gigman

Yeh, yeh.. 

 

Boost tourism...(??? ) encourage tourists by what type ??.. Thai's ??  spending time in registered (means to expensive for locals) hotels ....IT IS JUST JOKE>>

What about us westerners?? 

Your top ranks and also bottom  visa authorities just tightening tourist visas also telling us that 1 month is enough for tourism....(???) ( but from Thai's point of view and wages ..even one week is to much and not affordable hence I do not blame them for this kind of imagination as for visa rulers)

To really see this country deeper an average tourist needs more then one month...

After travelling 10 hours in the bus ...you need at least 2 days to recover...555. just for eg.

I have spent 2 months here and did not see really much ...due to travelling time and recovery etc.. This is big country and if you want really relax and see something without to be on a hurry you must have more then one month.... 

Means one hand some goodies (not for all) and another ... blockages.

I fully understand tourism authorities but somehow they do not work hand in hand with other government departments. 

 

Anyway I love this country and I wish them luck with this tax idea!

To be honest I still have my ed visa valid for next year untill March but if they want to cancell it ...well...bye bye school .

I am fed up with this type if treating and going back to Australia to make some money and re arrange my plans for the future.

I already spent to much money here and will not risk another investment for the country where i can not feel safe and specialy in my older age.

I just loosing grip on Thailand.

It is not the only place in the world.

I love this country people but i do not think they love me the same even with my investment.

To be blunt, you really call 30,000 Bath an year for a Thai course an "investment" ? Maybe a "small investment", as that is a weekly salary in your home country.

You're close to retirement age but can't show THB 800,000 in a bank ?

You excpect to be loved for "investment" - again which one exactly, the one of your time ?

***********************************************************************************************************************************

IN REPLY TO PAZ

No I did not expect any love ... I am to old for BS. I just pay and get.

It means you have no imagination or knowledge about what i really said and how much cost is involved to study and to be here ....

I did not mention how much investment I am planning to lodge in any new country hence even your imagination could not ..take it.

From your sarcastic post i can only assume that you have not knowledge about sacrifices people must deal studying foreign cultures and languages.

I just curious if you could spent in 6 month over $10.000 doll just for being overseas to study... would you??? not to mention all time spent and stress.?

It is easy to just seat, read and drink beer and be Judge ...5555....

Another thing is that investment does not mean always ...money...

For eg. Australia invested in emigrants in 80's and gained a lot valuable people not only from Europe as also around the world....which they helped to faster build better country. They did not had money on arrival but good education and experience in many subjects.

That's Thailand is require now....

Anyway I do not have to show THB 800000 and be annoyed every 3 month and every year to stay here .... I have better options...

I hope my post do not need more replies from you..

Otherwise I will have adverse feeling like talking to fish in aquarium.

Have good Thai day.

the tomboy looking one in the back yes on the right hand side got me this time. first time I had to deal with her

the one in front of her also came to her desk at one time and they both started to chant together "go back laos!!!!!" amazing thailand-moment that was for sure

Don't worry mate. I fully understand you. I am at my close to retirement age and learning Thai last 6 month.

I know the pain...ok?

If you will find some sick criticism then just ignore them.

They are probably born to be like that and never even try to learn

anything.

I also know 3 languages but Thai is just hard to understand spoken words even if you can read it and speak a little.

To be honest I still have my ed visa valid for next year untill March but if they want to cancell it ...well...bye bye school .

I am fed up with this type if treating and going back to Australia to make some money and re arrange my plans for the future.

I already spent to much money here and will not risk another investment for the country where i can not feel safe and specialy in my older age.

I just loosing grip on Thailand.

It is not the only place in the world.

I love this country people but i do not think they love me the same even with my investment.

Let's see what future will show.

My school still thinks I don't need to leave the country until next year haha, but if this is true, 5 hours a day 5 days a week, goodbye Thailand. That is overkill, 8 hours spread across 2 days is fine, I am already at a point where I don't even speak English anymore but that amount of time is ridiculous.

Personally. ..i think it is a joke.!
I would like to see this fellow (who will decide to put something so stupid ..in life)to spend 5 hoirs a day learning English hehehe.
I can bet that he will need mental institution after 6 month of learning.
I just refuse to believe in such nonsense.
Even in schools around the world student should not be spending more then 90 min. in the same subject because thus start to work backward. ..
Yes...it is not just ridiculous. ..It is stupid.
Of course it can be another excuse to say to us goodbye.

Ive just realized ive been overcharged every time I go out for a beer because they are always more expensive in bars/gogo's than the 7/11.... who should I complain to ?

