Problems at Sadao with in-out border bounce

[robsamui]

I have a non-im B with work permit, but opt to take a few days off every 90 days for a border run.

I leave from Samui by bus, so usually then make the short run the next day from Hat Yai to Padang Besar. There has never been any problem there - motorbike taxis are waiting to run you across the border and back. Never any problems with the customs officers, just a scan through my passport at the kiosk and a rapid stamp.

But this time I went in my car, and so decided to use the closer crossing point at Sadao. I booked into a hotel at around 3:00 pm and then found a motorbike taxi to take me out and back in again.

However, 90 days ago I came back from Penang, in a mini bus, coming in at Sadao. It turned out that 4 of us on the bus had work permits and own businesses - yet everyone on the bus got very rudely shouted at to show 20,000 baht and told to go inside the office. Inside the customs office all the officials were having a great laugh, trying to keep straight faces at all these indignant farangs with businesses and money in bankbooks, but no cash in their pockets. Several of the staff were laughing outright at it all ("Oh look, here comes another one, ha ha ha.") - some of the nastiest passive aggressive racialism I've seen in almost 20 years here. Quite a few people then set off to find an ATM machine and get their cash.

But it looks like there must have been a bit of a joke going on - as one of the guys on my bus had the idea to go out again and use a different kiosk. He did so, and simply walked right through with no mention of showing any money. We all then followed.

This time around, going in the opposite direction, on a motorbike into Malaysia and back, I caused a great fuss. It seems like nobody ever does this, and customs officials were filled with affront at the idea.

The first sign of something out of the ordinary came going into Malaysia when the official asked me how long was I staying. My reply of "about three minutes" caused him to splutter and quiz me at length about where I was staying and what I was doing and why.

Coming back and into the Sadao post, I never even made it to a kiosk - I was grabbed by two officials as soon as I got off the motorbike and hauled over the coals again, needing to show work permit and answer all sorts of similar questions.

And when I made it in line to the kiosk, I caused a great loss of face. The officer looked at the three stamps - out Thailand, in Malaysia,out Malaysia, all dated today's date, and shouted CANNOT CANNOT CANNOT at me. Very gently I replied in Thai that sorry, I can, and told him that I have been doing it every 90 days for the last 11 years. He glared at me and left everyone waiting in line while he went into the office with my passport.

He returned furious, jaw stuck out and eyes rolling, then shoved in my face a sheet of paper handwritten in Thai, at the bottom of which was 20,000B and all but screamed TWENTY THOUSAND TWENTY THOUSAND TWENTY THOUSAND at me.

I thanked him politely and collected up my documents. Then simply went to the neighbouring kiosk where I waited in line for a few minutes before getting stamped-in after a very careful browse through all my passport pages.

What the hell is going on with Sadao? It looks like there's a plot to try to keep as many people out of Thailand as possible! Or have the rules changed yet again overnight - is there something I need to know for next time?!

R

Edited April 9, 2015 by robsamui

[ubonjoe]

Sadao has been reported as being a problem many times already.

You should of went to Pedang Besar like you have in past. No problems for entry reported there.

[paz]

Other thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/814776-holder-of-non-immigrant-b-visa-with-valid-work-permit-required-to-have-20000-baht-show-money/

plus many, many others.

Seems to me it went well for you since you have been stamped without showing the money or paying. I think he was angry because the did not collected from you.

[robsamui]

So is this specific to Sadao?

If so it is limited to just one or two fanatical officers in the kiosks - twice now I've simply turned round and gone to another kiosk - and walked right through!

R

[ksamuiguy]

Post photos, photos, photos.

Taxi's, banks, immigration, police, any incident you have.

These people can't stand the "Light of Day"

[Squeegee]

OP clearly shows yet another example of us foreigners walking on eggshells around the Thais to keep a "cool heart" when they themselves do not.

[IMA_FARANG]

So is this specific to Sadao?

If so it is limited to just one or two fanatical officers in the kiosks - twice now I've simply turned round and gone to another kiosk - and walked right through!

--------------------------------

I am in Penang now...... getting a tourist visa.

There is a sign posted there in English saying quite clearly that you should be able to show 20,000 Baht on crossing the border into Thailand overland.

It is right there in front of anyone who is applying for a visa in Penang at the Thai consulate.

Wake up ..... this rule gas been applied for at least 6 months now.

[slipperylobster]

So is this specific to Sadao?

If so it is limited to just one or two fanatical officers in the kiosks - twice now I've simply turned round and gone to another kiosk - and walked right through!

--------------------------------

I am in Penang now...... getting a tourist visa.

There is a sign posted there in English saying quite clearly that you should be able to show 20,000 Baht on crossing the border into Thailand overland.

It is right there in front of anyone who is applying for a visa in Penang at the Thai consulate.

Wake up ..... this rule gas been applied for at least 6 months now.

I kind of figured something was amiss.

20,000 in your pocket and no problem. That was what the officer was asking for.

Not a bribe.

[khounteen]

Sadao border is full of corrupted officers, next time insert 100 baht in between your passport pages.

[ubonjoe]

A off topic baiting post has been removed.

[NanLaew]

Just for clarification, if a foreigner possessing a valid Thai visa tries to enter at Sadao but is somehow unable to show 20,000 baht in cash, can certain Immigration officers at that border post deny that person entry to Thailand?

[ubonjoe]

Just for clarification, if a foreigner possessing a valid Thai visa tries to enter at Sadao but is somehow unable to show 20,000 baht in cash, can certain Immigration officers at that border post deny that person entry to Thailand?

They could under section 12 of the immigration act. But it would be rare for that to happen.

At Sadao the person could just turn around before they formally denied entry by doing a stamp and re-enter Malaysia and then go to Pedang Baser and be able to enter the country without a problem.