If visa application is denied, can I still enter Thailand to collect my belongings?

[asdfrules]

I'm planning to apply for an SETV in Vientiane in February.  But it seems they are getting stricter, and since I received a verbal red stamp at Savannakhet last week, I'm concerned I might have problems in Vientiane.  I'm considering just leaving Thailand forever and staying in Philippines or Vietnam instead.

 

So what happens if they don't give me the visa in Vientiane?  Will I be able to enter Thailand to at least collect my belongings from my apartment?  Or should I lug around my big suitcase in case I'm not allowed back in?

 

My current passport has 4 consecutive tourist visas.  No visa exempt entries.  My old passport had 1 visa exempt, followed by 1 or 2 SETVs before it got full and I had to get a new passport.  So if I don't get the SETV next time, maybe I could get a visa exempt for 30 days at the border?

 

I have 4 consecutive SETVs in my passport:

1. HCMC
2. Vientiane
3. Vientiane
4. Savannakhet

[ubonjoe]

I see no reason for you not to be able to get another tourist visa in Vientiane or HCMC. I don't think you would have any problem in Savannakhet as well.

If they did not accept your application there would be no reason for you to be denied entry to the country for it not being accepted.

[scubascuba3]

What's your nationality? How old are you?

[moontang]

The new calendar year, 2019, might reset some counters...others will know which ones.

[asdfrules]

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

What's your nationality? How old are you?

Oh sorry duh, I forgot to mention.  Canada.  Late 30s

 

6 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I see no reason for you not to be able to get another tourist visa in Vientiane or HCMC. I don't think you would have any problem in Savannakhet as well.

If they did not accept your application there would be no reason for you to be denied entry to the country for it not being accepted.

Thanks Joe.  So I can rest assured that even if denied the visa, I can still enter visa exempt.

Last week I got a verbal warning in Savannkhet.  He said "I give you visa this time but don't come back here again."  No warning stamp.

I'd actually prefer doing it at HCMC.  I thought they might not give me a second one, especially since I will already have 4 or 5 total in the passport.

[elviajero]

If you don’t have the red (blue) stamp you’ll probably get another visa from Vientiane. They rarely deny applications and usually issue a last visa with the stamp.

 

If you didn’t get the visa you would probably (no guarantee) still be given a 30 day visa exempt entry.

Edited December 7, 2018 by elviajero

[elviajero]

2 minutes ago, asdfrules said:

So I can rest assured that even if denied the visa, I can still enter visa exempt.

Given your long history of tourism you cannot be “assured” of anything.

 

As long as you have less than two visa exempt entries for the calendar year, in the current climate, you shouldn’t have a problem with visa exempt entry.

[kmw]

Wondering why dont you just fly back to Canada and get a metv? You can then stretch this out to 9 months, and possibly 12 months, I've been doing this for the last several years with no issues at immigration 

[asdfrules]

33 minutes ago, elviajero said:

If you don’t have the red (blue) stamp you’ll probably get another visa from Vientiane. They rarely deny applications and usually issue a last visa with the stamp.

 

If you didn’t get the visa you would probably (no guarantee) still be given a 30 day visa exempt entry.

 

29 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Given your long history of tourism you cannot be “assured” of anything.

 

As long as you have less than two visa exempt entries for the calendar year, in the current climate, you shouldn’t have a problem with visa exempt entry.

 

Okay good.  So "probably" I'll get a clean visa.  If not, then maybe a visa with red stamp.  If not, then maybe visa exempt.  I'm only screwed if I whiff on all 3 of those potentialities.

 

3 minutes ago, kmw said:

Wondering why dont you just fly back to Canada and get a metv? You can then stretch this out to 9 months, and possibly 12 months, I've been doing this for the last several years with no issues at immigration 

That's interesting.  Sounds expensive though.  I would actually prefer doing that so I can see my family more often.  But due to money stuff, I need cheaper options for the next while.

9 months and possibly 12?  How does that work?

I was unable to get a visa from the embassy in Canada last time because I planned to go from Canada, to Philippines for 3 months, before heading to Thailand.  So if I got before leaving Canada, it would have expired while I was still in the Philippines.

[scubascuba3]

Wondering why dont you just fly back to Canada and get a metv? You can then stretch this out to 9 months, and possibly 12 months, I've been doing this for the last several years with no issues at immigration 

How do you get 12 months? the max i get is just less than 9 months, depends how last minute you get the METV

[Briggsy]

Get a new passport and your visa history is disappeared as far as embassies and consulates are concerned. ????

