Tuschno

Guys like this will make the live for normal farangs more difficult.

You can be sure that immigration officers will be even more careful now.

Because of one bad farang and one bad immigration officer!!!

Who actually told YOU he was bad. You may have been here for a while but you just signed up today ???

You have to sign up eventually, why not today?

from this side of the pond, we see the decline in tourism and influx of money from over here.

daily news warns tourists about the floods and fires and the unstablility in the region. How it can go up now is an indication of manipulation. Everyone is saying "what the heck, lets do tijuana"

This flux in the economy is another red flag for tourists over here. Just my opinion based on the local talk here in california.

Sure, flooding etc. has an affect on the Thai economy, but don't you think GB's adventures in Iraq - burning billions of US dollars is weakening the US economy and is the major cause of the dollar's decline? That will prove to be both a political and economic disaster for the USA but you voted for it when you had the chance to get rid, so, som nam na.

I voted for Alf.

Way To Go,

Keep in mind... When the traveling farange come to the new airport and...

It does not meet their expectations and...

Transportation to and from the airport is not what it was at Don Muang and...

They get "gouged" on everything from a candy bar to the internet...

Don't hold your breath for the return trip...

I really doubt the travelers experience and enjoyment of Thailand will be measured upon the time spent around the airport.

I just heard that Gen Sondhi was appointed because being a muslim, he would be better able to deal with the unrest in the South... Now he's taken over the country... News from other parts (Australia, Singapore?) advises foreigners to stay indoors.

Did I hear someone say the Islamic radicals want to take over the world?

Pray for peace as this has great potential to become really ugly...

Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin is apparently close to the monarch and has apparently been appointed acting prime minister on a temporary basis and he happens to be a Muslim.

I don't see your dots connecting here... Islamic radicals?

Stay indoors...

Do you think the "bad guys" do not have the funds to go back to the US or UK? I think many involved in criminal activity have a lot more resources than you do ramidin!!! Why are people constantly telling us that bad guys have no money and good guys do? What does money have to do with someones character? Please explain it to me as i find this point of view rather shallow.

I'm not sure, but I don't think ramidin was referring to "bad guys" as not having funds or resources. Criminals choose Thailand as their refuge for various reasons, and usually it is not their intentions to fly back to their "home country" when on the run.

I vacationed in southern Thailand in 2003. What started out as a two week stay turned into almost 6 weeks. I loved the climate, the people as well as the low cost of living. After selling my home in the US I arrived here in Khaolak on March 20th 2004. I was 69 years of age at the time intended to spend the rest of my days here by applying for a Non O retirement visa. I transferred 3 Million Baht from one US into a Thai account.

Renting a small house, I met a young fellow here in town, married, one baby who operated a transportation company, spoke reasonable English but needed some money to expand his fleet while building a restaurant at the same time on his in-laws property. I lent him close to a million Baht. He thought I was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Suwan seemed to have connections and promised to get my non O retirement visa in short order. We traveled to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and supposedly had everything going.

Meanwhile I was involved in a car accident in Phuket and this is where he was indispensable dealing with the police, the insurer and the hospital. The insurance company balked at paying, since the victim was sent to a hospital which wanted to amputate the poor man’s leg above the knee. I however insisted on a transfer to the International Hospital where they did save the fellow’s limb. I paid all the hospital charges which came to just under 600,000 Baht, as well as the 200,000 Baht settlement for the family. I still had money in a US account which was now transferred into my account here. That left me with just under a million.

Then along came the tsunami. Suwan was visibly upset, having lost 4 out of 6 Minibuses as well 1 driver and 2 tourists that fateful day. I told him not to worry about the money, we will manage. The insurance company did send a check for 180,000 Baht which promptly bounced. Since I still had money in the bank I managed fine just on whatever social security sends me every month. One day Suwan received a letter stating additional customers had started a class action suit against the parent company of the insurer and a hearing would be held at the court in Phuket. I attended 2 sessions with Suwan but since I had fallen on my butt 2 weeks prior, injuring my spine, sitting was most uncomfortable. Besides I could not understand the proceedings anyway which were all in Thai, I therefore let him go by himself from then on. One day he called and said he had a check in the amount of 148,000 Baht in his Hands. Well, better than nothing I thought. He had my bank book and asked me to send him a signed power of attorney form, which his mother would bring up in order to withdraw money to pay the lawyer. Done deal.

That was the last anyone, including his family heard from him for 2 weeks. Somehow

I had a feeling something was amiss A trip to the bank confirmed my worst fears. He had cleaned me out. He didn’t even leave me enough for a bottle of cheap Mekong whiskey. His family knows where he is (in Phuket) but won't tell me. Funny how quick the smiles disappeared, after my money was gone.

What can I do concerning the new visa regulations? I always hated those visa runs to Ranong anyway. I live frugally and have enough in the Bank again to afford a trip to Malaysia, or other country, except the US. Too far anyway. I wouldn’t mind doing it once a year or semi-annually. I had purchased a new Mitsubishi pickup paying cash for it. Suwan however, without my knowledge had registered the truck in HIS name and refuses to send me the papers. (Knowing him, he probably borrowed money on it) I have only the receipt. He also still has my pass book. I can’t even prove I did have 2 million in the account at one time.

I can not, nor would I want stay away for 3 months. I have a house with a 4year pre-paid lease, a dog, the truck and care for a couple of kids. I spend all my money here in town.

But what are the alternatives?

Can I borrow 500,000 Baht, please?

Has the future of the tourist visa and how long you can stay in Thailand been explained or still uncertain? Penang has been ordered to stop issuing double-entry visas, yet you can still apply for single entries (90 days). After the initial visa is what remains questionable or how many consecutive single entries will be permitted?

