Trouble at Don Muang

[sunshine42]

Like many of you I have been,with growing alarm reading the recent reports of trouble with immigration at the Bkk airports, especially Don Muang.

 

May I ask the Thai Visa members for their opinions on the likelihood of having any problems entering in the current immigration climate.

 

Next week I shall be flying into DM from Vietnam, on a Visa Exempt entry, the first time I have ever entered this way. I will have in my possession a return ticket to my home country of the UK (within the 30 days granted entry) 20,000 baht cash and hotel bookings for the duration. My previous history of stays in Thailand are as follows;

 

Nov 2009 - Mar 2017,  Lived and worked, with the appropriate Visas and Work Permits full time. Everything always to the letter of the law and not one problem. Left Thailand and returned to my home country, UK.

 

Nov 2017 - Apr 2018,  Returned to Thailand on a Single Entry TV, which I extended

for 30 days. Left for 7 days at the end of the permitted stay and got another SETV

from Vietnam, which I again extended for 30 days. Left Thailand within the permitted time and returned to my home country. Total duration of stay being just under 6 months.

 

Nov 2018 - Jan 2019,  Returned to Thailand again on a SETV, which I extended for 30 days. Left Thailand end of Jan and have now been in Vietnam ever since.

 

Never had any overstays or any other problems. However in the current climate is this considered "too much time spent in Thailand" Do you think I will have any problems with immigration at Don Muang? 

 

Your thoughts please.......

 

[DrJack54]

The last 6 weeks spent outside of los is big plus. Another is your ticket to UK. Obviously you will have pint out to show airline and Thai passport if they decide have an issue. I would be astounded if you were refused. Listen to ubon when he comes along

[Sheryl]

If you can, fl;y into Swampy rather than Don Muang.  I think Bangkok Airways does that route.

[lamyai3]

29 minutes ago, sunshine42 said:

Never had any overstays or any other problems. However in the current climate is this considered "too much time spent in Thailand" Do you think I will have any problems with immigration at Don Muang? 

 

Your thoughts please.......

I don't think you'll have a problem, first time in on a visa exempt entry, cash in hand and ticket back home (it's clear the UK is where you've been mostly living in the past two years). 

[dcnx]

Fly into Chiang Mai from Hanoi or HMC. The problems are currently in Bangkok. 

 

 

[elviajero]

55 minutes ago, sunshine42 said:

Never had any overstays or any other problems. However in the current climate is this considered "too much time spent in Thailand" Do you think I will have any problems with immigration at Don Muang? 

 

Your thoughts please.......

I would be very surprised if you were denied entry, unfortunately no one can give you a definitive answer.

[riclag]

many changes since 2014 . It hasn't favored farangs!

If only the IO operated with the same interpretation of the  rules

[BritTim]

My guess is that you will be OK using a first visa exempt entry. However, it would be safer with an SETV. You might run into an immigration official applying the non public 180-day rule which it seems you may have exceeded.

[sunshine42]

Thanks guys for your input. I will fly into DM and hope reason prevails and the law is respected!

I have been in Thailand less than the 180 day unofficial limit, in fact when I return at the end of this month I shall only have been in Thailand for 4 of the previous 12 months. 

All this uncertainty I guess is the price we Farang are going to have to pay if we want to continue spending more than just a couple of weeks each year in LoS. Starting to wonder if it is worth it. 

Will report back how it goes.

 

[calbts2]

My advice - avoid flying into DM internationally at all costs. That entry point has become a complete nightmare. The immigration staff there is rude, inefficient, and incompetent. I arrived on a flight last night before midnight and did not get out of there until 1:30am!! This had nothing really to do with the Chinese tour group crowds that compromise the vast majority as they now have their own dedicated lanes. Standing there in one of the "other foreigners" long lines that inefficiently gets merged from 3 lines into one as I watch just about everyone taking minimum 3-4 minutes each at the desk. Often I see people get spoken to rudely about something incorrect on their form or needing to show paperwork proof of accommodation / finances. I saw a few (mostly younger) people get grilled and then escorted to the back office where I would assume they will be questioned more and possibly denied entry. Then of course right in the middle of this, one of the officers decides to take her break and closes down a lane. This adds another 30 minutes to my wait. Now I was not really fearful of anything as I have a non-o extension with re-entry but I would definitely have been nervous if I was coming in on back to back TV or VE. I remember the good old days (pre-2015) when this airport was actually pretty easy and carefree to enter - not so anymore. I really wish they would create dedicated lanes for re-entry permit holders like Japan does. Hopefully things will change with this election but in the meantime I would advise NOT flying into DM if it can at all be avoided.