In go go bars you pay more because of entertainment hence can't complain.
But just watch how much they will really charge you for the beer when on entry girls showing price of beer eg.65 bht...later you probably will pay more then 100

First of all..
Where did you lodged your passport?
Next..
If you feel you not trying to bypass local rules and law...
using "agent"
Why not to report it to your embassy? ??
It should be your first duty as a passport holder! If you feel something is " fishy" even doing mistake dealing with any office.

Do you realize you can be arrested not having passport exept maybe having Thai drivers licence.
To be honest ..I would not use this site to look for help.
Simply saying ...if I'm not trying to do dishonest thing in any country then i would read a guidance on embassy Website " what to do when passport is lost"
including other potential scenarios especially now when this issue about stolen passports is still hot?

The entire re-entry permit process should be scrapped. At best it is just a nuisance tax.
 
Why is it that by extending your stay in Thailand it automatically means you will not want to leave the country at all? And if you do then you should ask permission first?
 
This makes no sense at all. Extensions should automatically remain in force until the end of the extended period, full stop. If the revenue is too tasty, spread the amount across all extensions and charge, say 2,500. I am sure few will have a problem.
 
Why have a permit in the first place? What is the worst that can happen - a person retired here spends a few weeks/months with family overseas? How can that possibly change his circumstances enough to render his original application void?
 
This is immigration's big chance to make some bold changes, so why not start with the most obvious...

Yes. I agree.
Simplicity is best.
You want to go ...get permission for required time and .."case easy and closed"
All this multiple entry just brings confusion for many.
In final it is unnecessary mess Dividing all those exit and entries on so many options creates
confusion for many who in older age realy do not doing anything wrong or have in mind at all.
They are just victims of legal traps which could be avoided if we could count on realy strait forward information getting all those visas in more friendly environment.
It is best examples to be on this Website for 8 month and seeing over and over same topics.
In comparison to my two "home countries" would be the best to get legal and paid advice on paper before and afterwards of time application for visa's but to be honest LOS can be risky step ...
(I have a friend who did it this way but it was not correct help and he just wasted his time and money)

In summary ...yes visas in this country are not easy ti logicaly understand for many of us.
We are here to have our final days spent without worries .
But it looks like no one here really cares about us exept some same good nature expats who understand those in need or trouble and willing to share bad or good experience in Los.
Please understand that i have said everything here in conjunction to retirement visa which i am thinking about ...if to apply in near future.
But seeing so much trouble i could have...I must seriously find another option even if it will cost me more but at least it will not make my life harder .
To be honest I am here now on multiple entry ED visa and rules are simple ...
Why retirement visa have to have extra permissions etc.???
Unfortunately ..this world this days have more and more stupid and un logical and unhuman rules.

To qualify for a 30 day extension, as a tourist:

The alien:

(1) Must have been granted a tourist visa (TOURIST) or exempted from applying for visa. Each permission shall be granted for no more than 30 days as announced by Ministry of Interior.

(2) Must not be of a nationality or type prescribed by the committee monitoring official proceedings of officers of the Immigration Bureau.

Does anyone else find this a little disconcerting? What is a type?

And still there is no mention of a maximum period allowed. This will lead to more people claiming that getting triple entry visas, with extensions entitle you to 270 days in country - add one visa exempt entry plus it's extension and hey presto! it adds up to 330 days.

The entire process is pointless unless you define the parameters...

Item (2) is only putting what they already do in the order..do. People from certain countries cannot get 30 day extensions for tourist visa entries already.

The total stay has nothing to do with extensions which is what the police orders are for. Do you have any idea how much additional time it would take for an immigration officer to dig back through a passport to total up how many days a person had already stayed in the country one entry to the country.

He he

Right..

Not much changed..still entry officer have choice to let you In or Not...depends if they willing to check you out or not and depends from their mood.

Agree.
Better to stay in your homecountry and just travel to Thailand every year,
once your too old, frail and senile to travel and enjoy life anymore
you can still benefit from your home country's social security system.
 
Plahgat

Totally agree.
Everywhere they just expect to suck out our money and savings for exchange of unknown future.
Better to be a just seasonal tourist.

Since Ed Visas are available for all different things it seems strange that they are trying to ask everyone if they speak Thai. Maybe it is only if you say you are learning Thai but some other posts have suggested this is not the case. Interesting to see what happens.

On my second entry on ED visa nobody bother to ask me one question. However when I was leaving last time ...officer asked me the reason of long staying probably notreading my passport correctly...but when i answer in Thai that i am learning Thai ...he just asked me when i come back with the smile...

The article does bring one question to mind in a glaring fashion - WHY is a pregnant woman sleeping in the streets? Are there no agencies in the government to assist people like this? Even going to a temple would be better than sleeping in the street.

