What should I do after being denied entry to Thailand due to land border crossing regulations?

December 16, 2018
6 years ago
Hi,

I'm in a bit of a situation.

I'm a Filipino and I work in Poi Pet, Cambodia. I frequent Bangkok once a month for leisure since Poi Pet is a boring town if you're not into gambling. I've been to Bangkok about 4 times since I started working in Poi Pet mid 2018.

Last Friday (December 14), I was planning to go to Bangkok but was stopped at the immigration office in Aranyaprathet. I was not aware foreigners can only cross the land border twice per calendar year. So, they denied me entry, gave me a written notice and wrote something on my passport.

Again, I went to Bangkok 4 times through the land border this year (I have the stamps to back it up) and not once was I told I was breaking a regulation. According to the piece of paper they gave me, it says I did not obtain the proper visa to enter Thailand.

To make things worse, I have a flight back to the Philippines through BKK airport in January 2019. My concerns now are:

1)Will my two-entries per year refresh even after they gave me a written notice?

2) If I would need a transit visa, would they give me one considering I was given a written notice?

Thanks.
615
views
3
likes
20
all likes
10
replies
1
images
7
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
A Filipino working in Poi Pet, Cambodia, shares his experience of being denied entry into Bangkok after exceeding the allowed number of land border crossings in a year. He seeks clarification on whether his annual entry limit resets after receiving a written notice and if he can obtain a transit visa for his upcoming flight to the Philippines.
Nèwēy *******
Fly from Siem Reap to Bangkok
Paul *********
If you’re going to your home nation apply for a METV and you will be able to use that for 6 months. And then you’ll have 2 land crossings for 2019

After that you’ll need to get another visa.
Ivan ***********************
ORIGINAL POSTER
yeah I guess I'm gonna have to start doing that if I want to go to Bangkok - and maybe just go back to Poi Pet via land border.
Robert *******
Since 31 Dec 2016, the rule of using land borders to enter Thailand with a Visa Exempt Entry (without visa) changed. The Philippines are also on this list as maximum 2 times a calendar year. This means it will reset on the 1 of Jan.
Nopparatkhun ****************
@Robert ******
im sorry to ask not to understand so is malaysian excluded?
Liam *****
@Ivan ****************
That's a good plan. With an METV you are not limited to 2 entries per year by land. Also, you denial at the border will not affect your transit through Bangkok on the way to the Phils...
Ivan ***********************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
thanks, I really hope it does refresh. Once I get back to the Philippines I'm going to get a METV.
Neo ************
You have to fly back only way stop wasting your time at the border. You need to go back airway.
Robert *******
No, you can enter this year by flight or wait till after 1 Jan to go over land again.
Ivan ***********************
ORIGINAL POSTER
yup I was made aware of this last Friday. I just hope the notice they issued doesn't completely ban me from entering the country.
Thai Visa Advice
... members · 40% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice