Thaiquila

I think the official figure for tourism is 14 percent of the economy.

However, that is the TIP of the iceberg.

Imagine Isaan without the flows of farang money.

Lets get real here, the amount of HARD CURRENCY brought into Thailand via the sex and love trade is indeed very substantial.

I don't believe Mr. Karr was visa runner or working illegally.

Quite a RANT there, atcallan!

If you give up your US citizenship, the IRS will still go after you and legally can go after you, especially if they suspect you gave up your American citizenship to evade taxes.

I think there are some Caribbean countries where you can buy citizenship/passport: Grenada and Dominica for example.

Leaving the US because of bush is kind of silly. He is on his way out. Hallelujah!

http://bushclock.lose.com/

Dunno still unclear - can't say one way or another - let's see if they enforce it at all.

For me it doesn't matter one way or the other - in fact I suspect that it will not be strictly enforced, and if it is, won't be the life-changing event most are predicting. However, It most certainly makes me feel less welcome... even if it mysteriously disappears tomorrow.

DFC...

I've got a non-imm B (but am not one of your 'I'm alright Jack' Charlies)

It won't affect me, but I started a poll a couple of days ago where the stats were 20% of respondants were LIVING HERE on 30 day Visa Exemptions/Leave to Remain...

I found that particularly staggering - if you are, indeed, intending to live here long term, then why not get yourself a visa of any type?

BTW, I'm not talking about people that visit for short periods of time on a regular basis. 1 in 5 people that responded to the post LIVE HERE on 30 day visa runs...

As far as I'm concerned, this really shouldn't affect anyone - if you're planning on staying here long-term, there are plenty of ways to get yourself a legit visa. If you're planning on visiting occasionally, the new regulations/interpretations won't affect you...

It does affect people who want to retire under 50.

It does affect English teachers whose employers fail to get them a work permit.

Also the now 10 million baht investment visa.

Also you could try to get serial one year non immigrant visas from western countries based on visiting friends or study of Thai irony.

Obviously, the latter option has its risks of not getting the visas.

To the person who said leave, I say, if you really want to be in Thailand and you can find a way to get a legal visa, do as you like, and don't bother what the so called imagery collective consciousness of Thai people wants you there or not. Just do so with your eyes open to the insecurity of your situation.

I have a point of clarification question.

I have a SINGLE ENTRY O visa, not a multiple entry.

Is there are any problem getting an extension for ONE YEAR based on retirement for this visa, or did I need a multiple entry visa for that? I was of the understanding that I could get a one year extension with the year starting from the date of the first activation date of the visa.

I suspect the 30 day rule will end up being more flexible for classical tourists using Bangkok as a hub to tour Asia. The Thais are going to have to get their act together in making it easier for AIRLINES for travellers coming into Thailand. The airlines cannot enforce this.

Anyone who has lived here for any amount of time and has even had to make the odd border run knows all to well the sorts of abuses and undesirables that this appears intended to reduce.

Reading the posts on this topic there are numerous examples in the minority who will no doubt suffer from a blanket policy. However, it's the mindset that I find amazing time and time again on this site. Because it's a developing country it shoulddn't have rules and regulations which are in the interests of it's own people. Anyone with a few thousand dollars should be allowed to come and go as if it were and extention of their own western abode and if not it should be taken up in the UN as a crime against westerners!

This sort of tosh wouldn't dare be echoed by anyone from developed Europe, the states etc if the roles were reversed because any government officer there would laugh at it and you know it! So get real.

It's quite clear that there are those in the administration who have at last had the courage to try and stop the sexpests and the like and be one of the few countries in the world to look at the appalling shambles we've made of the 'immigration on a mass scale' bit and think 'no thank you'!

For all the criticism and insults the Thai people get they don't seem to be far off on this one!

It's easy for me to understand the concept- Thailand wants genuine 2/3 week holiday makers once/twice/three times a year similar to Spain, France etc etc. Otherwise your not welcome!

Not that difficult to grasp is it?

Mak

Not that difficult to grasp, but completely false.

