Ajarn

Big impact expected from tougher visa-free entry rules

The days of foreign visitors doing endless "border runs" in order to live - and often work - in Thailand are over, the Immigration Police announced yesterday.

The Kingdom will tighten its immigration rules for tourists who exploit visa-free regulations, starting from the end of the month.

The move will affect tens of thousands of visitors from 41 countries who have been allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days without a visa - often for many months or years.

The 41 visa-exempt countries include Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States.

Tourists have been able to extend their stay by travelling to neighbouring countries - Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Burma - and returning with a further 30-day entry stamp.

But new rules have been issued because an increasing number of tourists have stayed for extended periods - without paying proper amounts of tax. This has also helped them avoid close scrutiny by authorities here and in their homeland.

"We are trying to make it more difficult for bad people to get in," Immigration Police chief Lt General Suwat Thamrongsrisakul said at a press conference yesterday.

"I don't think it's going to hurt good people because they can apply for a tourist visa [in their homeland]," he said.

The move is expected to have a big impact on the foreign community and some sectors such as teaching and diving, plus places where there are many bars run by foreigners, such as Pattaya and Chiang Mai.

From October 1, tourists from the 41 visa-exempt countries may still enter Thailand without visas and stay for up to 30 days, but they will only be able to extend their stay here two times - that is, for a maximum of 90 days.

And tourists who stay for 90 days must leave the Kingdom for at least 90 days before being permitted to re-enter Thailand.

Suwat denied the crackdown was related to the arrest in Bangkok last month of John Mark Karr, the American teacher who was thought to have been involved in the high-profile JonBenet Ramsey murder case. He said there were many reasons that extended back for a long period.

Suwat conceded the move may cause some problems, but said "maybe we have to do something to make it better [later]".

However, if foreigners wanted to work here they should get a work visa, he said.

A source added: "Under the current rules, people from these countries can stay in Thailand for as long as they want. Some even stay here for one year. Many work illegally in Thailand."

Instead of sightseeing, these tourists have taken advantage of the visa exemption by getting married to Thai women "for reasons other than love", and have conducted business here. Many of them have not paid tax.

The immigration move is a hot topic among foreign residents, and comes at a time when many are fearful about possible changes in regard to firms with local nominees.

Hundreds of comments were logged on local Web boards within hours of the Immigration Department press conference. Some said foreigners should abandon Thailand for neighbouring countries, while others predicted it might force school bosses to pay foreign teachers a proper wage or cause a boom in men wanting to marry Thai women.

Most believed the move could cost Thailand a small fortune.

Meanwhile, plans are under way to simplify the process for foreign teachers to work here as the current system requires 13 separate steps, which take many months to complete.

Heads of international schools have been meeting with the Immigration Department to try to simplify the process.

Thailand recently simplified the process for foreigners who want to become permanent residents. The amount of paperwork required has been slashed and the time involved reportedly cut from more than a year to about four months.

Last year Thailand tightened its immigration rules for South Asian tourists, who were allowed to apply for visas on arrival that permitted them to stay for 30 days. Many of them took advantage by travelling to neighbouring countries and returning to get a new visa on arrival at the airport.

Under the new rules, they are allowed to obtain a visa on arrival only twice from neighbouring countries. They are then required to return to their country of origin to obtain an entry visa to Thailand.

Jim Pollard

Great idea. I wonder how many will actually be affected...

Moving at the same speed as the rest of the traffic is the safest way to ride

Actually, according to some groups, it is safer to go slightly faster than the speed of the traffic. One thing that you must always consider in whatever your vehicle, is the traffic approaching from the rear. Going faster than the flow can keep much more of your 'fast' vision (front- sides) in place for a longer period of time- Safer.

I've found that the most dangerous drivers in Thailand are farang in an SUV.

That is interesting can you say how you come to that opinion?

As I said, it's just my experience from cycling 20,000+ km in and around CM. The vast majority of Thai drivers are on scooters going 30-40km/hr. I can easily keep up with the flow of traffic in town. Sure they drive "sloppy" -- pulling out of side streets on to main roads without looking and driving on the wrong side of the road -- but it's easy to anticipate those moves.

I've found two problems with farang drivers:

1. Most are in a hurry and drive too aggressively

2. having not lived in Thailand for long, many don't know where they're going and spend too much time looking at stores, signs, whatever, instead of looking at other vehicles on the road.

I've done plenty of cycling in Laos too, where there are no farang drivers. I think it's safer than Thailand.

Just my opinion.

