Popular Post youbuyshirt Posted January 7, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 7, 2020 (edited) My recent experience at Poipet Aranyaprathet border getting a 30 day visa exempt entry: The Thai immigration officer asked me if I had a hotel booking. I did, but did not have a printout of it. I did not know they needed to see that. I had read that they might ask for a return ticket, and to show money, not for a hotel printout. I had read that you only need a hotel printout when you apply for a visa, not for a visa-free entry. I said if I could login to my email I could show them my booking, but I did not have an internet connection. So I was sent to the immigration supervisor, who interrogated me, asking me over and over what I planned to do in Thailand and lots of other questions. I pointed out to him that I had not been in Thailand in 2-1/2 years and the two previous entries in my passport were for very brief stays, and a year apart. I thought they were only interrogating frequent visa runners. I pointed out that I was of retirement age and not working. He finally let me in, saying “Welcome to Thailand” but I was very upset about being interrogated like a criminal and it gave me a very bad feeling for the rest of my trip. I also saw a perfectly sweet looking young lady get refused entry. She seemed not to understand that she had been refused, so they rudely and angrily pointed to the door from which she had entered, and she had to do a long “walk of shame” with her head bowed down, as everyone in the long arrival line stared at her, thinking she must be a criminal. I had read that Poipet was now very strict but did not think it would affect me since I had not been in Thailand in a long time and was not a visa-runner. I think Thailand needs to learn a lesson about how to treat people who are putting money into their economy. It is no longer a favored destination for me. Edited January 7, 2020 by youbuyshirt 19 1 1 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Elmer Fudd Posted January 7, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 7, 2020 This is starting to become comical. Can I ask what is your nationality sir? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post scubascuba3 Posted January 7, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 7, 2020 Poipet staff need firing 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TSF Posted January 7, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 7, 2020 I crossed there once several years ago, horrible experience and I'd never consider entering at Poipet again. Anyway, all you can do is spread the word around to avoid Thailand. Unless you belong to that group of unfortunate wretches who are married to Thais and own homes there, just give the place a wide berth. 11 1 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Puchaiyank Posted January 7, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 7, 2020 Thailand needs to learn a lesson about how to treat people who are putting money into their economy. I believe there is a concerted effort by Thai immigration to create an atmosphere of uncertainty...fear...angst...unfriendly experience...to discourage some tourists and retirees... The real question remains...why? 22 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post holy cow cm Posted January 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2020 Poipet has in all my years never been the example of 'Welcome to Thailand", handing you flowers and then rolling out the red carpet. I used it once, and only once was enough. This was 18 years ago. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post holy cow cm Posted January 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2020 20 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said: Thailand needs to learn a lesson about how to treat people who are putting money into their economy. I believe there is a concerted effort by Thai immigration to create an atmosphere of uncertainty...fear...angst...unfriendly experience...to discourage some tourists and retirees... The real question remains...why? Wrong! Poipet is its own breed. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mngmn Posted January 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2020 22 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said: Posts like that should always include pictures or at least honest descriptions of the people who have problems. Because it seems only few people have these problems... Only a few people have these problems... that bother to recount their experience to a sceptical and slightly paranoid Thai Visa audience... 12 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post OneMoreFarang Posted January 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2020 22 minutes ago, mngmn said: Only a few people have these problems... that bother to recount their experience to a sceptical and slightly paranoid Thai Visa audience... Over the years I must have passed immigration at least a hundred times with different kind of visa, locations, etc. I don't remember any hassle or even any extra questions at any time. And I think I look just like a "normal" guy. Jeans, t-shirt, clean, nothing fancy. 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve187 Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 56 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said: Posts like that should always include pictures or at least honest descriptions of the people who have problems. Because it seems only few people have these problems... why 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post OneMoreFarang Posted January 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2020 1 minute ago, steve187 said: 58 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said: Posts like that should always include pictures or at least honest descriptions of the people who have problems. Because it seems only few people have these problems... why Think about it for a few minutes. And if no answer comes to your mind try again after a good night's sleep. ???? 3 2 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
post Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, youbuyshirt said: My recent experience at Poipet Aranyaprathet border getting a 30 day visa exempt entry: The Thai immigration officer asked me if I had a hotel booking. I did, but did not have a printout of it. I did not know they needed to see that. I had read that they might ask for a return ticket, and to show money, not for a hotel printout. I had read that you only need a hotel printout when you apply for a visa, not for a visa-free entry. I said if I could login to my email I could show them my booking, but I did not have an internet connection. So I was sent to the immigration supervisor, who interrogated me, asking me over and over what I planned to do in Thailand and lots of other questions. I pointed out to him that I had not been in Thailand in 2-1/2 years and the two previous entries in my passport were for very brief stays, and a year apart. I thought they were only interrogating frequent visa runners. I pointed out that I was of retirement age and not working. He finally let me in, saying “Welcome to Thailand” but I was very upset about being interrogated like a criminal and it gave me a very bad feeling for the rest of my trip. I also saw a perfectly sweet looking young lady get refused entry. She seemed not to understand that she had been refused, so they rudely and angrily pointed to the door from which she had entered, and she had to do a long “walk of shame” with her head bowed down, as everyone in the long arrival line stared at her, thinking she must be a criminal. I had read that Poipet was now very strict but did not think it would affect me since I had not been in Thailand in a long time and was not a visa-runner. I think Thailand needs to learn a lesson about how to treat people who are putting money into their economy. It is no longer a favored destination for me. Do you mind telling your immigration history in Thailand before your recent return? Edited January 8, 2020 by post 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post overherebc Posted January 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2020 48 minutes ago, post said: Do you mind telling your immigration history in Thailand before your recent return? Try reading the post you just replied to ???? 6 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gimo Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 36 minutes ago, overherebc said: Try reading the post you just replied to ???? Yes , the whole post . An answer to the nationality question would be helpful . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
post Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 41 minutes ago, overherebc said: Try reading the post you just replied to ???? Sorry for not reading carefully the post previously. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post StayinThailand2much Posted January 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2020 4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said: Posts like that should always include pictures or at least honest descriptions of the people who have problems. Because it seems only few people have these problems... True! If the OP mentions a "sweet looking young lady", then, at least, he should include a pic of her. 2 1 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve187 Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said: Think about it for a few minutes. And if no answer comes to your mind try again after a good night's sleep. ???? no you explain your reasoning, or are you saying smart looking dressed are not being stopped/refused Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ireland32 Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 Poipet is S....... , but people keep trying that border 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post thequietman Posted January 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2020 7 hours ago, Puchaiyank said: Thailand needs to learn a lesson about how to treat people who are putting money into their economy. I believe there is a concerted effort by Thai immigration to create an atmosphere of uncertainty...fear...angst...unfriendly experience...to discourage some tourists and retirees... The real question remains...why? There is a rumour and it is only a rumour mind, that someone wants foreigners out of Thailand for 3 to 5 years, to re-direct the Thai populace in the right direction and to get them thinking like the old days again. Many are not showing deference to the appropriate person/s and that needs to be addressed. Only a rumour now!, so take it as stated. ???? 4 3 1 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natway09 Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 Interrogated or an interview ? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeman01 Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 Would be interesting to know what Cambodia Visa OP was on, long term "business" perhaps ? Most Thai consider Cambodia like the worst place on earth and can't grasp why would a foreigner go there and take the crappiest land border to cross instead of taking a plane, that's why they are always more suspicious of people crossing there and will deny most of everyone whenever possible. There is like dozens of people being rejected specifically at Poipet everyday. The rules state that you need these 3 things to cross a land border successfully visa-exempt (max twice per year) : - print of flight ticket out of Thailand - print of hotel booking - 20'000 THB or equivalent in cash Without this it's a lottery. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleopatra2 Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 The OP does not state the date this took place. Considering it was in December the OP was enquiring about travel from Pattaya to Aran and the Cambodia border 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overherebc Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 5 hours ago, post said: Sorry for not reading carefully the post previously. No worries. I've been guilty of that a few times myself. ???????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overherebc Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 1 hour ago, freeman01 said: Would be interesting to know what Cambodia Visa OP was on, long term "business" perhaps ? Most Thai consider Cambodia like the worst place on earth and can't grasp why would a foreigner go there and take the crappiest land border to cross instead of taking a plane, that's why they are always more suspicious of people crossing there and will deny most of everyone whenever possible. There is like dozens of people being rejected specifically at Poipet everyday. The rules state that you need these 3 things to cross a land border successfully visa-exempt (max twice per year) : - print of flight ticket out of Thailand - print of hotel booking - 20'000 THB or equivalent in cash Without this it's a lottery. If you knew where most of them worked prior to Poipet and the reputation that area had you might understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post overherebc Posted January 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2020 4 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said: True! If the OP mentions a "sweet looking young lady", then, at least, he should include a pic of her. ???????? At my age a sweet young lady is any good looking woman between 50 and 60 years of age. ???????? 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post overherebc Posted January 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2020 25 minutes ago, overherebc said: ???????? At my age a sweet young lady is any good looking woman between 50 and 60 years of age. ???????? @MeePeeMai Are you sad because you have no sense of humour? I'm confused because you seem to be sad. ???????? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MeePeeMai Posted January 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2020 1 minute ago, overherebc said: @MeePeeMai Are you sad because you have no sense of humour? I'm confused because you seem to be sad. ???????? No, I'm sad because you now find 50-60 year old women attractive. To each his own, but the thought of that made me feel sad and the thought of myself reaching that point in my own life made me even more sad. Thanks 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoshowJones Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 10 hours ago, Puchaiyank said: Thailand needs to learn a lesson about how to treat people who are putting money into their economy. I believe there is a concerted effort by Thai immigration to create an atmosphere of uncertainty...fear...angst...unfriendly experience...to discourage some tourists and retirees... The real question remains...why? The same old answer. This is a third world country with a third world mentality. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoshowJones Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 9 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said: Posts like that should always include pictures or at least honest descriptions of the people who have problems. Because it seems only few people have these problems... Really?? "Only few people"???? There are plenty of reports appearing in this forum about westerners having to deal with IOs and their hostile attitudes nearly every day, sounds like more than a few to me. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post saengd Posted January 8, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 8, 2020 Perhaps change the title of the thread to, "asked a few questions by Immigration", but I suppose that's not going to attract anyone's interest! 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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