Mudcrab

Thailand is trying to deter people like you from coming here long term and working remotely.

Interesting! Do you have any concrete evidence of this or is your opinion based on observing changes to visas etc?

I tend to agree with you, but feel that this is not really official policy, just the usual random policy of Thai Government officials.

Actually one individual in Thai Immigration is on record as saying that it is ok for remote workers to stay in Thailand on tourist visas.

What is the value of remote workers to Thailand? In 2012, the top spending tourists visiting Thailand spent around 60,000 baht per visit. My guess is that many remote workers would probably be spending this each month. This amount is also the monthly income required for retirees.

Do the sums! On average, one remote worker (or retiree) is worth 12 high-spending tourists. This means that Thailands entire tourist income from the projected 30 million tourists in 2016 could be replaced by just 2.5 million remote workers living in Thailand.

Remote workers (and retirees) integrate better into Thailand's economy, spreading their money around more. The money they spend stays in the Thai economy. They cause considerably less environmental damage. There are probably many other benefits that I haven't thought of.

Given the current economic climate in Thailand and it's future prospects, I would have thought it makes far more sense to encourage remote workers?

Top spending tourists spend around 60,000 baht ?

Where do you get this information from.

I think you need to multiply that by three for an average family holiday and by an order of magnitude for the more wealthy tourists.

Most of the posts i have seen seem to indicate digital nomads live in what could be generously called poor living conditions and just scrape by. Comparing them to top spending tourists is simply ludicrous as is the rest of your post.

Thais seem basically clueless when it comes to body space, and will stop in the middle of a crowded footpath, totally unaware that the pedestrians are stacking up around them. It is damn frustrating. However it isn't worth barging through and chancing a punchup.

It does get frustrating sometimes. My favorite is when they stop right at the top or bottom of the escalator to figure out where to go. In that case, I have no choice but to push them aside as there is a 15 horsepower electric motor shoving people straight into my back. Still, the discipline seems to be getting better. If you look at the escalators at the BTS these days, you'll notice that people are standing on the right and walking on the left more often than not.

And you're right; it's not worth it to barge through. Have a happy 2016!

Read the signs at the BTS...they'll tell you where to stand on the escalators and which side to walk/climb if you so desire.

And learn to say excuse me in Thai...then you won't have to rudely push people aside.

Not that hard to do.

Be VERY careful about the 3 months versus 90 day thing. My ex got detained at the airport on the 90th day of her multi entry (doing a quick trip to PNG) - but it was the 1st of March.....if it had been a leap year and February had 29 days there wouldn't have been an issue.

Luckily it was a smallish airport and we got things sorted (bridging visa). If it had been Sydney or Melbourne she would have been on the next plane out. She was from the USA.

Big Carl, I am also in Chiang Mai and tend to agree with you that the immigration offices up here are maybe not persecuting us, but are making as many obstacles and hoop jumps for us as they can.

There is a definate sentiment in the area I live that they would be better off without White Foreigners. This has never been noticeable in my area before but it is now.

In some ways you cannot blame the average people as it is day after day there are news reports from all over Thailand of farangs ripping people off, scamming with bank cards etc. Who would blame them?

But as you mentioned with immigration up here, (that must be the worst in the country) they seem intent in making our lives as difficult as possible.

Firstly they split the immigration offices into Airport and Promenada, I have still been unable to find out which one transfers an extension to a new passport.

Then they removed the queue online service forcing people to have to go there at 4 and 5 AM to try and get an appointment.

I wrongly assumed that the move to promenada was to set up a new all encompassing immigration service, how wrong I was, it looks more like divide and conquer.

It also seems like the more negative press they get in the west the more they get the hump and make life more difficult for us and align themselves closer to China at every opportunity.

Perhaps they are looking at the bigger picture and can see no benefit to the country in encouraging large farang ghettos forming.

A lot of posters complain about the same situation in their home countries, why should Thailand be any different.

All the 'I contribute more to the economy than most Thais do' is irrelevant. Oil rich Arabs afford megabucks to Europe but who wants to be overrun by them...(ooops).

You cannot always buy yourself into acceptance no matter how hard you try to convince yourself.

Whether you admit it or not, a large farang population in a relatively small area does corrupt (get a dictionary) the local culture.

