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What are the common issues faced when entering Thailand with a tourist visa and how to avoid them?

Thailand VisaTourist VisaVisa RequirementsTest and GoVisa ExtensionsThai Language ProficiencyOnward TravelEntry Restrictions
March 30, 2022
2 years ago
Marc *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Today arrived in swampi from PP with a TRV. Last year had TRV+extension followed by a Language ED 12 months. Had Ticket back to PP (wrong) 600 dollars and NO hotel bookings AFTER test and go.

They fucked me 2 hours! Read and write thai and whole conversation in thai. Show funds in bank account. Show picture girlfriend and explain a lot why i wanna stay thailand and how i pay for everything.

I do wrong

1 Ticket not to home country

2 No hotel bookings. They dont like private address from GF

3 No pic from bank account outside of thailand

Dont be like me. Do it better

Now stay in test and go hotel bkk and all good.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat recently shared their frustrating experience of entering Thailand with a Tourist Visa (TRV). Despite previous immigration success, they encountered significant scrutiny upon arrival due to insufficient proof of accommodations and travel plans, including not having a ticket back to their home country and lacking hotel bookings. The community responded with advice on how to improve travel preparations, emphasizing the importance of following regulations, including having proof of funds and hotel bookings. Key takeaways include ensuring compliance with entry requirements and preparing relevant documentation to avoid complications at immigration.
Nadine ******
Where is PP? Philippines?

Also how did you pass the Thai language test? I can write and read and the schools were closed last year and 2020 so people couldn’t attend the classes.

Did you tell them that?
2 years ago
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Marc *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nadine *****
 Dunno what you mean but schools last year not closed. Just for a couple of months. And which test you mean? And what and why i should tell them something? I am innit, so looks like my language skills satisfied them. Without that no chances for entry.
2 years ago
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Nadine ******
@Marc ******
 they were mostly closed for group classes that’s why I couldn’t attend the language classes. So obviously my Thai skills aren’t good enough for writing and reading also our classes didn’t teach in the first year about writing and reading and focused on learning to speak first.

So how are they testing it? Also how good are your Thai skills for 1 year ED visa?
2 years ago
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Marc *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nadine *****
 Good enough for the immigration at the airport. And my school was open for online classes all the time btw.

How they testing it? Talk only in thai to me and i answered only in thai. They let me read a random paper about the regulations for tourists about working in thailand on tourist visas. 2 times bc they wanna show boss on video about foreigner can read thai...🙂

If you passed the 2nd test from the ministry for education after 8month studie its easy for you. If you never get tested then your school is a lil shady. No matter whats going on with covid. After 8 minths you get tested usually.

If they see you know shit after 1 year its clear (for them) you never studied. Some ppl in my class are very skilled in writing after 8 months. Long homework with opinions about social themes in thailand like the slum problem and how you can fix it.

My writing sux tbh but if they see you a have a general understanding they are happy.

BUT like
@ ************
s said. Get the 3 THINGS and its very likely you will have no problem at the airport. I messed it up a lil so they fucked me.

I mean, you studied and now you will travel again. You have a ticket home,
*****
bht and hotel bookings. 🙂
2 years ago
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Nadine ******
@Marc ******
 that’s intense but good on you that you are fluent in Thai.

I had only 1-2 classes a 2hours per week…

How about you?

If you would have made a new passport maybe there wouldn’t even be a question right?
2 years ago
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Marc *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nadine *****
 I think a new passport is a good idea in such cases. Mine is running out in 8 months. 🙂

I had 3 hours per day for 8 months BUT was able to speak before a lil. But some ppl in school start from scratch and now same lvl or better like me old fart. :)
2 years ago
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Nadine ******
@Marc ******
 okay that explains a lot 3 hours daily is a lot and after 8 months I think I also would be kinda fluent.

Maybe the best advise is not even leave Thailand and get another ED visa right?
2 years ago
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Marc *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nadine *****
 Try to get another ED visa! I wasnt able. Only with help of a agency.
2 years ago
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Nadine ******
@Marc ******
 yep now it’s available but not language school ED visa but rather university ED visa which gives you also one year right away and don’t need to be extended every 3 months
2 years ago
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Nadine ******
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Nigel ********
@Nadine *****
, I'd say the capital of Cambodia
2 years ago
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Nigel ********
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Dan ********
Can I ask, if you don't mind, how long outside of Thailand were you ? Just in Pp ? How long were you in Thailand in total that previous stay ? Any overstays on your passport ? Thank you 🙏
2 years ago
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Marc *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dan *******
 2 weeks PP. About time in thailand i wrote allready. No overstay.
2 years ago
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Marc *******
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Tod *********
Total underestimation on your part to think you were gonna skate back in after being here that long.

