The Mysteries of Thai Immigration

written by Douglas Flynn June 2012

Whether you are outside Thailand planning your next fabulous vacation or already here contemplating staying longer; you are going to run across the Thai Immigration officer(s). One of the most important thing you should always remember is Thailand has a variety strict set of rules and regulations regarding issuing visas. The other equally important fact is these rules and regulations are implemented and enforced at the whim of whatever office and officer you are dealing with. I have visited several different offices regarding obtaining a visa and not matter how much research I did in advance to ensure I was prepared it usually ended up with the officer I was speaking with had just one or two more requests for additional forms to be completed or an extra copy of some miscellaneous page from my passport.

For those of you lucky enough to still be planning your vacation to Thailand you have several advantages, first, if you are coming from a recognized country (one giving automatic ‘upon entry visa’s) and staying less than fifteen (15) or thirty (30) days in Thailand, you don’t have anything to worry about. Flying into country you can apply for and get an immediate fifteen to thirty day visa upon arrival at the airport, problem solved. Just clear customs and head for you hotel, put your feet up and relax.

For those of you not in this category but people that do have to worry about making special applications for longer term visas; you have some additional work ahead to ensure your stay in Thailand is peaceful and uneventful as far as Thai Immigration is concerned. First decide how long you wish to stay in the kingdom and then determine if it is possible to obtain a visa for that period. I have found that the website Thai Visa is very helpful with many questions and helpful visa tips, plus there are far too many variations in the rules and length of visa’s per country to list here. And since the implementation of the immigration rules do have a tendency to change unannounced and on a whim it is best to always verify what you think you know and what documents you will need, then be prepared for potential changes when you are face to face with the Thai Immigration Officer. An important rule to remember is to always keep smiling, be respectful and give them whatever they want, no matter how silly it may seem. Remember this is their job; they know/make the rules and have all the power and you must never seem to be challenging their power, otherwise you are in for a long process and potentially a denial of your request.

Let me give you a few examples from my experience to give you an idea of what I am talking about.

1. The first several times I came to Thailand, I flew in from Tokyo where I had been living for over 6 years and I never really gave a visa any thought, heck I was an American and we are ‘welcome; everywhere, right? As it turned out since I was only staying a week or two, I had no problem clearing immigration, obtaining the necessary visa upon arrival. Hey this is easy, no problem….
   
   
2. My stupidity show itself on my third trip to Thailand from Tokyo. I was actually coming for two months, one as a vacation, the other to take a course to learn to teach English as a second language (big mistake). About half way through class, which was four weeks long, I discovered that my original 30 day visa was about to run out and that I must make a “visa run” out of the country to get a new visa stamp. Well I was ‘lucky’ and was able join a planned ‘visa run’ (there are lots) to Ranong on the Myanmar border, there to exit and re-enter Thailand getting the necessary new visa stamp. This is not the most fun experience; the trip was an all day affair in a minivan over very uncomfortable roads. Any plans I had of studying or even reading or sleeping went out the window quickly after a few minutes on the road. At the time I was also very lucky since they were still giving 30 day visas even if you entered the country via road; the rules have now changed and you can only get an additional 14 day visa utilizing the overland method. I must admit, even this simple task was not without a bit of drama, while at the border, re-entering Thailand the immigration officer went through my passport and started adding up the days I had been in and out of the country in the prior 6 months. It seems there is a rule that you can not just keep going back and forth across the border to maintain and endless visa. It was quite upsetting at the time as he pointed out I had spent too much time in country and not enough out. This appeared to be a problem until I pointed out to him in a very polite way that the other trips had actually been in 2006 and since it was June of 2008, not really a problem, to which be begrudgingly agreed.
   
   
3. My third trip to Thailand was to actually take up residence and work out the remainder of my life. Why I chose Thailand can be found in another blog article. But this was to be my new home. I had finished my English Language Teacher training successfully, but had chosen a slightly difference career path, one that offered (at least in print) great rewards. I was told that to obtain a working visa and work permit, I must leave the kingdom, submit the necessary paperwork at a Thai’ consulate, obtain the correct stamps in my passport and then return. The company that was kind enough to hire me did provide most of the necessary paperwork to obtain the work visa, but since I was in Tokyo, gathering my belongings, I double checked what the Thai Government Website listed as the requirements. Luckily I had taken this precaution since in addition to the company paperwork I also needed a Japanese Guarantor, copies of my bank account and copies of my flight to and from Bangkok ( not sure why since my intention was on staying a long time). As are most things in Japan, the workers at the Thai Embassy were sticklers for paperwork, every “i” had to be dotted and every “t” had to be crossed, and low and behold I had forgotten some piece of paper that was most important to the process and would have to return to next business day (and I say business day because I had chosen a week in which there was not only a Japanese holiday, but also a Thai holiday. Now I had a problem, my flight back to Phuket was on Sunday and I couldn’t go back to the embassy until Friday and they stated that it took two working days to get the visa, which meant I couldn’t pick it up until Monday. When I asked if they could potentially rush it so I could get it on Friday, they answer was a very unfriendly NO, so I had to pay to reschedule my flights. And after all this hassled I only got a 90 day visa, so I was already looking at having to go through all this again in three months.
   