Many posters complain how the Thais cannot lose face - perhaps they are affording the farangs the same grace- no loss off face by being told to f.$$k off....just drop a few subtle hints and gently increase the pressure. Not a "crackdown" as such, just slowly slowly.

The posters who live away from the larger centres of farang concentration generally report no issues for them.

used as a cash cow AND persecuted.

How much did she take you for?

I am lazy. All I do is bedroom gymnastics once every month. PHEW!

You need to try some of the high intensity personal training every now again. Guaranteed to lose a few baht!

Works for me.

I'm healthier now than I've ever been. I watch what I eat, exercise a lot, and try to limit my drinking. Mainly because I don't want to end up like the guys I see around town who've let themselves go.

I get my Electricity from a private company, and they do not have any changes in pricing, strange the MEA sees it necessary to increase the prices.

Rates go up when the government claims we are in a period of deflation?. The only deflation I see is in the amount of cereal in the box that I buy from Tops. Its a large looking box on the outside half full on the inside. Rather than chase some reporter for having a bullet proof vest I would hope the government would take a serious look at all the undersizing of products in the stores today. It funny how the government cherry picks what to go after you know problems that take very little legwork and other problems the consumer faces today well they turn a blind eye. Bangkok should pay way more for electricity. Its were the majority of funds flow to especially our 1900 bahts a year immigration monies from Chiang Mai for which we get diddly squat in return. We seem to be a test case to see how much abuse can be heaped on people. Sometimes I feel like a human chess piece a pawn.

Check the weight of the product, not the volume. A large amount of cornflakes could be crushed in to a tiny box - if that's what you prefer.

Make a stand and refuse to pay your 1900 baht at immigration in Chiang Mai on principle.

Then send us a post card with the difference analysis - from the country of your choice...you will get a choice...at least a choice in whichever country you can afford to go to and which will allow you to enter.

Stop being so paranoid.....jeez the price of electricity may or may not be increasing...well blow me down with a feather. That'd never happen anywhere else.

Nope its a hate the farang policy obviously.

But French law cannot prevent a British person bringing their spouse to live in France! Daft perhaps but equal! The so called Surinder Singh route.

Only changes in EU law will change this or a decision to leave the EU. There will be many, many people avoiding national laws this way.

Doctors need to demonstrate a good standard of English. Not sure that the pharmacist does yet. Attempts are being made to change the rules so veterinary surgeons must meet English language requirements. Hopefully it will come to every job where lives are at stake!

Makes you wonder why they don't expect vets to talk dog, cat, turtle and horse.

Thanks Joe and Faz for taking the time to make a good reply

So no interest in the marry again option... It was serious but no worries...

You may need to prove that you are free to marry before you can get married....might be difficult if you are already married!

My apologies - I mentioned retirees in the context of Thaidream saying they would be kicked to the side.i.e. those already in Thailand.

You retired at 47 huh.

Too young for a retirement extension - oops bad luck.

Maybe go back to work if the METV is that important.

Retired young - presumably cashed up -maybe go the Thai Elite visa route.

Go the SETV or 30 day exempt route maybe?

None of these work for you?

I remember when I was 6 or 7 and I saw a beautiful shiny bike in a shop.

I nagged and nagged my dad to buy it for me.

He didn't

I got over it.

Retired young - presumably cashed up -maybe go the Thai Elite visa route.

TE Visa - Not worth it for a few short years. If I was 44, I would do it

Maybe go back to work if the METV is that important.

Working - Yes, I am Company Secretary to my parents business. I can get a letter there easily or I could ask one of my countless friends in business to draft such a letter saying that I do consultancy work for them via my parents business but in reality, it is much easier for me to show my indexed pension/trust fund and other funds in the bank.

I got over it.

Oh yes, believe me I will get over it and such a comment is silly in context.

Yeah I can relate to that.

I was the company secretary to my parents business also until Dad kicked me off the couch and turned off the telly, took away my iPad and told me to get a job.

Keep the your dream alive old mate..I believe you...thousands wouldn't.

If you want to stay longer you may want to learn Thai and get a long term ED visa.

What do you call long term? A couple of years?

The purposes of my opposition to the METv is creating artificial barriers that are overly bureaucratic and make no sense. And the stated reason for the Visa is to enhance tourism which is completely illogical. We all know the real reson for this Visa .While none of this impacts me as a retired person we need to stick up for those other people who become marginalized and caused suffering due to a poorly thought out program. Just because we have ours -Thailand does not belong to us. In the past the government has encouraged people of all ages to stay long term and people have settled down with families and commitment. You just don't kick these people to the side and say who cares.

