Reports of entry refusals in Thailand surfacing in many news outlets and online forums have steadily mounted border insecurity among tourists. Adding to their anxiety is the fact that many of those tourists who have been denied border entry were holding a valid tourist visa. As a result, the issue on having the assurance of successful entry to Thailand without the hassle of being stopped at the immigration has become a major concern.

The regulation imposed following the crackdown is rather deemed as a stricter implementation of existing rules towards people who, for several times, express the intent to travel to Thailand on a tourist visa. But that does not seem to be the case from the perspective of the embassies and consulates in many countries where a person can apply for a tourist visa as long as he can prove that the purpose of his travel is tourism.

Factors that Immigration Officers Weigh at the Border

Looking at the recent incidents of refused border entries, it appears that some border checkpoints observe a more discerning regulation in allowing people into Thailand. For instance, an officer at the Sungai Kolok border checkpoint said that they no longer allow passport holders from Russia, Laos, Vietnam and South Korea to enter Thailand through their checkpoint and provided a suggestion to go to Kuala Lumpur and fly to Thailand instead.

Other border checkpoints in Thailand may be less restrictive at this time but will likely follow the more stringent rules if the government directives continue.

While the disposition of an immigration officer in allowing border entry may be sometimes unpredictable, we can contemplate on the common denominators of denied border entry incidents and arrive at a logical conclusion on the factors being considered:

• Foreigners with previous history of multiple visa exemption entries.
• Passport with recent back-to-back issuance of tourist visa.
• Individuals who have acquired extensions on their visas for several times in the past year or so.

Points to be Considered

Having a valid tourist visa may not completely guarantee successful entry at the border. Here are some recommendations that will help tourists get the entry approval from an immigration officer:

• Make preparations for your supporting evidence of your short term visit - like having an onward travel ticket, hotel reservations and proof of sufficient funds, that might be asked by an immigration officer.
• Anticipate questions from immigration querying about the purpose of your travel to Thailand.
• Lastly, know the location of where you plan on crossing the border, ensure that someone knows where you plan on crossing, and prepare contingency travel plans in the unlikely event that entry through the border is not granted.

If you want to stay or work in Thailand, procuring the proper visa will allow you to bypass the issues presented by the latest immigration policies. Securing a long term visa under a category where all qualifications are met and all requirements can be obtained will give non-tourist peace of mind.

 

On average, there are over 800,000 UK citizens who visit Thailand every year. The kingdom of Thailand has been known, notably, for its unique and lively culture, distinctive cuisine and stunning beaches and mountains. Hence, it is no surprise that Thailand has been consistently the top choice by many as tourist destination in all countries across the southeast Asia. While nationals of other western countries are allowed to take pleasure in doing a yearlong trip to Thailand solely for the purpose of tourism, the regulation as governed by the Thai consulates in the UK maintains a divergent policy.

Since after the implementation of stricter rules in Thai embassies at the beginning of this year, UK citizens are no longer offered with the one-year multiple-entry Thai visa when applying from the UK. Only under certain circumstances (when all qualifications are met) can they apply for a non-immigrant one-year term visa to Thailand which can be for any of the following basis:

• Doing business;
• Working;
• Studying;
• Accompanying a Thai spouse; or
• Retiring in Thailand.

If the applicant wants to travel to Thailand for the purpose of tourism and for an intended period which cannot be sufficed by the 90-day duration of a typical Thai tourist visa, the popular option to majority is the triple-entry tourist visa.

What is Triple-Entry Tourist Visa?

The triple-entry tourist visa is not quite different from the other tourist visa types, except only that this visa is valid for six months as compared to the single and double-entry visas of which validity is only three months for both. With the Triple-Entry visa, the holder is permitted to stay for up to 60 days per entry. Each entry can be extended for one month and, therefore, the total period of stay by an applicant can be maximized to a total of nine months as shown in the illustration below:

[2 months (period of stay) + 1 month (extension)] x 3 (entries) = 9 months total

The application for the one month extension per entry is done in any of the immigration offices in Thailand on or before the 60th day of stay. The cost of visa extension is priced at 1,900 baht at the moment. In addition, tourist visas can also be converted or changed to a non-immigrant O visa inside Thailand, whether it be for marriage or for retirement purpose.

Overview of the Triple-Entry Tourist Visa application

It is best to apply for the visa at least three weeks prior to the intended travel date to Thailand. UK citizens and even foreigners who are currently in the UK (except those who cannot apply for a Thai visa outside their home countries) can apply for the visa at the UK embassy in London. As observed in recent months, however, consulate generals are more relaxed in issuing tourist visas in other Thai embassies such as the one in Hull and Birmingham.

