Visa hassle-almost disaster

[windsors420]

In mid January I arrived in Thailand on a 30-day Visa.  (USA Citizen)I extended it at Jomtien immigration for another 30 days. Then I went to the Philippines for 32 and returned to Thailand with a confirmed return airline ticket for May 10th.

When through immigration I was stopped and put through the ringer. First the young woman asked why was coming to Thailand and noticed the Jomtien extension. She harshly demanded evidence of my return ticket which I showed her from Agoda. quizzed  me on the hotels I'm staying at. I showed her one night in Bangkok and then eight nights in Cha-am . She did not like that I did not book my entire trip and told her I planned to stay in jomtien but I was not sure which hotel because I wanted to avoid  New Year's parties. She discussed with the woman next to her, and then called the supervisor. 

The supervisor brought me to a table where  I was questioned why I didn't have a 60-day Visa and why I don't have a retirement Visa. Let's just say I was quaking in my boots. I thought that I would have no problem because I have not spent 6 months in Thailand over a year.. since I was out of the country for more than a month I thought there would be no problem for another 30 days. Was I put through the ringer because the young woman  in immigration that started this nightmare was a trainee ?Should this be something that I should worry about in the future.? If I extend a 30-day Visa in the future does that mean I'm done and can't return to Thailand for another 30 days while I'm wandering around Southeast Asia?

To say that I'm pissed about this is an understatement. Sure they have a right to control the borders of their country, but at this point after the way I was treated I don't think that possible retirement Visa I had in mind is in my future. I'm willing to deal with bureaucracy but today's experience has really put a damper on my post pandemic enjoyment of visiting Thailand. Should I just chalk this up to bad luck and treat it like water off a duck's back? One of the things I really enjoy about Thailand is just getting on a plane and getting a 30-day Visa automatically with my plane ticket and having the option of extending my trip. I always make sure I have a return airline ticket to show a fact, which in more than 20 years has never happened to me

 

 

[momo5]

Just to be clear, you didn’t have a 30-day visa to begin with.  You entered Thailand under the visa exempt scheme with 30 days allowable stay which you extended another 30 days. 
 

Don’t really understand why you had the issue you did at immigration.  Some on here swear to good female immigration officers, but I’ve never been treated any differently.  I’ve never done for more then 15 days at a time, but I do make frequent trips averaging 4 days at a time, sometimes with a few weeks in between, but never been questioned about it. 

[FROST MEDIC999]

Other Posters have said they to avoid Female Staff, as they seem to be more zealous and seemingly pick fault, or make things as hard as possible for a Traveller.

Only time I got pulled and took away was with a Female, and since then avoid them even when going out again.

When I was pulled I could understand when she yaked to another Female, I let her run on then in Thai requested she bring her supervisor. Her face was a picture as it sank in I knew roughly what had been said.

Long story short, I was then taken to a room the supervisor (Male ) apologise profusely then got flustered,as I made my annoyance quite clear. He then offered me a drink excuse himself came back with a filled in sheet of paper and personally escorted me to a Taxi.

Now when checking in my hotel i realised i had NO STAMP and still the landing card with stub attached. Oh Fuck thought i.

hotel was given by me the paper supervisor gave me looked at it said all ok and booked me in as did other hotels during the Month.

I asked what paperwork said and basically I seemed to have a free ride whilst over.

When I left I handed Passport and Paperwork to departing Officers had a salute of all things and sailed through.

I have entered numerous times since last Year 8 times and touch wood all ok.

Best advice swerve the Women

[Gonetothedogs]

22 minutes ago, windsors420 said:

In mid January I arrived in Thailand on a 30-day Visa.  (USA Citizen)I extended it at Jomtien immigration for another 30 days. Then I went to the Philippines for 32 and returned to Thailand with a confirmed return airline ticket for May 10th.

When through immigration I was stopped and put through the ringer. First the young woman asked why was coming to Thailand and noticed the Jomtien extension. She harshly demanded evidence of my return ticket which I showed her from Agoda. quizzed  me on the hotels I'm staying at. I showed her one night in Bangkok and then eight nights in Cha-am . She did not like that I did not book my entire trip and told her I planned to stay in jomtien but I was not sure which hotel because I wanted to avoid  New Year's parties. She discussed with the woman next to her, and then called the supervisor. 

