Date: March 29th, 2026 11:44 AM
Author: Good Will Gathering
Immigration officers are really strict. It’s not okay as others might’ve led you to think.
I am from South Asia (I cannot name the country, so you know already which one). Age 25 and travelling solo. Well dressed and polite. My first and only stay in Thailand was for 59 days last year from mid September to mid November.
I arrived at afternoon in Suvarnabhumi today, not much crowded. Give my passport to the lady at the immigration (I queued at the line in front of one of the older male immigration officer as recommended by this sub but she directed my whole line to her counter).
She asked me how long I stay, I said 44 days. Asked for my onward ticket and showed her my ticket to Vietnam. She immediately said why I come again and stay for so long?
I answered tourism and that I wanted to see Songkran. I just like the vibe of Bangkok.
She wrote something in a slip and called another officer who escorted me to the to the place where they further question people.
The place is full of ‘south asians’ and some Chinese. And as a south Asian myself, even I couldn’t immediately tell why they were there. I talked to them a bit and they’re here for shorter stays and with family (husband & wife, friends). One thing I found common that all of us had onward flight to Vietnam.
Then the officer who escorted me here came back and made me sit in front of him. He asks for documents and why I stay in Thailand for so long and stuff. I had everything prepared. They asked me to count the money I had in front of him, so I did that. 20k bath. Then he asked me to show the reservations for accommodation. I booked for 23 days out of 44, and I planned to book directly at the hotels once inside Thailand. And that’s where he held. Due to some flight timing issues, I booked only my first night at a hostel, then booked the rest of the accommodations differently. I first showed him booking for the first night, but then he said that I didn’t make enough reservations. I told him I have more and even showed him, but he kept parroting that. After a while I just figured out that he was just looking for a reason to deny me or something, and the only way he would’ve let me off is if I had booked for all 44 days in advance.
They he went inside another room and brought back a laminated sheet with rules written on it. I read everything, and I found that I’m not breaking any rule written there but he kept bringing up the accommodations and that I’m getting deported. I thought I’ve lost. It’s no use to argue anymore. Another officer also came and ask why I’m in Thailand again. I said I just loved it and also want to see Songkran. He said ‘don’t you have work back at home?’ And I answered ‘I am a writer’. That interested them and they asked to prove that I am a write. As I write anonymously, it was pretty hard but I tried my best. Still not convinced. Again said I am getting deported and wouldn’t listen to anything I say.
I gave up once again. Thought I’ve made a huge mistake by booking everything non-refundable and just lost thousands of dollars. Then he got up, went inside the room at the back, came back 15 seconds later and said ‘I talked with my senior and we decided to let you in this time. But next time you come get a visa.’
I don’t even understand which visa he wanted me to get. Normal tourist visa? Dtv?
But I just said ‘yes, thank you.’ And cleared the immigration.
Oh, and by the way, on that laminated sheet of rules the number of days allowed was 120 (which I didn’t surpass). Really messed up the start of my trip.
(Sorry for the spelling mistakes and everything. I just got to my room and couldn’t help but write all of this.)
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5851176&forum_id=2\u0026mark_id=5310909#49778255)