Land of smiles? Not at BKK Suvarnabhumi airport.

History;

2023- 1 x visit of 28 days and 1 visit on VISA for 56 days.

2024- 2 visits of 29 days

2025- decide to travel around Asia for 6 months. Arrive BKK 28/1. 2 months visa exempt and 1 month extension. Visited many cities and places. Then flew to Cambodia and Vietnam for 2 months as never been before.

25/6 - fly back to BKK. TDAC all completed, flight to Europe on 22 July, so less than 1 month.

Immigration woman told me I will not be allowed entry. I asked why not, she said you've just done a border bounce and you're not a tourist! ( border bounce for 2 months lol)

No. No entry. So she called a supervisor, who saw my visas etc for cambodia and Vietnam. Showed him a list of cities and places i had visited, and my return flight to Europe. He asked why i had extended before and i told him honestly, i was going to visit the south chumphon and Hat Yai. He agreed that I was a tourist, and told the woman immigration officer to let me in. He then left.

Her face was like thunder, you could see the anger in her face.

As she returned my passport she said, you're not allowed in Thailand again without a visa!

I know it's IO decision, but with my history and never a border bounce, I find her attitude and decision harsh? Any views welcomed , especially as the amount of people who abuse the V.E and border bounce regularly. Maybe it's these abusers, ruining it for genuine travellers

Has anyone had any issues coming through Suvarnabhumi Airport immigration on a DTV Soft Power asking questions about recent Muay Thai recent classes and asking for proof ?

Anyone received their visa today from Hanoi?

Just arrived at dmk

Immigration ask you have dtv. I said “Yes”

Stamp 180 days and go.

Easy as 123

Hello I just got appointment for the interview. If everything is going well. How long i need to wait after interview to receive approval ? (i am in vientiane, but all ears about others experience)

Just came back to Thailand from Cambodia on my new DTV. Some might be interested as I was on ED visa previously.

I applied as a freelancer. Provided business registration, contract with my main client (translated in english), 6 month of invoices for this client (in english) 6 month of bank statements with highlighted payments from this client, and 6 month of saving accounts statements with the required funds. As a reference, my income is low, few hundred euros per month, but steady.

Also added an export of my linkedin profile in english, a capture of my profesional website, and a letter stating my expertise and current activities.

It took exactly 10 business days for me to get approved, not counting the day I submitted. Went to pending approval on day 2. Got approved on business day 11, late afternoon. No update in the middle whatsoever.

Printed my DTV. Came back the day after through DMK (not BKK). Paid extra for fast pass as some here suggested it might be smoother.

Handed my passport to the (female) officer (some seem to think it makes a difference) with printed DTV.

She did not mention at all my ED visa current extension and related stamp of re-entry permit. She did not try to test my thai language.

Just asked me what I was doing, I said I work online for a company in my country. She asked if I got the money in my country. I said yes.

She checked some kind of unidentified logbook, then proceeded to stamp me in for 6 month.

Finally free from the ED golden cage, at least until immigration starts not liking DTV for some random reason🙏

Any question let me know, and good luck everyone 🤞

Just did my first reentry into the country since getting my DTV. My 180 days weren't up yet but I had a trip planned. I flew in from Tokyo, I was a bit nervous but immigration was a breeze. I'm on muay thai soft power and nobody made me do a spinning back kick before stamping me in! Happy to be back in the heat and back to training.

UPDATE! Got my DTV stamp as soon as I arrived in Thailand Monday, here’s the full rundown:

Got approved from Hanoi (took 5 working days) via the E visa system. (Muay Thai soft power)

Arrived to Don Mueang International airport on Monday the lady at immigration greeted me with a smile when I told her I have the DTV visa.

Showed her it on my phone within a minute she stamped my passport and I was let in no questions asked.

Love you Thailand ❤️🇹🇭

I have been to thailand 10 times in last 22 months . I usually stay a month and leave then come back after a month or so. I always worry next time immigration will ask me too many questions or stop me. How many times can a person fly in and use visa exempt stamp

Just my input given that no two pieces of advice seem to be the same. Arrived BKK yesterday. Average wait, maybe 25 minutes, but everyone marshalled into lines efficiently. Travelling with my partner (English female) and staying in Thailand for six weeks.both of us fingerprinted and photographed (standard) not a single question asked about return tickets, accommodation or anything. The guy didn’t speak at all to me. My UK passport had two stamps in and out of Thailand this year, my partners had one. My passport has probably 20 in and out stamps over an 8 year period with good gaps between. No issues at all and given 60 day Visa exempt. Conversely the guy at the booth next to me (older English guy in flip flops and shorts) was grilled. Where you staying, how long, why you come here again etc, while flicking through his passport. His answer was ‘I love your country and ok I have a few visa exempt stamps this year but I love Thailand’, going to Samui, staying 2 weeks and so on. Asked for proof of accommodation for 14 days but he didn’t have it. Didn’t wash with the IO, who called her supervisor who then led him away saying ‘don’t worry’. He got in as I saw him on the other side but it’s definitely tougher than it used to be, long story short the general consensus here is bang on, look like you’re trying to live here on visa exempts and they are looking at you carefully. In and out three or even four times a year regardless of stay but lengthy gaps in between you’re fine. I know I’m here on a long holiday, and the authorities needed no convincing but the other guy was clearly bucking the system and they were on him. They ain’t daft, if you know you’re trying it on, they probably do too.