At the present, there are options. I have not been there since 2001, but the Thai Consulate at Kota Bharu is apparently still providing double-entry visas for those up to the adventure crossing at Tak Bai Narathiwat Province. Definately contact them directly to confirm.

And to whom it applies, foreign Royal Consulates seem to be presently offering double-entry tourist visas, including Los Angeles. Immigration officials seem to encourage this option.

It is possible that these opportunities are being dwindled away.

I would also like to add that a lot of Thai businesses will go belly up. I know many Thais who run dive ops in the Gulf and Andaman and they rely on foreign divers to teach. The shops can't afford to sponsor the dive master and rely on the visa run system to stay afloat. And it's not like a Thai can easily fill the position. How many Thais are certified divers, fluent in English and another language such as German,Swedish etc... And let's not forget all the associated businesses such as hotels,restaraunts, visa run companies,dive shop support staff......Smart move Taksin!

Well, you are right, many Companies rely on foreign workers, BUT then they should take care of the correct paper work.

Can a company in the States or Europe employ someone without Work permit only because he speaks another Language or whatever? I don't think so.....

Every Chef in a German Thai Restaurant need to have a Work permit and if he don't he simply get arrested if the Government check out the place.

Companies in US employ illegals and it has nothing to do with the linguistics.

OK I AM SO CONFUSED>>>>>>>>

So if I have been doing the visa runs now for the past 8 months as of october 1 that will end.

So my question is this: I just renewed my visa today it will expire on oct 12 does that mean I can still do 2 more? Or because of all my past visa runs will I already be at the maximum allowed?

Also I have heard I can go to malasia and get a special 1 yr visa or a triple entry 90 day visa will that be allowed?

Can someone recomend a good visa for me to apply for, I am not here working or anything basically just hanging out with my girlfriend enjoying my time. What is the best way now to stay in this country????

PLEASE HELP

Depends where you stay in Thailand. You can take sleep train to Butterworth and ferry over to Penang. You apply for double entry tourist visa, 2000 Baht (200 Ringit), at the Royal Thai Consulate. Pick up your visa next day at 2:00 and take minibus to Hat Yai or sleep one more night in Penang and take sleep train back to your preferred destination the next day.

Result, six months permitted stay, onlyhave to go to a border after three months to activate second visa. And of course, after two months (and five months) you have to extend for 1900 Baht at a local Thai Immigration. 6 months, 6000Baht fees. What are you waiting for? Go buy that ticket, NOW!!

hi guys..

so why do people want multiple tourist visa's anyway?

surely 30 or 60 days is enough for a holiday - and thats what these tourist visa's are for.

if you are working or staying in thailand why dont you get a work or retirement or dependants visa?

i dont think that there is anything wrong here with the new visa requirements - just people trying to get around the law - for whatever reason - probably tax or insurance or just simply black employment ....

so what do such people ( multiple tourist visa ) do for a living? how do they get money? one assumes its all illigal?

so i guess thats why the thai authorities are trying to tighten up on them?

amarka

Some people need these visas because they are retired, under 50 and don't trust investing money in the country which seems to make since taking all of this into account. They need a retired visa for the young people. You don't have to be old to retire.

hi jbsears,

yes - that sounds ok. but how do people prove they have enough money to retire on?

its easy to move money around for a few days to get a visa.

maybe a different story if one could prove income or pension payments?

but i guess that most can't.

amarka

hi all...

i am actually interested in what all these "multiple visa" applicants actually do in thailand... i mean for a living/money.

surely they can all be "retired"?

amarka

The multiple entry visa is for convenience. I usually purchase a double entry tourist visa at the Royal Thai Consulate of Los Angeles for $50 (2000 Baht approx.). It is activated when I arrive in Bangkok. Essentially, I have six months when I arrive. After three months only a border run is required to activate the second visa, not necessarily a trip to an embassy/consulate to purchase another visa- whereabouts you can never guarantee the issuance of another visa (especially now).

So, not only is it convenient, but it is more reliable to have (two in pocket) rather than one. And I don't see where this convenience has been revoked, as of now. I purchased double-entry(multiple) last week.

And for your interest to know what "these people" do in Thailand...

there are many possibilities, where do you live? If not Tak Bai, you could probably ask and get some answers from some of your neighbors and some interesting stories duay.

My story is not so interesting. For the past six years I have been working seasonally in the states (six months approx.) and spending the rest of the calendar year in Thailand with my son and wife.

I know some few people using same multiple visa, to enjoy their leisure in Thailand without committing a crime. Sin is not crime?

If you are from Brazil, Peru, Chile or Republic of Korea you get 90 days just by arriving on passport.

The Los Angeles Thai Consulate is still issuing $50 usd double entry tourist visas as of this week.

Is it possible that Thai Immigration is encouraging travelers to obtain their visas in their home country (more reliable, local checks and balances)?

Maybe 1 of October the immigration will accompany an English translation for these new "tightened entry regulations" with detail.

How long did it take you to get that visa in the states? I will be in NYC in a couple of weeks and may need to apply for one there.

The usual 24 hours.

The Los Angeles Thai Consulate is still issuing $50 usd double entry tourist visas as of this week.

Is it possible that Thai Immigration is encouraging travelers to obtain their visas in their home country (more reliable, local checks and balances)?

Maybe 1 of October the immigration will accompany an English translation for these new "tightened entry regulations" with detail.

Bali is considered to be the most successful of all the bombings as in there were no muslims harmed.

No muslims harmed?

What about the 38 Balinese (second only to the 88 Australians) who were killed ?

What religion were they - Christian ?

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Besides India, Bali has the largest Hindu population in the world and is the furthest reaches of the Hindu empire.

The Balinese call their religion Agama Tirta ("Science of the Holy Water"), which combines religious ideas from China, India, and Java.