Answered8 years ago
What should I expect at Thai immigration after multiple tourist visas and frequent entries?
Hi peeps.
So, I went to Vientiane this week to get another Tourist Visa Single Entry and everything went smooth, flew to Suvarnabhumi and arrived Thursday around 9 pm, went to immigration and this lady who was sitting at the counter told me, ”I don't know if I can let you in. You have been here a long time” (less than one year).
She called for a supervisor of some sort and there comes another lady, very friendly and she asked me the same question as the immigration officer and got the same answer - ”I’m traveling around Thailand with my half Thai girlfriend.” I got my stamp but I must admit I was very nervous.
When I went to Vientiane I had:
2 Visa Exempt 30 days + 30 days extension (from Sweden when I got here and from a trip to Singapore).
3 Tourist Visa 60days + 30 days extension (two land border crossings to Penang and one Singapore trip).
My visa at the moment is valid until the 16th of January 2019 and my plan is to stay until July. That equals in - I have to do another trip to Laos that I’ve already booked. After that visa, I’ll then just leave the country to do an exempt.
Also to clarify I got a new passport so I just had my old stamp from my last Singapore trip in the new one. But I guess they see it in their computer at immigration.
So to my question:
-Was I just unlucky at the airport with the immigration officer?
-Will I have more issues in the future? What can I do?
-Is it better to do two land borders with a group, say Myanmar?
-What are my options?
I can always show proof of founds, at least 20k in my wallet and bank statement that show more than enough.
Thanks in advance guys!
So, I went to Vientiane this week to get another Tourist Visa Single Entry and everything went smooth, flew to Suvarnabhumi and arrived Thursday around 9 pm, went to immigration and this lady who was sitting at the counter told me, ”I don't know if I can let you in. You have been here a long time” (less than one year).
She called for a supervisor of some sort and there comes another lady, very friendly and she asked me the same question as the immigration officer and got the same answer - ”I’m traveling around Thailand with my half Thai girlfriend.” I got my stamp but I must admit I was very nervous.
When I went to Vientiane I had:
2 Visa Exempt 30 days + 30 days extension (from Sweden when I got here and from a trip to Singapore).
3 Tourist Visa 60days + 30 days extension (two land border crossings to Penang and one Singapore trip).
My visa at the moment is valid until the 16th of January 2019 and my plan is to stay until July. That equals in - I have to do another trip to Laos that I’ve already booked. After that visa, I’ll then just leave the country to do an exempt.
Also to clarify I got a new passport so I just had my old stamp from my last Singapore trip in the new one. But I guess they see it in their computer at immigration.
So to my question:
-Was I just unlucky at the airport with the immigration officer?
-Will I have more issues in the future? What can I do?
-Is it better to do two land borders with a group, say Myanmar?
-What are my options?
I can always show proof of founds, at least 20k in my wallet and bank statement that show more than enough.
Thanks in advance guys!
Answer summary
The original poster shares a recent experience entering Thailand after obtaining a tourist visa in Vientiane, expressing anxiety about immigration scrutiny due to a long history of entries on tourist visas. Several commenters provide insights on the increasing scrutiny at airports, suggest alternative entry methods via land borders to reduce hassle, and emphasize the importance of proper documentation such as proof of funds and accommodations. While some express concern about future issues with immigration, others reassure that many have had similar experiences without major problems, advising the poster to plan visa runs carefully.
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Nikolina *******
@Em**
Anderén can I ask what did you need there in Vientiane for tourist visa? As we are going soon there. thanks 🙏Nikolina *******
@Tod ********
thank you so much !! 😁Tod *********
you need copies of the data page of your passport, your lao visa and entry stamp, two passport sized photos and a filled out application for the visa (that you get at the consulate for free). A single entry tourist visa costs 1000baht.
Tod *********
IF you have an extensive history of living here on 30 day visa exempt entries or tourist visa entries and are going to Vientiane to get a tourist visa you should ALWAYS enter the country via the Nong Khai land border and then fly domestic back to bankgok. That way you already cleared thai immigrations when you entered the country and don't deal with them at the airport
Willy ********
@Ivan ***********
great response thanks man. ya ive been mixing it up -- first two are spread out well over a year. its just nice that vientiane is such a slam dunk bc of the nearby border crossing so i will probably earn the "no more" stamp at some point. :)Ivan ************
3 would definitely be OK. 4 possibly, I have got that from them, although not straight back to back.