Thailand's visa policies are clearly open to certain kinds of skilled workers, people wanting to make large investments, people wanting to open certain kinds of legitimate businesses that employ Thais, tourists on tourist visas staying 2 to 3 monts, retired people over 50, and some other categories as well.

BTW, I don't think your term sexpests is gonna catch on, sexpats is just too perfect ...

Also, even if we had the facts, we would still need this wonderful forum for reports on the actual enforcement of the new rules at all of the different places in question (embassies, consulates, land border crossings, airport entries, problems with boarding flights to Thailand).

Claro que si. Happily I made it to 50 but I have much sympathy for people hit by this.

Yeah, what you are missing is that it appears that it will be harder to get a tourist visa at a consulate when showing up with recent serial 30 day stamps. How can people plan their lives with this kind of uncertainty? Maybe the goal is to not actually enforce this, but scare away a chunk of people just out of the confusion and uncertainty.

Thanks, Sunbelt, I suppose no news is good news?

However, I did find the post I was talking about. Again, does anyway have any more info about this? ---

From Jomtien Immigration Office (Pattaya) about 2 hour ago :

"The 3 million baht investment visa will no longer be available in October...

... but a 10 million baht investment visa will substitute it."

"The renewal will be possible by investing 7 million baht more..."

"Most visa financial requirement will be "updated" before the end of 2006 "

"The 2 border runs limitation will not concern people arriving in thailand by plane"

There was an "unofficial meeting" this afternoon at the Immigration Office

with several people of the "Pattaya Expat Club".

I suppose they will make soon a complete report on their web site.

Wait & see...

Pataya46

Sounds like more bad news coming. This time for retirement and marriage visas. This stuff really stinks for all.

I get a triple entry tourist visa in Penang. There is nothing to suggest that either of these options will disappear.

POP

When exactly did you get it?

What recent visas/chops did you have in your passport?

Is it now too late to apply for the 3m investment visa? I realize there are only 15 days left this month.

Good news.

They are accepting application till the end of the month. As long as you have a 30 day consideration stamp before Oct 1st and are approved, you will be 'grandfathered in"

By the way, the logic why they are doing away with the scheme. “It was too easy for mafia influences to get a visa as 3 million Baht was nothing for them.”

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

When you have a 30 day consideration stamp,are you allowed to leave the country during that period or will this delete the whole process.

usually you can leave during a consideration period but you will need a re-entry permit (B1,000.-)

and you'll have to back in Thailand before the consideration stamp expires.

opalhort

Good news..........for me anyway. This morning I went down to the Suan Plu immigration office. Brought my documentation for the purchase of a condo, my tax reciepts showing I paid all taxes owed and my note from the bank stating the funds came from abroad. I got a 90 day non-0 visa all within an hour. Talk about your Thai efficiency Additionally I paid an extra 3,800 baht so I could have multi entry during these 90 days. After the 90 day visa, I get a one year visa. Normally I get about 4 VoA stamps/month so this new ruling really would have affected me. Lucky (if that's the right word) I bought that 10 mil condo a year ago. It is a really nice place too. We'll have to see how this pans out but if I'm grandfathered in great, if not, have to figure out what plan B will be

Well plan B can be the retirement visa if you're closing in on 50. Or, if I'm reading things correctly just leave the country and fly back in. It seems the 'foot runners' are the ones they are after. Just curious, how many square meters did 10mil baht buy?

I am sorry. This is very hard to believe.

It is very easy and not expensive to fly return to Singapore SAME DAY, at least for those near Bangkok. So you think they will allow that, serial 30 day visa runs by air? How are airlines supposed to know who to allow to board? What a mess!

There are reports that Penang is only giving single entries and in your case you stand a good chance of not getting even one entry tourist visa. If you have any documentation that will help your case, bring it!

Its silly to like American customs agents. Like I said, they are not your friend. The goal is to deal with them and get the hel_l outta there!

time for everyone to lose their passports.

have a new one myself with only one entry stamp in it.

am i correct in thinking that the immigration computers work off the passport number only?

so if you have new passport it is effectively your first visit to thailand?

