Refused entry at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi from London Heathrow with visa - help returning

[hughglo9]

Last week I flew into Bangkok from London Heathrow on a direct flight and was refused entry. My passport had in it 3 older tourist visas,  one from 2018 and two for 2019 May until September. I left 5 weeks ago. I arrived with a new tourist visa from london and no had no problems getting the visa. I have never before had any overstay or other problems. The immigration staff told me I had spent too much time in Thailand yet after researching the mark in my passport it seems I was refused for not having any money which is not true as I had 40000 baht in cash

 

I now want to return to Thailand as planned and have contacted a language school who will help me get an education visa. Today I have sent my passport to be renewed which will clear the mark left by immigration. I will then apply for an ED visa using the documents the school will provide.

 

When I arrive with the renewed passport and education visa will there be a record of me having been refused entry when i arrive?

[BritTim]

Your tourist visa is still valid. Do the following:

• Fly to Kuala Lumpur.
• Fly Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane.
• Enter Thailand via the Friendship Bridge to Nong Khai.
• Travel from Hong Khai to your final destination, possibly using Udon Thani airport which is not far from Nong Khai.

Using most land crossings, they still only deny entry for official, documented reasons. Entering at Nong Khai, you may be subjected to some questioning, but denied entry is very unlikely.

 

An education visa from a language school might be an option for the future, but it is not really necessary at this stage.

[Helios]

Sent you a PM. Check your inbox.

[elviajero]

14 minutes ago, hughglo9 said:

The immigration staff told me I had spent too much time in Thailand yet after researching the mark in my passport it seems I was refused for not having any money which is not true as I had 40000 baht in cash

You weren't denied for not having money (min 20K baht). You were denied under section 12.2 because you don't have the appropriate means to live long term in the country.

 

16 minutes ago, hughglo9 said:

When I arrive with the renewed passport and education visa will there be a record of me having been refused entry when i arrive?

Yes, it will be on your record. Entering with a Non-Immigrant visa helps and it's unlikely you'll be denied entry using that visa, but they aren't stupid and may still question you about your time in the country.

[hughglo9]

27 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Your tourist visa is still valid. Do the following:

• Fly to Kuala Lumpur.
• Fly Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane.
• Enter Thailand via the Friendship Bridge to Nong Khai.
• Travel from Hong Khai to your final destination, possibly using Udon Thani airport which is not far from Nong Khai.

Using most land crossings, they still only deny entry for official, documented reasons. Entering at Nong Khai, you may be subjected to some questioning, but denied entry is very unlikely.

 

An education visa from a language school might be an option for the future, but it is not really necessary at this stage.

I no longer have the visa as I have renewed my passport today. I did plan to get an education visa after my tourist visa ran out so it does not matter too much.

 

[Orton Rd]

why not go somewhere who will let you in?

[sillyfool]

and another one. 

[Davo369]

I'm meant to be getting married next year don't think that's gonna be happening with all my visas and ve in passport. And to top it off Ive booked with thai airways ????????????

[aspenbkk]

On 8/14/2019 at 10:22 PM, garyk said:

I am a little confused why numbers from India are up? Anyone have a clue why?

So have they put you back on a plane or kept you in a cell like others who told there story also about refusal i go there 4 or 5 times a year but not now last entry for me was in august i left september . i was told leaving by immigration i would be welcomed back next few months I Doubt that and i am off to spend my money elsewhere vietnam or philippine beaches cleaner and better as been before as thailand crumbles . 

[TaaSaparot]

2 hours ago, BritTim said:

Your tourist visa is still valid. Do the following:

• Fly to Kuala Lumpur.
• Fly Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane.

If you get denied at Suvanabhumi, will you be allowed to fly to Vientiane?

[elviajero]

5 minutes ago, TaaSaparot said:

If you get denied at Suvanabhumi, will you be allowed to fly to Vientiane?

Only if immigration allow it. 
 

They will want the airline that brought you to take you back. If you produce a flight to Vientiane or elsewhere they might let you use it.

Edited October 23, 2019 by elviajero

[Timwin]

This is so laughable. The flight ticket from UK to Thailand costs more than the average junior immigration official starting salary or is close to it. Average Thai salary is only about 16000 Baht. So if the officials are able to live here how come tourists flying from Europe could not?! You could live easily with less than $300 per month in Thailand. 

[Los Luver]

To the OP:

Since you are trying to get new passport, try to get new fingers, since the immigration has got your fingerprints.

[thecyclist]

There used to be a time, not so long ago, when people got refused because they kept going to embassies in the region for repeat TVs with the argument that you should be going back to your home country to reapply. The assumption was that anyone who can afford to do that is not illegally working and rich enough to be a 'serial tourist'. Things are changing rapidly in Los. 

[Maestro]

Removed some troll posts.

[BritTim]

5 hours ago, hughglo9 said:

I no longer have the visa as I have renewed my passport today. I did plan to get an education visa after my tourist visa ran out so it does not matter too much.

Usually, if you have a valid unused visa, your old passport will be returned to you after having surgery such as cutting of the corners applied to it. If you have the old passport with the visa, the visa is still valid and usable, but you will need to show both passports when entering Thailand.

[hughglo9]

3 hours ago, BritTim said:

Usually, if you have a valid unused visa, your old passport will be returned to you after having surgery such as cutting of the corners applied to it. If you have the old passport with the visa, the visa is still valid and usable, but you will need to show both passports when entering Thailand.

