moto77

Sorry to say but I believe you to be "totally wrong" !

End of debate ............

LOL... I could care less. I didn't post it for you. You can believe the moon is made of cheese if you like.

I posted it so that people can be aware of misinformation. Anyone who NEEDS to know and doesn't believe me can ask an attorney and they will be told the same thing.

"The US just concluded a reciprocal agreement with China for 10 year visas"

Tell the US to pull the finger out and conclude similar agreements with all other countries .

Would the Chinese agreement have anything to do with the massive US $ dept owed to China ? .

No... nothing to do with that. The 10 year US tourist visa is common. For whatever reason the US already gives them to Thais as I said. Thailand does not reciprocate. I think the US should rethink this given the fact that Thailand has become so restrictive on its 30 day stamps. When they were virtually unlimited it was a different story.

They do not have the right to refuse anyone for any reasons other than granted by law. They may be able to use discretion within that law but it's very limited and certainly doesn't include exclusion for having x amount of previous visa exempt entries. If an IO wanted to exclude someone for "the likelihood of being a nuisance" they would have to justify it to senior officers. Immigration must then give the foreigner written notice to leave. The foreigner has the right to appeal to a higher authority.

Embassies and Consulates can only refuse visas that they offer if the applicant cannot provide all requested supporting documentation. Again, they don't make law they issue visas based on the law.

Agreed that no foreigner has the automatic right to enter but as long as they meet the entry requirements an IO cannot legally refuse entry. IO's turning foreigners away at borders and telling them to go and get visas are acting unlawfully, and discretion doesn't come in to it.

That's TOTALLY WRONG information. I'm not planing to get into an argument about the discretion of immigration officers, but it is virtually unlimited. You shouldn't be putting information like this out there, as it is based on your false assumptions, not the law.

MOTO 77

A detailed explanation of what you believe to be "TOTALLY WRONG" would be appreciated by us ill-informed chaps.

Thanks

Their discretion to allow entry is broad.

They can (and often do) refuse people for having too may previous entries.

They can refuse entry on suspicion alone--they do not need proof.

They do not have to admit you because you happen to meet the entry requirements.

i.e. So pretty much what I said. Totally wrong.

Thanks.

A couple questions:

So I'll be issued a 1-year that expires in October 2016. Is there any way to eventually get this cycle rolled back to expiring in August (or forward to December)? October will always be difficult.

Will I need proof of address in BKK-Chang Wattana? I usually stay in the executive apartments that are part of certain hotels. What would I use for proof? Utilities (and everything else) are included. There is no lease.

They do not have the right to refuse anyone for any reasons other than granted by law. They may be able to use discretion within that law but it's very limited and certainly doesn't include exclusion for having x amount of previous visa exempt entries. If an IO wanted to exclude someone for "the likelihood of being a nuisance" they would have to justify it to senior officers. Immigration must then give the foreigner written notice to leave. The foreigner has the right to appeal to a higher authority.

Embassies and Consulates can only refuse visas that they offer if the applicant cannot provide all requested supporting documentation. Again, they don't make law they issue visas based on the law.

Agreed that no foreigner has the automatic right to enter but as long as they meet the entry requirements an IO cannot legally refuse entry. IO's turning foreigners away at borders and telling them to go and get visas are acting unlawfully, and discretion doesn't come in to it.

That's TOTALLY WRONG information. I'm not planing to get into an argument about the discretion of immigration officers, but it is virtually unlimited. You shouldn't be putting information like this out there, as it is based on your false assumptions, not the law.

Everyone complains about the cost of USA visas, but when you figure that they are valid for 10 years (with 180 day stays), they cost $16 per year. One thing I don't get is why the US issues 10 year visas to Thais when Thailand does not issue 10 year visas to US citizens (like China, India and Brazil do). The US just concluded a reciprocal agreement with China for 10 year visas. A 30 day visa waiver with no option for a visa run is NOT equivalent to a 10 year visa with 180 day stamps.

Because of a bilateral treaty between Thailand and the USA, a US national is allowed to own 100% of the shares of a Thai-registered company for most types of business. The OP was obviously referring to this.

Is there anywhere I can get more details on this?

Return anytime within the final 30 days (it might even be 45 days) to apply for the 12 month extension.

It will be issued on the spot.

Is it a 12 month extension? Or a 9 month extension?

I'm hoping it's only 9 added to the original 3, because it would be much more convenient for me to do my annual extensions in July/August than October.

Yes I know that I apply in the last 30 days, but I can only be here for about a week during that period. Good to know that it will be issued on the spot.

I applied based on income, so I only used the letter from the embassy. It will never be anywhere near the minimum. I'm not really retired, nor will I ever retire. I just have a lot of free time because most of my business is outsourced now.

They didn't mention that I needed to bring anything for the extension. Is there something in particular that I should have? I'd only intended to bring my passport back. The woman that helped me said that I needed to keep a copy of the embassy latter and I could use it again when I applied for a new visa in a year. I was surprised to hear that, but she didn't mention any additional requirements for the extension.

By the way, if it matters, I will never need to do a 90 day report as I will never be here for more than 90 days. I applied for this because I want to get 90 day stamps on arrival--that's all.

I've applied (inside Thailand) for a retirement visa. There was a 14-day wait and I was issued a 90 day visa. I am supposed to return in October to change the 90 day visa into a 1 year visa (or something to that effect).

Is there another 14 day waiting period when I return in October? Or will they do the conversion in one day?

