lostsoul49

OK... Just called again.

I need to amend my post, 6 months of tourist stamps and visas over 2 years and you get questioned and need to prove you are a genuine tourist. Not sure what the questions will be. You also get a red stamp in your passport if you are allowed back in.

6 months of stamps and visas over the last 12 months and you will be deemed not a tourist and refused no matter what visa you have or whether you are coming on a second entry from a double entry visa.

Looks like they are enjoying their 15 minutes of fame.

It's official.

I have just rung the farang owner of a bar I regularly use who told me last night he was getting his wife to call immigration at Poipet to ask what they consider 'too long' The IO told her more than six months of tourist visas in your passport over the last 2 years and you will be questioned.

That is the order that came from the bosses in BKK and being circulated around all border points as the official guide rule.

They don't consider anyone to be a tourist of more than 6 months across the past 2 years, and you have to be good to prove you are.

Secondly he also confirmed that second visits on double entry visas are not considered. You will still be turned away at the border regardless.

That is official from the horse's mouth.

Well this will include a lot of the regular tourists who come to Thailand to escape the cold winter in parts of the US and Europe, they appear to stay for 4-6 months each winter.

Those who came last year for the full winter will in theory be refused entry if they do a visa run half way through their holiday this winter, perhaps even on their first entry if they stayed for a full six months last year.

I suspect many of them who have a bad experience (refusal of entry) with immigration will never return in the future, I know I wouldn't.

I don't see that they will be refused. Your words "The IO told her more than six months of tourist visas in your passport over the last 2 years and you will be questioned."

Questioned does not equal refused entry.

Questioned equals questioned

They are legitimate tourists and can prove it.

I will be coming in on my second trip this year which will give me a total of about 18 weeks this year with a little less, for each year, for the last 7 and many many more trips over the last 25 years. The chance of my being asked any questions is vanishingly small, I could be asked for an outward ticket ( which I have ) is equally low, I could be asked to show cash ( which I will have ) is also very low. I will not volunteer to show either the ticket or cash but can if asked.

I think you will be better showing them a hotel booking.

Agoda can give you a booking with free cancellation... That will provide a nice loophole.

Once you are through immigration, cancel the hotel booking and you're good to go.

I think she said 6 months in 2 years you will be questioned, and 6 months in the past year and you will be refused automatically.

I will call again and ask for clarity. I maybe didn't catch it all first time round.

Anyone have any information on people being turned away with tourist visas at Mae Sae, or is this only happening in Malaysia? I have used one tourist entry, one extension, and was planning to stay another six weeks on the second entry of my multiple entry. Was planning to go Saturday for the border run...

The consulate that issued my original multiple entry visa in April and the immigration officer that granted extension were satisfied that I qualified for a tourist visa even though I'm staying in one city the whole time (I told them *exactly* what I'm doing here and they had no problem with it)...so please hold the "you're gaming the system" comments. I'm happy to obey the "rules" but they're hardly clear at the moment, and it's difficult when they change mid-trip!!!

How many months of tourist visas have you got in your passport from the past 2 years?

It's official.

I have just rung the farang owner of a bar I regularly use who told me last night he was getting his wife to call immigration at Poipet to ask what they consider 'too long' The IO told her more than six months of tourist visas in your passport over the last 2 years and you will be questioned.

That is the order that came from the bosses in BKK and being circulated around all border points as the official guide rule.

They don't consider anyone to be a tourist of more than 6 months across the past 2 years, and you have to be good to prove you are.

Secondly he also confirmed that second visits on double entry visas are not considered. You will still be turned away at the border regardless.

That is official from the horse's mouth.

Well this will include a lot of the regular tourists who come to Thailand to escape the cold winter in parts of the US and Europe, they appear to stay for 4-6 months each winter.

Those who came last year for the full winter will in theory be refused entry if they do a visa run half way through their holiday this winter, perhaps even on their first entry if they stayed for a full six months last year.

I suspect many of them who have a bad experience (refusal of entry) with immigration will never return in the future, I know I wouldn't.

From reading a lot of posts on here, this is going to mop up a lot of the TVF members.

Personally I think 6 months across 2 years is very extreme. Far too extreme in fact. It isn't just catching those who work here, but is going to catch out a lot of people who genuinely are not working here but are longer term than your average 2 week tourist.

Basically they are not going to accept anyone for more than 3 months a year of tourist visas.

Glad I'm married... Wonder if this is going to open up a 'convenience marriage' service? Plenty of money to be made if you were to be an agent.

It's official.

I have just rung the farang owner of a bar I regularly use who told me last night he was getting his wife to call immigration at Poipet to ask what they consider 'too long' The IO told her more than six months of tourist visas in your passport over the last 2 years and you will be questioned.

