Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the issue of what is called Refusal of Entry at Immigration Border Checkpoints here in Thailand. This can happen and we've seen it; I've seen it happen multiple times. Recently it's come to my attention, both anecdotally and through research in the ether that is the internet, that there are a number of instances of folks being refused entry to Thailand when trying to travel into the Kingdom and one of the big reasons for this is based on proof of funds. Basically they're saying, "hey, we want to see that you have financial resources in order to support yourself from Thailand". And the best way to do this, the rule of thumb - and by the way, this has been in effect for well over a decade, I think we're going on like 15 years ago now about 2011, 2012 when where there was a major crackdown on people that were living in Thailand utilizing Visa Exemptions as well as Tourist Visas and the proof of funds issue was used at that time to start thwarting people from living in the Kingdom. 

Now one thing I would note is it looks like this is being applied, based on what we are hearing from anecdotal sources, that this is not only just being applied to those who are maintaining Visa Exemption status, but also Tourist status and DTV holders. DTV holders are being stopped and asked, "hey, where are the financial resources to prove up that you can support yourself in Thailand", and again, the rule of thumb is 20,000 Baht. That has always been the rule of thumb going back again, about 2012, I think when all of this, when we started dealing with this at that time. Immigration had kind of an on again, off again sort of application or enforcement of this protocol. I think it's noteworthy. This usually happens toward the end of a high season as they start to sort of shake out who has come to Thailand is true tourist and who is trying to live here. 

Again the issue of Refusal of Entry is interesting because folks tend to misunderstand what it is. One, and I get into this in another video made contemporaneously with this one, it is not the same as being blacklisted; and I'll get into blacklisting versus that in the other video. So understand, it's not actually the same as being blacklisted, but you are being turned away from Thailand. This can lead to problems, because if you are turned away from Thailand, you are effectively viewed as a deportee so going to a third country could be problematic, because they may not want to take you if you have been refused entry. And I have actually seen people end up in a sort of cascading effect if you will, where they just sort of bounce around and then they have to end up going back to their home country because nobody will take them because they are viewed as sort of having been deported if you will.

So again Refusal of Entry while not Blacklisting - and again I get into that in another video - it is significant and they are doing Refusals of Entry right now apparently based on the notion or in exercise of their discretion on the notion that somebody doesn't have the ability to support themselves in Thailand for when they are coming in. So that's the thing to take away from this video. It is a limited refusal in a sense, but it does have wider and broader ramifications.