What options do I have after being questioned about multiple tourist visas at the Thai embassy?

This post is literally regarding his problems in getting a SETV which got denied due to previous visas and entries and you are recommending him to go and try to get another one which might get refused. Go and get a new passport and clear all the old stamps and tourist visas, then you won't have any issues at a consulate for a few more years.

If you are planning for 3 months, get at least a SETV before you come. That gives you 60 days and you can extend by 30 = 90 total, no need to leave. Gives you more flexibility. If you have the SETV you do not need an onward ticket. Some consulates require an onward ticket to get the SETV, but I don't think any of the ones in the US do.

Very helpful. I will try to get one of the things you suggested beforehand. I am planning for 3 months, maybe stretch to 6 if all works out and I like it. I am not trying to live there and have no history as of yet. Thank you for the information.

You may or may not be asked for it. It's highly unlikely you'll be asked unless you have extensive prior history of trying to live in Thailand on back-to-back visa exemptions. Also- bus or train tickets out are also accepted and are cheaper (to the point you could just discard them). A ticket out within 60 days also may (or may not) be accepted.

Key with this is the rules are not hard and fast and evenly applied, there is a list of things they can theoretically ask you for (onward ticket, 20,000 THB equivalent in cash, proof of accommodation) but they do not ask the vast, vast majority of people for these. They ask a small number of people, usually those with extensive "history".

Your airline is far more likely to ask about onward tickets than Thai immigration. Sometimes you can sign a waiver. Or what fixes it, and gets you an additional 30 days, is just to get a SETV before you come. It's cheaper than doing the extension anyway. Or get a METV if you think you will want to stay longer and you can meet the requirements.

One way or the other you are very unlikely to have any issues if this is your first visit to Thailand and you are not Indian.

If the current rule is having a plane ticket within 30 days, how are these extensions working? Does everyone refund their plane ticket?

You can have a number of problems at any particular time for whatever reason the IO decides to make one for you. A long history of stamps, entries, tourist visas may not ever be a problem, or it could be a big problem, you never know. It does seem to be more of an issue when applying for a tourist visa though, which is what the post is about. In this case to prevent any further problems at a consulate, a new passport is required. If entering on a VE then he might be alright for a while (until he isn't)

Is not irresponsible cause I was living in Thailand for almost 9 years i got the same problem from Laos and the wrote in my passport that I have to leave the at the airport the ask who did that I explain to them the guy has almost been sacked just of that is just I know what I am talking about

That is pretty irresponsible advice. You can be pulled up at any time at a consulate or on arrival to Thailand and be questioned, even though they are on separate systems. Too many stamps, exemptions, tourist visas can be a problem in both circumstances.

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@Jason ******

lived in Cambodia for 7 years

@Serge ********

lived here for 5 years, lived in thailand for 8 years before and got pissed off with visa problems

Cambodia changed their law too I think.. now you need paperwork to have a business visa for more than a year...

"my first time ever in a detention cell.

Will remember it forever." After a few times you begin to forget

@Maxim **********

very true

Will extremely rarely happen elsewhere... to be more precise.

A very large % of documented cases denied entry is in DMK. If u do a research in this group by keyword it's *always* DMK.

DMK is same as Poipet border, both need to be avoided. Both are highly corrupted. I've yet to see anyone rejected in CM or KK but everytime i'm in DMK I see foreigner taking aside, I don't believe in coincidence.

@Maxim **********

saying it will never happen is a bit much. Can happen anywhere not must Bkk

DMK has a history of denied entry... will never happen in north Thailand...

@Martin ********

yes.. they charged me too... they even charged me extra for a “private” cell... I noticed it was a privilege only when I asked to go to the toilets and saw the other big cell with a dozen of guys inside. That was just 4 hours as I was lucky enough to have an open return ticket with me... they even wanted to send me back to FRANCE!

@Serge ********

I have heard a lot of denials come from there. May have been a different story somewhere else.

@Michael *******

Don Moeng

What airport did you land in when you got denied?