Yes.

they have computers and or able to track all entry and exits in the country, just get a visa and stop playing games

What like a triple entry tourist visa from Penang? Many people who have been living in Thailand for years legally and not doing anything illegal now will find difficulty getting any visa. So please stop saying get a visa, to someone who can't, its cold.

Given the sh1t customs and imigration have to deal with I have no problem being polite for a few moments while they do their job.

I also believe in being polite but I think they DISH OUT alot more than they take.

Thats their job and it seems for US customs agents, being obnoxious is one of the requirements.

There are MUCH cheaper investment programs than Brazil. Ecuador, Nicargua, Argentina and I am sure others. Also note that it sounds like the real estate would be for renting, not for living.

Brazil currency has also radically strengthened in the last few years.

Not knocking Brazil, just saying you don't need to invest 50K to live in Latin America.

They might say "get a real airline ticket" to another country!

If you bought it ... you likely have the ability to get a VISA

Yes good point "jdinasia" - I do. But is that the case with everyone? Think about all those timeshare and outright property sales around the world - Mexico to Spain to Greece..Do any of these places restrict number of visits? I actually don't know... But I reckon many people who bought here don't have a REAL visa. But maybe the numbers are insignificant...depends who you ask I guess

hmmm can't see this affecting Timeshare folks .... and number of visits here is not restricted. Just the unannounced visits ... if you own property here in Thailand I just don't see an embassy or consulate turning you down

I don't get your point at all.

Owning property is not a specified reason for an O visa. So if multi entry O's dry up (and I still think they seem to easier in the UK than elsewhere), what would a person do if they didn't qualify for another visa. Serial chop stamps and tourist visas are now OUT. I really don't get how you can be so certain that just owning property would make a person secure for long stay.

Yes, the OP had it right.

This is a tsunami of COLD WATER on the farang oriented real estate sales and rental market, don't you think? Maybe not so much in Bangkok, but in the resorts it seems so.

Especially when added to the company ownership crackdown.

Thailand, the hub of crackdowns.

In what way are people with current stamps in their passports "illegal" tourists. If they have a stamp, they are not overstaying, and are fully legal to stay in Thailand.

Sorry, this is not the same thing as a Guatamalan crossing the Rio Grande into the US with no passport, no visa, and then working.

Not sure of the exact law , but when entering USA regardless if you are a citizen or not, Customs has the right to detain you.

I had one bad experience @ JFK in New York City where I was "detained" in a room with 3 inspectors who seemed to take great pleasure looking up the crack of my asss while I was bending over for them holding up my nut sack.

Oh, you got the VIP treatment!

I don't think it makes any difference how you dress if they suspect you for another reason. And just being a single male coming from Thailand gets you search points. Any really guilty person could dress well to fool the agents. I actually think one of the main risks of being searched is if you show nervousness. I am rather high strung and since I have been hassled before, I tend to have a negative gut reaction and my bp goes up just at the sight of these agents, and they are trained to smell that ... I should probably take valium before arriving.

Sorry Thaiquila, I just got this inner vision of a haggard, weary middle aged man, jet flight stubbles, wrinkled suit, droopy eyelids, jerking nervously trying to stay awake (think the Kramer character in Seinfeld) trying to walk past customs agents pretending its raining.

I know what it's like to be hassled by customs officers though, as I dont look too Swedish myself and used to have long hair as well (hey, that's pretty suspicious! )... but I think the above scene could make great comedy. Let's send it to Jerry Seinfeld and see if he can do something with it.

Funny! Made me laugh. But I don't even own a suit, not even a wrinkly one ...

Once I actually accidentally did something that I know caused a search. I was very spaced out and jet lagged and when I walked by an agent I accidentally kind of wheeled my luggage right into an agent (didn't hit him but on the way). That was enough ...

Yes, there are no doubt going to be thousands of decent people's lives really hurt by these changes. Lots of people who have nothing to go back to in their home country. There will no doubt be some deaths and suicides that can be directly linked to these changes. Any freelance journalists out there? This would make a good story for the international press. (Not sure what kind of visa you would use though.)

Was this change partly done for international FACE in the wake of the John Karr incident? Face has many aspects, eh?

I really like the phrase another poster cited: like shooting mosquitos with cannons.