The supervisor brought me to a table where  I was questioned why I didn't have a 60-day Visa and why I don't have a retirement Visa. Let's just say I was quaking in my boots. I thought that I would have no problem because I have not spent 6 months in Thailand over a year.. since I was out of the country for more than a month I thought there would be no problem for another 30 days. Was I put through the ringer because the young woman  in immigration that started this nightmare was a trainee ?Should this be something that I should worry about in the future.? If I extend a 30-day Visa in the future does that mean I'm done and can't return to Thailand for another 30 days while I'm wandering around Southeast Asia?

To say that I'm pissed about this is an understatement. Sure they have a right to control the borders of their country, but at this point after the way I was treated I don't think that possible retirement Visa I had in mind is in my future. I'm willing to deal with bureaucracy but today's experience has really put a damper on my post pandemic enjoyment of visiting Thailand. Should I just chalk this up to bad luck and treat it like water off a duck's back? One of the things I really enjoy about Thailand is just getting on a plane and getting a 30-day Visa automatically with my plane ticket and having the option of extending my trip. I always make sure I have a return airline ticket to show a fact, which in more than 20 years has never happened to me

 

 

It’s been happening more frequently these days. If you have an onward / return ticket then you are very unlikely to be refused entry. Try entering through Phuket next time 

[Ohyesuare]

1 hour ago, windsors420 said:

In mid January I arrived in Thailand on a 30-day Visa.  (USA Citizen)I extended it at Jomtien immigration for another 30 days. Then I went to the Philippines for 32 and returned to Thailand with a confirmed return airline ticket for May 10th.

When through immigration I was stopped and put through the ringer. First the young woman asked why was coming to Thailand and noticed the Jomtien extension. She harshly demanded evidence of my return ticket which I showed her from Agoda. quizzed  me on the hotels I'm staying at. I showed her one night in Bangkok and then eight nights in Cha-am . She did not like that I did not book my entire trip and told her I planned to stay in jomtien but I was not sure which hotel because I wanted to avoid  New Year's parties. She discussed with the woman next to her, and then called the supervisor. 

The supervisor brought me to a table where  I was questioned why I didn't have a 60-day Visa and why I don't have a retirement Visa. Let's just say I was quaking in my boots. I thought that I would have no problem because I have not spent 6 months in Thailand over a year.. since I was out of the country for more than a month I thought there would be no problem for another 30 days. Was I put through the ringer because the young woman  in immigration that started this nightmare was a trainee ?Should this be something that I should worry about in the future.? If I extend a 30-day Visa in the future does that mean I'm done and can't return to Thailand for another 30 days while I'm wandering around Southeast Asia?

To say that I'm pissed about this is an understatement. Sure they have a right to control the borders of their country, but at this point after the way I was treated I don't think that possible retirement Visa I had in mind is in my future. I'm willing to deal with bureaucracy but today's experience has really put a damper on my post pandemic enjoyment of visiting Thailand. Should I just chalk this up to bad luck and treat it like water off a duck's back? One of the things I really enjoy about Thailand is just getting on a plane and getting a 30-day Visa automatically with my plane ticket and having the option of extending my trip. I always make sure I have a return airline ticket to show a fact, which in more than 20 years has never happened to me

 

 

Sounds like just bad luck getting an officer in a bad mood. They are also being told to crack down on foreigners lately because of the high profile fuckups of a few bad apples.

You did absolutely nothing wrong. Spending a month out of the country after extending was good. Not sure why they are asking about 60 day visas or retirement visas if you are just a tourist traveling around Asia.

Like you said, first time in 20 years. Next time just have a hotel/accommodation booked for your full stay, even if it's tentative or refundable. No reason to be quaking in your boots or worried since you are doing nothing wrong. 

[Bruce Mangosteen]

The Thai government wants you to have a visa if you plan to spend more than the exempt period plus the one extension you're entitled to.  They've been getting increasingly strict about this, but it's up to the individual officer how stringent he or she wants to be.  

Assuming there's nothing more to your story, especially something that would have raised a flag with them, I don't think it's more complicated than that.

[Samadezp]

I had a very similar experience at the DMK Airport.
I was on Tourist Visa (60d) plus Extension (30d). I left Thailand and stayed away for 2 weeks.
When I came back to Thailand I was questioned at the airport by the female immigration officer.
She wanted to know why I'm coming back to Thailand, I had to show my Onward ticket and she then informed me that I cannot apply for another extension (which I did anyway 😉 ) and that I have to leave the country within the next 30 days.

In future I plan to avoid female officers 😉

[Roadglide]

It's pretty simple, they thought you were trying to bounce in and out of the country to avoid following Thailands immigration laws.  