Where does introducing the METV 'kick these people to the side'?

People who marry or have legitimate families won't be affected one iota...nor will the retired folk.

What are you going on about?

People who marry or have legitimate families won't be affected one iota...nor will the retired folk.

Wrong - I am 47 and fully retired. Not long until I am 50. So yes, it will/would effect me... my Embassy has not confirmed if a retired person that is fully funded can apply for a METV visa.

My apologies - I mentioned retirees in the context of Thaidream saying they would be kicked to the side.i.e. those already in Thailand.

You retired at 47 huh.

Too young for a retirement extension - oops bad luck.

Maybe go back to work if the METV is that important.

Retired young - presumably cashed up -maybe go the Thai Elite visa route.

Go the SETV or 30 day exempt route maybe?

None of these work for you?

I remember when I was 6 or 7 and I saw a beautiful shiny bike in a shop.

I nagged and nagged my dad to buy it for me.

He didn't

I got over it.

The purposes of my opposition to the METv is creating artificial barriers that are overly bureaucratic and make no sense. And the stated reason for the Visa is to enhance tourism which is completely illogical. We all know the real reson for this Visa .While none of this impacts me as a retired person we need to stick up for those other people who become marginalized and caused suffering due to a poorly thought out program. Just because we have ours -Thailand does not belong to us. In the past the government has encouraged people of all ages to stay long term and people have settled down with families and commitment. You just don't kick these people to the side and say who cares.

Where does introducing the METV 'kick these people to the side'?

People who marry or have legitimate families won't be affected one iota...nor will the retired folk.

What are you going on about?

only in America....

Now happily retired whiling away their days posting on Thai Visa forum

If that figure is correct, I would say it's safe to assume they depend on tourism to maintain a healthy economy. They're not dependent on tourism for survival but no country could lose 17% of it's GDP without enormous repercussions.

And 99% of that 17% comes from the 2 to 4 week tourist.

The serial visa exploiters are the only ones to feel any pain.

Those that qualify for the METV will have no problems.

All my opinion of course

Why do digital nomads want to stay long term,,,anywhere?

Not very nomadic is it?

So you are in Thailand, but have nothing to do. Why not go to Cambodia and do nothing there - might be easier visa wise.

Seems your business model is a little fragile when you have interest only mortgaged properties returning 12,000 pound a year.

What will happen when interest rates rise?....and they surely will.

You wouldn't happen to be on 9 years overstay by any chance would you?

Interesting they include proof of marriage as one of the options, as usually such people would apply for a non-o. A 12 month ME non-o will cost about the same? Much better option compared to this 6 month METV.

The real gotcha here is the requirement to show proof of funds, and employment, not limited to the country of your pp, but you need to be living and working (legally) in the country where you apply.

Perhaps a flood of motorbikes, cars, huge tvs and many other 'toys' for sale soon? High-end desktops and sound systems are on my radar...

So if for instance I am an Australian over 60 but retired early, I need to be able to prove I am employed in Australia to obtain I double-entry tourist visa in my country? Even though I have no job but have enough money to support myself?

if you are over sixty do a search on many of the threads on the forum. You could easily get a non O visa that you could extend on the basis of retirement for years to come provided you meet the financial requirements which aren't that onerous - about 33k dollars in the bank. Don't count on any Aussie support though, pension etc, once you are here.

It's not surprising at all they just follow suit.

You can stay in Thailand for a total of 5 months without getting

stopped at the Immigration if you arrive here by air to get a visa-

exempt stamp of 30-day stay, extend it for 30 days, go to one of

the Thai Embassies or Consulates for a single-entry 60-day TV

and extend it for 30 days, which will all cost you 4,800B.

Where are the Thai embassies or consulates in Thailand?\

Don't think you are staying in Thailand with your logic. You must leave at one point in the 5 months.

Guys, do you really believe that all these nationalities are present in such high numbers as residents in Indonesia that they have to make a list for them to apply solely in Jakarta?

That would make no sense

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Liberia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen

Yes, but when they make rules, they have to make rules for ALL Nationalities

They do...just some rules for some nationalities are different to others

Is this hard to understand.....or does it seem unfair to you?