   
4. The visa run from Phuket just to renew my work visa was the worse trip as far as transportation and accommodations, a friend at work suggested the cheapest way to make a visa run was to handle everything myself as far as booking the minivans and hotels in Penang, Malaysia, about a ten to twelve hour trip through southern Thailand. Don’t get me wrong, I like an adventure as much as the next guy, but to me Holiday Inn had always been considered roughing it, boy have my values changed since living here. Getting the visa was easy, I had the company paperwork and the nice desk clerk at the Banana Republic Hotel took it and my money and did everything else, all I had to do was stop by the next day and pick up my fully stamped passport, again a 90 day visa. However, as I said the rest of the trip was a nightmare, the vans were old and the air conditioners didn’t work; the area of Penang where I was forced to stay was the lower end of the backpacker’s area, so you can image the accommodations were not that great. To top off this experience, once back across the border in Thailand with my 60 day stay on a 90 day visa we were forced to take an unplanned detour thanks to rebel activity along the road just south of HatYai. The problem came when our driver got lost; it seems detours are not well marked for avoiding rebel attacks.
   

Now this was the cheapest way to go, but I would not recommend it to anyone, I later found Bangkok Legal offers a very nice “Visa Run Package” for around 4,500 baht that includes transportation in a luxury minivan (limited seating), a night stay in a nice hotel in Penang, plus multiple meals. Heck they even take you to the Thai embassy and help make sure you have everything you need including copies and most important pictures.

I did make several visa runs to Penang to renew my work permit and then switch to a tourist visa once I got fired, I was a lousy timeshare salesman, too honest I guess. Each was easy, but beware, Penang does at time clamp down on renewing your tourist visa multiple times there.

5. Once I got my pension all set and was ready to switch to a retirement visa I went to the immigration office in Phuket Town to double check the rules. The government website states that you must be over 50 years old and have either 800,000 baht in a Thai bank or proof that you get the equivalent of 65,000 baht a month income from a pension. I had no intention of putting 800,000 baht at zero interest in a Thai bank for the three months required nor did I get 65,000 baht a month in income. So I asked if I could use a combination of the two and was told “yes” by the nice officer in the well tailored uniform. I did forget to ask if I could do it all right there, which I could have, but thought I still had to leave country to get it done. I booked the flights hotels to Kuala Lumpur and headed off with all my paperwork, including a notarized paper from the US Embassy stating how much money I got monthly in pension, plus an official paper from my bank stating how much I had on deposit. I had booked an inexpensive air carrier to Kuala Lumpur, but did not realize there are actually two airports there, one for full fare carriers and a second for the low cost carriers and you can guess which has the fuller services and is nicer.
   

The real importance of this tail is that once I reached the Thai Embassy and waited forever for my turn, the nice official behind the bullet proof glass told me that he would not except my documentation, that it had to be EITHER 800,000 baht in a Thai bank or proof of 65,000 baht per month income, NOT a combination there of. I did mention that the official at the Thai Immigration service in Phuket had told me that a combination was acceptable, he said not to him and as I have mentioned it does you no good to argue! So I ended up with yet another 90 day visa, which got me a 60 day stay upon arrival at Phuket airport.

I went to the Phuket Immigration office to complain, knowing it would do little good, and was told I never had to go to Kuala Lumpur, that they could and would do it all right there. With little to no trouble since I already had everything, although I did need one additional copy, never entirely easy, I had my retirement visa good for a year. All I have to do is report to immigration every 90 or so days to tell them I plan on staying another 90 days. Don’ ask why, there is no reason, just another rule!

I now go once a year with all my paperwork, yes I have to get a notarized paper from the US embassy stating my monthly pension income which costs me 50 USD, and the retirement visa itself costs me 1,900 baht, but that is it. No more three day visa runs all over Asia or hassles with multiple different Thai immigration offices, I just have to deal with the one office and they now know me on sight, so do not give me any problems.

