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What is the experience of getting a visa extension and re-entry at Suvarnabhumi Airport like for expats?

Sep 9, 2025
8 months ago
First Visa Extension Run - Re-Entry Experience - Suvarnabhumi Airport

It was time to do an somewhat early extension run due to scheduling conflicts as my initial 180 das were ticking away. As with most DTV'rs, I see no reason but to leave the country for a few days and make a weekend out of it.

Going through an extension with immigration seems to be a pain and most officers doesn't seem to want to go through the hassle themselves and each immigration asks for various things.

A change of environment is also always good IMHO and doesn't cost much. Went to Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam. Never been there. Will probably not be back there either. I think there are more interesting places in Vietnam to visit. But that is besides the point.

Coming back, had already done the TDAC and was extremely lucky with no immigration lines at all and many immigration officers at location.

I really tried to seek out a male officer but the very vast majority was female (I am male) and I got directed to a certain line while trying to find a male officer.

My 20+ years experience in Thailand is, along the lines of what's been posted here before, that I have never had any problems with male officers. The female ones are the ones that can give you grief. And have done so in the past for me. A few times. for absolutely no reason.

When it was my turn, just one person in front of me, I haded over my passport and my A6 sized laminated visa.

The question "what you do in Thailand" was answered with "business development and software development within AI" was met with a frowning face and a surprising negative look with a shacking face as there would be a problem with that.

Most likely, what I just explained to her was way over her head. I realized that I could have entered the whole "cannot lose face" zone with her with my response.

She held my passport and the stamp and tinting her head in a body language "I am in doubt" and "should I really stamp this passport with what was just being explained to me" kind of posture.

Took a few (long) seconds where I was getting nervous of a secondary inspection and getting grilled. Not that I have anything to hide nor haven't got all my ducks in a row but, if you get the wrong officer on the wrong day, those who knows, they know.

It is an experience anyone can be without.

After those seemingly very long seconds she stamped my passport and waived to me in a way of "get out of my face".

She wasn't a member of the "Land of Smiles" club. I can tell you that much.

I am from a Western EU country. Very presentable. Shaved. Fresh hair cut. Buttoned shirt. Dress proper. Articulate well. Shower daily for those who wonder. Wear expensive watch and some bling bling. Samsonite hand luggage. Well, you get the idea.

No tourist visa history that stands out by any means. Far apart. Not frequently used.

Yet, this unnecessary attitude. And it is always from female officers. Did I feel welcome as a quality tourist who brings in quite a lot of foreign capital and spends way over the average tourist during longer periods of time? No, not really. Quite the contrary.

Anyway, stamped in, no biggie. No major questions asked. Just feeling unwelcome by an immigration officer who I am sure rather would greet some quality Indian tourists.

Sorry for the rambling. Just can't understand why Thais so quickly forgot what happened to them when Covid-19 hit. They quickly forget how important we are for their economy.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The author shares their experience of a visa extension run at Suvarnabhumi Airport after a short trip to Vietnam. During the re-entry process, they encountered a female immigration officer who seemed unfriendly and skeptical of their profession in AI. Although the author felt they dressed and presented themselves well, they perceived an unnecessary attitude from the officer, contrasting it with their positive history with male officers. The comments reflect a mix of opinions regarding the author's perspective, with some agreeing about the treatment by female officers, while others criticize the author's tone and attitude.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Danielle *********
Women aren’t required to smile just because they are women. Do you expect men to smile? Might want to ask yourself why you like men more and don’t respect women.
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Travis ********
Can't believe I read so much of that. You need to learn how to write and edit. The entire post could be: "I re-entered using my DTV with no problem"
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David *******
The tone of your post is arrogant and I’m not surprised you were looked at askance. And your 20 years of experience in Thailand reinforces my perception that you have a sense of entitlement 😳😊
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Luit *****************
You pretend to be wealthy, rich and important, behave like a snob, but in the meantime you present a poor man visa like DTV, no wonder the IO is having the attitude you describe.
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Anna *********
Perhaps she sensed your self important attitude and just wanted to see you squirm for a moment or two

