What Are My Chances

[TravelTeach]

Hi all,

 

I am in Phnom Penh with a flight booked to BKK for Monday. I think I shouldn't board it, but I'd like to hear advice.

 

In the last calendar year I've visited Thailand twice visa exempt and had two non-b visas issued. Both jobs for the visas didn't work out. Yes, that sounds sketchy as hell, but it happened. I left Thailand early January. Since then I've been cycle touring around se Asia.

 

Since Cambodia is rough as anything, I want to fly to Thailand and continue biking from bkk through isaan up north for two months. My bike is with me, packed up in a box and ready to go.I've got plans outside of Thailand after that.

 

Due to very poor planning on my part (Songkran) I cant get a SETV before Monday. The flight can't be refunded.

 

If I get on the flight, do you think I would get another visa exempt when I land?Perhaps showing them the bicycle as proof? Or is it a serious risk of being turned away? I do have an outbound ticket (BKK to Malaysia) two months from now and a bank statement showing sufficient funds. Perhaps I could use Songkran as an excuse? Ha.

 

I should also mention that I do have several other Thai visa exempt stamps but outside of the calendar year. Not sure if that affects anything. My last visa exempt was late June 2016.

 

Thank you,

TT

 

 

[sapson]

I may be completely wrong which would be good to know but isnt a calender year Jan 2016 to end Dec 2016, so if your last

 

exempt was June 2016, you dont have any exempts in calender year Jan 2017 to Dec 2017 so should be fine??

[TravelTeach]

Just now, sapson said:

I may be completely wrong which would be good to know but isnt a calender year Jan 2016 to end Dec 2016, so if your last

 

exempt was June 2016, you dont have any exempts in calender year Jan 2017 to Dec 2017 so should be fine??

 

You are correct. I had an exempt in January 2016 (basically two days transiting from Myanmar) and then one more in June for about a week. The rest have all been the non-b. However those non-b visas did allow me to live in Thailand from July to December 2016.

 

I feel that's still a lot of time/visas in Thailand over the course of 12 months. Its more than half the year! But I don't really know how that affects the visa exempt, so that's why I posted this. ?

[ubonjoe]

I see no reason why you have a problem getting a visa exempt entry with your history. 

[sapson]

You have no visa exempts this year 2017 so should be fine but I am not a resident expert!!! they will be along soon.

 

I recently came in on a setv and before an exempt then before two more setvs and an exempt all with extensions etc basically for the last year or so whilst not working, but when they scanned through my totally full passport ,prior to the last year their is a three years  history of B visa and yearly extensions.................which I think they like to see the b visas so shows you havent been here too long on SetvS and exempts etc...................and I am an old fart which maybe helps!!

[JackThompson]

The annual Exempt count only applies at Land Borders.  The risk at the airport is they think you visit Thailand too often (spend too much money here), and/or the IO has not reached their daily-quota for rejected-entries, yet (proving they are doing their duty keeping 'bad guys' like this potentially Thai-job-thieving cyclist, out of Thailand). 

 

How many Visa-Exempts to Thailand do you have for All Time?  If less than 6, your odds are much better for not being rejected, because no alert will pop up on their screen, suggesting a further inquiry.  They will also, likely scan through your passport and see your other entries.  Not having any "Ed" visas helps, here (big red flag for them) - not sure about the "B" visas-  not being here continuously works in your favor. 

 

Most importantly - have at least 10K Baht in cash (I'd bring 20K), plus proof of where you will be staying, plus proof of the origin of your money, if possible.  Show the money at the first sign of questioning.

 

If still concerned, to avoid all risk, you could enter at Ban Laem land-border, and avoid even a remote possibility of detention at an airport.  But do NOT attempt via Poi Pet, though - which has become the worst checkpoint in Thailand.

[buick]

immigration seems to focus on people who have been in thailand too long or used too many visa exempt entries.  it doesn't sound like you've been in the country all that long.  approx. 6 months out of the last 15 months.  there has been some talk that 6 visa exempt entries over the course of two years might be too many, you get flagged on immigrations computer.  but when we see reports of that, a report of someone doing 7 visa exempt entries in one year come along so it doesn't always happen.  you haven't done many visa exempt entries so you shouldn't be on their radar yet.  just to be safe you should carry cash with you, not sure the bank statements will work.  i believe 10k baht for a visa exempt entry and 20k for a SETV entry.  since your outbound flight is 60 days out, it might be better to carry 20k. 

[TravelTeach]

27 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

How many Visa-Exempts to Thailand do you have for All Time?  If less than 6, your odds are much better for not being rejected, because no alert will pop up on their screen, suggesting a further inquiry.  They will also, likely scan through your passport and see your other entries.  Not having any "Ed" visas helps, 

I'm honestly not sure. I've been visiting Thailand regularly for many years. Definitely more than 6! But long stretches away and no black marks. No Ed visas.

 

27 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

 

Most importantly - have at least 10K Baht in cash (I'd bring 20K), plus proof of where you will be staying, plus proof of the origin of your money, if possible.  Show the money at the first sign of questioning.

 

Good idea, and not a problem.

 

27 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

 

If still concerned, to avoid all risk, you could enter at Ban Laem land-border, and avoid even a remote possibility of detention at an airport.  But do NOT attempt via Poi Pet, though - which has become the worst checkpoint in Thailand.

That's also a good idea, but it does mean scrapping the flight. And cycling there. I like your word "remote". ? But I'll keep it in mind and mull it over.

 

 

Thank you all very much for the quick and, frankly, encouraging advice.

 

 

[Crossy]

By the way, do ensure you have 20k Baht (or the equivalent).

 

Lack of the required cash is the number one reason that people are refused entry (it's a handy backup for immigration if they don't like the look of you).

 

I see no reason why you would have an issue flying in to Thailand.

 

[JackThompson]

Re: 6 or more Visa Exempt Entries:

22 minutes ago, TravelTeach said:

I'm honestly not sure. I've been visiting Thailand regularly for many years. Definitely more than 6! But long stretches away and no black marks. No Ed visas.

The computer seems to alert after 6, regardless of what we could call "sane context." 

 

As others have noted, your history should not get you blocked.  I am overly cautious and never use airports - but I live here most of the time, so have good reason not to.  My only worry is that your B-Visas look like "fishing for work" - and the IOs seem to be trying to prevent Farangs from getting work here.  If asked your plans - "A short trip - bicycle to (where ever) - then going straight home."

[TravelTeach]

Alright that's fair. Then yup, I'm thinking this will work. I'll get the cash. Thanks again guys.

[TravelTeach]

Just to close this thread up, I'm typing this safely in Thailand. Immigration dude at Don Meuang flipped through the pages a bit, then stamp stamp, slid the passport over the counter and went back to chatting with his colleague. Never said a word to me.

 

Thanks again for the help!