What they do in Vientiane, is the last visa they give you, they will stamp it "This passport holder travels to Thailand frequently on tourist visas." When you get that stamp you are finished, you will not get another tourist visa from them on that passport (you will on a new passport).
You will get that stamp at _some_ point if you keep going to Vientiane for tourist visas, but it takes a few of them. Probably more than 3. Maybe #4. #5 you will get it. But they will give you the final visa with the stamp, and you can use it, and then have 3 months to think about what to do next.
This is why it is a good idea to mix it up a bit and not keep going back to the same consulate. But there is a general trend of all consulates getting more difficult.
What they do in Vientiane, is the last visa they give you, they will stamp it "This passport holder travels to Thailand frequently on tourist visas." When you get that stamp you are finished, you will not get another tourist visa from them on that passport (you will on a new passport).
You will get that stamp at _some_ point if you keep going to Vientiane for tourist visas, but it takes a few of them. Probably more than 3. Maybe #4. #5 you will get it. But they will give you the final visa with the stamp, and you can use it, and then have 3 months to think about what to do next.
This is why it is a good idea to mix it up a bit and not keep going back to the same consulate. But there is a general trend of all consulates getting more difficult.
Willy ********
@Tod ********
what about getting visas number 3 and 4 from the actual embassy in Vientiane? Do they often give folks are hard time?Tod *********
@Emil ********
no problem flying OUT of the country to any destination, all you're doing is stamping out.
Emil *********
OP@Tod ********
that makes me really glad to hear! Then I’m goin land border next time on my way home. But is it still ok to fly from don to Vientiane?Tod *********
@Willy *******
No one has trouble entering at Nong Khai on a tourist visa from Vientiane no matter how many previous ones you've got in your passport.Willy ********
dont mean to piggy back on this thread with a tangent but not sure if this is worth its own post ... Tod -- whats your take on getting a third (and eventually fourth) tourist visa from Vientiane (and coming back in thru Nong Khai)? Have you noticed people talking about increased difficulty doing that?
Vincent *************
. I have a year extension to stay based on retirement. My Filipna wife has an extension to stay based on mine. When we fly in to Suvarnabhumi airport do wee need to show 20,000 baht each? I thought that this was for tourists only.
Ivan ************
I wouldn't personally worry about it on a retirement visa/extension until we get reports they are asking it. Reports so far have almost all been tourists with extensive history. In many cases it seems to be less about whether the person actually has means (as they refuse bank statements or ATM access) and more about finding a legal excuse to deny them entry because they decided against for some other reason (as "too many tourist visas" is not a prescribed reason for denying entry).
Ivan ************
By that logic tourist shouldn't either if you have have shown a bank statement to get your tourist visa. The bottom line is immigration have the right to ask about means at the border and deny entry if they don't like the answer. In practice, they do not seem to do this for people on non immigrant visas or extensions. But that doesn't mean it couldn't change. We have seen recent changes with retirement extensions like with the UK income letters or with US affadavits in Chiang Mai because in some circumstances the "proof" was not considered by immigration to be proof enough.
Stan *******
@Ivan ***********
but Retirement should not be a problem as you already proved 65k monthly income or 800 k in the bank and living here . I guess they can ask anything but this must be very defendable..Ivan ************
Theoretically they could ask for it but almost all reports have all been from tourists. With a tourist visa you often have to already have proved finances as well, but that doesn't stop them asking again. There is actually one report on Thai Visa of someone who was asked for the money, on a non immigrant with work permit. Sadao used demand this, and there was a sign on the window of the consulate in Penang warning about it, to show 20,000 at the border. The immigration act does not distinguish between visa categories or extensions with regard to this. In practice, they don't usually seem to. But we don't have a crystal ball.
Stan *******
Not for retirement visa ... just don’t forget to apply for re entry visa before you leave
Robert *******
With an Extension of Stay you already proved that you have the finances to live inside Thailand. I never read a report of somebody got asked when having an Extension of Stay.