[kmw]

Enter a few days prior the expiry, on the metv so that's 6 months plus 60 days, then extent the tr for another 30 days(1900 thb) then it's possible to extend another 90 days on a medical extension, bangkok hospital chiang can do this, the medical extension is 1900 thb but they charge in total 5000thb inc the 1900 ext fee, they do it all for you

[BritTim]

27 minutes ago, kmw said:

then it's possible to extend another 90 days on a medical extension, bangkok hospital chiang can do this, the medical extension is 1900 thb but they charge in total 5000thb inc the 1900 ext fee, they do it all for you

I must admit that I am a little out of sympathy with abusing the rules on medical extensions. There have been multiple credible reports of people who really need medical extensions being unable to get them, presumably because the immigration office suspects fraud. The scheme you describe may be one of the reasons why.

[kmw]

I think it depends on the hospital and doctor who applies for the medical extension with the immigration department, I've had no issues at all with bangkok hospital chiang mai, yes they over service and overcharge

 

I personally need to see my doctor at least once per month to obtain medication, as I've been here for about 4 years they understand that its financially easier and better for me to stay in Thailand, also not to mention the hospital financially gains as well, as we all know its generally a user pays system here, and I do feel sorry for people who may need a medical extension and were not able to obtain it.

[Danthai]

Can one get a long term visa to stay with permanent medical conditions and requiring permanent monthly treatment, sometimes twice a month. 

[JackThompson]

3 hours ago, asdfrules said:

Okay good.  So "probably" I'll get a clean visa.  If not, then maybe a visa with red stamp.  If not, then maybe visa exempt.  I'm only screwed if I whiff on all 3 of those potentialities.

Vientiane has no reported history of denying a Tourist Visa unless you have a "remark stamp" (aka "red stamp" - but sometimes in blue or black ink).

 

Occasionally Vientiane will "remark stamp" people who don't have 2 or 3 Tourist Visas yet from them, but so rare it appears to be "mis-counting" rather than intentional.  But, in any case, a "remark-stamp" visa is still fine for coming back via Nong Khai - and you would have plenty of time, at that point, to get a new passport from your embassy.

 

The Nong Khai "friendship bridge" crossing has no reported recent-history (years) of denying visa-exempts, provided you do not have 2 land-border visa-exempts this calendar year.   I did this after being denied a Tourist Visa in Vientiane, due to a "remark stamp" 2 visas prior from another consulate.

 

You should have the 20K Baht worth of cash to show (only 10K for Visa-Exempt, but more is better, and you are planning on having a Tourist Visa, which requires 20K.  It is unlikely they will ask to see it, but best to be prepared.

 

Quote

That's interesting.  Sounds expensive though.  I would actually prefer doing that so I can see my family more often.  But due to money stuff, I need cheaper options for the next while.

9 months and possibly 12?  How does that work?

Only close to 9 months is possible, by doing an "out/in" just before the visa expires.  The "enter before" (expiration) date is 6 months from the date of issue.

 

Quote

I was unable to get a visa from the embassy in Canada last time because I planned to go from Canada, to Philippines for 3 months, before heading to Thailand.  So if I got before leaving Canada, it would have expired while I was still in the Philippines.

Understand.  Yes, you will not get a good deal out of an METV unless traveling to Thailand fairly soon after applying for and receiving that visa. 

 

Note that there are more hoops to jump through for a METV than a SETV - bank balance above a threshold for 6 months, and sometimes showing employment (varies by consulate / country).

 

Personally, when I was using Tourist Visas, I could not see the value in going all that way (USA, in my case) for a METV - when all I had to do was get a new passport every 2 years or so, and then get more SETVs in the region.

Edited December 7, 2018 by JackThompson

[bbi1]

3 hours ago, kmw said:

Wondering why dont you just fly back to Canada and get a metv? You can then stretch this out to 9 months, and possibly 12 months, I've been doing this for the last several years with no issues at immigration 

How can you get  up to 12 months on a METV? It's valid for 6 months so you can get up to 9 months in Thailand using that visa.

[JackThompson]

4 hours ago, asdfrules said:

Will I be able to enter Thailand to at least collect my belongings from my apartment?  Or should I lug around my big suitcase in case I'm not allowed back in?

When I was using Tourist Visas, I always carried the basic necessities with me, plus had an arrangement with someone to bring my things to the border, if I had an unexpected problem.  One could always pick up some clothes at a local market, but maybe carry a few extra pairs of underwear, in case of a delayed return.

 

Though your current situation does not create a reason for concern, IMO, it is always wise to have a backup-plan of this sort - and be financially-able to pay for that service, plus forfeit a lease-deposit, etc - if some very unlikely situation were to unfold.