[DrJack54]

I use DM almost weekly international. Find it a good airport. 

[JackThompson]

14 hours ago, BritTim said:

My guess is that you will be OK using a first visa exempt entry. However, it would be safer with an SETV. You might run into an immigration official applying the non public 180-day rule which it seems you may have exceeded.

Another guy was recently told it's 90-days - he was entering Visa-Exempt:

 

[calbts2]

Yeah well I am specifically referring to flying into DM internationally and dealing with the immigration upon entry which has become just a horrible experience. Nobody in those lines was having a fun time last nite. Such a contrast from how it used to be. I even remember way back when DM was the main airport pre 2006. The officers were very easygoing and there was never any rudeness and sniping upon entry. Thailand really was a Land of Smiles.

 

My only real issue flying out of DM these days is finding your way through the hoardes of Chinese that have taken over that airport. My advice - avoid flying into DM internationally at all costs. That entry point has become a complete nightmare. The immigration staff there is rude, inefficient, and incompetent. I arrived on a flight last night before midnight and did not get out of there until 1:30am!! This had nothing really to do with the Chinese tour group crowds that compromise the vast majority as they now have their own dedicated lanes. Standing there in one of the "other foreigners" long lines that inefficiently gets merged from 3 lines into one as I watch just about everyone taking minimum 3-4 minutes each at the desk. Often I see people get spoken to rudely about something incorrect on their form or needing to show paperwork proof of accommodation / finances. I saw a few (mostly younger) people get grilled and then escorted to the back office where I would assume they will be questioned more and possibly denied entry. Then of course right in the middle of this, one of the officers decides to take her break and closes down a lane. This adds another 30 minutes to my wait. Now I was not really fearful of anything as I have a non-o extension with re-entry but I would definitely have been nervous if I was coming in on back to back TV or VE. I remember the good old days (pre-2015) when this airport was actually pretty easy and carefree to enter - not so anymore. I really wish they would create dedicated lanes for re-entry permit holders like Japan does. Hopefully things will change with this election but in the meantime I would advise NOT flying into DM if it can at all be avoided.

[ba ba]

I have been using the non O visa for the last 13 years last one ran out Oct I came back in Nov for 30 days had return flight to Vietnam DM no problem the same thing 2weeks ago no problem only passport control on one home at 11pm had to wait until 11-30

[dotpoom]

18 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Obviously you will have pint out to show airline and Thai passport if they decide have

Thai passport?

[NanLaew]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

I use DM almost weekly international. Find it a good airport. 

And your Thai immigration status is what now?

[DrJack54]

15 minutes ago, dotpoom said:

Thai passport?

Error. I meant ....show onward ticket at Thai passport control.....

Mentioned Thai pp control since at Saigon airport will need to show airline. Then at Thai pp control might be handy to have his ticket to UK handy. 

I worded it very poorly

Edited March 21, 2019 by DrJack54
Error

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

And your Thai immigration status is what now?

Extension based on retirement. The member who had bad experience at DM arrived about midnight. Skeleton staff. Can cause bad lines esp if few flights land together. Tonight I depart swampy....would be rather going to DM

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Tonight I depart swampy....would be rather going to DM

Soon I depart Swampy, I pay extra for that!

[sunshine42]

This was on the website www.thai.It. -Travel guide. 

(Thailand Visa for UK Citizens - Thai Visa for British 

Thailand visa for UK citizens is not required for short term visit to Thailand. If you're British and hold a passport issued by the United Kingdom which is valid for at least 6 months from the day of your arrival to Thailand, you can visit Thailand on a Free Visa Exemption as long as your planned stay in Thailand doesn't exceed 30 days. For a longer stay UK citizens need to get a Thailand Visa in advance.

