Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing recent developments within Thai Immigration, especially stricter and heightened scrutiny that is being applied to entrants trying to enter Thailand who are coming from other countries, not just Cambodia, although Cambodians are being subjected to stricter scrutiny by the Immigration apparatus at the airport, at airport checkpoint. But all types of foreign nationals have actually been checked and as I have discussed in a video I made contemporaneously with this one, in the last 10 days as of the time of making this video here in the middle of December, they have actually denied entry to 128 non-Khmer, non-Cambodian foreigners trying to get enter Thailand. So this is pretty big stuff. But I decided to make this video because I wanted people to be aware of the possibility of queues i.e. lines at Suvarnabhumi Airport associated with Immigration. 

I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: Border checks tightened. Quoting directly: "The Immigration Bureau is also coordinating with security and intelligence agencies to obtain more information on suspected foreign mercenaries, and if specific individuals can be identified, screening can be more targeted reducing disruption for ordinary tourists, he said. He added that tighter checks may lead to long queues, particularly at Suvarnabhumi Airport, but waiting times would not exceed 45 minutes." That's important. I think folks who are travelling would probably like to know that information. That's why I'm making this video specifically to just discuss the fact that yeah, don't particularly expect to just fly through Immigration when you are coming through the airports now here in Thailand. 

As I discussed in another video, they actually just had a major meeting between the Prime Minister and a lot of other, I think National Security advisor also discussed with the five Heads of Thai Immigration at the Airport, new protocols associated with new scrutiny, so this doesn't just pertain to Suvarnabhumi; I think it pertains to virtually all airports throughout Thailand. That being said, Suvarnabhumi is the biggest and it processes the most caseloads, so presumably if there are going to be delays, the most would likely be at Suvarnabhumi. That said, quoting further: "The Immigration Bureau has tightened screening a foreign nationals entering Thailand, applying the Immigration Act to deny entry to individuals assessed as potential threats." Again, I urge those who are watching this video, go check out that article in detail. 

Also, we get into long-form content in our paid news service regarding these matters. And I just made a video this past Sunday. I'm looking forward to making another video this week to get into some of the long-form content of how all of this may impact expat land, how it may impact geo-politics, economics etc. and the actual practical ramifications including Immigration ramifications as well as the ability to travel here in Thailand. We get into all of that. If you're interested, please email us, [email protected] and we will get you on the mailing list for that long-form content. Also while I'm talking my book, my better half and I set up a restaurant here in downtown Bangkok, it's called Pancake Palace. As the name implies, it's breakfast anytime and American Diner style food. It should not be presumed that we only serve breakfast though. We also have really good by the way American Diner style food: we've got hamburgers, cheeseburgers, we've even got American Sloppy Joe's, we've got buffalo wings, we have got regular chicken wings, chilli bowls, Coke in glass bottles; we've also got grilled cheese sandwiches, assorted other types of sandwiches, again as well as a chicken sandwich and hamburgers and cheeseburgers. So if you're interested, please feel free to drop on by; Pancake Palace, link is in the description below. 

That said, circling back, quoting further from, Border checks tightened. "In December alone, 78 Cambodian nationals were denied entry despite Cambodia's inclusion on Thailand's Visa-free list of 93 countries. Additionally, 128 foreigners." - so presumably, that's 128 non-Cambodian foreigners - quoting further: "suspected of links to mercenary activities were denied entry in the first 10 days of the month." So within the first 10 days of December (correction from January), 128 non-Cambodian foreigners were denied entry after applying strict scrutiny to them, and they were determined to be for whatever reason, not desirable in Thailand. That's a pretty big deal. 

Now that also implies a pretty substantial amount of screening which again explains why we would be seeing delays at Immigration checkpoints here in Thailand. That being said, should this be viewed as being a forever thing? Should it be viewed as something to completely avoid Thailand over? I don't really think so. At the end of the day, it just means you're probably going to have to wait a little longer at Immigration in order to be admitted. That being said, we will certainly be keeping people updated on this channel as the situation evolves.