It does not matter who is she and even more disgusting to treat anybody specially poor .

But this type is treating them self in own country....it does not surprise me at all his behavior in Thailand....This nation need a lot of generations to die before they will fit in rest of the world.

I personally met a lot of similar scenarios in Pattaya..

It's not about stupid stamps.

It's about treating customers.

If it will spread then we are just ignoring the difference between polite service and rudness

Before i met my g/f i was offered stamps but i was just giving back to person who served me .

Always i was welcomed with greate smile from personel.

Now my g/f does not allow me this procedure....she love to collect them ...

Or maybe she is just jealous..hehe

2 hours? what a joke! in reality if you study something you should attend to class at least 5 hours a day..

Where did you get this knowledge?

Did you ever learned Thai and being over 60 ?

It is easy to say drinking Thai beer 5 hours a day.mate.

Classroom is not end of day for me , I spend many hours at home after and sometime even early morning before school hence if you never try dont be so smart.

Come with me to classroom and try what we are doing for 3 hours then you will never say again what you done here.

Anyway , you are welcome for introduction lesson....It is free . I did it and decided to study .

Still chance for you learn something properly then later maybe you will look again on 5 hours a day again.

Even kids do not have same subject 5 hours a day.....otherwise it will be "sicko" kids running on the streets

Cheers ! have another beer

Gigman, what are most difficult things in Thai language (in your opinion)?

Pronunciation? Or something else?

hi

As for myself being at 62 is not the age because I feel 40 heheh just pronunciation from different teachers .

The ability to have good hearing is advantage but even one of my many profesions is to be musician is not any advantage for me.

One of our teachers have talent to understand our problem because she learned English by herself ! When I reviled this in classroom ....nobody could believe because she speak so good and read and write.....

Everyone one loves her lessons because she teach us things how to bypass learning time and have understanding of even Thai culture and how to use this language.

Seriously ...most difficult is to be concentrated on listening and not to be ashame to ask the questions ls in classroom ....even over and over. ( but nobody wants to look like stupid hehehe)

for eg. I tried to learn alphabet by myself for 2 months and I learned only 12 from 44...

After my first lesson I felt so uncomfortable seeing others knowing nearly all 44 then same evening I spent 4 hours and I learned and memorized nearly whole of it.

Vowels are still not my best part but teachers are not pushing about it because we learning it with reading.

I think "Tones" we be a difficult part but to be honest if you will start understand Thai's even a little then your spoken "funny" Thai could be a good source for them for loughing and probably even easier to find close friendship.

Believe me I have had best time in my life in the my g/f mother village My Thai nearly killed them all from laughing but they guessed what I wanted to say.

They hardly wait for my return.

As you see it is fun to have access to local Thai people when you can speak they language. Not to mention you will gain a lot of respect too.

Regards

2 hours? what a joke! in reality if you study something you should attend to class at least 5 hours a day..

5 hours a day is a bit much. I have done 4 a day one-on-one for some languages and that was a lot. Then you go home, relax, and study everything you have learned. I guess in a group things go more slowly, maybe--not sure what the situation is here.

He he,

3 hours per day is just enough for me learning and trying to memorize everything including even differences in speaking with different teachers.

After each day when I finish I do not know which way to return home hehehe

And my only thing is to try to repeat lessons at home not to be lost for next lessons.

Thanks Budda we have phones with cameras and we can takes shots from whiteboard to rewrite it on home whiteboard

I don't

realy get something.

I payed already 24,000 bahts, for 180 hours of thai classes, and 1 year of ED visa.

What will happen to me, then ? I have to pay more ?

Edit : and I never signed something about 2 hours / day -- 5 days / week, because I made the paper work for my second year in wallen school, last week.

Hey. don't worry mate.

I am in the same school .

Simply we must encourage teachers about our point of view.

I believe that all this we are worry will need more consideration in government.

Those who spread or sarcastically spread opinions never even tried Thai schools here. I met many who gave up after first approach and complaining on system just wasting time in the bars.

Look how many are isolated from locals because of this language they never dare to learn .

I am 62 and have no help from my g/f at all because I prefer to learn properly first from teachers.

We will see what happened but to get panic does not make any good here.

Always is solution .

And for those who are so critical about us in Thai schools;.......we already study 9 hours per week ..hence 2 hours per week does not change much (that's 10 hours/week )

It looks for me ...some does need calculatior...

What will be the different.....just more hassle for us and less time to learn at home.

I just wander how many unconfirmed rumours will be on this site.

Mostly I wander why some are so sarcastically happy about changes (if).......

