Thaiquila

I would guess it is mostly Americans being hassled. Its going to get worse for awhile at least, thanks to the wacko confessing "teacher". I knew when that happened, there would be really lousy consequences in Thailand and the US.

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.

Yes, multiple entry visa is the way to go for frequent travellers to Thailand.

But I visited the Thai Embassy website for Los Angeles and it states clearly, "*** Non-immigrant visas will not be issued for such purposes as tourism, seeking employment opportunities, looking for a school for teaching or studying purposes, etc." Yet in the link you provided it shows a sample application with "Purpose of visit: holiday". So who is right? Or is there a different Non-immigrant visa available elsewhere that can be used for tourists? From the L.A. Thai Embassy site, the only purposes for which a Non-immigrant visa are issued are:

Conducting business and conference

Employment

Studying

Visiting family

Research

Religious activities

Can you, Sunbelt, or someone who knows for sure clear this up. I will try to contact my local Thai consulate tomorrow to see what they say, but if the Thai website is accurate, I'm screwed unless I want to apply for a single-entry tourist visa each and every time I visit Thailand.

LA has a rep for not being flexible. Try some other smaller consulates. Contact them and ask them directly whether they will grant for your reasons. Maybe the next few months isn't the best time though during crackdown mode.

I get hassled and searched sometimes by US customs. Never had any problem with any other customs agents anywhere else in the world. I doesn't pay to be anything but polite and answer all questions as directly as possible, with the fewest number of words as possible. I always remember, they are not my friend, and they have power and guns. What really bugs me is that it is such a long flight to the US, thats the last thing I am in the mood for.

I have just bought a condo for Bt5 mill in BKK. I have a work permit, but if the worst came to the worst, I could always rent it out and live in another country.

Not ideal if I had a Thai wife here I agree, but financially I am not buggered.

Am I missing something here? I just leave Thailand and rent out my condo.

I think you are missing something here!

Who will rent your condo after the foreigners are gone? (To return a yield of 6% from a Bt5 million condo, you need to rent it for Bt25,000/month.)

I have also considered this point. Clearly, the pool of potential long term renters is going to be cut Oct 1. What percentage of renters/buyers that represents, who knows? Any guesses?

Couln't you still put 800.000 Bath in a savings accout and qualify for a one year non-imm-O, or is that of the table as well?

That is the current amount needed to qualify for a retirement visa, but you must be over 50.

Well, at least they spelled unforgettable correctly. I wonder if they hired an illegal farang for that?

If you look at the situation as it is before 1st. October you will see that the "visa runners" are not breaking any rules and indeed are effectively "reporting" to immigration every 30 days. The change in the rules will probably drive quite a few "underground" if, in the near future, the Thai consulates in the region stop issuing multi-entry or back-to-back tourist visas. Will this situation make things better for Thailand or for the farrangs concerned, I think not.

I agree. They weren't breaking laws. They weren't overstaying. And they were showing their lovely faces more often than those with a "proper" visa. Alot of farangs in Thailand are very stressed right now; I suggest we stop trashing them and show a little more solidarity with them, as all farangs in Thailand are here at the mercy of fickle regulations, politics, and the winds of change.

This country is probably not nearly as dependent on people who do all the visa runs as the people doing the visa runs are dependent on the country. Remember, these people are not all that significant in the overall scheme of things, economically.

Thailand is not the poor, underdeveloped country that it was 20 years ago. Now, there is a middle class that is looking around and sees a lot of what they consider as "undesirable" people. Add to that a fair amount of nationalism and xenophobia and you have what you have today.

Get rid of the dead beats

Except they aren't all dead beats. This crackdown isn't fine tuning, its more like a bull in a china shop, throwing the baby out with the bath water, and any other cliche you might mention.

Another poster said the whiners here were acting too "American" in expecting Thai immigration to not act so harshly. I am sorry, but if you look around the world, lots of countries are bending over backwards to attract the some of the quality people Thailand is basically criminalizing. It doesn't make any sense.

Cheeky of me to move this to the top again, but let me clarify.

I recently read a post here which for some reason I cannot find again on search (was it removed?) which said quite clearly they had spoken to an immigration official (I think they said in Pattaya) who told them that the FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS for both the retirement visa and the support a Thai visa would be announced by the end of the year. By changed, if this is true and given the current climate, we could assume that would be changed in bad way for us.

