A12341

In all likely hood, ggt, it's a lot more common that you think. From the things my Thai wife, and others have told me, this is a "common thing" in many villages. I met one woman once who openly admitted that she lost her virginity to her favorite uncle on her 9th birthday, as did both her older and younger sister, and she didn't think it was a big deal. Just a common occurrence in her village. My wife has told me stories that I can't fathom or begin to understand of how young girls in villages are recruited into sex, not by strangers or boyfriends, but family members. Usually step fathers and uncles.

Here in Chiang Mai, in my moo baan, one man was finally forced to sell he house and move out when neighbors discovered that he was sleeping with, and having sex with, his own 12 year old daughter. Neighbors found out when the girl openly admitted it to one of her friends here, and her friend told her parents. Neighbors banded together and gave the man 1 week to move out, or they would burn his house down. He and daughter were gone in 2 days.

It happens more than we think, but is finally starting to be revealed in the social media, and steps are FINALLY starting to take place to end it.

Um, did I miss something? How is the daughter leaving with that man a good outcome?

I'm not sure what happened with the 36t location on the aqmthai site, but the PM2.5 numbers haven't been posted since 3pm yesterday. I guess we have to rely on the PM10 readings, though they're not as good indicators of air quality/safety...

Seems to be some odd things happening occasionally on a few reporting sites. Reload the page completely and you should be back in business.

Unfortunately it seems the hourly numbers just aren't be recorded at that location at the moment. There is just a dash after the time... This has happened before, just not for this long. Thanks for the reply though!

About an hour North of CM, air quality deteriorated sharply and seemed to get worse, remaining constantly dire all the way into CR. It was so bad that we stopped at a 7/11 to buy face masks, the first time we've needed to do so in over eleven years. BTW the 20 baht "Dr Mask" jobbies from 7/11 are made in Japan and are effective at reducing symptoms.

Those masks should be pretty ok. Just have to remember to wear and ensure a good fit to your face esp at the sides chin regions..

If you're referring to the surgical-type masks, they just don't fit that snugly, but I guess it's better than nothing...

I'm not sure what happened with the 36t location on the aqmthai site, but the PM2.5 numbers haven't been posted since 3pm yesterday. I guess we have to rely on the PM10 readings, though they're not as good indicators of air quality/safety...

One hour ago: pm 2.5:30,000+ outside the bedroom, same as outside the house.

Inside bedroom, with air purifier at max, and ac running too: 3,000.

Don't suppose we could stay with you guys for a couple weeks?

Seriously though, I'm getting rather worried, as the windows in my apartment don't shut that firmly and my AC (which I never use) is old. Does anyone think it would work, if I could fit it with filters, to purify the air in my place somewhat?

Now: close to 4,000 in bedroom, almost 40,000 outside bedroom, above 40,000 outside house.

In my amateur analysis last year I tested with an old AC and a poorly constructrd house with windows that do not shut tight (same house we still rent). Running the ac with standard filters helps a fair amount. 3M filtrete helps a little more.

Thanks a lot for the reply! That was reassuring... I will try to get those filters, just too bad I have to go outside to do that .

Thanks again for sharing your info & stats!

Have reached a new "HIGH"!! PM10 level at Yupparaj Wittayalai School is 378 as of 7:00am. USA EPA AQI 235 (VERY UNHEALTHY)! Well on the way to reaching HAZARDOUS!!

The levels have now topped 400 micrograms of PM10 per cubic meter at City Hall in Chiang Mai. What does it take to declare Northern Thailand a disaster area? The least the government could do is declare a "crackdown" on people setting fire to the forests.

Just wondering if you could tell me where you are getting these PM10 numbers?

One hour ago: pm 2.5:30,000+ outside the bedroom, same as outside the house.

Inside bedroom, with air purifier at max, and ac running too: 3,000.

Don't suppose we could stay with you guys for a couple weeks?

Seriously though, I'm getting rather worried, as the windows in my apartment don't shut that firmly and my AC (which I never use) is old. Does anyone think it would work, if I could fit it with filters, to purify the air in my place somewhat?

Thanks a lot for your reply! Actually, to clarify, I have had three other visa exemptions from earlier in the year before they changed the rule. Last month when I was at Mae Sai, the officer said they technically weren't giving visa exemption stamps there (for non-tourists at least), but when I explained my plans they gave it to me.

I see some commenters on here are saying that Don Meuang Immigration is quite strict... Unfortuately that's were I'll be going...

I am going to Burma next week and then flying back into Thailand, and I'm wondering if there is any chance I may be denied 30 days on arrival when I return to Thailand. I have many Thai visas in my passport - my last one was a B visa which expired last month, and I got a 30-day stamp at Mae Sai after that.

Am I likely to have any problems at Immigration, and would it be safer to get a Thai tourist visa in Yangon? (If so, would I need to show the immigration officer a ticket flying out of Thailand within 2/3 months as well?)

Also, if anyone has had any experience with a Myanmar e-visa, could you let me know how it went? Thanks in advance!!

Mario2008 & ubonjoe, thank you for your replies! Very helpful to know that getting one visa exemption at the border is still possible!

