Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Refusal of Entry and the difference between Refusal of Entry and Blacklisting here in Thailand. As discussed in other videos made contemporaneously with this one, I've gotten into the issue that we have been hearing anecdotally from a number of folks as well as from different sources throughout the internet, that there are a number of foreigners that are being denied entry when trying to come into Thailand.

This is not uncommon at this time of year. Toward the end of the high season, which we are getting into that with February having rolled around, they start shaking out if you will the folks that are really in Thailand in this tourists and folks that oftentimes come to Thailand maybe for their first time sometimes, and really fall in love with the place and decide they want to live here. Again, this all kind of happens through high season, and then it kind of shakes out; at the end of high season we usually see Thai Immigration more stringently enforcing the rules regarding, well I shouldn't say more stringently enforcing the rules, but more widely exercising their discretion to turn people away. As we have discussed in other videos, one of the reasons they are doing this right now - at least from what we are hearing anecdotally - is based on what is called proof of funds. Basically you need to be able to prove up that you have financial resources in order to maintain yourself in the Kingdom. Immigration has the discretion to ask for proof of such financial resources at an Immigration Checkpoint. Failure to be able to show financial resources is resulting in people being turned away. 

Now it's important to point out that Refusal of Entry in and of itself, is not necessarily Blacklisting; blacklisting is being put on a list of people that are not allowed to get into the Kingdom anymore or into the future. Most folks that end up on the Blacklist they usually end up there because they either committed a crime in Thailand or they were overstaying in Thailand and they are on some sort of Blacklist which can range from anywhere up to 90 days, all the way up to 99 years you can end up on the Blacklist. It's important to understand, Refusal of Entry in and of itself is not necessarily considered Blacklisting by Thai Immigration but it's important to point out however that Denial of Entry can lead one to basically be put into what I would call, put under the label if you will of sort of "Shadow Ban" - I've done videos on this before - the sort of gray list if you will. Anybody that has ever been denied entry to Thailand, that is noted on your record when you are coming through immigration. And now with Biometrics where they are able to consolidate people's travel history into Thailand, again a Refusal of Entry will be noted. It is not a blacklisting per se, but it will cause in my opinion, it is very likely to cause heightened scrutiny at a subsequent time when someone is trying to enter the Kingdom. 

So again, while not a blacklisting per se, it does have longer term consequences on folks who are trying to either frequently travel to or live in the Kingdom of Thailand.