S. Korea & Thailand discuss immigration policies after S. Korea rejects 30,000 Thais last year

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S. Korea & Thailand discuss immigration policies after S. Korea rejects 30,000 Thais last year

BANGKOK, 8 March 2016 (NNT) - South Korean officials met with the Thai Commissioner of Immigration Bureau to discuss immigration policies, after it was revealed that South Korea rejects an average of 30,000 visa applications from Thais per year.

Immigration Bureau Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn Prousoontorn addressed the issue during a meeting with South Korea’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lim Sungnam and the South Korean Ambassador to Thailand.

The meeting revealed that the main reason for rejecting visas for Thai nationals was due to the individual’s failure to meet South Korean immigration policies. These include requirements to state return flights, planned accommodations within South Korea, and travel plans. Another reason for visa rejection is the individual being on the immigration blacklist.

Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn agreed that the South Korean officials had performed their duties in accordance with the country’s immigration policies. He said that Thai authorities will better inform Thai travelers on South Korea’s immigration policies, in the hopes of reducing the number of visa rejections.

In 2015, a total of 28,750 Thai nationals were deported from South Korea. Of that number, 8,733 had either overstayed their visas or were convicted of illegal activities. The figure is a stark increase from the year before, which saw 12,564 Thais deported from the country. On the other hand, an average of only 700 South Koreans are deported from Thailand per year.


-- NNT 2016-03-08

[gk10002000]

I bet the prices in the korean massage parlors, both reputable and a bit off center will increase.

[henrickkur]

About time.

Other Countries need to do the same as S. Korea. Thailand wants Westerners out so badly. They need to receive reciprocal treatment plus interest when they travel abroad to Europe and the America's. I think 50+ pages to do a visa extension, several trips to the office, interviews and photos, copies of copies, is crossing the line by a few meters.

​IMO The world should follow how S.Korea handles Thai travelers. big thumbs up to Korea.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Thais overstay years in ROK working illegally.... i know some Thais who were legit tourists that were denied entry because the officials thought they were going to work illegally. Thankfully, this has never happened to my real close friends.

Thank goodness for a western passport at times....

Cannot blame Korea. Thais exploit the system, this is what happens!

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Same same in Singapore! Vietnamese and Thai denied many times...

[stickylies]

Som nam Na...

[lkv]

Maybe it's worth mentioning South Korean tourists get a 90 day stamp on arrival in Thailand.

How dare the South Koreans reject so many Thai tourists?

Edited March 8, 2016 by lkv

[stephenterry]

Maybe it's worth mentioning South Korean tourists get a 90 day stamp on arrival in Thailand.

How dare the South Koreans reject so many Thai tourists?

perhaps It's worth mentioning Thai tourists get a 90day stamp on arrival in Korea.

[bluebluewater]

We will never know of course but it would be interesting, at least to me, to know of the 30K that were refused what the split was of women/men.

[lkv]

Maybe it's worth mentioning South Korean tourists get a 90 day stamp on arrival in Thailand.

How dare the South Koreans reject so many Thai tourists?

perhaps It's worth mentioning Thai tourists get a 90day stamp on arrival in Korea.

Yea but so do many other people it doesn't make them feel as exclusive as South Koreans feel when they land in Thailand

[stickylies]

We will never know of course but it would be interesting, at least to me, to know of the 30K that were refused what the split was of women/men.

women: 29987

men: 2

katoei: 11

[lkv]

women: 29987

men: 2

katoei: 11

Could be if no more Farang to be looking after them in their home country.

[bitcoinforever]

it is because thai's trying to game the system like they do in their home country and when they are caught pay some cash , rest of the world does not work like that there are rules .

[Thian]

Thais overstay years in ROK working illegally.... i know some Thais who were legit tourists that were denied entry because the officials thought they were going to work illegally. Thankfully, this has never happened to my real close friends.

Thank goodness for a western passport at times....

Cannot blame Korea. Thais exploit the system, this is what happens!

Our Thai friends went to Macau for a short holiday where the lady almost got arrested by the immigration. They expected her to go work in a massage parlor there.

She has a good reputable job in Thailand and so does her husband. They were shocked the Chinese were so rude to them.

[stickylies]

The Chinese look down on all se asians which they consider farmers. In 70% of the cases they are right. 555.

Edited March 8, 2016 by stickylies

[connda]

Thais? Overstayed in a foreign country????? Say it ain't so!

[Scouse123]

Som nam Na...

Yup,

What's good for the goose is good for the gander! LMFAO...........Go................Team Korea!...Not overly keen on Korea but love these countries now putting Thailand in its place regards people overstaying and illegal activities which I have no doubt will get little coverage in Thailand or not nearly as much as a foreigner throwing litter!.

[mike324]

Thais overstay years in ROK working illegally.... i know some Thais who were legit tourists that were denied entry because the officials thought they were going to work illegally. Thankfully, this has never happened to my real close friends.

Thank goodness for a western passport at times....

