vinegarbase

19 hours ago, Kadilo said:

There is no pattern it’s pure random. 

Bingo! 

It's nothing other than the fact that they can do whatever they want to on a whim. The IO could be getting hungry and at that moment decide he want to make trouble for you. That is the fact. I don't care what visa you get on someone will eventually cause you trouble for whatever reason. They don't want you here Mr. Bigheart Farang coming to spread your benevolence and save the poor Thai people with your education, talent, or money. They just assume take your money, kick you out and laugh about it over a Chang. 

Thailand is a dump, the people don't want you here. If you are wise you will already be preparing to get out while you still can.

Once again, Thai immigration works over someone just following the rules. I wonder where all the people are constantly saying they never have a problem and don't know what everyone is talking about and as long as you just follow the rules you will be fine. It is not fine, they do whatever they want regardless what the rules say just to cause you trouble and waste your time and money. 

Thailand is not the wonderful place it was 10 years ago and continues to go downhill.

On 1/11/2019 at 4:47 AM, JackThompson said:

I believe someone is paying off those who run certain entry points

I have debated between them getting pay offs or it is just a matter of them wanting to avoid work. If it becomes known for denials there will be a lot less traffic so they can laze around on their cell phone all day and get paid.

Foreign lambs being led to the slaughter as always. 

On 1/22/2019 at 10:40 AM, JackThompson said:

At some offices, even if you meet their last list of demands, they could change them once or twice more, adding more to each visit. 

Exactly. It means one of a few things.

1. They just want to make your life miserable and get off on the power trip.

2. They don't want to see your face anymore and would rather you just leave, either to another province or leave Thailand all together.

3. They are looking for a bribe and hope you go through an agent if they give you too many problems.

Thai immigration is some of the most miserable people I have ever met in my life. No amount of propaganda will ever lead me to believe things will get better or to recommend to anyone to come to Thailand for more than a week or two vacation once or twice a year, even then I would suggest Malaysia before Thailand if they had to come to SE Asia.

Thailand was great 10 years ago and has gone downhill ever since. It's amazing it still gets so much hype. You can only fool most people for so long though. 

This doesn't even make sense. How do you have a successful business exporting Thai products in Thailand that require you and another to be running the company in Thailand and just now you don't know what to do about a work visa and permit? Why aren't you able to keep doing what you are doing now?

Goodness, the amount of  herded masochist farang cattle in this country. 

Thailand immigration is great, Thailand immigration is great and by the way did I tell you that despite all the fines, fee's, and hoops I have to jump through how great it is! Oh yes and one more Thailand immigration is so great.

Meanwhile in Chachoengsao a guy I know that has been working here for 4 years no problems went to renew his visa to work another year and they straight up told him that it's time for him to leave despite nothing changing and him doing nothing wrong. 

This is the absolute pinnacle of stupidity. You have 'Permanent Residency' but still need to jump through all these hoops? 

As with anything in Thailand the law is what they say it is. You need to ask your local immigration what they want you to do for your situation and visa type. Ask them clearly, I am on --- visa and what do I do if I leave the country and return if I have not moved? what do I do if I just stay in country at a hotel for a weekend and have not moved? Do not listen to someone on TV that says, "I just went to Jomtiem and they told me they I didn't have to..." Just to find out later that they are on a different category visa than you are and that some categories they might want you to do it and some not. Every place is different and every category of visa could be different and depending on whether you are in or out of country could be different. Ask local immigration which of their crazy hoops they want you to jump through.

It is hit and miss with this subject and completely depends on which embassy and their specific policy of the day. They will do whatever they want regardless what the law says. It seems like most of the embassies that are granting the non-o dependent visas for children based on an ED visa (not all are) are also requiring that you have a stamped original letter from the school saying that you are studying at their school and that they are your children (all details of your children, name, age, passport #) Some are also requiring bank statements to prove that you can support them while you are staying in Thailand. 

Of course you could do what many do and that is just don't get your children a visa at all and let them overstay. If they are young there is no penalty for overstay and they will just get a stamp in their passport when they exit the country saying they overstayed but are under a certain age. 

2 hours ago, jochen said:

For them they only want it to be legalized in your home country

Chachoengsao immigration doesn't care about that at all. They can easily accept your teaching license from Kurusapa and the certified translation of an embassy statement from Chaengwattana if they wanted to. They are laughing at you now because they are forcing you to take a very expensive trip back home to jump through one of their "hoops". When you get back, be prepared for more. Maybe they will run the clock down on your existing visa one or two more times and make you do a couple border runs as well. Standard procedure at Chachoengsao. They love making foreigners lives miserable there. If there is one place that needs to be investigate by BJ it's that place, but since the overall number of foreigners going to that miserable place are so low it will never happen. 

10 hours ago, Maestro said:

but if the Thai government tries to reduce the inflow of tourist, it is obviously a step in the right direction.

Right in line with policy. Make it as inconvenient as possible for Farang as possible. Sounds like they need to close 3 of those consulates and head back to Thailand. Just keep the embassy open for show. 

3 minutes ago, The traveler said:

unlimited tourist visa for those under 50,

They should just open up a new category for under 50 sort of like Malaysia does. Visa requirements are the same except for the money amounts involved which would be more. 

I heard of someone who got one but was made to submit extra requirements. I don't know if this has changed again though recently. Aside from what the school gives they made him submit proof of funds of at least $3-4k USD through a bank statement with his name on it as well as copy of his rental contract, copy of landlord's house book, and a copy of landlord's id card front and back all signed. Penang is very strict now for everything, better to go to Laos.

12 minutes ago, ChomDo said:

So what's the policy for "digital nomads" at the moment then?

Based on what I have seen is that it is still a grey area. The will not issue you a work visa/permit for online work but for those that have gotten caught doing online work they haven't been charged although they surely could if they wanted to. The only way to work really that is sensible to do online work in Thailand is to 1. Don't tell anyone you work online. 2. If you are working online do not work together in some rented space that they can find and raid. 3. Stay as long as you can legally in country through whatever visas are available to you at the time and do your work online and don't pay the authorities any mind.

14 minutes ago, SurfRider said:

WOW!!!  They hit you harder that they hit me.  Mine was a $65 "add-on" to a $49 item.

Anything valued over 1500 baht gets hit with duty. It could be worse, it used to be 1000 baht but Alibaba's Jack Ma complained and got them to raise it 500 baht. I'm with you though they are crazy protectionist with their markets here. 

What? I have never heard of anything like this before. Is it not possible to just get a copy of your passport entry stamps and show them that you are in Thailand. At the most if needed maybe you can see if you can get something notorized by your embassy in Bangkok? I would contact your embassy and ask. 

On 9/27/2018 at 5:35 PM, ukrules said:

100 people per year per country.

 

The foreign office in the UK should institute a reciprocal agreement which matches this.

Yes! I agree 100%. Add the USA to that list as well for reciprocal agreements only allowing 100/year. 

2 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

I agree, but still TECHNICALLY illegal not to do so. Because they want to know when you are.  

Believe me, I know it's illegal and I am willing to pay the fine for not registering my address if caught. But it is much better than me going to register my address at immigration twice a week, every week. No way I am doing that.