Problem is, I travel A LOT and I will need to leave the country less than 14 days after the time I can apply and I will not be able to return within the time window. In other words I can be here during that time window, but I will not be able to stay 14 days.)

Any advice?

(I will be sure to get a re-entry permit.)

If Thaksin has a diplomatic passport from Montenegro he could always return to Thailand on it and claim diplomatic immunity. I suspect that he wouldn't get far if he tried though.

No he couldn't. Diplomatic immunity only extends to offenses committed while in residence as a diplomat, not previous offenses. If it was otherwise was criminals could be made immune from prosecution by the same method you describe.

Thai political parties are different to other countries'

Out of almost 200 countries in the world, Thailand is different from the rest! Of course it is and many pigs flying by my window.

Constitutions should be agreed by the populace but not in this case. The draft constitution gives ultimate power to Prayut when needed. Democracy???

The UK is one of the oldest if not the oldest democracy in the world. Like Thailand, it's a constitutional monarchy but does it have or ever had a constitution? NO. The constitution is a collection of existing laws.

Thailand, you have a lot to learn. Moving the clock BACK doesn't sound like a way forward!!

The American constitution was drafted by elites. And, uh, well, America is a corporatocracy now... never mind.

America England Russia Japan and Germany attacked countries in the last 100 years they have not

Well that's not exactly true.

First, Thailand was involved in many of the same (WWII, Vietnam, Iraq, etc.) conflicts, albeit to a much smaller scale.

And they did start one or two:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai–Laotian_Border_War

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Thai_War

reminding of another nation? Hmm, let me think.................... Oh yes, Indonesians

Well that's where the president of the nation was born

He was born in Hawaii. Not that it would change a thing if he wasn't.

Ted Cruz was born in Canada--he acknowledges it--and he's running for president, so what's your point?

Study finds the bigger the age gap, the more likely that the couple will divorce

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/11/10/study-finds-the-bigger-the-age-gap-the-more-likely-that-the-cou/20991374/

Rules of Engagement !!! that is the problem, send out ships with no way of defending themselves and these little weasel's show up in there little wooden boats. I watched that movie Captain Phillips and I could not believe that the crew would not carry weapons. A couple of good deer hunting rifles would have stopped those slimy dogs.

Looks like they've solved that issue though.

Or would you rather be working in some go-go bar in Pattaya, selling yourself to some fat farang for 500 baht?

Sure, you believe that's never going to happen to you. Just wait until things get difficult

in Thailand.... you might be whistling a different tune.

This isn't a joke. I was chatting with a dual passport half Japanese woman that left Japan and came to Thailand because she was sick of Japan. Turns out she fell on hard times and ended up doing just that. I was shocked, and that's not easy.

I might prefer to live in Bangkok, or **MAYBE** Chiang Mai, but not the rural northeast--talk about boring.

Fortunately I travel back and forth between the US, Bangkok and Hong Kong so I don't have time to get bored anywhere. I have this luxury because I finished my education. Yeah, I hated school--it sucked. But now, I'm glad I did it. I can't imagine being stuck in a dead end desk job.

You can join the US military. While active duty myself I was personally assigned with guys who did not have a US citizenship. They were required to get their citizenship before reenlisting for a second time. If you are interested in school the military is a great option because of the GI bill. Maybe you will not finish your degree while active duty but earning the GI bill will allow you to go to school afterward and get paid for it.....even in Thailand! The GI bill not only pays for the school but also pays you a living allowance while in school.

Maybe if he's lucky he will get sent to Iraq to fight ISIS.

FYI: He's already a USC.

I know he's already a citizen, I was just pointing out that being not being a citizen or dual citizen will not block him from military service.

Also not all career fields in the military are on the front lines fighting.

True, but you do not necessarily get to choose those fields. ANYONE could end up on (or very near) the front line, other than, maybe, a dentist.

You can join the US military. While active duty myself I was personally assigned with guys who did not have a US citizenship. They were required to get their citizenship before reenlisting for a second time. If you are interested in school the military is a great option because of the GI bill. Maybe you will not finish your degree while active duty but earning the GI bill will allow you to go to school afterward and get paid for it.....even in Thailand! The GI bill not only pays for the school but also pays you a living allowance while in school.

Maybe if he's lucky he will get sent to Iraq to fight ISIS.

FYI: He's already a USC.

Don't get carried away. Having a U.S. bachelor's degree doesn't exactly translate to guaranteed riches. For many, it is a passport to lifetime debt, and don't forget all the 30 year olds living in parent's basements ...

True, but going back to Thailand with a US Engineering degree is a different story.

LOL... you must be kidding. You want to work for third world wages as a laborer?

FYI: It is against the law to teach English in Thailand without a bachelor's degree. Thailand is becoming more and more strict about "English teachers". You really want to live your life one step ahead of the law like a lot of other losers here? I guess, at least, you are Thai, so you can't be booted, but 40,000 THB per month is play money.

Stop being silly and feeling sorry for yourself. It's just a few years. Suck it up and finish your degree in the US. Millions of people in the world would love to trade places with you. Don't be a fool--you'll regret it. Once you have some real money, then come back and live like a king.

These guys are dirtbags, no doubt. Glad they got caught.

However, I think the biggest point to be made here is that this stuff happens in Thailand, perpetrated by Thais, on a daily basis and little or nothing is done. But they make a huge public deal of it when the scam goes in the reverse direction.

When are they going to have a Thai in that seat for scamming a foreigner?

Never.

They won't even arrest a Thai that killed two foreigners...