SP55 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 16, 2025 7:50 pmBut I am not surprised at all that people have had enough of high flight prices and the Thai government's constant changes of visas, visa exempts and bs with taxes and refusing entrance to people who "come too much" etc etc.
This is quite important.
Do you know of people who have had entrance refused? And if so, after spending how much of the year in Thailand?
I and at least one other board member have been accused of "coming too much" and questioned at DMK. We were both under 6 months per year. In my case, it was just the second entry into Thailand in the last 12 months. A great way to scare off tourists.
I don't like the way they give the immigration staff discretion. That means they can question tourists for no good reason. With a theoretical risk of entry being denied, or a shakedown.
At the same time, immigration staff at certain borders allow people to reside here almost permanently, in return for tea money.
Jun wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 12:07 pm
I and at least one other board member have been accused of "coming too much" and questioned at DMK.
I'd like you to elaborate on that. Who said that, the guy checking your passport? What did he actually say and what was your response? Then what did he say?
At any point did you think he might refuse you entry? If he had, what could you do then?
Gaybutton wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 12:25 pm
What did he actually say and what was your response? Then what did he say?
At any point did you think he might refuse you entry? If he had, what could you do then?
It was a she, at the passport desk. Definitely not promoting the Land of Smiles image. I was accused of coming here a lot and she asked about 3 or 4 questions, then she stamped me in.
I had spent under 4 of the previous 12 months here. So that's certainly nowhere near residing here.
I gather the other board member got more of a grilling. Also at DMK. I've not yet had a problem at BKK.
I had understood that we should only expect problems after persistently staying here for more than 6 months per year. But giving immigration officers discretion is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house. Some will go after the tea money.
I'm more interested in SP55's reference to people who have been denied entry and where the line was actually drawn.
The internet is full of stories of persons denied entry with the strange motivation "You come too much!". As we know in Thailand there are no clear rules of what is "too much", it is all up to the grumpy immigration officer.
I myself was denied a tourist visa in the thai embassy in Laos without any explanation at all. The rude embassy clerk just told me "You can go back to your country!" like he thought he could decide that. Of course many other countries were very happy to welcome me and my money so I had hundreds of countries to chose from and did not need to follow his orders to go back to my country. This is how stupid the thai immigration politics are. They want tourists, but not "too much".
SP55 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 18, 2025 3:45 am
The rude embassy clerk just told me "You can go back to your country!"
That is incredible. I wonder if the higher-ups in immigration are aware some of their officers are doing this - for no logical reason, or if this is immigration policy. I would have thought a country hungry for tourists and complaining about low tourist numbers would welcome with open arms people who keep coming back. Instead people who are no higher on the totem pole than clerks are assuming "frequent fliers" must be up to no good and are denying them entry or otherwise harassing them.
A few years before my retirement I was sitting in my office in Chicago and received an e:mail message from the Thai Embassy in Washington DC. telling me there was a concern regarding the tourist visa request I had sent them a few weeks earlier. Note that I had sent them my passport and other documents needed for my tourist visa the same as I had been doing for nearly 15 consecutive years (30 holidays).
I was provided a phone number and asked to call them.
A pleasant sounding Thai woman answered the phone and told me they were concerned about the number of times I visited Thailand every year (2) and the duration of my stays (3 months) - because it appeared as if I was working in Thailand. That was their concern.
After explaining to her that I was self-employed in the U.S....free to take as many holidays that I wanted and had the financial freedom to do so. I also told her that I planned to retire in Thailand in a few years time. She was very polite...asked me to write everything I told her in a letter and to send it to her ASAP. My visa was approved a few days later...mailed back to my home address as always...and I was good to go.
This put a shock-wave through me so I decided to just get an O-A retirement visa earlier than planned and be done with it. I already had a 12 month lease on an apartment in Pattaya - so getting a Residents Certificate was easy...put some additional money in my Thai saving account...and was approved for an O-A visa which I obtained in the U.S. which I still carry today.
I really think those airport immigration agents are all bark and no bite. At least I've never heard of anyone being refused entry just because they come here a lot.
Dodger wrote: ↑Wed Jun 18, 2025 9:33 am
I really think those airport immigration agents are all bark and no bite. At least I've never heard of anyone being refused entry just because they come here a lot.
That's the part that bothers me - the fact they are "barking" at all. Until very recently I've never heard of anyone being questioned about how often they go to Thailand. And since apparently more than just one or two agents are doing this, then I believe someone higher up has instructed them to do this. I don't like the idea that some of these agents could suspect someone is doing something illegal simply based on the number of trips to Thailand. I would have thought it would be just the opposite and appropriate for the immigration agents to thank people for choosing Thailand so often.
If people are assumed to be engaged in some sort of wrongdoing, at least have some kind of evidence of it. The number and frequency of visits constitutes evidence of wrongdoing? That's a new one.
Dodger wrote: ↑Wed Jun 18, 2025 9:33 amI really think those airport immigration agents are all bark and no bite. At least I've never heard of anyone being refused entry just because they come here a lot.
Neither had I, but we have just heard they refused SP55 a visa in Vientiane.
SP55 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 18, 2025 3:45 am
The internet is full of stories of persons denied entry with the strange motivation "You come too much!". As we know in Thailand there are no clear rules of what is "too much", it is all up to the grumpy immigration officer.
I myself was denied a tourist visa in the thai embassy in Laos without any explanation at all. The rude embassy clerk just told me "You can go back to your country!" like he thought he could decide that.
How much of the year had you been spending in Thailand?
I'd heard of people persistently spending more than 6 months a year here being questioned. Which seems like a reasonable cut off.
Now, if I were to spend more than 6 months per year here, I'd get a retirement visa. However, for anything less than that, I'd rather not, due to all the totally pointless address reports and idiotic re-entry permits.
If they're starting to harass people spending less than 6 months a year here, that's worth watching.
I visit Thailand twice a year…three months in the winter and 6 weeks in the summer.
I have been going to Cambodia during the winter visit to extend the 60 days allowed. I also went with some friends in the summer just for the fun of it.
Consequently I have a passport full of stamps!
Last time I returned to Thailand from Cambodia I was stopped and questioned. The guy got the boss to come and he asked how long I was staying. The was at Don Muang and they let me in.
Today I arrived at Swampy for my 6 week summer trip and was questioned again about how long I was staying. The guy spent about 10 minutes looking through all my stamps. He then asked for evidence of my departure in 6 weeks time and I showed him the booking email from Emirates. Never known that before.
gerefan wrote: ↑Wed Jun 18, 2025 8:03 pm
...... He then asked for evidence of my departure in 6 weeks time and I showed him the booking email from Emirates. Never known that before.
Now that is a first.
I remember reading somewhere years ago that proof of a return airline ticket was required for tourists coming to Thailand - but I was never once asked to show this, nor have I ever heard of them requesting to see this until now.
Either things are just tightening up in general - or these airport immigration agents have too much time on their hands.
In any event, thanks for sharing that.
Most importantly... enjoy your holiday to the max!
