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Will I Face Difficulties Re-entering Thailand on a Tourist Visa After Previous ED and NON-B Visas?

Thai immigrationTourist visaED visaNON-B visaVisa rulesWorking holidayVisa scrutinyRe-entry concerns
Jul 16, 2023
a year ago
David ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Are Thai immigration officials at the airport getting tougher on letting people in? Since December 2021 I've had a tourist visa then went into a 12 month ED visa language course (with TSL, which was great) then found work and got a WP with a NON-B visa. I'm leaving this job shortly and would like to come back on a Tourist Visa. Will I have trouble getting back in? I do have a lot of stamps as a result of having these previous visas
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquires about potential challenges in re-entering Thailand on a Tourist Visa after holding an ED (Education) visa and a NON-B (Work) visa. Community responses highlight that individuals with a history of ED visas might face increased scrutiny when applying for entry on a Tourist Visa due to heightened caution from immigration officials following past visa scams. It is advised to prepare necessary documentation and proofs to avoid complications at the airport, and to be aware that the experience may vary significantly depending on the officer. Some users recommend canceling any work permits and visas in advance to smooth the re-entry process.
Eric *******
You won't have ANY problem at all.

You always followed the rules and had a proper visa while staying in the country.

Now coming on a visa exemption is still you following the rules, so no worries at all. And you can do it twice in a year of time.

I did it with no questions asked ever (in between and after 3 ED visas) and before applying for a Non-O visa that I got.
a year ago
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Chris *****
Pay for VIP with
@Thai *****************************
. I’ve used it twice now and it’s well worth the cost to avoid any headaches.
a year ago
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Darren ********************
@Chris ****
 How much did you pay for that? I sometimes do this via another agency so curious to compare prices.
a year ago
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Darren ********************
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Daniel ******
Avoid the women officers lil aggressive and nosy lol
a year ago
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Carsten ************
@Daniel *****
 Pitbulls
a year ago
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Carsten ************
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Charlie *******
Ive got a passport full of thai stamps. No issues yet
a year ago
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Paul *********
yes mate I got pulled up on my usual 1 month England 2 months Thailand. Guy was awful and would not listen to anything I had to say and made me buy a one way ticket out of Thailand on 30 days.
a year ago
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Chris *****
@Paul ********
 From all the stories I’ve read I’ve never come across one like this. Usually they decide there and then you’re not getting in and the only solution is a flight home or IDC.
a year ago
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Paul *********
@Chris ****
 true story mate and only happened last month. I got pulled up at the Booth and taken to a desk and I think the guy was just bored to be honest killing his last hour at work. I told him I was going to do the 30 day extension he said that's just for emergency. He wouldn't listen to any reason
a year ago
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Paul *********
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Prinze ******
Do not fogrget to cancel your workpermit and NON B Visa too before leaving. To avoid further questions or problems.
a year ago
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Frank **********
Stay home for a few months.
a year ago
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Steve ********
Do you have a proper Tourist Visa, or are you entering without a visa? Big difference
a year ago
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Steve ********
Another story of trying to enter without a visa

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a year ago
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Garrett ***********
@Steve *******
 What's the big difference?
a year ago
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Steve ********
@Garrett **********
 An embassy issued visa has more substance than a "turn up and hope for the best" approach. I thought you'd have known this, but you can learn something new every day! 👍
a year ago
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Garrett ***********
@Steve *******
 If they're going to deny you entry, it doesn't matter if you have a tourist visa or not.
a year ago
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Jim ********
@Garrett **********
 You'd better tell the immigration officers at Nong Khai of that. I was refused entry last year on visa exempt coming from Laos. They actually told me to go to Vientiane and get a tourist visa from the embassy. So I spent a pleasant few days in Vientiane, got the tourist visa, returned to Nong Khai, and was admitted to Thailand with no further issues.
a year ago
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Incognia **********
@Jim *******
 when u back to Laos how about Laos immigration?Did u get new one or they let u in with old visa?And how many days they let u in?
a year ago
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Rc *******
@Jim *******
 but seriously why should the different points of entry make a difference to the immigration process? I mean, shouldn't it be a standardized process for all points of entries? 🤔
a year ago
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Steve ********
@Rc ******
 If you think all borders operate to the same rules, you need to research Poipet! 😆. That's where my buddy was refused entry (along with hundreds of others over time). He was sent to Siem Reap Consulate told to get a tourist visa and to then fly into Thailand. It worked. They're all different
a year ago
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Rc *******
@Steve *******
 many countries operate to the same rules regardless of whichever point of entries.

