Scores of foreigners refused entry to Thailand at Malaysian border

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Scores of foreigners refused entry to Thailand at Malaysian border

SONGKHLA:-- More than 100 foreign nationals per month are being refused entry to Thailand despite having valid tourist visas, according to a senior Immigration official at the Sadao border checkpoint.

Following Thaivisa.com’s breaking news story regarding the crackdown on the misuse of tourist visas, deputy superintendent Lt. Col Banphot Kittivarathe of Sadao Immigration has confirmed that if an individual can not prove they are a genuine tourist they will be refused entry to Thailand, reports the Phuket Gazette.

Col Banphot claimed that as as many as 100 foreigners per month are being denied entry on the basis they could be using a tourist visa to enter the country and work illegally.

Persistent abusers of the tourist visa system and the ones who are likely to arouse suspicion of Immigration officials are those who “are using many tourist visas to enter Thailand multiple times”, says Col Banphot.

Legitimate tourists who wish to enter Thailand are advised to show officials hotel bookings or some kind of travel itinerary.

Sadao is located in Songkhla province and is one of the major border checkpoints on the Thai/Malaysian border.

In the past, Sadao has been popular with border runners travelling from Phuket and other tourist destinations in southern Thailand.

-- 2014-07-15

[samran]

3 and a bit people per day. Suggest the immigration guys need to pull the finger out and try harder.

[digitalchromakey]

3 and a bit people per day. Suggest the immigration guys need to pull the finger out and try harder.

Reading the original article, I think that 100 pcm visa refusals is the historic monthly rate; think that figure may ramp up a bit now.

[angsta]

How does one prove that they are a genuine tourist?

[saltandpepper]

How does one prove that they are a genuine tourist?

think again!

Trying to enter the country without a luggage, wearing a business attire, having numerous back to back tourist visas, just to name a few, should already be a sign....

Of course, you can object, but if you are honnest with yourself, you will just think how you are when you enter a country a s tourist....

[PattayaPhom]

How does one prove that they are a genuine tourist?

Have ya tilak from Bangla or Soi Reggai do the border jump with you

On a serious note its getting quite scary for some

[DrTuner]

3 and a bit people per day. Suggest the immigration guys need to pull the finger out and try harder.

It's only been a few days.

[ldnguy]

How does one prove that they are a genuine tourist?

As an example, the vast majority of tourists visit a country of a set amount of time and have hotels and flight home booked. I think it would be pretty obvious if you're a tourist or not. Tourists don't stay in the same country for years for example. So those getting back to back visas for years on end are obviously not tourists. There will be some gray areas, but for the vast majority it's very easy to know.

[hansnl]

Whatever!

Of course there is a very large contingent of visarunners.

But many of them are NOT working.

This is another sign that Thailand is getiing on the wrong track.

If it gets known that Thai visa's are not worth the money you pay for it, this will have a negative effect on "real" tourists.

Besides this bad effect, what about the loss of capital, loss of jobs?

I know a guy, 42, swimming in his money....well ok, wading, a visa runner.

Spends around 2-3 million baht a year.

He will probably not get a visa any more.

Byebye!

[Skint]

Whatever!

Of course there is a very large contingent of visarunners.

But many of them are NOT working.

This is another sign that Thailand is getiing on the wrong track.

If it gets known that Thai visa's are not worth the money you pay for it, this will have a negative effect on "real" tourists.

Besides this bad effect, what about the loss of capital, loss of jobs?

I know a guy, 42, swimming in his money....well ok, wading, a visa runner.

Spends around 2-3 million baht a year.

He will probably not get a visa any more.

Byebye!

He should look at investing 10 mill and going for an investment visa if he wants to stay, under 50 and single no need to be bound to Thailand I doubt he would be missed anyway it's only 2-3 mill a year.

To add he can afford the elite card plenty options if he is just not so tight.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[thrilled]

This might just be the beginning.I can see Thailand's neighboring countries having problems with all the farangs that can go into

Thailand.

[arunsakda]

How does one prove that they are a genuine tourist?

think again!

Trying to enter the country without a luggage, wearing a business attire, having numerous back to back tourist visas, just to name a few, should already be a sign....

