RE: Entering Thailand as a tourist and being denied entry
We're getting more and more reports of people either being questioned extensively at the time of entry, or directly being denied entry to Thailand.
Ever since visa exempt entries were changed from 30 days to 60 days, things seem to have been getting stricter in regards to entries. As always, your entry will be at the discretion of the immigration officer you are standing in front of.
One of the key things that seems to be a point against you will be if you applied for an extension to your 60-day entry previously. If you came to Thailand as a tourist (visa exempt or tourist visa) and then applied for a 30-day extension, and then leave and return, this is what seems to be causing issues. Maybe the immigration officers believe 90 days is enough time for you to have been a tourist?
How long you need to be out of Thailand after doing these 90 days varies, and will likely be dependent upon your history in Thailand. We've seen people who returned after 3 months and still have issues. Of course some people leave and return in the same day and encounter no issues, but there's no way for you to know how it will go for you.
If you are coming to Thailand as a tourist and have already been in Thailand within the last 6 months as a tourist, there are a few things you can do to increase your odds:
Have the 3 "proofs" that can be asked for, but usually are not. If the immigration officer wants to deny you entry, these are the 3 easiest reasons for them to do it.
1) Proof of funds (20,000 baht or equivalent in another major currency, IN CASH ONLY)
2) Proof of onward travel (a ticket out of Thailand within 60 days)
3) Proof of lodging (a hotel reservation, or proof of where you will be staying in Thailand for at least the first few days. A lease agreement is not going to be in your favor when you're trying to argue that you are just a tourist and not living in Thailand)
(The single biggest item in your favor will be if you can show them a plane ticket out of Thailand within 60 days, especially if it's back to your home country)
If you have just spent your 90 days in Thailand and want to get a new stamp, then you are recommended to use a land border bounce agency to drive you to the border and make sure you get out and back in without any issues. These typically leave very early in the morning so they can get you back home before the end of the day. For example in Bangkok, they tend to leave around 4AM. Normal costs anywhere from 4-5k baht. More and more land borders are also requiring 1 or 2 nights out of Thailand if you want to do a border bounce, and using an agent will bypass that requirement as well.
You also have the option of using a "safe entry" agent at the airport if you want to fly out and back to get a fresh stamp. These typically cost around 4-5k baht as well but the price will go up if you've been spending a lot of time in Thailand. This is not the same as Fast Track which just gets you into a faster line.
Getting a tourist visa is an option, but nowhere near a guarantee. There's not really any difference between a tourist visa and visa exempt anymore as they both give you 60 days in Thailand. The immigration officers know they are one in the same and if they think you have spent too much time in Thailand as a tourist, a tourist visa isn't likely to help.
There will be many people who want to say "I entered 14 times without any problems" or "I have NEVER been asked to show money in my 800 years of entering Thailand" but it's not relevant. Unless that person has the exact same travel history as you, and was stamped in by the exact same immigration officer that you are standing in front of, their experience is irrelevant. We are talking about trends here, and the trends show that they are getting more strict across every method of entry into Thailand.
This post won't apply to 99% of people who are coming to Thailand as actual tourists for a few weeks and then going home. But there are a lot of people trying to spend a lot of time in Thailand without a long-term visa, and they are the ones in the crosshairs currently.
TLDR : Answer Summary
This post discusses recent trends in Thailand's immigration policies, particularly regarding tourists entering the country. It highlights the increased scrutiny at immigration and the risks of entry denial for travelers who have extended their stay through visa exemptions or extensions. Key advice includes having proof of funds, onward travel, and accommodation ready. It also discusses options like border bounce agencies and safe entry services, emphasizing that each entry is at the discretion of the immigration officer.
