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What is the experience like at Padang Besar border crossing into Thailand with a Tourist visa?
Tourist VisaPadang BesarBorder CrossingVisa RequirementsEntry RequirementsFinancial RequirementsImmigration Rules in ThailandTravel Advice for Expats
Jul 17, 2017
9 years ago
Kevin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERHeading back tomorrow through the south. Will have a Tourist visa this time, as well as the 20k, hotel booking, flight out in August. Has anyone experienced the Padang Besar crossing before or know how it is?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the traveler's preparations for entering Thailand via the Padang Besar border crossing, including holding a Tourist visa, having 20,000 baht, and a flight out scheduled in August. Various comments reflect experiences at the crossing, mentioning the need to show 20,000 baht in cash and the general unfriendly reputation of the border. Insights from other community members highlight possible scrutiny from immigration officials, particularly for Tourist visa holders, and suggest the importance of proper documentation and funds to avoid issues at entry.
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Joe ******
And if you got in at Padang Besar,
any more info on this news from yesterday:
any more info on this news from yesterday:
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/257997/tea-money-practice-abolished-new-25-baht-fee-imposedJoe ******
I usually make my border run to Wang Prajan (Satun) but never, ever paid a single satang or ringgit. Not on the Thai Side, not on the Malaysian side, although might be different for "locals". So an update would be much apreciated, thanks.
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Joe ******
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Tod *********
@Ke***
, did you get in via the land border in the south without a problem?Adam ***********
Mate just out of interest how did you get from KL to Bkk - by train?
Kevin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERNot much. They are very careful about not receiving the usual 200thb slip in the passport. They have a guy in line checking passports making sure. Very friendly though, just make sure you have the 20k etc.
Tod *********
Adam ***********
Was there any swimming / jungle trekking / crawling under barbwire involved?
Kevin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERMade it in. 😃
Kevin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERLeaving in a few hours. Will update soon as I am just at the consulate getting my stuff now
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Kevin ***********
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Charmaine *********
So I have just got a visa in Hanoi
60 day
Previous I had an ed visa
And also a non b which I cult turn into a work permit due to the company folding
Now I'm returning on this visa
I have my 20,000 showed all paper work to embassy
I fly in quite late to domestic airport
Do you think I'll have issues
I'm using an Italian passport
60 day
Previous I had an ed visa
And also a non b which I cult turn into a work permit due to the company folding
Now I'm returning on this visa
I have my 20,000 showed all paper work to embassy
I fly in quite late to domestic airport
Do you think I'll have issues
I'm using an Italian passport
Charmaine *********
Seems many have 30 day back to backs
Never had one, always a correct visa.
Have the 20b in cash , a nightmare carrying that around. Lol
So scared of losing it..
I've never worked illegally any where in the world.
Never had one, always a correct visa.
Have the 20b in cash , a nightmare carrying that around. Lol
So scared of losing it..
I've never worked illegally any where in the world.
Miho **********
No one here can assure you. Because someone is turned down with suspicion of working. 'Suspicion' it is hard to present not working, hanging around, doing yoga, isn't it?
Tod *********
as long as you have the 20K you should be fine. Please report back and let people know if you had a problem when you stamp in.
Reply to
Tod *********
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Miho **********
Good luck.
Tod *********
FWIW: this is the bottom of a sign at some border stating the financial requirements to get into the country. You can see that even holding a valid Non-Immigrant visa requires 20K baht IF they wanna ask to see it.
Stephen ********
Thank you. I thought it was only a requirement for student and tourist visas. Also good to know about re-entering on an extension-of-stay, as my visa is a one-year single-entry.
Tod *********
@Stephen *******
If it is a multi-entry one where you border-bounce every 90 days OR if you just got a 90 day single entry one and are comin' into the country for the first time yes.Entering the country on an extension of stay that you get at the immigration office you are NOT required to show the money
Stephen ********
Non-Immigrant visas as well? So if you have a Non-O or Non-B then you are also required to be carrying 20,000 Baht on entering the country?
Ivan ************
You should post the top of that sign
@T**
Reply to
Ivan ************
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Keith **********
Interesting to see that he says he will go to Cambodia instead, "...i will just go to cambodia i can work there pretty easy..." ???
Tod *********
Cody just answered me on his f/b page and said they are NOT letting him go to another country but ONLY back to the US. This totally doesn't make sense because as a rule, only when you are deported are you sent back to your home country. When you're denied entry you can go to any country that'll let you in usually.
Tracy **********
yea he is a fighter here . hr comes to train and fight
Tod *********
This certainly ain't his first foray to the Land 'O Thaiz, the pics on his f/b page show him in muay thai get up etc.
