Hello all,
I’m in need of some advice…
In the past I’ve never had any issues or questions asked about my travels in Thailand.
Pretty much all of my time has been spent in Koh Tao diving.
In 2016 I had a non-immigrant B visa but eventually sold my share in the company and went back home. The rest of my travels have been on Tourist visa’s or visa on arrival(exemption).
Most recently I did two border crossings in Ranong to Myanmar and back in december 2023 and then march 2024 and left the country in april 2024.
Last week I re-entered Thailand with a new tourist visa which was granted to me by Thai Embassy in my home country. Upon arrival the IO asked me questions about why I’m here and when I’m leaving. ( I was in Transit on Bangkok International airport with connection to Samui) My answer was here for vacation and I’m not sure yet when I will leave. He then looked at my passport which was brand new with no stamps but saw in his computer that I’ve done two border-runs and asked me: you think is okay you go to Burma for 1 day and come back same day? You think this is normal. I didn’t know what to answer him but he took me to another IO and she was a bit more understanding. She told me I had to get a DTV visa if I want to stay longer time in Thailand and I explained to her that I’m not here for any cultural soft power activities. I had to book my outbound flight on the spot for when my 60 days are up. She said next time better for you to have a DTV when coming to Thailand.
My questions are:
- Do you think I’m marked or blacklisted in the system?
- Will IO in Koh Tao allow me to extend with 30 days and will they see the information about my booked outbound flight?
- Where would I best go abroad to after my 60 or 90 days to apply for DTV visa?
Anyone has similar experiences?
Thank you kap.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice after a recent experience at Bangkok airport during immigration, where they were questioned about their travel intentions due to previous border runs to Myanmar. They have a new tourist visa and were advised by an immigration officer to apply for a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) for longer stays. The user wonders if they are marked in the immigration system, the possibility of extending their stay on Koh Tao, and the best destination to apply for a DTV. Responses from the community suggest that while the user is not blacklisted, there may be a note on their record indicating concerns about their travel patterns.
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