I am wondering if it will be possible to get a visa exemption stamp at Mae Sai after my Non-immigrant (3 month) B visa expires next month. I have gotten these exentions before earlier in the year, but I'm not sure what the situation is like right now. If they do give visa exemptions, would it be 15 days or 30 days? Could anyone give me some concrete information on this? Thank you in advance!

Is there another border crossing you can go to? If you have your return plane ticket with you, I would think that they would give you another visa exemption. (I'm not sure if you need to show them you have 10,000 Baht or not?)

I honestly can't think of any other reason he has stayed in Chiang Mai other than a civil suit and the hopes of some cash. Am i missing something? You can go home and get free health care and welfare to help you out in your time of need. Why is he still in Thailand?

It takes at least three months to have your health insurance reinstated - I had to pay out of pocket when I went home for a short time. Maybe they will make exceptions, or maybe he can be reimbursed once he gets medical coverage again... We don't really know the details though. Also, he may have better employment opportunities here...?

Sorry, I'm wondering if the OP or anyone else knows if I could use a printout of my online banking account to show I have at least 20,000 Baht. (I don't have a bank book). I guess it's worth a try...?

I'll raise the reply-bar a bit by saying that that was an excellent post, and a very reasonable immigration officer. I'm sure you're right about the not raising your voice bit.

I think Kevin's experience just highlights what we have been told, a good story with back-up paperwork goes a long way--and politeness/respect helps grease the wheels

The immigration officer wasn't completely unreasonable, and I understand that he is just following orders / a memo from his superior, but the new rules were posted May 8, not last month, as far as I know. The fact that there is no grace period in practice, though it's there in the announcement, is rather unreasonable. Forget allowances of three consecutive visa exemptions before Aug.12, we may be lucky to get one if we beg or know the right thing to say to convince them.

Oh no... This is not very encouraging for me, as I'm not a tourist, but not working, and in between visas. It used to be acceptable to get visa exemptions in these cases for short-term (not many consecutive) extensions of stay. To take this option away, and start enforcing it with so little warning puts people like myself in a difficult and stressful situation. What about people who want to stay here and are looking for work? They are not technically tourists, but can't get a non-imm visa until they have the proper paperwork from an organization/school.

Anyway, thank you KhunKevin for letting us know what we can expect! Like you, I am going to need to explain my situation to the official, except I don't have many documents I can present... I can give them references to call, but it sounds like you only have a limited amount of time, unless there is no one else in line.

If anyone has any information about how tough the immigration officials at Mae Sai are being on people with passports from the non-target countries seeking visa exemptions, it would be highly appreciated! (I'm not a tourist, but not working yet either, I'm between visas). Thanks in advance!

Any news from the border? Is no news good or bad?

I am talking about FULL TIME in thailand. The tourist visa cannot provide this and many of these folks would not qualify to get a work permit . If they qualify, good on em and let them get the proper visa. Their only means of staying in thailand is border runs and thailand has said they dont want these folks to live in thailand full time so they are removing the opportunity.

You used to be able to stay quite a while on tourist visas... as of the beginning of this year you were allowed four in a row - if double entry, that's about two years, but I don't know what it's like at nearby embassies now.

they dont want people in that category LIVING FULL TIME in thailand! if they did, they would offer them a visa to that effect or lower the age on the retirement option.

Obviously they aren't likely to do that, since most people under 50 are still working, and they usually have other options for visas... I don't think it would be as much of a problem for the few people under 50 who are living here and not employed, if it weren't for all the people working on tourist visas. Personally, the end of last year was the first time I've had visa issues...

if they "usually" had other options so many of them wouldnt be doing the 30 or 15 day border runs.

I don't really understand... Before you were supporting stricter enforcement of visa rules, and now you're saying that the foreigners seemed to have no other option but visa runs...? Obviously you could get a tourist visa instead of multiple border run stamps. And if the Thai officials are correct that a large percentage of the people doing border runs are working here, there would usually be the option of a B visa/work permit I assume. For the record, I'm not against the purpose of the regulations, but I think they're taking them too far.

they may not be deadbeats , but they are subverting the intent of the visa. Thailand is simply saying that they do not want folks under 50 not married to a thai to live full time in their country unless they can satisfy certain requirements. That doesnt seem out of line with most countries.

They don't want people in that category working here illegally and avoiding paying taxes, and they don't trust that we're not doing that because so many foreigners apparently have been.

So this week it is possible to get a 30-day visa exemption at Mae Sai? Can anyone confirm this??

will tell you tomorrow if i dont get stuck in Burma!

Thanks a lot in advance! You shouldn't get stuck in Burma, the Mae Sai officials would just not let you cross to Tachilek. Hope it goes well!

So this week it is possible to get a 30-day visa exemption at Mae Sai? Can anyone confirm this??

Rather then not let them back in.. Mae Sai has been not letting people (who wouldnt come back in) out..

So that is in effect denying them the ability to get another visa exempt stamp.

Theres also the guy who got held for 5 hours trying to use his second entry on a tourist entry.

Thank you for that clarification... Is there any word on how common that was? Is there an interrogation process where you can explain yourself and try to offer supporting evidence/ references?

There was a new official at the Thai Embassy in Vientiane when I went in February. It seems she was given the mission to 'crack down', and she gave me and others the third degree, so I wouldn't be surprised if she denied me a tourist visa. Better to be stranded in Vientiane than Burma though : ).