And why should immigration officers smile they are not concierges
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Callum *******
Posted by an anonymous goblin, therefore invalid and most likely not even true.
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Andi ***********
@Callum ******
Very generous with most likely... 😊
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John *******
@Andi **********
Usually get these posts on Thursdays.
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John *******
Our 18 hours per day troll has to divide his work between various forums. He has a strict schedule to maintain.
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Andi ***********
@John ******
Thursdays is the Anon day of choice.. Why's that?
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Andi ***********
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마리오 ***
Please go back to Western Europe.
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Luit *****************
@마리오 **
No please don't we don't need this attitude there too...
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Luit *****************
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John *********
Not another anonymous subtle DTV Basher, do you actually have a DTV, if you look dodgy, shifty you might get hauled over. Otherwise it’s plain sailing folks, you can enter and exit as many times as you want, freedom to choose when you want to travel
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Andi ***********
@John ********
He has Samsonite luggage, Western European, presentable that is all that is needed for smooth entry, apparently..
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Andi ***********
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Jef ********
I’ve been in 14 times with no issues,

To be honest maybe you also didn’t have an issue with the IO … maybe you have an issue with reading people. 🤷
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Andi ***********
@Jef *******
Exactly.. IO just doing their job, no need for the dramatics due to no smile
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Jef ********
@Andi **********
💯. I’ve had a few that were not overly friendly but it doesn’t mean it was a bad experience.

If they want to give people a hard time they can make that happen quick smart 👌
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Andi ***********
@Jef *******
With any customer facing job, you going to find someone who maybe tired, not having a good time, probs at home etc and not smile. Do nto fly 1000s of miles and get upset as an IO did not smile and bow down to your Samsonite luggage, fresh faced look and buttoned down shirt. and your Western European roots.
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Jef ********
@Andi **********
you can tell a lot about his language maybe he was “entitled” I can picture it now it he would have presented him self in way that he was the only one in the immigration que… even the fact he said he was trying to pick a male immigration officer. It screams misogynistic
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Andi ***********
@Jef *******
Other Anons have dropped the similar entitled story being from Europe etc. should mean an easy exit,, no questiosn asked. His ending ",Thais so quickly forgot what happened to them when Covid-19 hit. They quickly forget how important we are for their economy." speaks volumes to the level of disrespect, ignorance he has for LOS.
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AllSabaai ******
@Andi **********
yes ka . as many foreign think We need to bow down and prioritize them in everything, just because he is European ... Super racist mentality and old age colonization mindset 😏
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Luit *****************
@AllSabaai *****
I am also coming from (Western) Europe, but I feel ashamed when I hear thinking fellow West Europeans this way.

As foreigner you are visiting a country and just are a guests who should behave as a guest and respect local traditions and culture, just as we in Western Europa also expect foreigners to respect our traditions.
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AllSabaai ******
@Luit ****************
unfortunately not all have this politeness or respective mindset ka
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Andi ***********
@AllSabaai *****
not just European, to be exact .."Western European with Samsonsite hand luggage, bling bling, presentable, buttoned down shirt and articulate"... 😂
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Andi ***********
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Greg ********
Rimowa luggage and Tumi laptop bag is the choice of business travel in Asia :-) Of course the fast lane comes with that. Company car and driver waiting with name too.
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Andi ***********
@Greg *******
That is why he faced difficulty, Rimowa is what he needs to sail thru immigration
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Greg ********
@Andi **********
Fast Track faces at the carousel when the first 6 bags are exactly the same Rimowa model.
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Greg ********
@Andi **********
Which watch though? Submariner Stainless for Caucasians and DateJust for Asians?
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Andi ***********
@Greg *******
Expensive for Western European --could be Swiss so i go with Swatch which made his entry tough
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Andi ***********
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Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
I should have attached a Labubu doll to my luggage and I would probably have been waived right through in a jiffy.
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Andi ***********
Anonymous participant Exactly, you can go thru the Fast Track lane with a Labubu
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Andi ***********
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Andi ***********
Expensive watch, bling bling and Samsonite hand luggage make arrival easier? Why are female IOs difficult ? i have never found that in my years of visiting LOS. Why would an IO prefer to welcome a quality Indian tourist over a "quality Western European"?
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Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
If you don't understad these simple points, I am sorry, I cannot help you. I also notice irony isn't your strong trait. Anyway, thanks for commenting.
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Andi ***********
Anonymous participant The simple points from yourself are well understood. lrony is one of my strongest traits as well as B....

...S detection. Thank you for the interesting story.
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Andi ***********
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