Why did I get interrogated during my border run in Thailand?

Everyone is telling get a tourist visa. 10 year wealthy LTR costs 5000 baht a year. Someone staying visa exempt for 1 year in Thailand needs 4 times 1900 extension fee. That is already 7,600 THB a year visa fee. They keep asking people to get a visa, if someone obtains 6 month MTV visa and spend 9 months in Thailand with an extension then they pay much less for the fees than a visa exempt individual. Where is the logic for asking visa, it does not increase the visa fee revenues. Am I missing something here ?

Why don't they limit visa exempt entry to once a year per individual ? Problem solved !

I love Thailand but if I’m made to feel unwanted I’ll look elsewhere. Philippines is nice and I hear Malaysia and Bali are beautiful. Much as I love Thailand, the next time they hassle me at immigration will be the last.

Cracking down hard!

I also got stopped, on my 1st boarder run, glad I got my visa now! Husband, got through no problem.

You stayed longer than 60 days is the short answer. They are not playing with tourists anymore. Luckily they didn’t stand over you and make you get a flight out of the country like they did to me

Did you do a border run on your own or with an agency ?

Or non-o with return.

I came to Thailand with a booked return flight 88 days later. Arrived at Suvarnbhumi international, 60 days visa exempt no problem.

To do the right thing by Thai authorities I went to my local immigration office (regional, I won't say which) to extend my stay by 30 days and pay my 1900 bhat. The immigration officers were very helpful, I had all the correct paperwork and a Thai friend to help with language, if required. It was.

Surprisingly, it appeared they wondered why I didn't just do a border run to get a further 60 days visa exempt. I got the impression they felt that was the easiest way and not to have to bother with all the paperwork.

I think they are trying to curtail tourism.

After clearing her throat over the last few months the fat lady is singing - only a matter of time.

Same for me, tried the DTV rejected 600 bucks gone. Now I’m doing Vietnam and Philippines since Thailand doesn’t want me.

Unfortunately the people who cheated the system by not having proper visas for many many years in the past ruined it for everyone nowadays. As long as there are people who think they can live in Thailand without a proper visa and take advantage of border runs, every tourist will be questioned once in a while by immigration authorities even if you haven’t done anything wrong. They don’t trust us anymore and I don’t blame them…

It still amazes me that people feel that they should come to Thailand , no questions asked.

So family and I came in December . Family of 4 at the time had my baby end of January .

We had to leave because we were up in the air on dtv or work visa . So end of March we went to Cambodia from Bangkok.

Earthquake ruined our condo so we moved to Pattaya .

My husband got his work visa end of may . Because my older kids aren't his more documents were needed for the kids and I . So we just had to leave again this time we went to china.

The first time we left my husband wasn't questioned the kids weren't . But I was and the officer was so rude . I wasn't understanding what she was asking . She called me a stupid American 😹 said next time I come in to Thailand I better have a visa .

When we got back from China my husband went through with work visa no problem. Kids went through no questions asked .

I was asked just briefly if I was in the process I said yeah paperwork confusion with immigration but should be good to go within 30 days .

We were stamped in no issues .

Now china was a fuckin mess . But we shouldn't have to worry after our non O comes in . My husband's visa is good for 2 years .

They ran off the Chinese and now they are crying about it. Europeans are going else where and they are crying about it. But they let in all the Indians which is their main problem. And they just can't figure out why the numbers are at historic low numbers.

Where was the border run? They are pretty hot on Cambodian border runs. I have never been questioned before, but 1 border run.....interrogation.

Comply with everything that a Immigration Officer asks you, and don’t ask questions, if you want a quiet live.

My daughter just did a visa run they said the same in Laos she has to stay for 2 days … I sent her $ and told her to show the border guards the $ and that she’s going back for vacation they stamped her for 2 months.

You got interrogated because they don’t want people staying long term unless your on an elite or DTV etc ….

CAMBODIA

Perhaps the border authorities are getting tired of people gaming the system with border runs. It’s their country. They make the rules.

Look at this fellow? Of course immigration is going to question him. You get a DTV you need evidence of money. 500,000 thb. Immigration knows he is not old to be retired, not married, and leaving Thailand and coming right back in? The system was designed to protect Thailand for people like him wanting to stay here longer than legally allowed with no job or income.