The one conclusion that I can draw from all my experiences and those of others I have heard about is to always be RESPECTFUL to the immigration officers and NEVER challenge their authority, all that will get you is more trouble and a refusal for a visa. Also keep in mind that if you do make a visa run to get a 90 day tourist visa, that will only get you 60 days upon entry into the country, to get the other 30 days you must go to the immigration office and pay an additional 1,900 baht, rules are rules!

Reviews - Lavinia

Comments after a Phuket Multi Adventure Safari & 2hr ATV



"Dear Francesco,

Thank you for your help with this tour. We had a great day!!

Kind Regards,

Lavinia"

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Under discussed topic - Health Care in Phuket

Here is a subject you won’t often here much about or see many blogs on, health care in the Phuket area.  I know it is not a great subject and sort of a downer if you are anxiously planning your dream vacation to paradise, but let’s face it, sh*t happens sometimes and it is helpful to know a little in advance of needing these services.  I am by far no expert on the various services here in Phuket, although through experience I have had a chance to sample several of the hospitals and dentist.
Let’s start with the easy one, dentist; there are lots of them spotted around Patong and Phuket Town as well as all the other areas of the island.  Of the ones I have used, they are all quite competent and seem to specialize in pain free dentistry, a high priority on my list.  Some, perhaps over half specialize in teeth whiting services and of the people I have talked to that have utilized these services were quite pleased.  The good thing is the prices are very reasonable, as example, I had one tooth pulled for less than 1,000 baht and several filled for under 800 baht each, don’t try doing this in the US.  So if you are here and have any kind of tooth discomfort or pain, I would not hesitate going to one of the local dentist.  As a side note, most speak very good English, which is most helpful when explaining your particular problem.

For small ailments or cuts and scrapes, a visit to the local pharmacy may be all that is required.  Most of the pharmacies I have stopped in have staff that speaks at least a bit of English and some are excellent English speakers.  Here in Phuket you can get many medicines and drugs that you can not get elsewhere without a prescription.  The pharmacists I have spoken with are usually very knowledgeable about simple remedies for minor ailments or minor cuts and bruises.  And as with the dentist, the cost of medicines at your local pharmacy is very reason, to the point of perhaps being considered cheap.  Don’t worry about finding a pharmacy when you need it (except in the very early morning hours, they do have to sleep), there are countless pharmacies all over the island and most are open from 9am until 9 or 10pm.  Some do stay open later, but that is usually in the Patong night life district around Bangla Road (hey some men need a little help after a successful evening on Bangla Road).

Heaven forbid you should have something major happen concerning a medical condition, there are several world class hospitals located here on Phuket.  I have personally had experience with four of these hospitals and will not comment on those that I have not visited.  As a bit of history and to put my comments in some context, I have lived in Phuket for the past four years and have experienced two major heart attaches as well as other minor aches and pains, including two minor and one not so minor motor bike accidents.  I have also spoken to friends that have had other medical conditions as well as motorbike accidents and been to the local hospitals.

By far the best hospital as far as services offered and comfort is the Bangkok – Phuket Hospital and is rated as one of the top hospitals in the world.  This is where I went with each of my heart attaches and am still here to write this blog.  OK, maybe I am being a bit sarcastic but with the one in 2009, I actually did died some 15 times, the heart stopping completely, but was able to survive thanks to the doctors and care at Bangkok Hospital.  I say this not to down grade International Hospital, located up the road from Bangkok-Phuket Hospital on the bypass, but as an illustration.  When I first present with my symptoms at International Hospital, they though it was a stomach problem and attempted to treat me for only that.  Since I had already had 3 previous heart attaches, I knew it was more than just a stomach problem.  But the doctor there tried to insist on doing an Endoscopy (where they shove a tube down you throat), which I refused.  He kept insisting saying he needed to see what was in my stomach, to which I replied, ”Wait a minute and I will show you!” since I was throwing up so much.  They did keep me over night to be on the safe side and charged me about 30,000 baht, not inexpensive.  Next after my heart attach the following evening, I eventually ended up at Bangkok-Phuket Hospital where they went all out to save me, immediately implanting a temporary pacemaker.  After many tests and diagnostic procedures and some wrangling about costs we went ahead and did an angioplasty and a permanent pacemaker implant.