 

I have renewed online and will receive my old passport back and the new one (it says in up to three weeks). Would this not raise more suspicion if I try to get in with a visa from another passport that has been deactivated, and has the refused stamp? 

 

The language school are going to send me the documents I need to apply for my ed visa here in London. i think this is easier as I dont want to waste more time or take chances

[hughglo9]

9 hours ago, elviajero said:

You weren't denied for not having money (min 20K baht). You were denied under section 12.2 because you don't have the appropriate means to live long term in the country.

 

Yes, it will be on your record. Entering with a Non-Immigrant visa helps and it's unlikely you'll be denied entry using that visa, but they aren't stupid and may still question you about your time in the country.

 

they did not say anything to me about me not having enough money and I also showed them the cash. I told them the truth that I was travelling for 2 or 3 months and then I planned to study thai language. 

 

[LiamB80]

What school are you using to apply for the ED visa. There is currently a blacklist of schools and the school isn’t going to tell you they’re on it. ED visas from those schools are denied at the airports, so you could find yourself in the same situation as before.

[Tayaout]

13 minutes ago, hughglo9 said:

 

they did not say anything to me about me not having enough money and I also showed them the cash. I told them the truth that I was travelling for 2 or 3 months and then I planned to study thai language. 

 

You probably have a "2" and not a "9" on the refusal stamp. 9 is for not having 20K. 2 is more about having insufficient means (reason) to stay in Thailand long term since they don't consider you a tourist anymore. They are cracking down on repeat (visa runner) visitor with visa exempt, tourist visa and those on repeat ED visa that don't really learn. 

Edited October 24, 2019 by Tayaout

[DrJack54]

7 hours ago, TaaSaparot said:

If you get denied at Suvanabhumi, will you be allowed to fly to Vientiane?

No

[steve187]

i think that flying direct to Thailand with a sketchy 'time in Thailand record' is not a smart move, i would think flying in to kul or hkg would be better, that way you would be returned to somewhere a short flight away to regroup/ rethink your choices

but the real problem it that immigration do not want younger long term stayers in Thailand, the only real answer is to get a long term visa, non imm, or an elite, immigration have targeted the repeat visa exempt users as well as the ed visa users and are now on the ' too many' tourist visa users, as well as a bit of a pop at the long stay 'retirement' users. ( money in bank, insurance etc.)Thailand seem to think that have the monopoly on attracting beach lovers, and are abusing/ misusing the system by refusing entry at the drop of a hat

[ubonjoe]

6 hours ago, Maestro said:

Removed some troll posts.

And now several more along with replies to them.

This topic will have a short life if it keeps up.

[tgeezer]

How do you know that the reason for refusal was money? Can I point out that In Immigration clause usually cited as reason for refusal it also says inappropriate visa. Your visa was inappropriate in that you had been staying in Thailand for five months out of six using the same type of visa twice . An education visa is an appropriate visa for staying in Thailand for longer periods so a new passport makes no difference. 

Edit. I see that you have added more and been advised to try all sorts of devices so my point applies to everyone. Do not think that IOs don’t see who is doing what, they know what is going on.  Succeeding to enter using a different port of entry or new passport means only that you have been accepted by a more tolerant IO. 

Edited October 24, 2019 by tgeezer

[spiekerjozef]

don't fly to bangkok

[quadperfect]

Sounds like you already got a new passport and a flight on airline so youre pretty much stuck.

Though the advice to fly into malaysia or vietnam first with a carrier change is strong. That way you are not sent back to youre departure.

Land boarders seem to be the way to go now for anyone with a history.

Unfortunately thailand has decided we westerners are not welcome here .

I must say its only the government as the local thais are still open to our visits.

 

[MJKT2014]

11 hours ago, elviajero said:

You were denied under section 12.2 because you don't have the appropriate means to live long term in the country.

How do you know that the o/p doesn't have the means? The o/p could be loaded with money?

[wreckingcountry]

I wouldn’t bother with the hassle, if you are being treated this way ! Wasted 30k+ on a flight ticket and going to do it again for some lousy language school who couldn’t care less about you in the long run

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

[jackdd]

1 hour ago, tgeezer said:

Can I point out that In Immigration clause usually cited as reason for refusal it also says inappropriate visa.

This is never cited as reason, because visiting Thailand repeatedly on a tourist visa isn't against any laws and "inappropriate visa" is no reason for denial.

The underlying reason for denial is that IOs think the person might be illegally working in Thailand (section 12.3). But they can't prove it, so they abuse section 12.2 to deny people. That the english translation of this section (or the stamp) is wrong just helps them.

Edited October 24, 2019 by jackdd

[marqus12]

12 hours ago, hughglo9 said:

I now want to return to Thailand as planned and have contacted a language school who will help me get an education visa. Today I have sent my passport to be renewed which will clear the mark left by immigration. I will then apply for an ED visa using the documents the school will provide

Suggests studying Geography.

You obviously don't know there are over 200 countries of which

about 100 in the tropics and probably 50 of these tropical ones

are a good substitute for TH.

 

I have a pretty good girl here and a kid with her
but if I was deported once, I wouldn't come back here.

 

Deported and applying for ED visa?
Madness !