All these people trying to stay in Thailand saying if you're young and have money .... so if you're young and have money ... buy an elite visa ... hassle free just cost some money

If you're a tourist you get 30 days and apply for another 30 days ... if you're staying longer than that you're not a tourist .:. U need to apply for a different visa ( permission ) to stay longer ... simple

The Visa Exemption is not meant to be used for multiple border runs. Apply for a Visa.

If you are concerned about a visa run, or need advice you can always contact our team.

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Every entry into Thailand is at the discretion of the immigration officer standing in front of you.

I came in 2 days ago after my 4th entry this year including one border hop about 4 months ago without any hassles at all.

They are cracking down on multiple border runs, trying to force people to get proper visa.

Mr King has locked his profile page says it all don't u think 🤔

There are no Thais with brains so Vietnam gets loads of tourists. Everything is overcomplicated as officials throw their power about.

It is slowly looking like an alternative destination might be in the cards

Someone doesn’t know about the brown envelope.

Good thing when I leave u won’t be returning.

The same thing happened to me

They are cracking down an visa exempt abuses, get a tourist visa with multiple entries per year and you will be fine. Or get a DTV

I understand. Because, to get into the Schengen area, as a Thai, you need a very expensive visa and a pile of documents. (Not that the average Thai can afford that).

It pisses them off (and me too, because of course I paid for it this year for my GF)...

Secondly, there are Farang out there 'using' the system. They know that. The officers are getting more alert.

And lastly. It does not matter what the rules are and how many runs you have done. It all depends on the attitude of the officer...

They just giving you the message they got from the boss. But new prime minister now so things are expected to relax a little.

I was questioned despite having a valid multiple-entry TR visa for 6 months. I was stopped in month 4 (for 5min questionning and let me in after seeing my bank acc and my buissbes ouside of thailand statements), even though I’ve been traveling in and out legally. I paid for my visa, followed the rules, and now they’re telling me to get a DTV, which I don’t even need or just tell the officers I'm gonna stay 6 months and show my ticket back. Thailand’s rules are getting out of hand for most ...

Simply because you stayed the full length of your entry stamp and returned immediately after a short trip. The immigration officer is just doing his job, and multiple border bounces on visa exempt are no longer a thing, immigration is cracking down on them. Even a tourist visa can be problematic as your behaviour is not typical of a tourist, normally tourists just come for a few weeks

Get a visa

Get a tourist visa before you come

I love Thailand

Immigration is now screening social media accounts. They flagged you because you have only one Facebook friend. The Thais are very friendly people and they feel you wouldn’t qualify as a tourist since you are not friendly. Best to apply for a DTV where you can work on your laptop all alone.

You need to use land borders. If you use the land borders that visa run companies use, you can drive yourself and pay a fee at the border for the stamp. Or just go with the border run company. You can live in Thailand non-stop if you use land borders

My passport is valid for 5 years but I usually run out of pages within 1 - 1.5 years before having to do a new passport bcos it's full of Thai immigration stamps! 😜😅

Btw, I am a Malaysian, the 'next door neighbor'.. 🤭😅

Luckily I am not a farang that faces problems on border runs everytime! 😁

Multi entry tourist visa

Get a visa like you’re supposed to and you’ll be fine

Novice here 🙈,but is it possible to do border runs my train,or bus ???????

NOT A GOOD PLACE TO STAY ANYMORE OR INVEST ITS OK FOR THE OLD PEDOS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS AND THINK THEY ARE THE OWNERS OF THAILAND ITS NOT THAT GOOD

Which airport did you arrive at?

Because you don’t have a visa. Get a visa.

Get the appropriate visa and all will be well.

There should really be no need for border runs. Just pay your money and stay. That’s all they want anyway. They complicate everything.

Dont ask for logic here. They claim to want tourists but they treat tourists like you described.

Some times it is as simple as your appearance and demeanor.

Get the appropriate visa for your needs. Thais getting dissed with people abusing the system

They don't think you're a tourist, so you need a proper visa to stay longer. I know that in the past they didn't care and people lived literally for years just on visa waivers + border runs, but this isn't the case anymore.

How many times have you been to Thailand in the last few yrs ?

And they wonder why the joint keeps getting less and less people coming

Happens all the time now, this is from a member on this site a couple of days ago.

You said it, get a DTV