Denied Tourist Visa at Both Vientienne and Savannakhet - Told 3-6 Months Max Stay in Thailand Rules Now in Effect

[ExFarang]

As the title states, I haven't even been in Thailand for 3 years. Entered at Suvarnabhumi, got 1 month extension, plus 2 overland border crossings with 1 month extensions each. So it's actually my first time applying for an actual visa in years. 

 

Was told at Vientienne, new rules are in effect that all TV's will be denied after 6 months of stay in Thailand. So I went to Savannakhet and was just told there by the man at the window that his boss the Consul officer is denying any tourist visa if you have stayed for only 3 months in Thailand previously. 

 

Both workers just told me they thought this policy was crazy (their words) and recommended to use an airplane to fly into Thailand but due to the arbitrary and capricious nature of the IO's these days it seems likely that I will just be detained in jail and forced to fly back out. 

 

The irony is that I really don't work in Thailand, am an actual tourist, and the only reason I came back to begin with was to get a bunch of medical stuff done that is typically cheaper here but with all this hassle it just would have just been cheaper to get it done in the USA to begin with. Go figure.

 

Anyway, lurked on this forum long enough to know that some people ensconced with their cushy retirement visas that practically never leave Thailand will doubt this account, but just thought I would pass along my experience to those people seeking tourist visas. Don't even bother if you have been in Thailand more than a few months. And for those aforementioned O/Non-O people, your time is short, they are coming for you soon. The insurance requirement is just the beginning.

 

Believe me, don't believe me, it's up to you but it's clear to me that Western foreigners are no longer welcome in Thailand for anything but a short term stay. But with a 24 hour flight to get here, flying halfway around the world it's just not practical to bother coming all this way for a couple months just to be abused like this.

 

For the record, if Thailand wanted nobody to stay past a month, or even a week, I don't have a problem with that as long as they would codify it in law and be upfront about it. My issue is with their Byzantine rules, all randomly applied differently depending on which IO or Consul you happen to come across. Too many other places that are welcoming, than to subject one's self to the whims of people who are clearly trying to send the message that Farang are no longer welcome. Get the hint guys. 

 

The funny part is that I was nearly done with my medical issues and just needed a couple more weeks to get it done, but finished with Thailand now. They have made clear they are inhospitable to Farang and prefer busloads of Chinese tour groups who's owners pay off the right people. Meanwhile China's economy is tanking and Thai tourism is down sharply. LOL- never change Thailand. Never change. Haha. Land of Smiles: rest in peace. I'm out.

[FritsSikkink]

So what have you been visiting during your 6 months stay as a tourist, travelled a lot through the country to see it all?

[GeorgeCross]

"And for those aforementioned O/Non-O people, your time is short, they are coming for you soon. The insurance requirement is just the beginning."

 

please enlighten me i must have missed the memo

 

 

Edited October 25, 2019 by GeorgeCross

[orchis]

there are enough examples to the contrary to disprove this canard.

[GeorgeCross]

should put an end to all the "why issue the visa & then deny entry?" posts

 

however i'll take with a pinch until i hear more reports. they should flood in if confirmed

[ExFarang]

22 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

So what have you been visiting during your 6 months stay as a tourist, travelled a lot through the country to see it all?

TBH, I was mostly just hanging out and doing the medical stuff. I was planning on finishing up with that and then doing the more touristy stuff after because it's been rainy season -not the best time to hit the beaches in Phuket in case you didn't know. But definitely had that in mind to do.

[SteveK]

There can't be many, if any other countries in the world so aggressively trying to keep tourists with money to spend out.

[Caldera]

I think with your history, or relative lack thereof as it were, you would have no trouble to get a SETV in Vietnam. Personally I'd prefer Hanoi over HCMC, but with no previous tourist visa in your passport, I'm quite sure that HCMC would issue one as well.

[ExFarang]

I should mention that I also had a printout of my bank balance with way more than enough funds. The guy at the window didn't even want to see it. I don't actually blame him as he was very understanding and legit seemed exasperated by his boss being so rigid but he said there was simply nothing he could do. His exact words were: "My boss deny everything if you stay Thailand more 3 month. Void, void, void." He even made the motion with his hands emulating the Consul stamping deny, deny, deny with the rubber stamp as he said "void, void, void". It was almost kind of funny had I not been up all night on the bumpy overnight bus from Vientienne. He seemed scared to even submit the application as if the Consul expected him to know not to even bother him with any stays over 3 months.