That is the order that came from the bosses in BKK and being circulated around all border points as the official guide rule.

They don't consider anyone to be a tourist of more than 6 months across the past 2 years, and you have to be good to prove you are.

Secondly he also confirmed that second visits on double entry visas are not considered. You will still be turned away at the border regardless.

That is official from the horse's mouth.

It's official.

I have just rung the farang owner of a bar I regularly use who told me last night he was getting his wife to call immigration at Poipet to ask what they consider 'too long' The IO told her more than six months of tourist visas in your passport over the last 2 years and you will be questioned.

That is the order that came from the bosses in BKK and being circulated around all border points as the official guide rule.

They don't consider anyone to be a tourist of more than 6 months across the past 2 years, and you have to be good to prove you are.

Secondly he also confirmed that second visits on double entry visas are not considered. You will still be turned away at the border regardless.

That is official from the horse's mouth.

Now we will here from all the cry babies who been living in Thailand with these tourist visa. Either get a proper visa or go home.

Any advice for someone under 50 that isn't married with no Thai children, that working outside of Thailand on a 6 week on 6 week off rotation, that wishes to spend his time off in Thailand??? Any suggestions???

Alternate with another country,

Thailand, Philippine, Nepal all have a great climate.

What's so special about Thailand?

I really don't understand the desperation foreigners have to stay in Thailand, it ain't that great a place.

There are dozens of countries that offer the same or more, for a similar price.

Most have found a way to make a living I guess no flocks of Russians or divers in the other countries. I have been to the Philippines and it doesn't hold a candle to Thailand and Nepal your joking right

Everyone laughing at Nepal are the ones who haven't ever been there.

I have been heaps of times and is my fave country out of over 30 I have visited and the same for my Thai wife too.

It is not cold either unless you are up a mountain which is really only for mountaineers anyway...

Pokhara is a great place, cheap with good western food availabilty and the Nepalese food is much higher quality to Thai food.

It is also a much more beautiful country and the locals friendlier that Thais, also the service in bars and restaurants is far superior to Thais and the beer is better all round.

The basmati rice is also far superior to Thai rice.

If you are entrepreneurial, Nepal has vast amounts of opportunities to make a lot of easy money as there are shortages of just about everything and almost zero competitors.

It is also a far easier country to stay in long term with little or no questions asked and accommodation is far cheaper than Thailand.

If I could get the wife away from her family, I would move there tomorrow.

I agree.

This is only probably going to be for a week which is the average.

It is purely for merit making.

I laugh at the accusations that he is avoiding arrest...lol

Monks are always being arrested and put through the court for prosecution.

The member who says he is on the run is the funniest comment here. On the run from what?? Trumped up murder charges that will be dropped for lack of evidence? Insurrection charges that will equally be dropped because in the end it was the military that took the power away from the government and when all the corruption is exposed will be exonerated.

On the run eh????... You do realise that 'on the run' means hidden and can't be found???

The ones 'on the run' are the pro PTP and UDD lot.

This is because historically, loans that have been forfeited by debtors will then be passed on in its entirety to guarantors or mortgaged assets seized which is unfair

This is great news for my FIL he has been guarantor for many loans from family members and almost every one have defaulted costing him a small fortune. I have seen him reduced to tears and has had to put his house in my wife's name to keep it from being taken by the bank.

He is a real soft touch and can't say no to anyone and one by one his relatives have screwed him over.

Such a bad thing to happen to such a nice guy. I am amazed these people can look him in the face after what they have done to him.

Here is the real problem.

My father in law has a friend who owns a rice mill in korat province.

He can't touch any of the rice until it has been inspected which is due on 25th of this month and will conclude after 3 days.

After his rice has been inspected, it will be released, problem is... It belongs to the government and his warehouse is 80% full and can't move any till the commerce ministry calls for it and that may not happen for another year as there is a queue.

Come mid September he is expecting the rice farmers to start approaching the mill to sell their rice and the reality is that he can only take 20% of what he normally takes and that is the exact same story across all the other mills in the province.... they are stacked out and can't take the rice.

The problem is that the rice farmers are going to be stuck with a hell of a lot of rice they can't sell and the farmers are going to go mental.

You think the last year was bad with a million not getting paid.... It is nothing compared to 4 million not being able to sell most of their rice. The big farming companies will be the ones the mills will work with for the little space there is, the little farmer is going to be ignored as they have no 'influence'.

Get ready for some major farmer protests.

We all know who is the one to blame, but I bet the Junta take all the flak for locking down the warehouses to inspect the scam.

Reality is though.... they have 18 million tonnes to get rid of and that is 2 good years of selling.... they have another 20 million tonnes about to be harvested that they can't sell.

