Do I need to get a visa?.......

[martyn manuel]

Hi Guys,

Can someone help me please, I'm new to all this and don't know the answers.....

I work shifts which means I do 42 days in England then 24 days off so I visit my girlfriend in Phuket......

This is a great work / life ratio and at the moment this is working well for me.

I've been in Thailand 5 times in the last 12 months, on my latest entry into Phuket airport I was pulled to the side and told, " you have problem ".

In my very limited Thai I asked what was wrong and they told me I'd been here too much, I'm not sure on the rules but I thought if you spent less than 30 days in Thailand you could visit without a visa, they told me I need a visa for next time even though I only ever stay a maximum of 24 days.

I'm sorry for my ignorance but is someone trying to get a bit of extra ??? out of me for a visa I don't need or do I need not to worry.....

Thanks in advance

[ubonjoe]

Phuket is the worst airport for doing that.

There is only an alert they get informing them that you have reached 6 visa exempt entries. When it comes up the officer should look to see if your entries are of the out/in category. Your entries certainly do not fall into that category.

They can only deny entry under section 12 of the immigration act. If you can show the equivalent of 20k baht baht in cash that would satisfy the requirement for financial proof. Your entries should eliminate the suspicion that you are working here but if they tried to claim that having proof of an income outside the country would take care of that reason.

[martyn manuel]

Hi Ubonjoe,

Thank you for your swift reply.

Sorry but I'm still not completely sure, does that mean I'm ok to come into Phuket Airport as long as I can prove its for a holiday and to visit my girlfriend ( maybe show my pay slips or show my shift patterns ) or ( show I have holiday cash on me ) Is that right?........

The entries in my passport are clear for immigration to see.

I enter the country and get a stamp.

Then "EXACTLY" 24 days later I get a stamp out and leave so I get back to the land of 'Wind and Rain' in time for work the next day......

As you can tell my heart at the age of 42 is already in Thailand and I just use England as my way to make money to finance my life here.....

I don't want to get in to any trouble with immigration, but do you think I need to bother getting a visa to visit Thailand every 7 weeks or can I just act dumb? ( Of which I'm getting good at.....lol )

I've got a bit of cash behind me from an inheritance so 20k baht would be easy to prove?

Is there any chance I would get refused entry and put back on the plane if I didn't get a visa?......

Thanks in advance.....?

[ubonjoe]

As I wrote they have no basis to deny you entry if you can provide financial proof for your stay and proof you are not working here.

About the only visa you could get that would fit your schedule would be the new multiple entry tourist visa.. See this on the London embassy website: http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/574

[BritTim]

I think ubonjoe will be correct, but Phuket airport immigration can be a bit of a law unto itself. You might consider flying through Suwannaphum with a connecting (domestic) flight to Phuket. Immigration in Bangkok might question you, but for sure will let you in.