So, I wanted some of the people here who have real connections to followup on that. This concerns me personally, but I imagine lots of others are also interested.

I understand how you feel.

I felt physically ill about the televised 9-11 lamentations presided over by King Bush. Those people have real grief, sure, but what an orchestration . Never carried on about the New Orleans flood victims like that, did they ? Not a healthy society.

Hmmm. Better go check that thread in the "visa" section about other places.

Where to go where the government doesn't suck? Thats a tough one. If you're looking for other countries to retire to, there are some ideas here: http://www.retireaway.com

There was an item in another thread stating financial requirements for retirement visas would be announced before the end of the year.

1. Is this a rumor?

2. Does anybody have any further to say about this that isn't a rumor?

What does this mean for those of us who go to Penang for a triple entry tourist visa twice a year?

The tourist visa is not mentioned in this announcement. Therefore, this announcement means nothing for you.

However, if you are working illegally in Thailand you should nevertheless do whatever is necessary to get legal. The basic policy seems to be the removal of foreigners working illegally in Thailand and if this new rule does not stop them the government may have other ways to do so.

---------------

Maestro

Excuuuuuuuuse me, but you do NOT know that.

The spirit of this new crackdown is to stop SERIAL TOURISTS, whether by stamp or tourist visas. Do you seriously think that if you show up in Penang with a passport full of stamps and visas, that it will continue to be business as usual? Yes, its possible. But it seems more likely it will not be.

There is another Sunbelt post confirming my conclusion that it is folly to feel secure in this situation.

For those of us under 50 and retired but not married what are the options now? FWIW, I bit the bullet and put 3 mill in a bank account a few months ago so that I would feel safer with my status here. So, now I have to make plans to leave in 8 months or do the Penang thing again (if it will even be allowed!)

Looks like I will be exploring prenup agreements soon

I can say this- at least when I leave I will be taking my 3 million baht with me. I truly feel bad for those who bought an expensive condo and will be asked to leave it behind when they are shown the door!!

Dude! you gonna trust a prenup entered into in Thailand with all this crap going on? Don't do it man. Also, the people talking about grandfathering in Thailand; come on dudes, that's a western concept that's probablt never been done here and not legal

They have been grandfathering retirement visa asset levels. A high wai for that one, Thai authorities. So the idea of fairness, ethics, compassion for yes, even foreigners, and grandfathering is certainly not an unknown concept in Thailand.

Grandfathering really seems due to the condo investers ...

Those with bonds can just sell their bonds. Condos aren't all that liquid, and just became rather less so.

My god this is shameful stuff going on. what a shaft job for the many folks who bought 3 mil baht condos just so they could get this type of visa

Yes, and remember, that alot of these are bought off the plan and don't even exist yet! Frankly, not grandfathering the people who are already on this visa type, especially non liquid assets like condos, really bites!

I guess the old hands who always say "never bring into Thailand what you can't afford to leave in Thailand" win even more brownie points!

I have never understood why people who stay in Thailand a long time use 30 day entry without visa, when other options are available. I am under 50, do not work and do not have a Thai wife. I have lived here for four years. In a year that I go back to be UK a get a one year multi entry non-immigrant visa from Hull. If I do not go to the UK I get a triple entry tourist visa in Penang. There is nothing to suggest that either of these options will disappear. In my view cheaper and much less hassel than monthly "visa" runs

Actually, the writing is on the wall about serial tourist visas from places like Penang. It is unclear yet whether that will tighten or not, but the new rules are clearly targetting permanant tourists ...

As far as consistently getting one year multi O's, I get the impression that is easier to get from the UK than other countries. You couldn't exactly guarantee being able to get a new one every year. They ask for a REASON, yes?????

any new rules come out since i was sleeping ??

AMAZING THAILAND

when do we all have to leave and never come back.

no need, pattaya girl.

just get the proper visa and you can stay.

What's your situation? Holidaying? Working? Studying? Retired? Investing? Married to a Thai?

Retired, 33 years old..

So what do I apply for then ??

Investment visa if you can afford to tie up 3 million baht.

Try for a one year multi entry O at a "friendly" consulate in the west. Not a sure thing.

Otherwise, try for as many entries of tourist visa as you can get, and be one of the guinea pigs to see whether this crackdown applies to "real" tourist visas.

Or you can apply for an air ticket somewhere else!

