Why was my entry into Thailand with a 6-month tourist visa questioned by immigration?

Question

Strange experience yesterday.

Just make sure you have hard copies of relevant paperwork with you when entering Thailand.

Are medium to long stay foreigners wanted???

Once again obtained my 6 month multi entry tourist visa (9th year) from the UK by meeting all requirements.(£5000 in bank account for 6 months + hotel and return flight bookings)
Arrived BKK walked to priority gate and presented my passport with correct visa to officer. 
At that point everything went rarther strange. 
The officer took about 3 min looking at passport (it's a new UK passport) She then proceeded to give me the third degree. 
Why you come Thailand for so long. (Holiday because the cold weather in England not good for my health)
How can you stay Thailand for 6 month ( I am retired, no need to return to England during bad weather)
Do I work Thailand (No).
Do I have Thai girlfriend.(No)
Do I have condo (No)
Where do you stay. (Named apart/hotel and offered to show hotel booking)
Why do you have new passport. (Old one expires offered to show old one)
This went on for about 10 min. 
Eventually and reluctantly was given 60 day stamp.
All my friends who wanted 30 day exemption had no problems.🤔🤔🤔

Ask Thailand · Answer

The user shares their experience at Bangkok immigration, where they faced intense questioning upon arriving in Thailand with a 6-month multi-entry tourist visa. Despite having all necessary documentation, the immigration officer interrogated them about their reasons for the extended stay, leading to a notably longer processing time than usual. The user describes this as a strange experience, prompting responses from the community that explained such questioning is standard procedure, especially for new passports or long-term stays.

Tod ********* · Answer

and while this is almost an interesting story it's not asking any questions and it is a well known fact IF you live here on back to back tourist visas or visa exempt entries at some point you're gonna get pulled aside and grilled.

Tom ********* · Answer

I was at immigration yesterday to apply for my second one year extension based on marriage and when they scanned my passport I saw all the photos of me re entering the country from when I had a multi entry non o and was doing border bounces every 90 days

This was from 1

***

to 2 years ago

So yes there is a central data base

This was from 1 1/2 to 2 years ago

So yes there is a central data base

Oliver ******** · Answer

if you've made any thai friends over the last decade, try bringing one of them back with you for a holiday to the uk and see how that process compares to your experience.

Oliver ******** · Answer

sounds like you've been in thailand for somewhere around half the time in the last decade. doesn't seem unreasonable for the immigration officers to check if you are really a tourist (all the questions they asked were very relevant to that judgement).

Ludovico ********** · Answer

Wow...Can you have two six-month visas a year as a tourist?

Xandro ******** · Answer

What was the strange experience again???

The immigration officer doing her job? 🤷‍♂️

Barry ****** · Answer

Usually new passports (with no stamps) attract attention by any border officers. Because it shows you are trying to hide something or may be not a genuine document, so they look deeper and tend to do more investigation and see if your story checks out.

They are just asking standard questions that any border officer would, don't feel offended. i.e. What do you do, why do you visit, how long, etc

They are just asking standard questions that any border officer would, don't feel offended. i.e. What do you do, why do you visit, how long, etc

Nigel ********* · Answer

Don't take it personal. Its their job. Try being a Thai trying to enter the UK. Enjoy your stay. 🙏

Robert ******* · Answer

it is mentioned on this page for multiple times Immigration officers can ask for additional documents, like proof of funds, accommodation and onward travel. Why is this strange?

Why was my entry into Thailand with a 6-month tourist visa questioned by immigration?

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