in it to eat for several months, but they said the bank book would be of no use, before they looked in it (but then they still opened it up to see how much money I had).

- Maybe it is because there have just been floods in Tachileik or maybe because it is low tourist season, but the touts on the other side were hungrier than I have ever seen. Literally hungry, as in one of the sin-pedallers selling cigarettes and porn CDs came up with a fistful of what must have been 25 CDs and said I could have them all for 50 baht. He kept saying, "I have no food."

All in all, the whole Mae Sai experience is transitioning into something not entirely pleasant. Even my Thai friends who went with me had their bags gone through by immigration looking for anything remotely taxable or pornographic. Crazy stuff...

[Felt 35]

As of October the 1st, foreigners re-entering Thailand at Mae Sai will need to produce 10,000 baht cash for 30-day visas, or 20,000 baht cash for those on 90 day visas.

"Looks like it was something in the news about Mr T., and waisting founds"

Well if they not shot to many of the visitors it should at least help them get the budget for 2005 straight.

[loong]

if T Cheques, bank book etc no good and it has to be cash. Will not be spending any money in Burma anymore. Too risky to walk around the market if they know all Farang will be carrying a bundle.

Visa runs to Mae Sai in future will be arrive Mae Sai, into Burma border control, pay 250 Baht, get stamp and immediate turn around.

[tahar]

I can't imagine the policy will last long. Anyone who has been to Tachileik at least once will know that it can be almost enjoyable if you have a couple of thousand baht on you, but it loses that enjoyment once you know that THEY know you have 10,000+ baht on your person. Commerce in Tachileik will drop off considerably (at least farang-sponsored commerce), because people will get their visa stamp and not even leave the bridge area. At some point, the powerful merchants in the market will start raising a stink and then do whatever needs to be done to get the restriction relaxed.

I give it all six months to play out.

[loong]

I don't know that gripes from the Burmese merchants would hold much sway with the Thai immigration.

This may be a ploy to keep farang money in Thailand.

[mouse]

I have always used Mae Sot and am happy with the service there. Guess we will have to take out money with us. Just be careful everyone!!!!!!

[tahar]

Well, I am assuming that the gripes from Burmese merchants would come enclosed in 1,000 baht bills, which would make them be heard more easily.

[Nam Kao]

Every Thai crook and his brother Somchai must be heading to Mae Sai drooling

[ovenman]

It almost sounds like the powers-that-be don't want foreigners crossing the border at Mae Sai anymore. Forget about the visa runners for a moment, there are actual foreign tourists that enjoy day-tripping to Tachileik. All that telling these tourists that they need to carry 10,000 baht cash or they won't be allowed to return to Thailand will accomplish is to discourage tourists from visiting Mae Sai.

[Sojourner]

There's no love loss between Thailand and Burma so I don't think the merchants will have much of an impact on Thai Immigration. Remember, it was just a few years ago that the Burmese army were lobbing mortors directly into Mai Sai city.

A falang friend who owns a guest house near the river was giving daily reports via emails of the army's activities.

Thirty day runs, for those who cannot qualify for another type of visa, has been a blessing for those who want to live here, but I'm sure it is being weighed heavily by Thai authorities because it can also allow free access to those who mean the Government no good. Terriorists don't apply for 90 day visas or retirement visas.

Whether the rule will be overlooked soon is anybody's guess. Remember over a year ago everyone in Chiang Mai said the early bar closing hours would go away within a couple of months? Well, pitty the farang that believed that and opened a bar of his own looking to make a little cash to live on.

Good luck to all the 30 day sojourners.

[Maejo Man]

Just thinking about the logistics of verifying all this cash. A queue of foreigners at immigration, collectively carrying anywhere between 500,000 to 1,000,000 baht!

tourist................"Good morning"

immigration........"Good morning, may I please see you 10/20 thousand baht?"

tourist................"Yes here it is"

immigration........"but sir there is only 9,000 baht here"

tourist................"Goodness me, the ATM seems to have short changed me"

What recourse do you have, other than to count the money out in front of them?

A sobering thought! With no room to do it!

Half the time there is only enought room to squeeze a passport through the small hole in the window, modification of all immigration windows on the horizon?

It will be interesting to say the least, to see how they are going to enforce, and implement this act.......

[monkeygirl]

okay fair enough you want to harrass the 30 day "tourists" but what about the people here on one year non-immigrant B or O visas? 20,000 is a heck of a lot of money to carry around on your person, especially there. are they enforcing this on people who obviously live here all year legally?