Okay Folks: This is a Heads Up Post for anyone going to THIS Border Crossing - not to rely on getting through with both old and new Passports without getting some type of notation in the new passport - done beforehand - that the Visa Sticker exists in the old Passport... So in relation to Border Crossing at Ban Wang Prachan (Thale Ban National Park) Satun ...Usually a laid back place, but yesterday with my new Passport and old Passport (with my current Non Imm B Multi-Entry Visa Sticker). The border I/Os Would Not Accept the Visa sticker being in the old passport and not "Moved" to the New Passport. I argued with the Chief Officer for about five minutes (as politely as I could but I showed great frustration). He just repeated Robotic Style - Move Move Move - Must move sticker. He totally ignored my repeated statement that "Move" was for Extension of Stay Stamps - not for Visa Stickers. He directed me to the Satun Immigration Office. It didn't matter to him that I had visited Krabi Immigration two weeks before and was told correctly that Visa Stickers are not Moved to the new Passport. He steadfastly refused... Repeating his Robot voice.
I went in a hurry to Satun Immigration (30 Kilometers) where the ladies were very helpful - although a bit surprised. They contocted a stamp in about fifteen minutes. I drove back to Wan Prachan went through the lines out and back in without incident.
Very crowded - the Malaysian side used only one window - In then Back out. The Fingeprint machines on the Thai Side were both covered with a cloth - not used as they had been 2-3 months before. And I had to fill out a TM.6... Thought the TM.6 was No More according to news items I had read.
Also, this is another example of I/Os whether found in an Immigration Office or a Border Checkpoint... That is they simply make up their own interpretations of any give rule or Police Order. And that counting on consistency in enforcement is little more than wishful thinking. In this case I just happen to have my car and could drive 30 kilometers to resolve the problem. So-what if you are at an airport immigration entry booth and you are stuck there? Or at at semi-remote border checkpoint with no car - no immigration office within 100 kilometers and you have two days left on your current stamp. One is then forced to stay overnight and hope to get find a solution some way - somehow? All because one border checkpoint big boss has to define his fiefdom with arcane and incorrect interpretations of rules.
This could happen anywhere to anyone - random rules - rule.
TLDR : Answer Summary
This post serves as a warning for travelers crossing at Ban Wang Prachan, particularly regarding the need to have a visa sticker transferred from an old passport to a new one. The author recounts an incident where border officials refused to accept the visa in the old passport without a notation in the new one, despite conflicting information received from Krabi Immigration earlier. After visiting Satun Immigration to rectify the issue, the author emphasizes the inconsistency in how immigration rules are applied by officers, which can lead to significant travel complications. The post highlights the arbitrary interpretations of rules by immigration officials at different points.
