What should I do if I face entry refusal at a Thai airport with a visa on arrival or after having an ED visa?

Oct 25, 2024
19 days ago
Johannes *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Dear group:

Can you advice/ share experiences about entry refusals at a Thai aiport? And what are good/ reasonable next steps if that happens?

Scenario: EU/ generally Visa on arrival.

[Second scenario: 7 months ED Visa, then fly to Laos or Vietnam for a week..then want come back on a 60 days visa on arrival]

Thanks khrup ;))
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation discusses experiences and advice regarding entry refusals at Thai airports, particularly for individuals using visa-exempt or visa on arrival options. Members highlight the importance of understanding visa categories, caution against attempting re-entry immediately after using an Education (ED) visa, and suggest alternative routes like land border crossings to avoid complications. It is advised to seek the assistance of visa agents for guaranteed entry and to be aware of the potential consequences of being refused entry.
John **********
Only advice I have in your situation is don't attempt to fly in. If you're denied at a land border at least you can go up the road and try again
John *******
If refused, you go into immigration jail and then on a plane outward
Jan ******************
@John ******
Yes, detention centre and you can demand to appeal and see a judge and if you’re lucky you’re allowed to travel to a nearby country instead.
John *******
@Jan *****************
sounds like a great opportunity
Todd *********
Contact
@THAI *****************************
for ‘FastTrack’ entry. No problem. Not cheap. But guaranteed entry
Brandon ************
First of all, I doubt you are talking about visa on arrival. Visa on arrival is where you apply for and pay for a visa at the airport and you get a 15-day stamp for Thailand. You are most likely talking about visa exempt, which is not a visa at all, it's just a free entry stamp for 60 days.

They have been cracking down severely on people who abuse visa exempt and tourist entries in general. Each immigration officer has full discretion on who they will and won't allow into Thailand. Some seem to use a general 180 day cutoff as to when it seems like you are trying to live in Thailand without a proper visa. Also anyone who has an ED visa at all in their passport is likely to face extra scrutiny and have very high odds of being pulled out of line and questioned about their ED visa, why they are coming to Thailand now, etc. It would be HIGHLY advisable not to fly into Thailand if you are just finishing an ED visa, as this is the most abused visa type currently and is just asking for trouble. Use a land border bounce agency to drive you to a land border and facilitate you leaving and returning without any issues, but only AFTER you have already cancelled your education extension. Some land borders will not let you exit if you have an un-cancelled ED extension and no re-entry permit.

Or if you want to do it yourself, go to Udon Thani and cross into Laos at Nong Khai and then return there. Once again, cancel your ED extension first as you are required to do this. But that land border is known as one of the easiest in Thailand.
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