Of course, you can object, but if you are honnest with yourself, you will just think how you are when you enter a country a s tourist....

I have my own condo with everything I need, so no big luggage. I fly to Thailand 5-7 times a year and stay a week or three max. Then I fly back to work overseas. I checked my passport and so far this year I have been in country total of 5 weeks. No bookings, and no check-out time! Thats why I bought the condo! What does it matter what I wear on the plane, am I not a tourist? If not what am I?

[grantbkk]

Dude! You are a tourist in every sense of the word. None of this applies to you and never will. Enjoy.

Sent from my LG-V500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Cypress Hill]

Has anyone here ever booked a hotel room for 6 months solid?

Nah, didn't think so.

Let's have less of the BS, shall we?

[smedly]

How does one prove that they are a genuine tourist?

by going home for a while

[maxman71]

Somebody clue me in otherwise, but didn't the immigration rules get tightened back in 2006 during the prior coup d'état when Thaksin got his behind tossed out ?

I seem to recall the declaration of more stringent enforcement of the use of tourist visas, and also limiting the number of times one could enter on a tourist visa within a certain period of time and for how long they could stay per visit, back then. Further, back then supposedly the Phuket immigration database became electronically linked to the central immigration data base in Bangkok to better track people going in and out and on what type of visa.

My point is, that it appears that the junta is merely enforcing laws that have been on the books for years, but generally ignored.

Flog away at me if I am wrong...

[54321]

A very productive answer.

Just how long is a while?

1 day, 1 week. 1 month 1 year.

how long?

How does one prove that they are a genuine tourist?

by going home for a while

[JLCrab]

A very productive answer.

Just how long is a while?

1 day, 1 week. 1 month 1 year.

how long?

How does one prove that they are a genuine tourist?

by going home for a while

Going home at all is more than most seem to ever do -- maybe will look good if you are from XYZ country to have a Tourist visa 1-3 entries issued at Thai Embassy/Consulate in XYZ country.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Best way to prove you're a tourist would indeed be to wear a Pattaya Soi Six T-shirt and bring one of Thailand's finest with you.

Because sex tourists are liked a lot more than illegal English teachers.

[Hamlet07]

How does one prove that they are a genuine tourist?

Pretty obvious one would have thought....Have Hotel Booking confirmations.....and a wearing stupid 'I Love Thailand' T-Shirt

[ChrisY1]

Whatever!

Of course there is a very large contingent of visarunners.

But many of them are NOT working.

This is another sign that Thailand is getiing on the wrong track.

If it gets known that Thai visa's are not worth the money you pay for it, this will have a negative effect on "real" tourists.

Besides this bad effect, what about the loss of capital, loss of jobs?

I know a guy, 42, swimming in his money....well ok, wading, a visa runner.

Spends around 2-3 million baht a year.

He will probably not get a visa any more.

Byebye!

Agree....but I guess a few have ruined it for the genuine tourists who do like to stay here for a length of time.....

[jpinx]

Whatever!

Of course there is a very large contingent of visarunners.

But many of them are NOT working.

This is another sign that Thailand is getiing on the wrong track.

If it gets known that Thai visa's are not worth the money you pay for it, this will have a negative effect on "real" tourists.

Besides this bad effect, what about the loss of capital, loss of jobs?

I know a guy, 42, swimming in his money....well ok, wading, a visa runner.

Spends around 2-3 million baht a year.

He will probably not get a visa any more.

Byebye!

Why doesn't he get the PE card ?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/726441-thailand-elite-easy-access-500k-thb-card/page-20#entry8106119

http://www.thailandelite.com/newcreate/file_upload/20140304170727_WEB1.jpg

http://www.thailandelite.com/tpc_news_view.php?id=6

[laurentbkk]

Living in the LOS for the last 22 years , work legally , visa and work permit I have friends visiting on regular basis and staying in my house , sometime for few weeks using it as a holiday base ..... how does it work in those cases ? this witches hunt is understandable but also very stupid ..... there are so many different cases of tourists nowadays .

[jpinx]

Living in the LOS for the last 22 years , work legally , visa and work permit I have friends visiting on regular basis and staying in my house , sometime for few weeks using it as a holiday base ..... how does it work in those cases ? this witches hunt is understandable but also very stupid ..... there are so many different cases of tourists nowadays .

If your friends are coming on a tourist visa once or twice a year it should present no difficulties. The current clampdown is clearly specified -- they won't allow people to enter if they have a history of going out and in to Thailand frequently without legitimate reason and proof.

[lynnnayko]

This might just be the beginning.I can see Thailand's neighboring countries having problems with all the farangs that can go into

Thailand.

May be it's a good time to go and open hotels, clubs and travel agencies at the borders of those neighboring countries.

[kamahele]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

How does one prove that they are a genuine tourist?

think again!
Trying to enter the country without a luggage, wearing a business attire, having numerous back to back tourist visas, just to name a few, should already be a sign....
Of course, you can object, but if you are honnest with yourself, you will just think how you are when you enter a country a s tourist....

I have my own condo with everything I need, so no big luggage. I fly to Thailand 5-7 times a year and stay a week or three max. Then I fly back to work overseas. I checked my passport and so far this year I have been in country total of 5 weeks. No bookings, and no check-out time! Thats why I bought the condo! What does it matter what I wear on the plane, am I not a tourist? If not what am I?

The difference is that you are not a visa runner who is walking across the border and then back again usually on the same day. You own property here and fly out by airplane, spend loads of time abroad and then fly back in. Completely different set of circumstances.

[DavidHouston]

Seems to me that this is a case of a few bad apples spoiling the bunch. The police have clearly stated that the crackdown is aimed at Russians, Koreans, and Vietnamese who clearly intend to skirt the work permit rules. The "no visa run" solution is a blunt instrument with a reach broader than the intended target. So it is with many bureaucratic solutions.

An alternative solution is for immigration police or labor officials to conduct selective raids on businesses employing foreigners in certain areas and ask to see work permits. Samsung was mentioned as one particular abuser. And, many of you know of other examples from language schools to dive operators.

[JDGRUEN]

There are many on here who wish to define 'tourist' primarily by length of time... Hmmmm? It seems in their meager lives it has never occurred to them that there is a class of people who are fortunate enough to live anywhere they want. If they have utilized the Thai tourist visa system and extensions that have been in play, remember it was fully facilitated by Thai immigration ... then they are tourists even if they stayed in Thailand a year... they were permitted to do so by the Thai Government. Nothing sneaky was going on - there was no need to be sneaky - just do the allowed border runs - get another 30 days or whatever was allowed and go back to having fun, or flower gardening, or snorkeling, or backpacking., or ... Oh - and they had a REAL VISA is was called a Tourist Visa - it was valid and so were the Extension Stamps put up on it... Validated by the Thai border police WILLINGLY every time they stamped it on an out and in.

Small minds just cannot think outside the box. It is not for those on the side lines to define what a tourist is - just because you do not have enough money to do what they do. Tourist don't have to go home - that is a measurement by those who don't have the money and freedom live another kind of life.

Now all that is changing because the Thai Government via the Immigration Authorities are enforcing old laws at stringent levels. And the perpetual freedom loving tourist who have been able to afford such a life in Thailand will just go find other places to spend their money. And yes they could buy an Elite Card perhaps... but maybe they just wanted to put that money in a condo investment and not give it to the Thai Government to squander.

Just a Note: I am not speaking of those who are working illegally, or in some other way breaking Thai Laws. And if you think that every long stay 'tourist' is a law breaker in some way ... then you live in a punitive little world.

And by the way none of this applies to me -- on an old guy on a pension way over age 60 - here quite legally.

[phirho]

The police have clearly stated that the crackdown is aimed at Russians, Koreans, and Vietnamese who clearly intend to skirt the work permit rules.

It doesn't seem other nationalities are treated any less differently than those "targeted":

"The countries of origin of the 8 refused foreigners include the UK, Italy, USA, Russia, Ukraine, Romania and New Zealand."

[JLCrab]

To JDG -- Some persons and governments just have a hard time saying 'NO!' -- the current government apparently doesn't.