 

BTW, another addendum to add .. I left Thailand a month and a half ago so it's not even like I just did a border hop. I was in Laos for almost 2 weeks before I even went to the Vientienne embassy and after getting denied, I just hung out in Vientienne for a solid month after before trying Savannakhet so again, it's not like I just tried to come back to Thailand the next day.

 

[FarFlungFalang]

1 hour ago, ExFarang said:

As the title states, I haven't even been in Thailand for 3 years. Entered at Suvarnabhumi, got 1 month extension, plus 2 overland border crossings with 1 month extensions each. So it's actually my first time applying for an actual visa in years

 

9 minutes ago, ExFarang said:

BTW, another addendum to add .. I left Thailand a month and a half ago so it's not even like I just did a border hop

Just wondering which of these quotes is correct as there appears to be a discrepancy.

[No1]

 

1 hour ago, ExFarang said:

The irony is that I really don't work in Thailand, am an actual tourist, and the only reason I came back to begin with was to get a bunch of medical stuff done that is typically cheaper here

Here? So where are you?

[khaoniao]

Were you denied instantly on the day of applying in Vientiane or did they take you to do an interview on the pickup day?

[GeorgeCross]

20 minutes ago, ExFarang said:

I should mention that I also had a printout of my bank balance with way more than enough funds. The guy at the window didn't even want to see it. I don't actually blame him as he was very understanding and legit seemed exasperated by his boss being so rigid but he said there was simply nothing he could do. His exact words were: "My boss deny everything if you stay Thailand more 3 month. Void, void, void." He even made the motion with his hands emulating the Consul stamping deny, deny, deny with the rubber stamp as he said "void, void, void". It was almost kind of funny had I not been up all night on the bumpy overnight bus from Vientienne. He seemed scared to even submit the application as if the Consul expected him to know not to even bother him with any stays over 3 months.

 

BTW, another addendum to add .. I left Thailand a month and a half ago so it's not even like I just did a border hop. I was in Laos for almost 2 weeks before I even went to the Vientienne embassy and after getting denied, I just hung out in Vientienne for a solid month after before trying Savannakhet so again, it's not like I just tried to come back to Thailand the next day.

 

 

 

the 6 month denial at Vientiane was over a month ago then. odd that no-one else has reported this, maybe you were just unlucky?

 

 

 

[GeorgeCross]

i saw a friend post this yesterday regarding Penang, maybe same thing:

Quote

 

PENANG CONSULATE NEW RULES
**Important notice for Tourist Visa and ED Visa**

TOURIST VISA: NO MORE THAN 2!
The 2 Tourist Visa limit is now being strictly enforced in Penang with no exceptions. If you try to apply the third tourist visa, your application will be rejected.

ED VISA: ONLY IF YOU HAV NO OTHER VISA BEFORE!
ED Visas are only being issued to persons who have NEVER had any other type of Visa in their passport before.
So if in your passport you have already a Tourist Visa, a Non B Visa, or a Non O Visa, and you try to apply an ED Visa, your application will be rejected.

 

 

source: 

 

[scubascuba3]

TBH, I was mostly just hanging out and doing the medical stuff. I was planning on finishing up with that and then doing the more touristy stuff after because it's been rainy season -not the best time to hit the beaches in Phuket in case you didn't know. But definitely had that in mind to do.

Out of interest what was the medical stuff you did?

[scubascuba3]

He seemed scared to even submit the application as if the Consul expected him to know not to even bother him with any stays over 3 months.
 

I wouldn't be surprised if something has been lost in translation and the guy is too scared to ask the boss

[Matzzon]

2 hours ago, ExFarang said:

but it's clear to me that Western foreigners are no longer welcome in Thailand for anything but a short term stay.

If you are continuosly live in Thailand on tourist visa? Yes, then you are right. They not welcome you no more. That´s only out of the simple reason you can not comprehend that a tourist visa has that name because it´s created for the purpose of tourism. Not for stay indefinately in Thailand on, bacause they will assume that you can not take care of yourself without working. That means that they will believe that you are working in Thailand on a tourist visa, which probably 97% of all people living on those do.

