Tomtomtom69

"These countries"? You mean western countries? In other words, you're saying Indians, Chinese and Africans are better?

Huh? This is THAI Airways we're talking about here. When did they ever allow farang pilots in the cockpit?

There's been absolutely zero chaos at Bangkok airports recently, at least not anything caused by the weather. In fact, today was mostly sunny the entire day. I think the article is referring to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phuket without saying it. All three cities and their airports have been affected by flooding in recent times. Phuket has been impacted multiple times already this rainy season.

The problem is mainly with visa exempt runners coming and going the same day (or with a very short period spent outside of Thailand). As DTV holders will have a visa, there's no reason to think they'll have their movements restricted other than maybe, at a small number of borders, told to spend a night or two outside the country and/or show 20000 Baht to get back in (this is usually requested at Ranong). Non-O and Non-B multiple entry visa holders have very, very few issues and the DTV allows a period of stay per entry of twice as long as the two aforementioned visa types AND the overall visa validity is 5 years, which is 5 times longer than those two visa types. Thus there will be fewer border runs made, as only one needs to be made every 180 days and if extensions are available and not too cumbersome, it reduces down to effectively one border run a year. Also, the number of DTV holders so far is a drop in the ocean; I read somewhere just 2000-2500 have been issued. A small number compared to the tens of thousands of visa exempt travelers in Thailand at any one time.

= meaning any foreigner, even an expat. In Myanmar, a foreigner is always seen as a tourist. Restricted areas are restricted to all foreigners, regardless of their status in the country. In practice, only white and black foreigners are definitely restricted; Asian foreigners can usually sneak in.

You must be talking about yourself. That figure you quoted, is barely the minimum wage. MOST Thais earn FAR more than that. The median wage is about 15000 Baht a month and millions earn well in excess of that.

Farang aren't allowed to work in agriculture. It's a restricted occupation.

Border running on visa exempt is a breach of the rules. Only reason you defend this practice is because you're living here on visa exempt and it benefits you. One day, could be your next border run or the one after that, your number will be up and refused entry. Just the way it works. Again, you can't get away with this in a western country and Thailand is increasingly not tolerating it either. Qualifying for a long term visa extension isn't difficult.

There is no inherent right for a foreigner to enter either Laos or Thailand. In May 2022, Laos even banned anyone arriving from certain sub-Saharan African countries from entering due to monkeypox. Call that a human rights violation if you will, but it's their call and their right. There's no good reason to be doing continous border runs. Get a proper visa, find another country to live in or go back home. Simple as that. Border runners ruin it for everyone else to the point that legitimate people with long term visas arriving by car are questioned as to their intentions when they arrive at some border crossings.

Yes, most likely.

Yes, because the point is, the vast majority of this country has never had dealings with farang, has very few farang residents and they're clearly able to keep their heads afloat. It's a different story in tourism dependent areas such as Samui, Phangan, Pattaya and Phuket of course.

Unlikely if you come and go more regularly than only when you're required to. If you're constantly coming and going every 90 days or so, spending several days or weeks outside the country on each trip, very unlikely to be any issue.

Indeed. While I generally cross in my own car, I have made use of long distance taxis at various borders in the past. System works very well.

Nonsense. Anyway, why revisit the past? It's legal now...

According to a recent news article in the Khmer Times, PM Hun Manet recently abolished the one night stay requirement (which was never a requirement for business visa holders or those entering and leaving the same day via Phnom Penh airport). However, I wouldn't be surprised if the Thai side starts to insist on border runners spending at least a night outside of the country at the Cambodian borders.

Where? The odd foreigner aside, it's mostly Thai men working in IT and I would know well, my wife works in IT (where women are a rarity) and her department only has one farang who happens to be one of her bosses.

Police departments and the DLT are 100% devoid of western employees. We are in Thailand after all and this isn't a multicultural country. Westerners are guests.

Cheap Charlie. Exactly the type who should NOT be in Thailand

Where? Lots is unlikely. The ones who are in IT are working remotely and are thus classified as digital nomads.

No. It's not. Keep dreaming

Rofl. No, you're an entitled farang who believes you're better than Thais who you believe are poor, and that your tiny pension is keeping the country afloat. Keep spending? Well, you're on a long term visa. No one is keeping you out. Why then are you advocating that foreigners be allowed to abuse the tourist visa exemption scheme? None of what you're blabbering on about makes any sense. You're making up a bunch of nonsense.

Another entitled farang. Let me ask you this, say you're a foreigner (even a westerner) who's a non-citizen attempting to live in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or even Europe on a tourist visa, how would immigration react? Would they buy your story of "don't worry, I don't work here" or "please welcome me and my money!" If not, why should Thailand be any different?

Myanmar should keep its borders closed to self-entitled farang who are only there to abuse Thailand's rules. Since the 3 Pagodas Pass border has been closed to farang for the past 17 years, chances are Mae Sai and Mae Sot could be the same... Of course, people like you will still be moaning about Mae Sai being closed in 17 years from now... I don't get it....what are all these people on visa-free stays doing in Thailand all day long? What is it that prevents them from spending even a night or two in a neighboring country? Must be related to heavy drinking and girls as I can't see any other legit reason. Legitimate tourists don't have that much time. Those who are working online will have a DTV or LTR visa if they're wealthy. Those who are not working online but working in Thailand will have a non O married to a Thai or non B plus work permit or smart visa or some other long term visa. Retirees will have a retirement visa.

Speak for yourself. Most border runners probably do spend a couple of days in the neighboring country. And who said anything about spending time in Prum? Go to Siem Reap!

What are you babbling about? Mae Sai is closed to foreigners. Once it reopens (if it ever does) I hope Myanmar stops the one day border runs and imposes a mandatory $50 evisa as the only option to enter the country just like all other countries do. It would ensure cheap Charlie's like you are forced to either accept it or go elsewhere. My suggestion to move to Laos or Cambodia is because 1) they don't require visa runs and have a better immigration system and 2) they are great alternatives to Thailand in their own right. I've worked in a BOI company and I was just one of like 3 foreigners in that huge organization, which is normal because even if you work for a BOI organization, it's preferable to hire Thais, not foreigners..you said it yourself that you believe foreigners who work here should be replaced by Thais (something I totally disagree with, but everyone can have their own opinion). You're making up a bunch of nonsense. Thais absolutely don't care about us farang. They absolutely don't care about what we have to go through to stay here and what it all comes down to is that those who work in tourism are happy to have anyone come, as long as they spend a lot and don't stay too long.