Parker2100

LOL. In Thailand? He picked the WRRRRRONG place. OMG to many of the new SEA visitors after the Pandemic know nothing about what they are getting into! Back when I started coming in 2016 ( yeah, the old'n days), there where a lot of YouTube Vloggers that told you what you could and couldn't do (and they Gray Areas). Because YouTube does not want to pay for that anymore, they are harder to find.

They are being pressured to be more difficult on people with Dreadlocks and wearing Cargo shorts. Seriously, the only this the Immigration Officers can do it make a big show of being a hardass to prove to the bosses that they are being more diligent.

In my experience with Thai Immigration, what they will do it profile tourists at the port of entry based on hairstyle and whether or not they are wearing flip-flops or short pants. 'Yep! He looks like a criminal'

All countries have access to the Interpol Database of international wanted criminals. But that isn't people who have committed petty offense in the past, in their home country.

They are not checking criminal records in the home country. They are just broadly making it harder for everyone else.

Yes, that is how Immigration works in Thailand.

I don't disagree with the sentiment but Thai Immigration will interpret this as 'make it harder for foreigners to enter and be extra suspicious' Not sure how these new measures would have prevented the Swiss and NZ foreigner incidents. Btw, I have seen a man from China attack airport police as well hearing similar stories about other Chinese, Indians, and Russians. No fuss was made about that. The Chinese man was even helped book another flight and wasn't even punished. But Non-Russian Westerners make Westerners look bad and they have to crack down! Same Same

I still believe the woman. I have experienced such problems at Don Muang with Immigration. Everybody comes in Individually. They don't process a couple together. So, showing a picture of her alone just after getting past the Immigration desk means nothing.

How is an Interior Minister raiding nightclubs?

I have an idea. Since there are to many Immigration Officers who have nothing better to do that make problems, send them to patrol the streets! No need for Chinese police. Everybody is happy!!!

Draft Dodger? Maybe his Visa was running out and he figures a Thai Jail is better that being sent to the Ukraine front.

Just happy it was not Americans.

Having a bus ticket to Laos for exit got me in trouble once. Not because it was wrong. It was because a cheap ticket out when arrive by air in is suspicious. You shouldn't have an inexpensive exit ticket when you arrive.

Yes, they should exempt people who have their own International Insurance. This has come up before and they insisted it HAS to be a Thai Insurance company. Because...well... Thailand. Yeah, they are just strangling there own tourism industry. But hey it is their country! After the effects of about 10 years of this, they will be the most open tourism spot in the world. Or... Myanmar-Like They will do what they will do.

On the first or second Visa it usually is easy. After, that "It is like a box of chocolates. You never know what your gonna get" Even on the first visit, they reserve the discretion to deny entry just because they don't like the way you look, or dress.

It would obviously be before you get past Immigration. Btw, the original plan years ago, was just tack a 200 Baht fee to your airplane ticket.

Even if you think you are doing everything correctly, you never really know, in Thailand, anymore.

I don't recall any exorbitant exit fees from Cambodia. But I do remember the crazy Flat-Rate Hotel Tax in Malaysia that cost more than my room at the Hostel I was staying.

I fail to see a connection between the two events. I understand that tsome in yhe government(s) have wanted to impose this fee for a long time before but this event is a poor excuse to do so. I am actually in favor of a fee to reimburse Thailand for medical costs incurred during normal tourism. It may help relieve some of the occasional hostility expressed by some Immigration Officers who behave as if repeat tourism is an unwelcome burden on Thailand.

I believe the original discussion was about extending Visas (ot stamps?) to 90 days. I have done the 60+30. But there is a limit.

Depends on the scheduling og the connecting flights. If you pay top dollar, sure. But my flights usually have two connecting flights. And I prefer sufficient time in-between connections in case one is late or cancelled. Still, if you are lucky enough to have 3 week to a month of vacation time. Is paying a couple grand to fly halfway around the world going to be the first choice of most tourists?

It may well be a slimer "Majority" than you think. Working class people, who currently have a job, usually don't have time to fly halfway across the planet to spend 3 or 4 week in Thailand. That is 5 days of travel to & from the United States alone.

Sounds fine to me. When they have a 90 day tourist Visa I may do that. It was you that said people don't need more than 3 or 4 weeks vacation. That is wrong. You are thinking of only one category of people. What about people who work remotely or people whose income comes from Investment or pention? They have to pay-up to "Live" in Thailand or spend their cash elsewhere (which I do). There is no in-between in Thailand, currently.

Ummm...retired people who don't want to live in Thailand take long vacations. And they generally have sufficient income. I am one of those. Why do I want to put all that money in a Thai Bank if I can spend 90 days in Thailand, 90 days in Malaysia, and wherever the Hell else I want? Buying into a long-term scheme in Thailand means I intend to stay in Thailand. I don't!

I seem to remember that Tourist Visas were 60 days, not 30. It is the stamp that is 30 days.