Answered8 years ago
What should I know about being questioned at BKK airport about my visa status?
Just got pulled to interrogation at BKK airport with a Russian 1st timer who made mistake of writing he was staying 90 days. Russian eventually got stamped for 30 or 60 not sure.
I have been in and out of thailand for 2-3 at a time on both sides with only Visa Exemption Airport Stamps. I was 100% honest and when he asked me why I came I blurted out, "to visit my girlfriend". Bad Answer I guess.
I had piles of cash on me +8k usd, a return flight to America, a phone number(thai) and an address. He asked what I was doing in Thailand and if I knew what kind of visa I was using. I explained I had been only staying 2-3 weeks at a time and leaving for 2-3 weeks(always coming back to thailand). That I was a Poker professional and travel to Macau, Manila, ect to play poker and then hang out in Thailand inbetween. He pulled over 2 other people either excited or disbelieving that I was a poker professional and asked for pictures. Scrambled and managed to find a picture of me winning a tournament for $5k last summer.
Wasn't too impressed and I explained I had just worked my ass off for 4 days in Manila and now it was time to relax in Bangkok. That did the trick for some reason or he was just bored.
For people with similar strategy:
1. How often do you get pulled?
2. Do they record that they pulled you and make it harder in future?
3. Was I lucky to get through or was it fairly standard?
4.He didn't give me the typical,"This is the last time warning, get a visa next time" But he did question me my plans after spend a month in Las Vegas playing the World Series of Poker. Is Visa necessary now?
5. Was "visiting girlfriend" a bad answer and what is better?
I have been in and out of thailand for 2-3 at a time on both sides with only Visa Exemption Airport Stamps. I was 100% honest and when he asked me why I came I blurted out, "to visit my girlfriend". Bad Answer I guess.
I had piles of cash on me +8k usd, a return flight to America, a phone number(thai) and an address. He asked what I was doing in Thailand and if I knew what kind of visa I was using. I explained I had been only staying 2-3 weeks at a time and leaving for 2-3 weeks(always coming back to thailand). That I was a Poker professional and travel to Macau, Manila, ect to play poker and then hang out in Thailand inbetween. He pulled over 2 other people either excited or disbelieving that I was a poker professional and asked for pictures. Scrambled and managed to find a picture of me winning a tournament for $5k last summer.
Wasn't too impressed and I explained I had just worked my ass off for 4 days in Manila and now it was time to relax in Bangkok. That did the trick for some reason or he was just bored.
For people with similar strategy:
1. How often do you get pulled?
2. Do they record that they pulled you and make it harder in future?
3. Was I lucky to get through or was it fairly standard?
4.He didn't give me the typical,"This is the last time warning, get a visa next time" But he did question me my plans after spend a month in Las Vegas playing the World Series of Poker. Is Visa necessary now?
5. Was "visiting girlfriend" a bad answer and what is better?
Answer summary
A traveler experienced an interrogation at BKK airport about his frequent visits to Thailand, where he only utilized visa exemption stamps. He was questioned about his purpose of visit, having a girlfriend in Thailand, and was eventually allowed entry. He inquired about the frequency with which travelers get pulled over, if such interactions affect future entries, and whether disclosing he was visiting his girlfriend was an inappropriate response. Fellow users shared their experiences, advice on handling such situations, recommended visas, and insights on immigration procedures.
30 repliesnewest first
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David **********
When you are in Vegas why not mail off your passport and get a METV? 'While not a 100% guarantee this is much better than Visa Exempt Entry.
******************************************************************
Frances ********
I got stopped and questioned on my year long multi entry visa. They wanted to know what I was doing here and was I working here. I told them I was here to see their beautiful country and eat their gorgeous food. They seemed happy with my answer. 😊
Frances ********
@Pie***
, it was true 😁
Pierre *********
This is the kind of answer i am prepared to say everytime at any border. The rule is don't look like a tourist but always act as a tourist.