Keith **********
Looks suspicious, I guess
Tod *********
I asked on his page why he was denied entry but I don't think he answered :/
Keith **********
TBH - and I don't know if he was breaching visa/employment rules then or before - it is people playing fast and loose with the visa rules who cause the problems for everyone else.
Tod *********
I saw that too ;)
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Tod *********
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Stephen ********
I think we may have stumbled onto something with this questionable and apparently varying detention fee.
Ron *******
No point in arguing with the certain Primadonna posters on here or TVF Kevin. I've now realised there are 4 or 5 people across the boards who assume that they run immigration policy.
Anyway, good luck mate.
Anyway, good luck mate.
Kevin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERHe's probably confused or was a miscommunication. But it's charged that much before six hours and then it goes up after 6 hours.
Kevin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERUh, no it's not. ^
Amornrat **********
There has been no change in Policy. BTW , Ron Angel, IMHO it is not necessary to share links or post all the time. I get frequently,also in the past, calls from people in detention so really nothing unusual here, furthermore "your guy" post wrong info too, he said he is being charged THB750.- for each six hours, sorry but that is BS.
Ron *******
Sorry Tod but 99.99% travelling to Thailand haven't heard of TVF or this page. Where are you expecting to see all these posts? If your waiting for an announcement from immigration then I think you'll be waiting for ever. There's no change of policy because visa exempts and Tourist visas were never designed to be living here more or less perpetualy.
Tod *********
@R**
, I don't wanna get in a pissing match with you :/ I'm just saying it's NOT a blanket policy change, because if it was the inter-web would be clogged with posts about people being denied (and it is not).
Now are they putting people under further scrutiny? Yep, but they are not enforcing this uniformly across the board. It's too sporadic,
Ron *******
Ok Tod. It's not happening. Let's all wait until you or another expert says it is. Unbelievable!!
Tod *********
now now,
Face it a GAZILLION people fly in here every day and we're just hearing about what a handful of people so far?
@Ron ******
, you couldn't provide a single shred of evidence that they were actually going to change the rules. Even these denials is not confirmation they're changing the rules, Face it a GAZILLION people fly in here every day and we're just hearing about what a handful of people so far?
Ron *******
So what you saying, nothing is really happening because you haven't been the first to be told about it?
Tod *********
@R**
, plus he flew in from the US too, NOT from a neighboring country although his connection was in Taipei :/Jeremy ********
@Ron ******
when was it supposed to go into effect?Jeremy ********
Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam looks so much more appealing to get my money now...
Ron *******
There was a warning it was going to happen but I was called out on it.
Tod *********
@Jeremy *******
nope, :/ although someone on one of those "denied entry" posts on T/V said the immigration officers were saying no more than 180 days in a year or some b/s made up rule..Ron *******
The only thing he says is that he has always come in on 30 day stamps. Imo they are using any excuse to stop serial abusers.
Jeremy ********
@Tod ********
has there been a change in the amount of Fly In/Out visa exemptions you can get in the recent week that has been officially posted?Tod *********
That guy Cody doesn't say why he was denied on his f/b page.
Ron *******
I really don't think it matters at the moment. There are reports from both Airports.
Ron *******
No idea.
Jeremy ********
was this at DMK or BKK or other airport?
Ron *******
If he has no ticket out Harry he will be detained until he gets one.
Ron *******
There must be dozens being detained considering the amount of reports. There is definitely a move on those with Tourist visas and visa exempts staying here full time.
Ron *******
Thai Visa Robert.
Robert *******
Where did you find that
@Ron ******
?Kevin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERAny details whether or not he had 20k etc? That's why I am doing a land border if anything happens I can just go back in Malaysia.
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Kevin ***********
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Robert *******
Copied out of this article: Thaivisa has also received a report that immigration officials at Padang Besar on Friday were pulling tourist visa holders to one side and asking them to show 20,000 baht in cash. Those who could not show the cash were taken for questioning by officials.
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4-some-tourist-visa-holders-being-asked-to-show-*****
-baht-in-cash-when-entering-thailand/Robert *******
Good luck.
Kevin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks. If anything I'll have double lol.
Reply to
Kevin ***********
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Tod *********
that is a bad border crossing, make sure you have the "3-proof-ofz" and you should be fine (y)
report back if you would and let us know :)
report back if you would and let us know :)
Kevin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERCheers Tod.
Tod *********
@Kevin **********
, just unfriendly :/ If you have your ducks in a row you should be fine (y)Kevin ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks man. A bad one as in unfriendly?
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Kevin ***********
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Cliff *********
Padang Besar is more friendlier than Sadao
Marcel *********
Good luck man!
Reply to
Marcel *********
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