Below is an overview of the application process:

• Fill out the Tourist visa application form.
  Visa form can be obtained from any of the Thai embassies mentioned above.
• Select the option in the form that says triple entries.
• Submit the form with your valid passport and two passport-size photos.
  Other documents may be required by the consulate official, so it is best to contact them before lodging the application.
• Pay the application fee.
  Currently, the cost per entry for the tourist visa is 25 GBP. The triple-entry visa, therefore, will cost 75 GBP total.

[caption id="attachment_744" align="alignleft" width="300"] Photo by Eric John. [/caption]

The world was watching when the Royal Thai Armed Forces enforced martial law in Thailand on May 22nd of this year which is necessitated by the entire situation in the country, according to the Army chief, following six months of political turmoil and mass rallies. Shortly after this declaration, many protest sites and important intersections in Bangkok were stationed by the military and a night-time curfew was then imposed in the country.

This ruling consequently prompted travel advisories from different governments all across the globe and, thus, somehow stirred up tension to many. A number of countries broadcasted strong alert on the coup and urged their citizens to shelve trips and cancel unimportant visits to Thailand. As a result, the hard-pressed Thai tourism was threatened to experience yet another blow.

Thailand now in actuality since the martial law was invoked

In contrary to what the others are anxious about, the situation in many parts of Thailand has been very safe and secure since the imposition of martial law. What others predicted as a potential threat to the welfare of the general public actually turned out to be quite the opposite. During the thick of unrest in the politics, majority of Thai locals have remained spirited and most establishments in and outside the city of Bangkok stayed open and carried out their businesses as usual. What’s more, transportation means in all parts of the country stayed almost unaffected at daytime and until before late night during when curfew was just initially started.

While the plan to revoke the martial law in place may still be indefinite at the moment, the conditions in Thailand had been observed to have returned to normal. And on the 13th of June 2014, the junta decided to lift the enforcement of curfew in the country.

Planning to travel to Thailand now?

Thailand has been a favorite getaway by the westerners and many foreign travelers as the country never fails to offer culture, retail and great tourist spots. Consider the following reminders if you are planning to take a trip to Thailand or are already inside the country.

• Be equipped
  To avoid the hassle in the immigration when you arrive in Thailand, make sure that you have prepared all travel requirements beforehand. This may include any or all of the following:

  1. Passport
  2. Airline or travel tickets
  3. Sufficient money or funds (At least 10,000 baht per person)
  4. Hotel bookings or proof of accommodations.
  
  

  Once you are inside Thailand, always remember that a valid passport or a travel document must be carried at all times when you are traveling anywhere. Keep in mind the validity of your stay by referring to your visa or the immigration stamp (if you are exempted for a visa) on your passport to avoid overstay consequences. (See the list of countries under visa exemption rule here.)

• Be vigilant
  Do not take part in public gatherings which are illegal under martial law. Although demonstration sites may appear to be relatively calm, it does not eliminate the possibility of a violent crackdown bursting out for whatever reason, and you would certainly not want to get trapped in such situation when that happens. So as much as you can, try to avoid those sites and nearby areas.

• Be updated
  Always be in the know. As a tourist, it is still necessary to pay attention to the media reports on what’s going on especially in the political situation in Thailand. To ensure safety in the course of your travel to the country, I would suggest not to take travel advisories lightly.

Among the tourists and foreign immigrants in Thailand, the issue on visa run crackdown is basically what has shifted great interest lately. Many people are now becoming more and more anxious due to the uncertainties it caused to the general foreign travellers, especially those who are doing frequent trips in and out of Thailand.

According to an Immigration official, what emerges as a crackdown to many are regulations that have long existed and are only more strictly applied. This is to further address the growing numbers of crimes that involve foreigners as well as the number of illegitimate foreign workers inside the country.

For several years now, the Kingdom of Thailand has become a home to thousands of location-independent workers who have more or less made the country their temporary residence while taking part on different job opportunities. The immigration officials have emphasized their concern on foreign nationals, particularly the South Koreans, Vietnamese and Russians, who are extending their stays through visa runs. Many of them are engaged in professions that are supposedly reserved for Thais and the Thailand government does not like the idea that they are actually stealing jobs from the locals.

What every foreign traveller should know

Until the second week of May of this year, tourists can easily obtain visa exemption stamps by doing border runs on the same day at the usual border crossings in Thailand provinces. The new severe measure in the immigration rules, however, is making it more challenging to visa runners since higher level of restrictions and even prohibitions are now enforced. (See the list of countries under visa exemption rule here.)

The order, which should come into effect at all Thai immigration land border checkpoints and airports after August 12, states that tourists of certain nationalities are entitled to the visa exemption three times before they get a passport stamp "O-I" (which indicates "out-in" from/to Thailand). The issuance of visa is always at the discretion of the immigration officer and even a foreigner who completed just one visa run can have his passport stamped with "O-I".

