Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

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Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by buksida »

If you are entering Thailand on a tourist visa, you may be required to show immigration officials Bt20,000 in cash.

Immigration officials at a number border checkpoints across Thailand are asking some people entering the country on a tourist visa to show Bt20,000 in cash. The increased scrutiny being placed on tourist visa holders is to crack down on foreigners who officials suspect are not genuine tourists and who may be working in Thailand illegally.

People trying to enter with history of tourist visa entries appear to be the ones under the most amount of scrutiny. ED [education] visa holders are also the subject of similar scrutiny.

Reports have surfaced on social media of foreigners being refused entry for not having Bt20,000 in cash when entering Thailand.

One person even claimed that they could show proof of hotel bookings, details of an onward flight and bank statements showing funds, but was still refused entry.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... l/30321036
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by PeteC »

Is there a published Immigration law saying that you have to have X amount of cash on your person when arriving? Pete :cheers:
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by buksida »

20108485_850953895067053_9175814721430777829_n.jpg
20108485_850953895067053_9175814721430777829_n.jpg (28.58 KiB) Viewed 2406 times
This notice is on display somewhere, but until now they have never enforced it.
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by lomuamart »

The last time I remember it being enforced was years ago for 30 day border runners and it wasn't enforced for long after an outcry that all runners, especially those on organised runs, would likely be hold up targets for bandits (never did hear of any hold ups though).
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by StevePIraq »

In my opinion it would seem more of a deterrent aimed at local Asians, Cambodian, Viet, Laos, Myanmar.
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by Takiap »

I had this happen to me a few years ago when returning from Malaysia. At that time, they were only targeting people from countries in Africa. I of course never had 20,000 baht in my wallet and the immigration officer was determined not to let me in unless I could show him the money.

He pointed to a notice on the wall (see above picture) and when I pointed out that there were hundreds of other passing through without being asked to show money, he simply shouted at me that I either show money or I go back to Malaysia.

Fortunately a female immigration officer came to my rescue and asked if I had the money in my bank. When I said yes, she told me to go to an ATM on the Thai side and bring back a receipt.

The funny thing was that I was then allowed to enter Thailand with my passport and belongings in order to go to the nearest ATM. When I returned and showed her the slip, I got stamped in without any further hassle.
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by handdrummer »

Takiap, maybe he was just looking for a bribe?
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by Name Taken »

handdrummer wrote: Wed Jul 19, 2017 12:58 pm Takiap, maybe he was just looking for a bribe?
That's more than likely true, and that's exactly what I thought after reading his post.
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

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Name Taken wrote: Wed Jul 19, 2017 1:21 pm
handdrummer wrote: Wed Jul 19, 2017 12:58 pm Takiap, maybe he was just looking for a bribe?
That's more than likely true, and that's exactly what I thought after reading his post.
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by hhfarang »

StevePIraq wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2017 3:42 pm In my opinion it would seem more of a deterrent aimed at local Asians, Cambodian, Viet, Laos, Myanmar.
According to these articles it is an attempt to cut down on broke backpackers coming into the country. That would probably be mostly young western tourists.

https://nypost.com/2017/07/20/thailand- ... -get-home/

https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articl ... -visa-cash

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/trave ... ckers.html
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by handdrummer »

only the well-to-do are wanted anywhere, the rest can stay home. the world, like health care, is for the wealthy. the next revolution will be the have not's against the haves. if you think isis is a threat you haven't seen anything yet. the antidote is to raise the living standard of the poor by providing jobs that pay a living wage. of course I may be wrong. who knows?
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by StevePIraq »

hhfarang wrote: Fri Jul 21, 2017 2:18 am
StevePIraq wrote: Tue Jul 18, 2017 3:42 pm In my opinion it would seem more of a deterrent aimed at local Asians, Cambodian, Viet, Laos, Myanmar.
According to these articles it is an attempt to cut down on broke backpackers coming into the country. That would probably be mostly young western tourists.

https://nypost.com/2017/07/20/thailand- ... -get-home/

https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articl ... -visa-cash

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/trave ... ckers.html
If true then I would agree with you and the articles. However it would still make it very difficult for anyone from the countries I listed to come into Thailand.
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by laser »

The complete list of entry rules :laugh:
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by Big Boy »

A few years back, when coming on holiday, the airline at Heathrow were going to refuse my son passage because his hair was long (it was clean and tidy). There was quite a debate with the supervisor being called before they let him board. Even then, they said he might be refused entry at Bangkok.

I don't remember the airline, but I did mention on here at the time.
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Re: Tourist crackdown: tourist visa holders being asked to show 20,000 baht in cash entering Thailand

Post by oakdale160 »

I read an article, it may have been on the forum. It was about TAT not being so interested in numbers but who the visitors are. Aussies were favored--they come for short periods, mostly well inside the 30-day limit and they spend over 5000b/person /day.
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