All other people are still welcome to Thailand. (For your information 6 month and over, can never be considered or referred to as a short term stay. If you are her eon short term stay on tourist visas as they are intended to be used for, then you have no problem as long as you live up to the requirements.)

Edited October 25, 2019 by Matzzon

[ExFarang]

46 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

 

Just wondering which of these quotes is correct as there appears to be a discrepancy.

You would have to be more specific. Got maybe 1 hour of sleep on the VIP (haha ok) bus from Viet to SK so I am exhausted. 

[ExFarang]

48 minutes ago, No1 said:

 

Here? So where are you?

Stuck in Savannakhet

[Caldera]

4 minutes ago, ExFarang said:

Stuck in Savannakhet

You seem to like busses. There are busses from Savannakhet to Vietnam (and there's a Vietnamese consulate in Savannakhet in case you need a visa for Vietnam), where you could try to apply for a Thai tourist visa. You aren't stuck, but you probably cannot stay in Laos for much longer (two more weeks?).

[overherebc]

1 hour ago, GeorgeCross said:

"And for those aforementioned O/Non-O people, your time is short, they are coming for you soon. The insurance requirement is just the beginning."

 

please enlighten me i must have missed the memo

 

 

I have already called the builders to raise the wall around the house by another two metres.

I might even start starving the dogs a bit and feeding them only raw meat.

[Vacuum]

2 hours ago, ExFarang said:

Western foreigners are no longer welcome in Thailand for anything but a short term stay.

Been here 20 years, never met an IO that told me I'm not welcome to stay.

[sunnyboy2018]

3 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

Been here 20 years, never met an IO that told me I'm not welcome to stay.

Yet

[spiekerjozef]

Another one out thank God for that

[GeorgeCross]

3 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

Been here 20 years, never met an IO that told me I'm not welcome to stay.

 

seconded. my wife has said to me multiple times that she has never heard anyone say westerners are not welcome & she has IO friends in the local office too

 

tin foil hat <deleted>

 

3 minutes ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Yet

 

won't be holding my breath x

 

 

[ExFarang]

26 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

 

 

I wouldn't be surprised if something has been lost in translation and the guy is too scared to ask the boss

 

No. He was very clear. After waiting a month and taking an all night bus trip to the middle of nowhere I didn't give up easy although I was polite. It was at least a 5 minute conversation as literally nobody else in line in front or behind me at 9AM. Completely empty except for 1 other person filling out an app on one of the tables and eventually someone else came up in line behind me. Total ghost town.

 

TBH, Vientienne embassy was practically empty as well compared to years ago. Used to be hundreds of people there. This time there was like maybe 30 people. I guess they figure that the Farangs will just give up if they get treated poorly enough for long enough.

 

That seems to be their message. This is the Thai way. They avoid direct confrontation. I'm sure they think Farangs will get the message eventually. Very few foreigners in Vientienne generally now as most people that used to go there were doing visa runs but dried up now. Spoke to several shop owners about this and they agreed Thai embassy strictness has affected their business negatively.

 

Anyway, Savannakhet consular worker was clear- Consular officer is denying any tourist visa where the applicant has stayed 3 months or more in Thailand. Period. But you are always welcome to spin the wheel of Thai fortune and try your luck. Just passing along the info. Take it or don't, it's your call.

[transam]

What hotel are you in at Sav, for your Internet..?

[SteveK]

Go to Macchiato de Coffee and have one of their imported steaks with peppercorn sauce, very nice they are.

[UKresonant]

A copy of the order and where it came from may have be informative.

So if you have a tourist Visa, stay 59 days, return to home country for say 62 Days, and repeat,how does this new unpublished rule affect that pattern? ???? 

[stigar]

I been in thailand 67 times since 2011.Never ever had any problems entering thailand.Mostly the times i arrived with proof as a seaman.Also the garantee letter from my company.1 month at sea,1 month in thailand.The last years i been many times as a tourist,and never ever any problems.

It seems to me that the people get rejected is NOT genuine tourists.