Why was my tourist visa entry to Thailand denied despite having a valid visa and sufficient funds?

Oct 30, 2019
5 years ago
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Well today was the day! Denied entry and sent packing back to England.

I had a tourist visa (issued in England)

A brand new passport

More than enough cash on me

And a return flight

I’ve been in and out of Thailand for 2 years on various visas. (Mostly tourist and a non b)

Heading back to get an education visa and hoping being denied entry on my tourist visa won’t cause an issue when I return.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user shared their experience of being denied entry to Thailand on a tourist visa despite holding a valid visa, sufficient funds, and a return flight. They have been traveling to Thailand for two years on various visas and plan to apply for an education visa upon returning. Comments from the community discussed potential reasons for the denial, such as the frequency of previous stays on tourist visas and suggested alternative entry points.
Tod *********
thanx for the update (y)

Sorry to have heard you were denied entry..

Good Luck
Luke ******
Hey James. Thanks for sharing the story so far.

I noticed a previous post of yours from April

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You were on an extension of stay that was valid until December 2019, but you stated that your WP got cancelled, therefore it made the extension invalid.

That thread was closed, so no further updates on the situation.

My question is: between April and the time you left to the UK, did you continue to stay on that extension of stay or left the country on the date of the WP being cancelled and continued with tourist visas / visa exempt on the old passport?
Steve *********
@E**
, add that to the open fakebook profile, immigration is far from stupid.
Steve *********
The plot thickens, seriously thickens. 🤔
Jon **********
Haha im nervous now. This is me in a couple of weeks. Coming back for a 2 week holiday after 4 months away 😬
Rohan ****
@Jon *********
same situation as me but I was on a legit Non O before. Getting a single entry tourist visa and hopefully flying into Krabi mitigates any risks.
Alex *****
may i ask where did you stay mostly during your two previous years in thailand and where did you do your visa extensions if any ? from my observatins of people complaining in this group i have an hypothesis that if the answer is bangkok that they are suspecting you of illegal work, and that people who stick to other places in thailand have less often this problem.
Tero ************
Open FB -profile saying "living in rayong" same time when coming as tourist. BIG NO
Chantal *******
This is true- They were on my FB when I got my marriage visa and even messaged me 😂 sorry to hear it was my nightmare before I got this visa - so much better now 😅
Robin **********
Robin **********
Big red flags 🚩
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robin *********
absolutely no chance they check your Facebook page. The rather large printout of every single one of my in and outs (which included land crossings) was the issue! I’ll be back Monday. Just a a pain doing the journey ✈️
Robin **********
They must check your Facebook because it has you’re history all over it, Also says you live here you need to be more careful what you put on fB.
Billy *********
Wow sorry to hear that.
Dan *******
That's crazy, as if they don't want your western tourist monies
Michael ********
@Dan *********
He is not a tourist ;)
Jason ***********
I know it's too late now, but I'll write it in case any other group members don't know: Don't take a long-haul flight to Thailand if you have history of living in Thailand on tourist visas and visa exemptions.
Kenny *******
Excuse me if Ive missed the answer to my question here.

But ,what were the reasons for denying entry?
Michael ***************
you have been on tourist visa - and you Last Post in FB was you fly „Home“ to Bangkok - you may see where the problem is...
Eze ********
Which airline did you fly in on? Do they fly to anywhere else in the region? If so have you asked to go elsewhere?
Ricky ********
@Eze *******
evia air
Sam *************
How did you get the new ticket - did they let you walk out to an airline office and check in again without your passport? And what about your luggage, it would be on the luggage belt behind immigration..?
Lewis *********
Was this a multi entry or single? Are you able to talk with the airline directly and let them know you wish to fly somewhere closer? Are they asking you to pay for the ticket?
KC ****
Sorry to hear that but your experience can call attention to a crowd of people here. Please keep update.
Ross ******
So are they insisting you fly back to the UK? Can’t you opt to fly elsewhere like KL?
Ivan ************
They usually send people where they came from, if they can legally re-enter there. It sounds like he was coming from London though. I believe it's primarily down the airline where you can go.
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I fly with Eva air
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ross *****
yeah no choice in it, i was even happy to leave Asia... I said ok I’ll go to America and they were just having none of it
Jon **********
Sorry to hear this, all sounds a bit stressful, and expensive. How long was you out of Thailand?
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yeah they printed out my history looked like a novel lol
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jon *********
extremely stressful. I was only back in the Uk for a couple of weeks. I knew there was always a chance of it happening I have been abusing the system, but had every intention of sticking a long term visa in this fresh passport. Bad timing
Ryan ******
Amazing Thailand 🙄
Nathan *******
Did u get your passport back yet
Robert *******
he will get his passport after landing from the crew
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nathan ******
not yet, I’ve got a feeling they’ve handed it straight to the airline
Ron *******
Will be interesting to see if the London E visa system will issue a visa with a denial of entry stamp in your passport.

I'm not aware of anybody that has tried that one
Robert *******
just to sound crazy. Proof of funds to show 20.000 Thb. Tourist Visa 60 days, Extension of Stay 30 days but cost 1.900 Thb. Need money left to leave the country after 90 days, lets say 3.100 Thb ( no visa cost of neighbor country, new visa 2.000 Thb so really low budget tours). So 15.000 Thb for 90 days makes 166.66 Thb a day. I know the numbers are already doubled by Immigration but those who claim they can fund their stay including room, food etc inside Thailand with a budget of 166.66 Thb a day, may contact me to explain.
Rob ********
I stayed for a month and a half with no money after my wallet got stolen, but I was living off my uncle who lives in Thailand so probably not applicable to most other people 😂
Evgeniya *************
By airplane.
Evgeniya *************
In my language school advised me go from Kuala Lumpur to Huahin. I had a lot of visas and stamps. They even did not ask money and ticket from me
Evgeniya *************
@Benjamin *****
yes, Hua Hin airport is very small . And they have only flight to Kuala Lumpur and back. One time a day. So, 2 flights a day. One to Hua Hin, another from Hua Hin. They do not have even domestic flights in Hua Hin airport
Evgeniya *************
Do not go to Bangkok airports. U should go to Kuala Lumpur. From Kuala Lumpur go to Huahin
David ********
Or Surat Thani from KL with AirAsia
James ********
Frankly speaking, you most likely will also be denied entry even with a new Ed Visa from your home country.
Jan **********
or fly into chiangmai
James ********
Yes...you can try to enter ...by border land crossing with your current visa. Carefully choose the border. And you may wish to ask advice of our
@Amornrat *********
...Good Luck
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
It was kind of the plan anyway but I got a tourist visa for ease so I had time to sort it all out
James ********
@James ******
do you have a job offer for the NonB ?
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
So you think non b would be my best bet? I was going to get Ed visa for ease but I can get a non b
James ********
@James ******
and I still think you will be questioned again as you were today. You have been living in Thailand too long as your history shows. Now, if you are lucky enough to find that Immigration Officer upon your next arrival...😉
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
immigration officer said that I’ve been in Thailand too long without a long term visa, said if I come back on an education visa or a non b wouldn’t be an issue - but he is just one person
Robert *******
if you are denied entry your visa must still be valid because you did not use it. If you want a new visa you have to wait at least the three months or until the valid until date mentioned on the visa
Bill *******
Or try entering again from somewhere else? If the visa is still valid
Robert *******
And what was the reason as stamped in your passport for denied entry?
Baz **********
Did they provide any reason at all?
James *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
They haven’t given my passport back to me yet. My return flight isn’t until 1pm tomorrow
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