BUT

I give you points for sticking with it AND getting in.

Believe me many MANY people are shipped right back after being denied entry

You should have had

20K baht in CASH (for proof of funds) you're lucky they accepted your bank account online

proof of onward travel back to your country within the time you're gonna be stamped in for

proof of lodging (even if it's just a fake booking) for the duration of your stay.

You would have still been grilled but you brought the inquisition on yourself being half prepared to get back in

Glad you made it in (y)
2 years ago
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Marc ********
@Tod ********
 But officially you need an onward ticket. Not nacessary back to your country
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Marc *******
 and I'm telling you what people who have been here during covid for an extended period of time what they NEED to maximize their chances of getting in.

You do what ever you want to, So how about we agree to disagree?
2 years ago
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Marc ********
@Tod ********
 Disagree then. I go by the official way
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Marc *******
 and when you're asked by the official why your ticket isn't back to your country what are you gonna say? It's totally discretionary as far as IF they accept onward travel to any pissant country you can get into OR back to your country.

How about we agree to disagree and you leave it at that. I'm trying to tell people what to do so they can get in with minimal hassle.
2 years ago
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Marc ********
@Tod ********
 Whatever. People here also always say an onward ticket is sufficent.

And officially it is so aswell. How could they force me to go back to my own country? They just want you to leave Thailand.

I don't know what happened this particular case. I only know what is officially required.

So yeah I disagree with you. He couldn't possibly know an onward ticket is not accepted
2 years ago
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Marc ********
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Marguyvin **********
⬆️⬆️THIS⬆️⬆️
@Bruce ********
 The dude still got in, but they grilled his a$$ good.
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@MarGuyvin **
 which means IF Bruce wants to get in he should HEED my advice where I told him IF he's flying IN to bangkok to have the 3-proofz, AND if he could fly into Phuket instead from Singapore
2 years ago
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Marguyvin **********
@Tod ********
 Exactly. I like how the OP had the self-awareness to not just vent, but to outline exactly the things he realized would have made his case more presentable.
2 years ago
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Marguyvin **********
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Klaus ***********
So right now it’s the testing and one night hotel ? That’s all thinking of entering next month
2 years ago
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Brahim ******
Why they make it so complicated it blows my mind
2 years ago
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Tony *******
Welcome back .untill all restrictions are lifted the authorities will find a way to make money out of anyone comming back one way or another.so sad as the people don't deserve this all they want to do is work but without tourism they have nothing I genuinely feel for the poor Thai people in the tourist areas and the ones who have had to return home with nothing.
2 years ago
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Steve *******
It's 100% logical. You are wrong. Bad tourist. How dare you stay in a normal house and not have foreign bank account. Bad! 😂
2 years ago
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Garrett ***********
How did you get a Thaipass without a hotel booking?
2 years ago
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Ruth *******
Eddie Jarvis Yes. I fell ill in January 2020 and was not return due to not being permitted to fly. The booking site specifically was the problem. The hotel was willing to refund. I definitely have my first stop planned, with long stay, when I return. The hotel was absolutely fantastic to me.
2 years ago
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Ruth *******
Eddie Jarvis I have had cancellation issues in the past. Hopefully, that will be possible, but I want to have a backup plan. Thank you though.
2 years ago
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Andy *********
We entered 12 days ago. Just had the 1 night T&G reservation. Immigration wasn't happy with that. I said we have no future reservations because we didn't know if we'd be kept in quarantine. I said if we're released, we'll stay at same hotel until we find condo.
2 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Andy ********
 makes sense to me. What happened?
2 years ago
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Andy *********
@Ruth ******
 He let us in.
2 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Andy ********
 I'm asking because this is what I'd prefer to do, but I'm concerned about hassle.
2 years ago
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Andy *********
@Ruth ******
 This was just our experience, on the 19th. I would say, YMMV. As with everything here, who knows how it would have been handled by a different immigration officer. This was our 1st entry in the covid era, and quite a bit different from entering Vietnam, a month earlier
2 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Andy ********
 Stop it! I'm so jealous already. :-)
2 years ago
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Andy *********
@Ruth ******
 Come on over! Bangkok is fine!!
2 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Andy ********
 as soon as you explained? No further hassle?
2 years ago
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Andy *********
@Ruth ******
 Well, I didn't have my insurance document printed out, and we were taken aside because of that. Had it in pdf on phone & laptop. Took them a bit, but they printed a copy. Then he escorted us back to the immigration desk. That's when the issue of no reservation past the test & go came up. But, after I said we didn't know if we'd be quarantined, and were going to stay at the same hotel, it was no problem. (YMMV)
2 years ago
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Andy *********
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Marc *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
 Test and go hotel only. Immi asked for address after test and go.
2 years ago
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Marc *******
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