I think the worst drivers are farangs tourists on bikes. Statistics prove that it is true..

One place that I would never patronise again even if my life depended on it would have to be Lena's

You always had to check your bill to verify that it was not wrong (in Lena's favour I might add)

A right rip off merchant is Lena's

I've always eaten well, at a fair price at Lena's

you cannot work in Thailand without a work permit and a non immigrant b visa.

Sure you can, and I feel, most do

Tried both Steak houses, # 2 very good T-Bone foe 250 Baht.

Number 1 out of T-Bone and Sirlion, had pepper steak very tough ! poor service.

If you are looking for "nua kwai" either Ban Rai might be Ok but it would be the last place in town if I was looking for a nice piece of "nua wua"

They do prepare nua wua, even if you don't know the difference...

IMVHO.. the effects are mostly psychosomatic...which, to have an effect ,would require belief in the process!

These things and systems are called "alternative medicine"....if they really worked.. they would be called "medicine"....without the qualifier!

I know people who are convinced it works....but they are usually the gullible sort who believe anything.

recently, while teaching english, my students and i discussed various medical practices. during the course of this conversation i mentioned 'alternative medical' practices. they became confused when i tried to describe my version of alternative. to them my alternative was their traditional.

prescription medication would be considered alternative to a person experienced with traditional medical practices.

Excellent

i agree with you ronw and that is why i want to try it. there appears to be a lot of empirical evidence that it does work, but i remain sceptical. so, what better way to learn than experience?

--

"If they give you ruled paper, write the other way."

- e. e. cummings

IMVHO.. the effects are mostly psychosomatic...which, to have an effect ,would require belief in the process!

These things and systems are called "alternative medicine"....if they really worked.. they would be called "medicine"....without the qualifier!

I know people who are convinced it works....but they are usually the gullible sort who believe anything.

Sorry, but this has to be a crazy idea... Because some people call it alternative, you feel that it somehow makes it unreal or something similar? My, but your thinking seems so narrow.

I share most of your opinion, but from my own experience with it over 2 years of getting acupuncture almost daily after I had a stroke. Tried all the different kinds of stimulation, too.

Nothing worked for me, so I'm a doubter.

Hey, I just noticed that this is post #4001

Oh dear...what a tradgedy...you would think on a pushbike you would be safe enough..but not here obviously.

An awful lot of Thai drivers have no common sense. They pass a bicycle only inches away, and if one happens to swerve to avoid a pothole or some glass or whatever...

Bye, bye.

I figure that the bike rider should take care not to be in a dangerous position near a car.

Unfortunately not entirely possible on any road if a driver decides to take up the hard shoulder and unless you have eyes in your ass you're in God's hands. Cycled up that road many times and had a few near misses myself. Avoiding the big roads and rush hour times while cycling in CM is a good idea with these muppet drivers.

Seems like bike riders should be looking out for you.. I've driven the same road for more than 20 years, and I can't say I have ever come close to hitting a biker....

Oh dear...what a tradgedy...you would think on a pushbike you would be safe enough..but not here obviously.

An awful lot of Thai drivers have no common sense. They pass a bicycle only inches away, and if one happens to swerve to avoid a pothole or some glass or whatever...

Bye, bye.

I figure that the bike rider should take care not to be in a dangerous position near a car.

Thais tend to use every inch of space on the road, making it VERY difficult to stay away from them.

I think you need to get a car...

Oh dear...what a tradgedy...you would think on a pushbike you would be safe enough..but not here obviously.

An awful lot of Thai drivers have no common sense. They pass a bicycle only inches away, and if one happens to swerve to avoid a pothole or some glass or whatever...

Bye, bye.

Via email to me this evening...

Dear Expats Club Members,

It is with regret that I, as CEC president, inform you that Michael Youngfellow, a founding

member of the Chiangmai Expats Club, was tragically killed on Saturday, September 9, at

approximately 7:30 a.m., in a roadway accident while riding his bicycle in Chiangmai. Without

going into details (due to an ongoing investigation) I can tell you that while he and a cycling

companion were riding their bicycles near Superhighway, Michael sustained fatal injuries after

being struck by a fast-moving vehicle.

Khun Nai, Michael’s wife, is currently unavailable to share information about pending religious

services (cremation ceremony) which at this time is scheduled for sometime on Tuesday,

September 12.

.

Thanin market is probably closest to you. It's basically opposite Rajabhat, but just off the main road. I don't know for sure about kitchen wares since I don't go there often but it's a big local-style market, likely to have everything. Ton Payom market, mentioned by el jefe, is where I shop & for sure they have what you need.