Thailand Visa Exemption for British

UK citizens can stay in Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days. The duration of visa-exempt stay is the same for the arrivals at the airports and border crossings (big advantage for British as most of nationalities get less than coming to Thailand by land). You can use Thailand visa exemption only if you haven't entered Thailand as a tourist for more than 90 days in the past 6 months.

As a citizen of the United Kingdom you can use Thailand Free Visa-Exempt Stay if you have the following:

• UK citizen passport valid for at least 6 months from the day of your arrival
• A return or onward travel ticket within 30 days
• Dully filled-in Arrival Card which will be handed to you during your flight
• A proof of funds - at least 10,000 THB per person and 20,000 THB per family in cash (equivalent in any currency) )

 

Not sure where their information of, ‘You can use Thailand visa exemption only if you haven’t entered Thailand as a tourist for more than 90 days in the past 6 months.’ has been obtained from.

 

Does anybody have current (2019) information regarding the above requirement?

 

 

[jacko45k]

13 minutes ago, sunshine42 said:

Not sure where their information of, ‘You can use Thailand visa exemption only if you haven’t entered Thailand as a tourist for more than 90 days in the past 6 months.’ has been obtained from.

Doesn't matter, it's rubbish. 

(Maybe harsh but it reads like you can't come back for 90 days).

Edited March 21, 2019 by jacko45k

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, sunshine42 said:

Does anybody have current (2019) information regarding the above requirement?

The 90 days in 6 months rule for visa exempt entries went away in 2008 when it was rescinded.

That was when the 15 days at land border crossings started. The 15 day entry rule was rescinded when the 2 visa exempt entries at land border crossing rule went into effect.

[gwynt]

I arrived into BKK, Swampy, last night at 19.30 after spending 12 days in Singapore to obtain a Non B for work and for the first time ever in 15 years of passing through had hassle, the young officer after scrutinizing my passport said where your visa? Singapore office had placed it at the front of my passport as there were 2 free pages. I pointed out the visa which he glanced at scribed a line through it and called his supervisor.

She led me to another desk and said the same where your visa, again I politely pointed it out and said it's Non B issued the day before, she responds why you don't have Non O same before your married to Thai, I said company I was going to work for prefered I had Non B, she called someone on her phone for about 10 seconds and then stamped my visa and told me to go, I checked the stamp then left, but what a hassle. I remained calm and polite the whole time.

All this was such a difference to the officers in Singapore who couldn't have been more helpful, specifically the senior officer.

 

It just seemed that they are scared of making mistakes. which is making it difficult for the average resident.

[seancbk]

20 hours ago, dcnx said:

Fly into Chiang Mai from Hanoi or HMC. The problems are currently in Bangkok. 

 

 

 

Super useful if you want to be in Bangkok.

[Jaggg88]

6 hours ago, dotpoom said:

Thai passport?

I presume it means 'print out and show Thai passport control'

[kkerry]

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

The member who had bad experience at DM arrived about midnight. Skeleton staff. Can cause bad lines esp if few flights land together. 

Must be so difficult for immigration staff when planes arrive unexpectedly late at night... maybe one day someone will find a way to tell in advance when lots of planes will be arriving so they can roster accordingly...

[ExpatDraco]

 
Super useful if you want to be in Bangkok.

Fly domestic from CM to BKK is the underlying idea.

[ExpatDraco]

Flew in yesterday to DM from Vietnam with a Non-ED from Ho Chi Minh City. Arrived at Immigration around 8pm. 10-15 ppl per queue line. About 10 counters open. 2 male and 8 female IO's. I choose the male IO in his 30's and he didn't even look up and stamped me in without questions. Watched all the lines closely but didn't saw anyone taken apart.

[BritTim]

8 hours ago, sunshine42 said:

Not sure where their information of, ‘You can use Thailand visa exemption only if you haven’t entered Thailand as a tourist for more than 90 days in the past 6 months.’ has been obtained from.

It was a rule for a short period in 2008. The UK embassy has not got the message that the rule was rescinded (or at least, not updated their webpage.

[jacko45k]

9 hours ago, BritTim said:

It was a rule for a short period in 2008. The UK embassy has not got the message that the rule was rescinded (or at least, not updated their webpage.

Well perhaps that is fortuitous as Thai Immigration may not have got the message too!