@Ivan ***********

the british embassy here DOESN'T issue passports for brits. You get them from the VFS Global Company

Follow this link and it will tell you how. There's no need to get an emergency travel document or a temporary passport from the brit consulate just apply for a new passport

@He***

I think it's worth asking. They say on their website "You can renew your passport at any time", there are any number of reasons you might want to do so, like an Israeli stamp or whatever. Their concern is passports being sold and abused, which can happen with people that "lose" them. If you give them back your old passport I don't see why they would care. "Losing" your passport can invite further scrutiny.

@Ivan ***********

You have to include colour photocopies of every page of your old passport, including blank pages, when applying for a new UK passport from Bangkok. I don't think they will issue a new passport if you have lots of unused pages.

@Martin ********

Reporting a lost passport at the police station is just a matter of filling out some paperwork (1 page). Helpful to bring a English speaking Thai Friend as many police don't speak English.

From my understanding "void without prejudice" technically means that no adverse inference should be taken to it being voided. On the other hand it may not look great. But I have heard of people entering with such stamps, they *shouldn't* hold it against you, that's what the "without prejudice" referrs to.

@Martin ********

AFAIK the British embassy will give you a new passport if you ask for it and pay the renewal fee. You don't need to take lose it, you can just apply for a renewal. You would need to stay in Cambodia until that processes, they quote three weeks.

@Ricky *******

that is at thai consulates in OTHER countries when you BUY a visa. Anyone comin' into thailand can have ALL their entry history no matter how many times you changed your passports

Is that Bangkok or Pattaya

@Mar***

If your passport is full you can get another one and I know the US consulate will let us get a new passport when ever we go apply for one, they don't care.

remember the UK consulate here doesn't have a passport service brits get passports from the company VFS Global in the Trendy Building on Sukhumvit Soi 13.

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Check out gov uk website anout passport renews from thailand

We dont have a consulate in thailand its an embassy and all passports for renewal are sent back to the uk

@Adrian ********

that is not correct, first off brits don't get passports from their consulate they get them from the company VFS Global in the Trendy Building on Sukhumvit Soi 13.

Second you CAN get a new passport without much trouble at all from that company. It takes about two weeks total,

Yes no need to 'lose' it. That can cause a number of problems....

Fly home and get a new passport. You can apply at any time. Problem solved.

You are british dont know about Cambodia but if you loose youre passport the british embassy in bkk will only issue you an emergency passport you have to return to uk to get a new 1 note this does not apply to renewal of passport

I think in the context he's asking more does it "reset" your visa history. And the answer to that, as far as I am aware, is that yes it does, insofar as the consulates are concerned, but not with immigration who have it all in their computerised database. But consulates do not have access to that, so while it will not overcome immigration reviewing your entry history, it may enable you to get another visa from a consulate.

It's not usually necessary incidentally to "lose" your passport, you can just ask your consulate for a new one. I'd try that first rather than fake losing it, if you do that too much that can cause problems with your home country.

UK passport policy for example:

>We do keep track of the amount of times an individual has reported a passport lost or stolen and applications from an individual who is a "serial loser" will receive additional attention and may be referred to a fraud investigator if we have particularly pressing concerns. If any information provided by the applicant raises concerns of criminal activity or immigration abuse, this information would be passed onto the police or immigration colleagues for their attention.

Immigration will stamp your passport with information provided. Some offices want proof that you bought the Visa, receipt of Consulate/Embassy. If on Extension of Stay this will be transferred as well as your Entry stamp.

@Robert ******

does all the data go on to ur new passport visa etc

If you loose your passport you report this to the Police, apply at your Embassy for a new passport and get the stamps transferred. It does not stop or pause your Admitted to Stay period.

@Rafael ********

What are you studying? where? how much? How does it cost? How many hours a week?

@Mar***

, It's hit or miss on whether you'll be grilled about your entry history. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it at all. I know people with a passport full of tourist visas who weren't questioned at all and I know people with 4 visa exempt entries who were given the third degree.

There are also stories of people who met all of the 3-proof-ofz (20K baht in cash, onward travel & a hotel booking) yet were denied entry. :/

All you can do is be prepared

the red stamps are consulate specific, and it appears this person didn't get a red stamp they had their tourist visa voided without prejudice