Some tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in CASH when entering Thailand

[DLang]

Next going after those living here (working?) on Multi-Entry Non-Imm visas granted without showing any funds, just because they married their tilak? 

[bkkcanuck8]

Just now, Metapod said:

Who walks around with 20k cash on them anyway? Haven't they heard of an ATM card? It is a rubbish law.

I am sure that they have, but it is not immigrations job to escort you to the ATM and back... that is a privilege they might extend to you if you hire the immigration officer (at a standard fee) to escort you to the ATM and then back to the queue.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

If the airlines charged for that $600 (20,000 Baht)…I guess Thailand would have proof of their money as it flew away, with nary a penny of it to benefit their economy.  One would think that Thailand's attractiveness to tourists will be diminished on account of their money-hungry antics.

Most tourists arrive on visa exempt entries with no such requirements.

[bkkcanuck8]

Just now, mangpono said:

Just curious, as I can't remember - are there ATMs at Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi after you get off the plan and before immigration, so one can hit up the ATM before getting in the immigration queue if you feel the need or for peace of mind?

I have looked for ATMs on the air side of the immigration and Suvarnabhumi... never seen any... just currency exchange.

[impulse]

Just now, Metapod said:

Who walks around with 20k cash on them anyway? Haven't they heard of an ATM card? It is a rubbish law.

 

Who hops on an international flight with less than 20,000 baht in hard currency hidden away in case their ATM card gets eaten, their wallet gets stolen, or any one of a hundred other scenarios where USD, GBP, or Euro's are the only solution?

 

[Rhys]

.... Yes, that was always on the books, and selectively enforced... in fact, those enterprising van owners, used to advertise, VISA VAN SERVICE .....  Thus essentially marking the van for frequent stops along the way.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, DLang said:

Next going after those living here (working?) on Multi-Entry Non-Imm visas granted without showing any funds, just because they married their tilak? 

One can get a work permit if on a marriage extension.

[Mooner]

Carrying round 20k in cash. What could possibly go wrong?

[billd766]

4 minutes ago, Metapod said:

Who walks around with 20k cash on them anyway? Haven't they heard of an ATM card? It is a rubbish law.

 

 Sadly for you, it IS a Thai law that has been on the books for years but not used much until recently. Now if you don't like that law I suggest that you try to get it changed and I wish you luck on that.

 

As for having an ATM card, all that proves is that you have one. It does not show how much money you actually have available, nor does it show how much you owe, nor does it show your credit limit or your creditworthiness. It is simply a piece of plastic that allows you to charge things on it, IF you have enough credit available at the time.

[bkkcanuck8]

1 minute ago, Mooner said:

Carrying round 20k in cash. What could possibly go wrong?

I believe travellers checks are considered cash....

[impulse]

5 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

The requirement has been there for many years, and is published. I knew about it years ago. If one knows about something and does not conform, one probably should not complain, however infuriating.

 

I guess I'm spoiled, because I have been denied boarding by the airline a couple of times traveling to other countries when the visa/cash/document requirements changed.  Irritating as it was, it was a blessing to get to remedy those problems before getting on the 12-15 hour flight, only to be turned back.  I had some excellent discussions with some airline staff who told me they do it because they get fined BIG $$$ if they bring someone in who doesn't qualify for entry.  They claimed it could cost them in the tens of thousands of $USD in addition to having to haul the rejected passenger back.

 

[billd766]

8 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Most tourists arrive on visa exempt entries with no such requirements.

 

But they are genuine tourists.

[jspill]

58 minutes ago, midas said:

I see nothing onerous about this whatsoever.

I mean just based on living a very modest lifestyle without any extravagance- I still can't see how any genuine tourist can make 20,000 baht last for more than a couple of weeks?

Because somehow you fail to realize it isn't about the money but the silliness of having to show it airside in the airport where there are no ATMs.

[bkkcanuck8]

1 minute ago, billd766 said:

 

 Sadly for you, it IS a Thai law that has been on the books for years but not used much until recently. Now if you don't like that law I suggest that you try to get it changed and I wish you luck on that.

 

As for having an ATM card, all that proves is that you have one. It does not show how much money you actually have available, nor does it show how much you owe, nor does it show your credit limit or your creditworthiness. It is simply a piece of plastic that allows you to charge things on it, IF you have enough credit available at the time.

That piece of plastic shows (or does not show) that you can convert that into the cash needed at that time.  A simple logical approach would be to install an ATM machine that prints out the current balance - certified available or to withdraw it for the line.   The fact that you are bringing into all this your credit limit , credit worthiness etc. -- IS not applicable for the purposes of crossing the border... only the 20,000 baht.

[moe666]

When I was a regular tourist to Thailand Ialways had cash as well as a card. The cash is always welcome and you never know when the card will be stolen, or eaten by the machine. 

[bkkcanuck8]

1 minute ago, moe666 said:

When I was a regular tourist to Thailand Ialways had cash as well as a card. The cash is always welcome and you never know when the card will be stolen, or eaten by the machine. 

I know people that only have an AMEX card with them -- never cash...  and they probably have more money than most of the people on here combined.

[impulse]

6 minutes ago, Mooner said:

Carrying round 20k in cash. What could possibly go wrong?

 

The same things that can go wrong carrying a laptop, a smartphone, a nice camera, a wedding ring or any one of a dozen other things worth more we all carry with us when we travel.

 

[Bazw57]

I believe travellers checks are considered cash....