Cannot blame Korea. Thais exploit the system, this is what happens!

yup, nowadays many join the cheap tours and then disappear once they get into Korea since its easier to get pass immigration without getting ask too much questions as they are together in a group

[CoreanoOzzie]

The Chinese look down on all se asians which they consider farmers. In 70% of the cases they are right. 555.

Kind of ironic when the Chinese are hillbillies themselves..

Edited March 8, 2016 by CoreanoOzzie

[CoreanoOzzie]

About time.

Other Countries need to do the same as S. Korea. Thailand wants Westerners out so badly. They need to receive reciprocal treatment plus interest when they travel abroad to Europe and the America's. I think 50+ pages to do a visa extension, several trips to the office, interviews and photos, copies of copies, is crossing the line by a few meters.

​IMO The world should follow how S.Korea handles Thai travelers. big thumbs up to Korea.

Do you have any proof that Thailand wants westerners out so badly?

[Jonmarleesco]

'In 2015, a total of 28,750 Thai nationals were deported from South Korea. Of that number, 8,733 had either overstayed their visas or were convicted of illegal activities.' Tut, tut!

[bangon04]

Often see Thai young ladies pulled over to the side interrogation room at Seoul airport.

Maybe they should wonder why they (Thais) have such a bad reputation for overstay, illegal working and prostitution activity?

[dcnx]

Good.

I'd like to see all counties make the Thais jump through the same immigration hoops foreigners do here AND restrict their property rights, as the Thais do foreigners.

I do know it is difficult for Thais to enter some countries, but can you blame them?

[halloween]

'In 2015, a total of 28,750 Thai nationals were deported from South Korea. Of that number, 8,733 had either overstayed their visas or were convicted of illegal activities.' Tut, tut!

Doesn't it make you wonder what the other 20,000 had done to warrant deportation?

[Scouse123]

'In 2015, a total of 28,750 Thai nationals were deported from South Korea. Of that number, 8,733 had either overstayed their visas or were convicted of illegal activities.' Tut, tut!

Doesn't it make you wonder what the other 20,000 had done to warrant deportation?

Maybe,

no return ticket, not enough funds to hand or proof of funds for visit. No onward connections or hotel bookings. You know, the excuses that Thailand dishes out to the Vietnamese, Burmese, Cambodians etc when it suits them!

or maybe they didn't believe they were genuine tourists.

[halloween]

'In 2015, a total of 28,750 Thai nationals were deported from South Korea. Of that number, 8,733 had either overstayed their visas or were convicted of illegal activities.' Tut, tut!

Doesn't it make you wonder what the other 20,000 had done to warrant deportation?

Maybe,

no return ticket, not enough funds to hand or proof of funds for visit. No onward connections or hotel bookings. You know, the excuses that Thailand dishes out to the Vietnamese, Burmese, Cambodians etc when it suits them!

or maybe they didn't believe they were genuine tourists.

The reasons you have quoted are valid for refusal of visa, not for deportation. They are noted in the OP as such.

[Scouse123]

Yes,

Agreed, but you know, they may very well be using ' journalistic licence ' used by newspapers frequently in Thailand when reporting any stories. Are they merely ' lumping together ' all refused entry statistics to make a headline.

You can arrive in a country and be refused entry because of the points I made in my post, forcing you to go back to the place of origin which I should imagine in 99% of Thai cases would have been Bangkok. Have you been repatriated? deported? You are certainly back in your own country!

It can be simply a matter of wording.

Is it not the same as many on here call an ' extension of stay ' a retirement visa ? etc. (I have even heard Thai immigration call them retirement visas!!!) That would be my realistic take on it to arrive at these numbers.

In addition, I would add, there must be something seriously askew in communication between South Korea and Thailand with regards to visa requirements and entry conditions to achieve these numbers.

Edited March 9, 2016 by Scouse123

[stephenterry]

I know a 34 year old woman (v good English speaker, very presentable, and friendly) who went to Korea on a 90 day visa. Her friend is married to a Korean man, and they run a tourist agency for westerners - mainly American. She (the 34 y/o) phoned a Thai friend here, said she was boom-booming the Americans equivalent of 4k baht for short time, 7k for overnight. As she's staying with her friend in Korea, she reckons to clear easily quarter million baht minimum each time she goes.

Maths equation: 10 active weeks, say 5 days at 4000 (20,000) + one overnight (7000) = 27000 *10 = 270,000. For active women this is very achievable.

No wonder Thai women go elsewhere to earn money. Economic sense. Sad really.

[Bobotie]

About time.

Other Countries need to do the same as S. Korea. Thailand wants Westerners out so badly. They need to receive reciprocal treatment plus interest when they travel abroad to Europe and the America's. I think 50+ pages to do a visa extension, several trips to the office, interviews and photos, copies of copies, is crossing the line by a few meters.

​IMO The world should follow how S.Korea handles Thai travelers. big thumbs up to Korea.

One assumes reading your hatred filled post, that you dont live in Thailand, and if you do, if you hate the place so much why are you still here, or is it a case you used to live in Thailand and you were "burned" by a minium educated farm girl from the north east ?

[metisdead]

An offensive troll post has been removed.