Thanin is good for food, mainly.. Any household stuff, besides cheap wooden furniture, can be gotten at most any other market at a cheaper price, in my experience.

Don't throw away any foods...

We had to. You could smell the stuff that had gone off. As I said, the power was off for 7-8 hours.

If your food goes bad after a 7-8 hour power outage, you need a decent fridge.

Whoopee, a power outage in Chiang Mai.

I have not lived here very long.

An hour or so does not matter, but 7-8 hours means you need to throw out perishable foods. So, if you have lived here for a while, may I ask how often these lengthy outages tend to happen ?

Don't throw away any foods...

Whoopee, a power outage in Chiang Mai.

Hi Ajarn,

Off topic, but were you in the Pizza company this afternoon at the central plaza? Think I saw someone that looks very like your avatar!

I know its off topic, but humour me!

Phil

No, it wasn't me...

The photo is over 20 years old...

Thanks everyone for your helpful posts.

I'm guessing then that with 50k it is easily possible to live within ones means.

Ajarn . . .are you getting 5.5% from a Thai Bank?

David

Yes, Government Housing Bank

You can probably get FM93.25, which is the main Thai government station, with local 'affiliates', it seems to me

I'm guessing, but not sure, that you're all living on income based in your home countries?

I have not, only because of my long time here. Mine comes from my 15 + years of working here, plus some good local investments. I spend about B60k (1500 u.s.) a month, with a bit more than B100,000 a month from bank interest (5.5%) It has only been the last year, but it feels quite comfortable for me, especially since I can't work anymore...

Never any worries regarding moving back to the US, or anywhere else. This is my home now.

I have always had good luck in the soi behind worarot market.

I have a niece who has been doing good at school in Central Thailand but is looking to move to Chiang Mai to complete her final years of education but I don't have a clue as to getting her placed in a suitable school. What are the basic steps? I realise her present school may be able to refer her across but I just want to make sure she gets into the best school for her level of ability. She is Thai and 17 years old.

All pointers gratefuly received.

Thanks very much.

Maybe you should check out the government program that allows anyone over 15 to study at their convenience, meaning evening or weekend classes just for the degree. In my limited experience, it is great for some situations. It is called Gaw Sa Nor, the Thai nickname. I don't have a local number handy, but a search here will turn up my message a couple of years ago, which has a few local numbers for information

There is a number of them.

All of them have their phone numbers listed inside the front cover, so take your choice.

Not the newspapers. Closer to the back, maybe in the Editorial section... Hey maybe email for everyone is easiest...

When I have used my card, they always make a point of telling me first, and I recall a written note in English posted right in the office in an obvious place. Don't know what the answer is with your story, but it does seem strange if they didn't say anything to you about being charged... Maybe you weren't charged, but that doesn't make much sense, either.

The first time I was charged, I called the cc company. They told me it was illegal, and the stores did it to recapture their money they pay for cc service. They also told me that it was easy to get it back if it was obvious on the cc receipt. Maybe it's only me, but eveytime I have been charged, it has never been obvious enough to get repayed...

A couple of months ago I bought a LCD TV from Siam TV.

The young sales lad didn't say too much but wasn't pushy and answered all the questions. What I did like though was the subtle way he steered me towards a better choice of tv (higher spec etc). Price was not a factor here and I was glad I look the sales persons advice.

They delivered and set the TV up which you wouldn't expect anything else having doled out almost 60,000 baht.

What I was not thrilled about was having paid by credit card, the receipt came back with 2 totals one in Baht and the other in £ sterling. I asked politely both in English and Thai which figure was to be charged to my credit card? This simple question took some figuring out and I kept getting the same reply "No charge for credit card payments". I could see from the credit slip that the exchange rate was poor and a lot less than if the card was charged in Baht and the credit card company did the converstion in the UK.

I evetually gave up, but they must have had this question numerous times.

And you guessed it, they charged the £ sterling figure to the card. I reckon the TV cost and extra 2,500 baht because of it. Not a huge amount in the scheme of things but it certainly pays the wages.

I seem to remember they said if anything went wrong I had 7/10 days to take the TV back after that - who knows. To be honest I wouldn't like to think about it too much, but touch wood I've had no problems at all with the TV.

On balance I'd go back, but if I was paying by credit card I'd definetly check around other stores before buying.

Did you see that you were charged 3% extra for using your credit card?