Don't get too comfortable unless you are willing to tie up the money for an investment visa.

What about the retired US military who do not meet the monetary requirement for a retirement visa and have 12 months of back to back visas? Will they say sorry you have too many stamps at the end of the month you must leave and oh by the way, you will lose your deposit on your apartment.

How much is your military pension? If it is under 800K per annum, I suppose your only option is go back to the US and save the money to make up the difference for the Thai bank account. Then you can come to Thailand. Just checking to make sure you understand the financial requirements ... if you have a pension, you might not be far off qualifying.

I was ok until the baht went below 40 to the dollar. AS far as going back to the USA...go back to what? I have no living family any longer and sold everything off before I left. The Philippines is looking good.

OK. I am hearing from this that you don't have the combination of pension and savings to qualify for a Thailand retirement visa. Sorry to hear about that if you want that. You could live in the Philippines on tourist visas indefinitely (of course, they could crack down on that too). Failing that, there are some pleasant countries that would allow you a legit long term retirement visa for a much smaller amount of money; some examples: Ecuador and Nicaragua.

///specific URL's deleted by PeaceBlondie///

How do you figure? With visa runners, immigration sees you every 30 days. In what way are tourist visas increased monitoring?

To get the tourist visa, you need to leave your passport with a Thai Embassy (or other office- ? I don't know all the options) for a day or two. I imagine some details are entered on the computer.

Is that not more pre- entry monitoring than is the case if you just get the an-arrival stamp ?

I am as much in the dark as everyone else, of course ... just a possibility that occurred to me.

Perhaps they do, perhaps they don't.

In any case, don't expect the enforcement of granting serial tourists visa or not granting them to follow any kind of logic or consistency between consulates either.

ere ere kudroz... you took the words right out of my mouth.

I also agree there needs to be a long term visa for monied, non-working younger people. The easiest way would be to eliminate any age requirement for the retirement visa. Before, I said 30, but why not 18?

If the motivation (or one motivation) behind the enforcement is to monitor incoming visitors more carefully, it could make sense to require the tourist visas, even if these could be aquired back-to-back.

How do you figure? With visa runners, immigration sees you every 30 days. In what way are tourist visas increased monitoring?

Doesn't take long to put your passport in a fedex bag and call for a pickup.

???????????

i dont understand you ! post my passport thats illegal isnt it ?

Sorry I should be more clear, I'm talking about people who travel to Thailand as tourists more than 3 times in 90 days and will run into problems with entry permits.

Those people can still come to the Kingdom, by gaining a tourist visa at home before they come.

that's what i'm thinking it is, too. its a crackdown on the 30 day visa runners, not on the people getting tourist visas (valid for 3 months, after extension) with a trip to Malaysia or another country.

We are all guessing about that. Lets see.

However, if the intention is to filter out illegal workers, lots of illegal workers go the tourist visa from Malaysia route as well. People doing this are still staying a very long time as "tourists" and if I was staying in Thailand like that, I wouldn't feel very comfortable now.

sad end of an era really, nowhere to hang out indefinitely and avoid the modern world and alll its trappings ie proper visas. you can be self righteous all you want about it but just further evidence of the westernization of the world

Actually, there are other countries that welcome stamp collectors, I mean visa runners.

To my knowledge, some of these include

Philippines

Mexico

Argentina

Peru

Costa Rica

Spanish lessons, anyone?

I wonder if 20 years from now Burma will be the new Thailand.

What if you own a condo that was purchased second hand for under 3 Million Baht, but make up for the difference by putting the balance in a fixed govt. account?

Example:

2nd hand condo- 2.1 Million Baht

Deposit in Fixed Govt. Account- 900,000 Baht

Is there any way to qualify for the investment visa with a condo that was purchased 2nd hand?

The latest I have heard is NO.

O.K, now it is the 30 days runners they seem to be after but what then? If Stickman and Tv posters predictions prove correct there will be a rush of bogus marriages which will sooner or later come to the attention of the authorities. What then? Proof your marriage is legitemate? How can most people prove that? First they came for the Jews and I didnt care because I am not Jewish.......

Seems to me now it could be any one of us at any time.....

Exactly, Baboon!

And some of my best friends are visa runners.

Maybe they need some PR help.

They are not "visa runners", they are

day trippers

stamp collecters

Cambodiaphiles