Cost was an important factor for me since I do not have health insurance, so luckily Bangkok-Phuket Hospital’s doctors’ worked with me to keep the costs within my budget.  Now I do not want you to think that Bangkok-Phuket Hospital is inexpensive and is by far the most expensive one of those I have experience with.  And the added expense does show when you first walk in the door there, it is by every standard a modern, clean, well run hospital, right down to the comfortable waiting areas and central air-conditioning.

About a year after my heart problems, I experienced a liver and kidney infection, which Bangkok-Phuket Hospital cured immediately.  And I continued to go there for my quarterly heart checkups.  So this past January when I again felt the symptoms of a heart attach, rushed back there for treatment.  This time the situation was a bit worse and I needed a triple bypass, which should have cost 500,000 baht all in.  But again lacking insurance and being way beyond my brother’s ability to cover, I had to tell the doctors no.  They were quite upset, mentioning that without it I would die, but facts are facts and I could not afford it, so I figured it must be my time to go.  But the leader surgeon intervened and went to the administrator and got him to waive the fee (nice!).   So I had the operation, not really any fun and seemed to be recovering OK, so they released me, but not before demanding I pay the remainder of the 500,000 baht.  I mentioned that the surgeon had gotten the fee waived, which he confirmed, so they let me out paying only for the room and associated services, about 35,000 baht.
The recovery process at home did not go well and I returned to Bangkok-Phuket Hospital to be re-admitted, but was refused, saying I still owed the balance of a couple hundred thousand baht.  After some discussions, this didn’t go well partially because of language and partially because I was in no condition to argue; I took an ambulance to the government run Vachira Hospital down the road about 3-5 kilometers.  To say the least Vachira Hospital is different in appearance than Bangkok-Phuket Hospital, no shiny reception lobby, no comfortable seating anywhere to be found, generally not as modern a hospital.  Plus it is crowded; being the government run hospital it is much less expensive and for the Thai’s in some cases offers free medical help.  But given these differences does not affect the level of care provided by the staff, although the number and level of English speakers in limited.  After several hours of being shuffled about in various halls within the hospital, I was placed in a ward with 15 other people in various states of health.  I was in Vachira Hospital for about a month and a half and the last 2 weeks actually had a very nice private room with air conditioning, private bath and a couch where my girlfriend could sleep.

This is a very important point in Thai hospitals, having your significant other stay with you is essential.  I discovered this on my first visit to the hospital, but it became abundantly clear while recuperating in Vachira that without Oi (my Thai wife) I would not have survived.  Unfortunately the Thai hospitals appear to be under staffed in nurses and nursing assistants.  But in the long run I recovered completely while at Vachira due to the fine care of the doctors and nurses and thank in no small part to Oi and the best part of the experience was the cost, only 32,000 baht for a month and half of round the clock care and medicines.  This included the charge for the private room for two weeks.  If you were to compare this to the cost of Bangkok-Phuket Hospital, the cost would have been at least 3 or 4 times as much.

The fourth hospital I have had experience with is the Patong Hospital, which is conveniently located in the heart of Patong.  It is also a government run Hospital and is similar to Vachira Hospital although not nearly as large or extensive.   I have never stayed in Patong Hospital over night but do go on a weekly basis to treat and dress the remaining surgical scars on my ankles from the triple bypass.  These wounds are very deep and taking a long time to heal, obviously since it has now been almost 5 months since the surgery.  Again like the other hospitals I have received excellent care from the staff.

OK to recap, the hospitals on Phuket are very good and if cost is no object, I would recommend Bangkok-Phuket Hospital in terms of services provided and efficiency.  To be honest the biggest drawback to Vachira and Patong Hospital are the wait times, because they are government run and inexpensive, they are crowded causing long waits to see doctors.  If you have an emergency, it is no problem because they will take you in through the emergency room.  But for minor problems or illnesses there is definitely a much longer wait at the government run hospitals, but the up side to waiting is the lower costs.

I feel that I should also mention that because it is a commercial hospital, Bangkok-Phuket Hospital does offer elective type surgeries that I am sure are excellent and less expensive than other parts of the world.  Of course in my experience I have found that the cost of the services offered at all of the hospitals in Phuket are far less expensive than any other part of the world.
Please if you are planning a vacation in Phuket, do your homework and get the necessary vaccination and bring any prescription medicines.  It would be a good idea to have a brief discussion with your doctor about you trip and any precautions you might need to take.  IF you are already here, don’t worry, the medical establishment can take care of whatever ails you and probably for a lot less than at home.