If this is to be new way to get rid of foreigners then even people on retirement will go under more preasure....

I actually study Thai at Walem 3 times a week for 3 hours every time and to be honest it is not so easy as others think.I can easly go for retirement visa hence I do not care about changes but it is not smart way to push people for 5 days travelling just for 2 hours when my travel takes 2 hours one way....

Main problem will arrive ...if people can afford to do this . It is just stupid idea or just way to get rid of everyone from this country.

If... this is to be new rule then also schools will suffer and all teachers . This kind of new rule definately will cool down people all over the world with idea study anything in Thailand.

Again...If those new rules will be implemented then even I must seriously consider other part of the world to spend my retirement days because even retirement in Thailand will follow more drastic rules which are already not very fair.

It will hurt everyone those who seriously study in Thailand and those who just love to live in this country.

What is wrong about that????? not to mention that we are paying for our living here and .

Don't worry. You are doing tremendously good already with 9 hrs a week!

Also others that do less than that, really have nothing to worry.

Of course you can say - who am I to tell you this. Well, I'm nobody, just wait and see.

Thanks,

But everything have a reason.

I love Thai people and this country and if any harsh rule will be applied then "stick have two ends"

And people should discuss on this site with some knowledge ..not hatred for better solutions to the problem

People allover the world must look for countries like Thai to avoid stupidity of own government rule and wanting us just to quickly die when retirement start.

Some schools have different rules to others. Go to Walen, ask for Mac in person, he will sort you out

Has nothing to do with the schools or your beloved McWalen.

It is a requirement of the MOE to issue the enrolment documentation for a ED visa.

All students will have to sign a declaration that they will attend 5 days a week.

And then immigration can show up for a raid on ANY day Monday to Friday, and then if you are not in school, you can have your visa cancelled, or your next extension will not be approved.

And what about schools who offer skype lessons ??

Call me a dunce, but folk can learn Thai in their own country via Skype. Do NOT need an ED visa in LOS. Of course if the scholar lives in LOS then nooooooooo problem, but a scholar with noooooooo connections to LOS can live in his own country to learn.

Mate you have no Idea how hard is to learn Thai .

Learning on Skype is only for those who already learn face to face before otherwise it is just joke.

Did you every watch lessons on Skype?? I guess NOT....Then why are you so sarcastic about people wanted and choose Thailand to be ??

Do you think human life is best with borders?? ( look what happened in Europe...is this so bad that people can choose places to live in this world???)

Are you in Thailand??? writing your ideas ...

Did you try to have conversation with Thai's in village?? this is a big different even people speaking in TV and on poor streets!

How many languages did you learn ?

Because this is my 5-th language ....Thai. and it is difficult !

And to be more precise .... I can understand my g/f a lot more face to face then on Skype when I away

Ohhhh just can not believe I am here on this site..

Thailand must realize that closing borders DOES NOT make them more interesting

Also Thailand should look more friendly way how Europe is dealing with open borders. Now people staying more in own countries then before......

Unfortunately Thailand never learned how to deal with real tourists thats why all this mess. and confusion.

They like our money but not us........... trying to love their country.They only want more tourists (or"suckers" )

Everywhere they try to teach us their culture and have respect but they are not interested in our culture at all (I have example with my loving Thai g/f and their friends)

First of all Thai people must get experience as a tourist somewhere in the world first (it will not happened loooooong time)then starting to learn what law means from all of those offices and "officers" who trying to be higher then King.

To much mess , to much confusion , scare tactics, lack of real respect for guests or tourists treated like stupid cows to be just sucked .

On many occasions in Pattay and locals was complaining on business because westerners are not coming .They just desperately jumped with advertisement to Russians .

Look what happened in Jomtien...... restaurant menus in Russian , shops names in Russian ... even a small food stand add Russian menu contents in Russian where always was only in Thai.....never English before.

Enough is enough!

I was defending Thai's from all my heart against opinions of others from my two home countries but to be honest I must give up because I can not support discrimination .

Just to long list to mention specially those who are married with Thai's living in Thailand and never be fully accepted same way like we except Thai's in Australia or Poland .

It is hard to get married Thai to Australia but if the reason is true Australia treat Thai's with the same law and support as others. Nobody run in Australia for extensions or 1 Year visa extension for whole rest of their life and specially when you old and sick .

If Australia allow you to stay then you stay on the same principles as other citizens (you do not have to even become a citizen of Australia).

Now , because of all this mess in Thailand news spreads quickly everywhere.

People have hardship all over the world and if they can afford holiday staying overseas ...they do not want trouble with emigration officers (in bad mood) or to be confused not to mention. we have rights too and own dignity

(in Australia no border officer will shout on guest and it happened to my friend in Thailand airport because he dared to ask question) -------good example of respect...