Tod *********
I know people so fed up with flying into BKK or DMK that they fly into lao and cross at Nong Khai then go to Udon Thani to fly to bangkok
Richard ***********
If your married to a Cambodian never go to a woman ... My advise.
Jules **********
Yeah, bit of a trek though! At least down South you can hop on to an air Asia flight without leaving the airport, 1 hr 20 mins and your there
Dakota **********
OPwow this is nuts
Jules **********
Avoid BKK! Enter Thailand from another airport and then take an internal flight.
Jim *******
@Amber ******
same.
Claudine ********
@Jules *********
😂. Don't count on itDakota **********
OP@Amber ******
BKK has been like that me until 6th time in 8 months. How many stamps have you gotten?
Amber *******
Dmk was very smooth for me, no questions at all
Jules **********
I’m not sure, I would think it would be the same as Suvarnabhumi. After an hour and a half interview, I’ve never flown into BkK again. I go KL to Krabi or Phuket and they are actually polite and welcome you!
Dakota **********
OPDMK?
Jo ********
lol
Jon **********
Its random. Ive been grilled once at suvarnaphumi, and saying i had a gf was the reason she let me in, telling me to keep a copy of her ID card for future encounters 🤷♂️
Steven ***********
I carry my kids birth certificates, Copy of marriage certificates, copy of wife's ID, address etc every time. As well as having the NON O visa.
Dakota **********
OPjust a picture of your gf's ID?
Ning ******
i get pull every time now :( even with a visa, cos the passport is full of in and out. Yes, it only gets more often. They spoke to my thai bf many times. Now going to get a marriage visa and end the whole crappy visa run.
Ashok *******
I gets pulled and asked for visa details and employment details.....
Tod *********
Russian nationals get stamped in for 30 days so him writing 90 was a mistake on his part.
They have a computerized system in place (for at least the last year) that flags visa exempt entries when you hit 4 or so. It doesn't take into consideration how long you were here on them OR the time you were out of the country between them.
With that being said, anyone can be asked when comin' into the country to show proof of funds (20K baht or the equivalent) proof of onward travel and proof of a hotel booking.
I don't think they really care in the least what answer you give them, I think they just wanna grill you and see if you'll say something stupid like I work in thailand :O
They have a computerized system in place (for at least the last year) that flags visa exempt entries when you hit 4 or so. It doesn't take into consideration how long you were here on them OR the time you were out of the country between them.
With that being said, anyone can be asked when comin' into the country to show proof of funds (20K baht or the equivalent) proof of onward travel and proof of a hotel booking.
I don't think they really care in the least what answer you give them, I think they just wanna grill you and see if you'll say something stupid like I work in thailand :O
Sebastian ************
They look at your visa and they try to create a profile . Asking questions is not stupid . Same like the US border officers who i think they are worse than thai officers.
Nothing wrong on being questioned if they dont like your face :)
And answer should come out easy if is nothing wrong to hide ;)
Nothing wrong on being questioned if they dont like your face :)
And answer should come out easy if is nothing wrong to hide ;)
Dakota **********
OP@Tod ********
awesome thanks!Tod *********
@Dak***
It's totally a crap shoot. No one knows why some people with many 30 day visa exempt entries skate into the country without being questioned and others don't. Face it at some point someone is gonna tell you to get a visa, but I know people who were told that and came right back on another visa exempt entry without a problem
Dakota **********
OP@Tod ********
k ty so the check is routine, does that mean I should avoid coming back in a month using visa exemption? Does them pulling me now get recorded or affect me in future negatively?Tod *********
@Rob***
Yeah, that was my first thought too. You certainly ain't scoring any points by telling them you are a professional gambler no matter what country you do it in. :O
Robert *******
Avoid telling them that you also play poker on the internet, gambling is illegal in Thailand.
Tod *********
@Dakota *********
, that's as good a reason as any,Dakota **********
OPso dont tell them I work in thailand? haha jk what are some other obvious things i should avoid? gf sounds like bad reason too
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