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nanapong, I'm happy for you and the way your wife treats you.

But, there is another world, out there that you don't seem you have noticed, being enclosed in your little "male" world.

Take my word, there are many Thais out there that are educated and can speak perfect English.

Just didn't happen for you to meet any.

I did.

Alternatively,

Stupid people can have friends too!

(Although I've only found male/female friendships work when the guy is gay)

I can respect guys who marry hookers if,

1. They don't try pretending they didn't marry a hooker.

2. They don't drag her around with them, and claim she is their best friend.

So, according to you, I'm stupid, gay, and married to a hooker.

Anymore compliments from you?

Why are you so sad and resentful to other people?

Life hasn't been good for you?

Well obviously this guy gas zero friends.

I npw I have one that I can rely on....

He is a Brit.....

Nice solid people.

As far as popular tourist destinations go, I would have to say that Thailand is probably one of it not THE most sickeningly violent destinations in the world.

I am struggling to find a comparison for the mindless and senseless shootings, stabbings and beatings compared to any other popular tourist country.

Especially crimes against tourists.

When they catch the perpetrators they should tie them up and do the same whilst laughing at them.

Will there be petitions for the death penalty when they catch the perpetrators???

Well there should be'

Earth is already becoming over-populated, so why not dispense with the obvious dregs.

They are living in dreamland.

It's just starting to get interesting.

Wait till the next rice harvest comes in and not only will they have trouble selling it because of the stockpiles, if they do... it will be at a snail's pace and where the hell they going to store it?.. All the rice warehouses are full and will be looking that way by September when the new harvests come in.

That rice industry is Thailand's biggest industry.... Not only biggest export commodity, but also their biggest industry across the board that at least 10 million Thais rely on for an income. (4 million farmers and their families and workers).

If anything, Thailand is staring a huge economic crisis in the face and they are so blind and walking around with their heads in the clouds they can't see it coming.

If I could gamble on this, i would put my money on 1% across the year or even a recessed economy.

To be honest, for what it's worth on those 4 items, you may get hit with some duty even if personal effects. You will likely need an agent for the paperwork and there is a fee right there also.

Then the transport costs involved.

I wouldn't bother.

Sell them in Singers and use the money to put towards replacing them for new here in Thailand. Chances are at the end of the day, your costs are going to be similar, and at least all your stuff will be new and possibly updated models.

This is so frustrating. I have a girl (not married) and we have a little boy. I am the sole provider for both, I am here on a year long multiple entry visa and usually just do a visa run every 3 months and then after the 12 months go back to Australia and get another year long multiple entry visa. This is going to make things very difficult for me, I just want the best for my little boy..

When you say 'year long' multi entry'.... What classification is your visa?

Non imm O or Non imm B?

I didn't know you could get one as a tourist.

You do know this is just for tourist visas don't you???

Up to now that is.

For the record.

Please don't put too much faith in AYJAYDEE and his incessant attempts to try to convince people that they will be OK if they are coming in on a second entry of a double visa.

he has no more clue about this than anyone else.

The Nation last night quotes an immigration chief as saying that all foreigners to be denied entry if they have multiple tourist visas in their passport.

Simple as that.

No mention in any report anywhere to say that a new unused visa has less credibility than a second entry on an existing visa.

But logic must dictate that an entry is an entry no matter what status of your tourist visa.

The officer also went on to say that anyone with tourist visas covering 'up to a year or over' is very suspicious and if that is present in their passport, then no matter what, they have to provide good reasons and proof of hotel bookings to gain entry.

So I will re-iterate..... if you have multiple tourist entries in a short amount of time, you better have a good story because the fact you are on a second entry is NOT going to make any difference.

It can't be any simpler.

I think we all know the galaxy is teaming with life.

It would be extremely arrogant to assume we are the only life in the galaxy.

Probably some alien civilizations much farther advanced than humans on account they could have been around for tens if not hundreds of millions of years longer.

Our own race is in its infancy, just a few million years in development, and look at what we have achieved, especially in the last 150 years alone. Our own development is accelerating at a breakneck speed.... Imagine how advanced an alien race could be if it has been around on an earth like planet for say 150 million years.

Chances are, they will come visit us before we visit them.

I believe the nearest star with the possibility of an earth like planet is 25 trillion miles away.

Stupid idea number 146.

So based on a small internet cafe having say 10 terminals and a large one having 20, the average being 15 across the board.

That's up to 450,000 terminals to monitor at peak times...

Man. you would have to be one unlucky SOB to get caught.

Also, if people have money for online gambling, then surely they have the money to pay for a used PC at a cost of about 2000 baht (or less) and a 199 baht a month internet connection. What is stopping them setting up at home?