[kmw]

1 hour ago, Danthai said:

Can one get a long term visa to stay with permanent medical conditions and requiring permanent monthly treatment, sometimes twice a month. 

This is a grey area, legally Thailand does not offer any long term medical visas, however thier are ways around this as I mentioned before. regardless of what Visa you arrive here on a, 90 day medical extension can be obtained at a hospital, they do all the paperwork for you and your passport is back the next day, no need to go to immigration, this can also be continually extended however dont push your luck, I've done this twice (180 days in total) as it's easier and cheaper for me to do this, instead of flying back to Australia to obtain another Visa, the medical extension Visa also heavily depends on the actual doctor/specialist and more importantly the hospital you are at, and the relationship they have with immigration, I live in chiang mai, and know that ram hospital and bangkok hospital chiang mai offer this service, I doubt unfortunately any of the public hospitals, or GPs/clinics would be able to offer the service.

 

Generally you would need a medical condition that would require at least monthly visits to the hospital along with prescription only medication thats not available at the usual pharmacy's,

 

 

[BritTim]

10 hours ago, Danthai said:

Can one get a long term visa to stay with permanent medical conditions and requiring permanent monthly treatment, sometimes twice a month. 

There is no long term visa for those with medical conditions. However, if a major hospital states that you are unable to travel because of your medical status, you can get 90-day extensions to stay indefinitely. Unless you are actually in hospital, multiple back-to-back medical extensions are likely to receive a fair bit of scrutiny by immigration. Immigration has its own doctor who they can use to check the validity of extension applications if they are suspicious.

[kmw]

Yes the 90 day medical extensions can be extended indefinitely, I only did it back to back twice, as I felt I was gaming the system,  just thinking, it would be a PR distaster if someone was deported who was unfit to fly or needed medication attention,

however a 12 month medical extension is also available

Edited December 8, 2018 by kmw

[atyclb]

20 hours ago, Danthai said:

Can one get a long term visa to stay with permanent medical conditions and requiring permanent monthly treatment, sometimes twice a month. 

claim late stage terminal priapism and requires "extended" nurse care

Edited December 8, 2018 by atyclb

[TonyClifton]

On 12/7/2018 at 5:12 PM, asdfrules said:

He said "I give you visa this time but don't come back here again."

I see you found an immigration officer who has been through the new hospitality training being rolled out slowly throughout Thailand.  

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, TonyClifton said:

I see you found an immigration officer who has been through the new hospitality training being rolled out slowly throughout Thailand.  

A member in good standing of TAT!

[JackThompson]

9 hours ago, TonyClifton said:

I see you found an immigration officer who has been through the new hospitality training being rolled out slowly throughout Thailand.  

He works for the MFA - not immigration.  At that location, they make applicants follow every step in the list to qualify for a Tourist Visa - but someone higher-up is still not satisfied, and appears to be tightening the screws. 

 

This will have exactly 2 effects - more people will spend their money making Thailand's neighboring nations richer, and more "new passport" business at home-countries' embassies, for those who continue spending significant time in Thailand.

[asdfrules]

On 12/7/2018 at 9:05 PM, JackThompson said:

You should have the 20K Baht worth of cash to show (only 10K for Visa-Exempt, but more is better, and you are planning on having a Tourist Visa, which requires 20K.  It is unlikely they will ask to see it, but best to be prepared. 

Great info Jack.
The 20K should be a printed bank statement?  Or cold, hard cash?
I usually print my Canadian bank statement.  And recently I've been bringing and printing my Thai bank book.

[rickudon]

It has to be cold , hard cash (or travellers cheques. but they are pretty useless these days).

[JackThompson]

14 hours ago, asdfrules said:

The 20K should be a printed bank statement?  Or cold, hard cash?
I usually print my Canadian bank statement.  And recently I've been bringing and printing my Thai bank book.

 

12 hours ago, rickudon said:

It has to be cold , hard cash (or travellers cheques. but they are pretty useless these days).

They sell travelers checks at Bangkok Bank, last I checked (and topped-up my supply).

 

Per other's reports, they will refuse to even look at a bank-statement, as this would provide evidence contrary to the false-narrative used to deny entry.

[asdfrules]

Wow they expect to see 20K in cash, as if it's normal for someone to travel around with that much pocket money. 

[kmw]

20k thb is nothing, what are you on about? Its less then half a week wages, based on Australian median income, honestly if someone cannot afford to hold 20k thb to ensure entry for a Visa, sorry but something is very wrong