My question was why Thailand does not stick to a standardized ruling for all its points of entry or is it because it's due to the different requirements from the respective neighboring countries?
a year ago
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Jay *******
@Rc ******
 the word standardized is not in the Thai dictionary 🤣
a year ago
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Frank **********
@Rc ******
 the Immigration Office's in Thailand aren't even following the same guidelines. They like to add their own little personal touch to the requirements lolol.
a year ago
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Rc *******
@Frank *********
 true
a year ago
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Steve ********
@Rc ******
 I can't answer that question. I just know from being here 23 years that just about every immigration officer, immigration office, and international border operates to their own rules. I'm surprised you're not aware of this. It's actually easier to understand women than it is Thai Immigration!
a year ago
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Rc *******
@Steve *******
 so true on the last part! 🤣
a year ago
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Jim ********
@Rc ******
 Haha! "Should" being the operative word! You have a lot to learn about Thai immigration!
a year ago
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Rc *******
@Jim *******
 haha.. i have been going in and out of Thailand for the past 50 years and I am from Malaysia.

Frankly speaking, even the Thai Immigration officers themselves can get confused with their own rulings but they just have to comply and obey the rulings and directives. 😅
a year ago
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Jim ********
@Rc ******
 I kind of guessed your question was more rhetorical than you wanting a straight answer. We all yearn for a consistent immigration department, but because of this "immigration officer" discretion it's never going to happen, and whilst large sums of money are changing hands between "agents" and government officials it's never going to change. I guess we can always hope the new government will reform the immigration department and put a stop to inconsistencies and corruption.
a year ago
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Rc *******
@Jim *******
 agree 👍
a year ago
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Steve ********
@Rc ******
 Actually the remark about women being easier to understand was made tongue in cheek. At least with Thai immigration there's a chance of a satisfactory result! 😆
a year ago
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Rc *******
@Steve *******
 understood clearly. 😅
a year ago
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Garrett ***********
@Jim *******
 Why were you refused entry?
a year ago
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Jim ********
@Garrett **********
 Refused because too many COVID extensions. They told me they believed I was not a tourist and was working in Thailand, and they wanted the embassy to decide.
a year ago
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Jim ********
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Roberto *********
You won't really know until you turn up here. You have to keep in mind that there were a lot of scams that went in during covid, such as bogus ED and Volunteer Visas, and the perennial "COVID extensions". Any of these on your record will potentially flag you for further investigation. Do as
@Brandon ***********
e suggests and make sure you've got the holy trinity. Immigration can use any of these to deny entry and send you back from whence you came!
a year ago
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Brandon ************
Pretty much anyone with an ED visa in their passport and entering without a long term visa is getting extra scrutiny. Prepare to be pulled aside and asked a lot of questions and make sure you have the 3 proofs.
a year ago
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Jonathan **************************
@Brandon ***********
 Hotel/hostel booking
a year ago
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David ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 20,000 baht plus proof of onward travel. What’s the other?
a year ago
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Pascal *****
@David *****
 fluent in thai language ☕
a year ago
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Roberto *********
@Asia ******
 Tourists don't usually speak fluent Thai
a year ago
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Have *******
@Roberto ********
 not allowed to come back to Thailand as a tourist if you previously learned the language and worked there 😂
a year ago
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Roberto *********
@Dave ******
 You obviously don't know much about Thailand 😂😂😂😂
a year ago
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Pascal *****
@Roberto ********
 after ED visa stamp, sometimes they check
a year ago
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Pascal *****
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Andi ***********
@David *****
 accommodation
a year ago
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David ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have an apartment t lease until November
a year ago
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Roberto *********
@David *****
 Having a long term lease in a tourism entry could raise some flags. Might be better off having a couple of nights hotel accommodation booked
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@David *****
 immigration is going to wonder why a tourist has a long term lease.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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