Reminders to passport holders who are under the visa exemption scheme

Keep in mind that a foreigner may be refused re-entry if he's not able to satisfy the border control officials on his reason for travel. After all, visa restrictions, requirements and even the application process may vary depending on location and nationality.

To avoid the hassle with immigration, it is very important to consider making adequate preparation on the requirements listed below:

• Passport valid for at least six months following the departure date.
• Onward ticket out of Thailand.
• Sufficient travel funds equivalent to at least 10,000 baht per person or 20,000 baht per family accordingly.

Over the past years, the fast growing economy of Thailand has resulted to even more capitalization and has also continually stirred up greater employment opportunities for both the locals and foreign job seekers alike in the country. Though a lot people might perceive a greener pasture in the western part of the globe, still many others consider an encouraging career path inside Thailand.

If you are one of those who can picture a promising professional career in this country, one thing you must survey are the legalities involved in the process. Consider the guidelines below to gain a better understanding on how you can become a legal foreign worker in Thailand.

Applying for the proper visa

In order to visit and stay in Thailand, there are many types of visa that can be applied for which must follow the purpose of your travel. In view of this writing, the non-immigrant visa category “B” is the appropriate type to enter the country to work. See what is a Non-Immigrant B Visa here.

You should note that there is no direct application to get this type of visa when inside Thailand (an initial non-immigrant “B” visa must be obtained first either from your home country or from the neighboring countries of Thailand). It is viable, therefore, that you make advance planning and preparation before visiting Thailand. Once you have sorted out all the required documents and paper works, then you should be all set.

While most of the documents needed for non-immigrant “B” visa are to be provided by the prospective employer, the other basic requirements are listed below:

• Passport which is valid for more than 6 months.
• Proof of sufficient funds of 20,000 baht per person and 40,000 baht per family accordingly.
• Recent passport-sized photo which was taken within the past 6 months.
• Completely filled out visa application form.

Getting a valid work permit

Under the Thailand laws and regulations on employment, foreigners are required to get a work permit to be able to work or legally participate in some particular activities inside the country. Otherwise, they will be in violation of the law and may be at risk of facing prosecution, fine or even imprisonment.

You should also remember that during an application for the work permit, a valid non-immigrant visa on the business category must be readily available.

When you find the opportunity to potentially land a job in Thailand, it is important to coordinate all the legal processes of becoming employed with your prospective company. After all, foreign nationals can only become legally employed in Thailand after having completed all valid work documents.

 

After several days since the Bangkok Shutdown has virtually ended, the Kingdom of Thailand is expected to witness a bounce back in their tourism after a resounding drop on the number of foreign tourist arrivals during the heat of the anti-government protests. More people, especially the foreigners, consider this a very welcome news. It was a relief to many that the situation is slowly getting back to normal, at least in many parts of the country that were hammered and affected by the political rallies.

Things to Consider When Traveling to Thailand

With the lesser threat of violence, the country is eyeing more foreign nationals in the coming days to be taking a trip to Thailand for a good holiday or for a longer term of visit. While it may be enthralling to think about the after-arrival experience, travelers should also pay attention to the following reminders when considering to travel to Thailand:

1. The need for a visa

   One logical question when going to an international travel is whether a visa is needed or not. This is quite relevant to the intended period of stay in the country. The government of Thailand has concluded different agreements with many countries on the subject of visa exemptions for a period of stay not exceeding 15 days or a month. It is best to check with the local Thai embassies or Thai immigration firms on the regulation of travel visa requisites to be on the safe side.

2. To-take checklist

   The required travel documents to enter Thailand are pretty much the same with many countries. For the most basic part, the foreign traveller must be in possession of a passport which is valid for at least six months following the intended departure date. Some Thai immigration officers also require at least two remaining unused pages in the passport for any necessary entry and exit stamps that may be issued.

   A confirmed travel itinerary is another document that needs to be presented which shows that the foreigner has an onward ticket out; thus, eliminating the possibility of overstaying the visa for whatever reason.

   And lastly, the foreigner is expected to show proof of funds for maintenance and accommodation. This may include sufficient cash, traveler's checks or credit cards that are internationally recognized.

Careful consideration on the things that need to be checked ahead of time before the travel is very important. This is to ensure making the most out of the whole travel experience. The part of the preparation to set out plan when finally inside Thailand should not be that hard since one can find almost anything in here and there are many diversions in the country that attract a lot of foreigners. After all, Thailand is claimed to be the most popular tourist destination in all the countries in Southeast Asia.

  See also other services for Thailand Visa application.