Have tried cashing a travellers check recently?
A friend of mine used them in Bali recently and had to visit 3 banks before he found one that would cash them and then he had to wait 20 minutes while they did all the checking and phone calls...
They are virtually redundant these days and not worth the hassle.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[AsianAtHeart]

15 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Most tourists arrive on visa exempt entries with no such requirements.

As I understand, that is incorrect.  The amount of cash required is simply less for visa-exempt entry.

[impulse]

Just now, bkkcanuck8 said:

I know people that only have an AMEX card with them -- never cash...  and they probably have more money than most of the people on here combined.

 

I don't know anyone that loaded that doesn't carry emergency cash.  That AMEX card can take days and days to get replaced in the boondocks, effectively ruining a holiday.

 

Unless, of course, their pilot or their man servant carries the emergency funds.

 

[dick dasterdly]

51 minutes ago, JAG said:

" People trying to enter with history of tourist visa entries appear to be the ones under the most amount of scrutiny. ED visa holders also are also the subject of similar scrutiny."

Hardly surprising is it?

That is what Type O and B Non Immigrant visas are for.

 

5 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Most tourists arrive on visa exempt entries with no such requirements.

 

5 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

Who hops on an international flight with less than 20,000 baht in hard currency hidden away in case their ATM card gets eaten, their wallet gets stolen, or any one of a hundred other scenarios where USD, GBP, or Euro's are the only solution?

 

From the first quoted post, I gather it is those who appear to be doing visa runs (fairly obvious from the entry/exit stamps?) that are being targeted - not tourists.

 

If, and its a big 'if' - tourists are also being checked, they will likely have relatively small amounts of bht 'in their pocket'  on arrival, but will have travelers cheques to back up ATM/stolen cash problems.

 

 

[sandrew33]

1 hour ago, rkidlad said:

Shouldn't be showing proof of funds when applying for the actual visa be enough? Instead of cluttering up immigration queues with baffled tourists wondering why they should have 20k in cash on them.

 

Every time me and my missus fly back to England, they never ask her to show them cash. That's because that's ridiculous, she's already shown her money when applying for the visa, and this is 2017 where people use debit and credit cards and don't usually carry round large amounts of loseable cash. 

 

I admire your logic and good sense. 

 

I also admire your view that such things are to be expected from officials in Thailand. I've always admired optimists ?

[bkkcanuck8]

2 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I don't know anyone that loaded that doesn't carry emergency cash.  That AMEX card can take days and days to get replaced in the boondocks, effectively ruining a holiday.

 

Unless, of course, their pilot or their man servant carries the emergency funds.

 

I am sure for a black AMEX card - they would find a way.

[DLang]

15 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

One can get a work permit if on a marriage extension.

Not talking about those on a marriage extension.

 

 

Those that get the Multiple-Entry non-O at Savannakhet without needing to show any funds.

 

Then come and go every 90 days on a border run.

 

Because they don't have the 400k or outside income of 40k per month to get the extension??

 

Suspect.

 

How many are using them to stay here whilst working illegally?  

[Bazw57]

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I would also like clarification on the foreign cash equivalent question....??

Sent from my SM-A520F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Cadbury]

3 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

As I understand, that is incorrect.  The amount of cash required is simply less for visa-exempt entry.

If you know that for a fact how about you share with us that precise amount of baht required for the visa-exempt entry. Then we will all know.

[NoBrainer]

Does it have to be in Thai currency, or is the equivalent foreign currency acceptable?

[bkkcanuck8]

8 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I don't know anyone that loaded that doesn't carry emergency cash.  That AMEX card can take days and days to get replaced in the boondocks, effectively ruining a holiday.

 

Unless, of course, their pilot or their man servant carries the emergency funds.

 

One person that I know booked me a room through AMEX using the black AMEX one time because I told them I could not fly into a city because there were no rooms available and she basically said... no problem... AMEX has ways....  They ended up finding a hotel that booked a room for me ... only to find out the hotel messed up and there were 35 people waiting for rooms.  I called her back, she called AMEX and I waited for 5 to 10 minutes.... then saw a hotel staff come by and started apologizing profusely .... ignored the 35 other people and found me a room.  Apparently AMEX threatened to boycott and remove all privileges for the entire chain if they did not sort it out.

[sandrew33]

3 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I don't know anyone that loaded that doesn't carry emergency cash.  That AMEX card can take days and days to get replaced in the boondocks, effectively ruining a holiday.

 

Unless, of course, their pilot or their man servant carries the emergency funds.

 

I'm not loaded but I'm worth a reasonable amount and have a high income. I rarely carry cash. I have multiple cards with multiple banks and generally when I travel I got local currency on arrival. 

 

Typically might have $200-$400 cash on me which wouldn't be enough to get through on this test. 

 

In Australia these days - my other home - no one really needs to carry cash. Everything is PayWave or Apple/Android Pay enabled, even buying beers at the pub is done with PayPass PayWave via the portable Eftpos machines. 

 

Proof of money I get, but actual physical cash seems odd. Perhaps they should just install an ATM at immigration if they think having physical cash is so important? 

[thaibeachlovers]

9 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

The same things that can go wrong carrying a laptop, a smartphone, a nice camera, a wedding ring or any one of a dozen other things worth more we all carry with us when we travel.

 

The difference is that losing any of those does not mean that one will be penniless and can carry on on holiday. If one ONLY has a CC and it is no longer available, one is screwed.