[Stillearly]

I had similar in March , I spent 27 days in Thailand , then went to Phnom Penh for eight days , I was returning to Thailand for 20 days ... the lady at immigration asked how long I was staying , where I was staying and wanted to see my hotel booking ... she made notes on the computer from the info I gave her .. she asked my occupation ( retired )  and why I didn't have a retirement visa and also asked if I had a Thai wife 5555.... answered all her questions and she eventually stamped me in ... 

next couple of trips I'm going to do a two month e-visa and not bother leaving the country 

[KyleReading]

Yes been a few threads elsewhere on Asean over avoiding female immigration officers

Thailand seems to be veering towards people have either SETV or Multiple entry visas as opposed to letting people in willy nilly on visa exempt entries

Clearly thats fine if you have occasional entries but repeated entries are attracting attention it seems

[Thomaz73]

1 hour ago, KyleReading said:

Yes been a few threads elsewhere on Asean over avoiding female immigration officers

Thailand seems to be veering towards people have either SETV or Multiple entry visas as opposed to letting people in willy nilly on visa exempt entries

Clearly thats fine if you have occasional entries but repeated entries are attracting attention it seems

Happens with visas too. I was lucky to be able to do it for 4 years. But I know many people who have been grilled. And even a few refused. That's why I went Elite a while back.

[ZRHuser]

On 20/04/2024 at 14:01, Samadezp said:

I had a very similar experience at the DMK Airport.

DMK has a bad reputation. When ever possible its better to use Swampy. That said, when you stay longer then 30 days, a 60 day Visa is cheaper then to come in Visa exempt and then extend that one by 30 days. 

[Joeleg]

There always the risk albeit minor when they start enforcing the use of the right visa. Not just Thailand but countries where things such as Visa runs are common. 

 

[KyleReading]

25 minutes ago, ZRHuser said:

DMK has a bad reputation. When ever possible its better to use Swampy. That said, when you stay longer then 30 days, a 60 day Visa is cheaper then to come in Visa exempt and then extend that one by 30 days. 

Yep out of UK its £30 and very easy to do once registered on website

Its a minimum of 1900 Baht if you do it yourself and a day lost to immigration queues or 4000 all up if you use an agent

Far better to get those 60 days in advance

[Hissého]

On 12/04/2024 at 17:59, FROST MEDIC999 said:

Other Posters have said they to avoid Female Staff, as they seem to be more zealous and seemingly pick fault, or make things as hard as possible for a Traveller...

 

Always stunned by internet generalizations. 😧

[manni2011]

On 12/04/2024 at 07:56, Bruce Mangosteen said:

The Thai government wants you to have a visa if you plan to spend more than the exempt period plus the one extension you're entitled to

To clarify, you are not  ‘entitled’ to the extension.  The extension is at the discretion of the immigration officer. They can refuse it, occasionally with little apparent reason.  

Edited April 21 by manni2011

[Bruce Mangosteen]

[FROST MEDIC999]

3 hours ago, Hissého said:

Always stunned by internet generalizations. 😧

And yet most Bm's report issues concerning Female Staff 

[Kandinski]

Overheard a conversation at the visa agent between a couple of roughnecks  that any travel pattern resampling an O&G schedule are likely to raise the flag at IM sooner or later. Can't comment if correct.

[paulalbert1980]

How do I get the 30 day extension on my Visa so for a stay of 60 days? Is it done before you arrive online or would there be any issue or hassle with landing on a 30 day tourist visa then extending it while in Pattaya for an additional 30 days at an immigration office?

[KyleReading]

30 minutes ago, paulalbert1980 said:

How do I get the 30 day extension on my Visa so for a stay of 60 days? Is it done before you arrive online or would there be any issue or hassle with landing on a 30 day tourist visa then extending it while in Pattaya for an additional 30 days at an immigration office?

Tourist Visa is 60 days to start with

You're talking about the visa exempt entry I think (30 days) which can be extended by 30 days at the discretion of the Immigration Office (they normally are)

[Caine]

47 minutes ago, paulalbert1980 said:

How do I get the 30 day extension on my Visa so for a stay of 60 days? Is it done before you arrive online or would there be any issue or hassle with landing on a 30 day tourist visa then extending it while in Pattaya for an additional 30 days at an immigration office?

There's a guide to E Visa applications here

https://www.thaievisa.go.th/static/English-Manual.pdf