Ivan ************
The problem is an international flight back to immigration at a Bangkok airport. Next time come back by land at the Nong Khai border and then fly domestic from Udon Thani. Udon airport is only an hour from the border, you don't have to get a van all the way back.
Ivan ************
Yes. It's very easy to get to Udon airport after the consulate. Then get a cheap flight (Air Asia etc) from there to Bangkok. You'll go through immigration then at Nong Khai and they don't seem to ask as many questions as immigration at the Bangkok airports. Flights from Udon aiport are usually also very cheap.
Emil *********
OPYeah I was talking to my girlfriend about this actually. So I already have a flight the 15th January to Laos. Then you mean I just take a van to the land border then fly back home.
Steve *******
Time to get the get the crystal ball out, and the correct visa.
Steve *******
@J**
Give it up mate and just for your info I dont talk out of donkeys. However you do need a Non Imm B visa and a work permit to work legally in Thailand
Worth *******
Steve you are talking out of your ass if you are saying a freelancer should get a work permit in Thailand. It doesn't exist.
Steve *******
@Dominik *********
Maybe your country should offer the same visa!
Valère *************************
Dominik Dagobert Exactly. Feel free to join the club and become legal! Who told you life is easy?
Dominik **********
How does that work when you are a digital nomad or freelancer etc? They should offer a appropriate visa for those people then they would not need to do visa runs etc.
Work permit you can only get if you are employed by a company in Thailand or you register your own Thai company with ridiculous requirements and lots of headache.
Work permit you can only get if you are employed by a company in Thailand or you register your own Thai company with ridiculous requirements and lots of headache.
Steve *******
@Dominik *********
Non Imm B plus a work permit if you're in Thailand, I dont know about other ASEAN countriesDominik **********
@Steve ******
so what is the correct visa for let's say someone who is a digital nomad and travel within South East Asia? I think there is none
Terary **********
Probably the best thing you will be told on this forum:
I had similar experience as you.. I am convinced that they'll randomly stop people, give them a little hassle and send them on there way... I recently posted my experience so I wont do it again. In short, I always travel with the suggested 3 (funds, onward travel, accommodations). I have only been hassled a little the one time, made sever trips since.. I have seen them hassle another individual who also had all the things they needed. If they occasionally the occasional long-term tourist with short term visa they will get free publicity, catch a few jerks.
I wouldn't worry to much about it.
@Robert ******
"What will happen in the future? Good question, nobody can answer. Always be prepared with the proof of funds, 20.000 Thb or equivalent money in CASH, proof of accommodation and onward travel." I had similar experience as you.. I am convinced that they'll randomly stop people, give them a little hassle and send them on there way... I recently posted my experience so I wont do it again. In short, I always travel with the suggested 3 (funds, onward travel, accommodations). I have only been hassled a little the one time, made sever trips since.. I have seen them hassle another individual who also had all the things they needed. If they occasionally the occasional long-term tourist with short term visa they will get free publicity, catch a few jerks.
I wouldn't worry to much about it.
Emil *********
OP@Jim ******
Hey dude. Positive guy much?
Jim *******
@Emil ********
. I would be..!Emil *********
OPTerary. I’m glad to hear your story, not that glad that you experienced it. I hope you understand what I mean 🙂. Your post calms me. So it’s shouldn’t be any worries then I guess
Jim *******
I'd say you've been Very Lucky so far with your entry history.
Your fb says the you live in Bangkok and, your visas are Not for that.
Get a proper visa...!
Your fb says the you live in Bangkok and, your visas are Not for that.
Get a proper visa...!
Emil *********
OPSo it’s better to to land border with a van instead of goin by plane u think?
Robert *******
You got the stamp and entry into Thailand, I don't hope that makes you feel unlucky. At the moment we only read reports of more checks at airpots and almost no checks at land borders about how long you stayed. What will happen in the future? Good question, nobody can answer. Always be prepared with the proof of funds, 20.000 Thb or equivalent money in CASH, proof of accommodation and onward travel.
Emil *********
OPOfc I don’t feel unlucky, the opposite, I feel very glad and lucky.
Robert *******
NO, Cash is NOT a valid bank statement, credit card, your mobile phone screen of banking app. It is having the bank notes in your wallet, ready to take out and showed when asked.
Robert *******
Yes.
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