I have spent 8 month studying Thai language and culture but I am loosing this feeling that I want to be part of this country and last thing in my older age is this stress . and confusion .

Life is short.. and I will not put my dignity under some Thai's "king" officers..

Thai's !....

"First clean your house if you expecting guests" otherwise do not expect them to return....sorry.

You are not the only one in the world

Thailand....Still I love you but ... life must go on.....

P.S

In the latest news I heard that China is demanding free visa for their people in Thailand.....

I think Thailand is on good way to buy "Trojan horse" ......hmmmmm good luck! or maybe this way they finally learn culture of others

1 year insurance coverage for tourists? Maybe they need to speak to immigration and decide on a common meaning for "tourist" and confirm how long a "tourist" can stay.

it was a good one !!!!

"Tourist" ....or maybe name him ; sucker who are scared ,confused this days just trying to love their land and people.

I think they should advertise insurance on things can happen to "suker" on overstaying or other near criminal act as being married to Thai woman for 15 years...

This kind of insurance will be more interesting

First of all.....landlords are trying to make extra money on electricity if you agree to pay them...not directly to the supplier...(once i was charged 20bht per unit ...in pattaya)

Second of all is higher usage and tariff goes higher ...

Mixed feelings on this one. I don't think LOS is going to see the "droves" of European and American tourists it had in the past. I think those days are gone, as many of those are looking for other options. However, I think there will be an increase in Asian tourists, mainly Chinese and Japanese. But the Chinese will in no way spend the money the American and European tourists spent.

Something else that is going to hurt is Myanmar. Laugh if you want, but their tourists numbers had doubled in the past couple of years, with no sign of letting up. Keep in mind that 1/3 of Myanmar's land mass is unspoiled, unpolluted ocean front property. Virgin territory just waiting to be developed. Some investors have already started, and more will follow. As that grows for them, it will definitely have an effect on Thai tourism. TAT can massage the numbers any way they want, and say whatever they want, that won't cover the actuality of the number of tourism related business that have had, and will continue to, close up shop.

But, hey, I could be wrong.

I don't think you're wrong, I think you're right on the money. I've said it in other posts but Thailand just doesn't seem to get the fact that the countries around them which used to be off-limits for tourists are now developing rapidly and learning from Thailand's mistakes. I've known many people who have relocated their businesses or lives to Cambodia and Vietnam and have sworn off Thailand. Once tourists start to see what they can get for their money -- in terms of environment and experience -- what are the real reasons to keep come back?

There will be more Chinese and Russians for sure, but they're not big spenders. Those who are increasingly see a country that goes through rounds of coups as less attractive than it once seemed. Plus, the beaches here -- one of Thailand's claims to fame -- need some serious attention. The amount of pollution -- in terms of trash and human riff-raff -- aren't present in other countries, at least nowhere near the same extent.

I think if Thailand really wants to ensure that people will come -- and come back -- they have to not just clean up the streets but really start an educational campaign that changes attitudes about foreign visitors. Not just tolerate them as some necessary evil (not all Thais think this way obviously but many do) but realize that if it were not for them the country will be a lot worse off.

I don't care what Thai nationalists and self-loathing Western TV members may say, tourism and foreign expats form one of the pillars of Thailand's economy. If Thais don't take them seriously the country is in for a rude wakeup.

You're right...

I just wanted to add one thing ...that Thai people must be prepare for different type of cultures to learn.

I personally see much of ignorance and rudeness from Russians is just the way they treat them self in Russia .I had many occasions to see them in "action" in many places in Thailand.

I am sorry for Thai people but they must learn now that westerners at least spent money in their country.

Simply , to many bad things happened and it is not easy to fix past .

To be honest I can not agree with Thai law discriminating those who are married to Thai and must be fighting for visa every year over and over even having Thai born kids .

People who sacrificed own life in Thailand are treated like unwanted after spending 15 years in their country ??? it is more then unfair .(they should learn how other countries treat same scenarios)

No wander everyone is confused this days what really Thailand government wants from us ...;tourists or people who wants just peacefully spend rest of their lives in Thailand.

I love Thailand but they do everything that I must start thinking about different place for my retirement time and not to be scared of just individual officer and they mood...

It does not mean I will not come to Thailand but many things their government is creating is just another nail .....and I am to old to put my dignity under their feet.

I wish all Thai's well but there is many places in the world to go under more stable conditions for foreigners

Hi

Do not forget to get a letter from the school approved by Thai education department. ...it takes a couple of weeks time.You an also apply for multi entry ed visa outside Thailand.