dippy

I look forward to the day, when some has the balls, to take the immigration department to the International Court in the Hague, for seperating a man from his legally wedded wife!

Good luck with that.. But be sure to bring a case against virtually every country in the world when you do it..

You don't get an automatic right to live in any country just because you are married to someone..

This has been the case since the middle ages almost.

For those that are genuine there will be no problem. For those that are scamming expect to get caught out.

It's the same the world over.

Get a lawyer. Do the paperwork. Pay the fees, and everything will be fine.

Sit and whinge and moan and criticize and you can always expect your worst nightmares to come true.

Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed?

It's not the same the world over. Canada and the US are different.

I for one would be up for racial and religious profiling! This random searching doesn't cut it. Go after the people that look like they want to blow up a plane. I won't go any further on this topic for fear of being removed...

It's amazing how things always revert back to 911.

"Jimmy, how was school today?", "Well, mommy, we had lunch and it sucked so my teacher said it was because of 911".

See what i mean?

Canada is the same way. I have no problem with it. I wish that when you get your passport that they put your fingerprint on that so it can be scanned against your own prints to confirm you are the person holding the passport. Seems to me that would be a pretty good idea but who am i?

Jesus, when i first moved here, i took my son to Pattaya for a couple days on the beach. not knowing what the hel_l was happening there. Boy was i shocked! That place is disgusting. I would never bring my family there. Just nasty!

unplug your box ... wait 30 seconds ... plug it back in <total power down>

I'm in the soi 93 area and i think it's out all over here. What area are you in?

My UBC has spent all day Searching for a signal. Now i know it's been bad weather here in Bangkok today but it's been all day. Not once has it came back on. Anyone else in BKK seeing this?

I find it hard to believe that some would choose this type of career in Thailand. Especially with the stiff penalties related to drug crime.

He said "STIFF"!

LOL HAAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Songkhla tourism affected by recent bombing at Hat Yai district

The recent bombing incident at Hat Yai(หาดใหญ่) district of Songkhla(สงขลา) province has affected tourism of the province. Foreign tourists, especially Malaysian tourists have cancelled their accommodation bookings and have traveled back to their country.

Tourism operators and tourist guides who brought tourists from Malaysia, Singapore and Europe to Hat Yai have called for 400 buses to relocate tourists out of the area following the recent bomb blasts, particularly at Sadao(สะเดา) barrier where lots of Malaysian tourists have decided to travel back to their country.

Tourism operators claimed that tourists feel unsafe about the incident and were willing to leave the area. The province has lost almost million baht in revenue from tourists as booking for accommodations have been canceled.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 September 2006

Here is what I don't understand. They know it's a difficult region and they know that tourism will ceased to exist there if it continues so why not send the military down there and round up all the trouble makers. You know the guys with that religion that kill in the name of the higher power? Notice how I'm tiptoeing around a touchy subject!

But seriously, why not just go down there and do some house cleaning? They have no problem running the tourists out of the country for "TAX" reasons so why not down there? Seems to me that you should just clean it all up!

Riddle me this Thaiman, how the hel_l do these people know that people on a tourist visa are working here? THis is complete bullshit, they have no idea. They think that they are here working but think about it for a second, who gets a job without getting the work permit? I've never seen anyone working here that didn't have the work permit. Work permit equals 750 baht tax from employee and the same amount gets paid by the employer. So, &lt;deleted&gt;, should i just stop bitching about it.

Sure, i'm done with this. I've said my peace.

I hate Thailand politics and Thaskin can kiss my white ass, not on the left side, not on the right side but right in the GOD ###### MIDDLE!!!

Pucker up all you Tourists... It's time to bend over and take it like a man...

I'M OUTTTTTAAAA HEREE!!!!

Long live the AllStar Band at CM2 and long live white women...

You're dead wrong. I know plenty who work without work permits. I'd say and so would many others, that half of the teachers in Thailand don't have work permits. Some government schools employing farangs as English teachers don't even have any idea how to get a work permit for a foreigner. I think a lot of schools are going to be seriously lacking in teachers by 2007. So, perhaps you don't know any teachers.

For many Thai employers, dealing with work permits for foreigners is just too complicated and costly for them that they just hire workers without them. This probably happens in schools, mostly.

The problem with this new Thai immigration policy is that it may root out illegal workers, but it will also root out people who have income coming from overseas and don't need to work in Thailand, and are too young to get a retirement visa. That means lost money. There's good and bad for them.

And those of you who have proper visas, why are you complaining and want to leave? You won't be affected.

How the hel_l is it complicated? I needed a work permit to open a bank account and I didn't have a job here. I called sunbeltasia and went on one day and got a work permit. It's so ###### easy so not sure why they say it's complicated. They put the paper work in, i went to the office with my passport and a photo and got a pretty work permit. It's nice and blue too.

But I find it strange that teachers are working without a work permit. Ask me, that would be the first place I would look if I was the tax man! Crack down on them, not the people that put so much money into the economy!

Idiots!

This is the way they are cracking down on them it appears. As opposed to raiding every school in Thailand. Like I said, many employers just don't know how to get work permits for foreigners and don't take the time to find out. This is Thailand, after all, not the States.

Also, sometimes companies or schools want to employ another farang, but all their slots for farang employees are used up due to Thai work permit restrictions. So, what's the option? Work illegally. It happens more often than you think.

Thailand equals NO WIN SITUATION

Not the LOS's anymore, it means Lots Of Shit....

Later...

Thailand tighten rules for foreign visitors

BANGKOK: -- "Thailand never turns away people with problems, no matter where they're from," run the lyrics to a famous Thai country song. "They cross the border, the Mekong River where the water is murky/To ask for the protection of Siam/We welcome them with a smile."

It would be hard to find a place with a more deeply ingrained sense of hospitality than Thailand. Tolerance of outsiders' quirks and an overall laissez- faire attitude make the country one of Asia's top tourist destinations, drawing more than 11 million visitors last year.

But Thais are now pondering, as they do periodically, whether the doors to the well-advertised "Amazing Thailand" have been opened too wide.

VERY true!

I don't think there are many countries which open their doors as wide as Thailand does.

opalhort

This may very well be true but there are a great many countries that open their doors as wide:

Cuba, PI, Cambodia, Brazil, Costa Rica to name only a few

I'm outta her guys. I having dinner with my GF and put some money into the Thai economy. I won't post anymore but let the record show that I"M PISSED OFF about it.

Later guys. Loved debating and chatting with you...

Long live Singha!!!

All those that are writing smug comments about these new regulations ridding Thailand of farang scum need to think more carefully. This is going to affect you big time let me assure you. Do you own a property here? Do you have a business? Do you have a lot of your cash in Baht? Fortunately i have none of these and im very glad i don't because it's these people who should be concerned.

I've been here for 2 years and i know how important farangs like myself are to this economy. I am under 50, do not work illegally, have an adequate income to support myself in Thailand and have always obeyed and respected the law during my stay here. I support a TGF and family (and do not wish to marry), i employ a maid and rent 2 properties in BKK. If Thailand do not wish for me to stay here any longer then i certainly respect this decision. It is their own country and they set the laws. I will return to the UK it is not a problem for me. However, i just hope they truly understand the consequences of their actions. I would hate to see innocent, hard working Thai people suffer as a result of this and i am convinced that they will.

I also think it is a little offensive to say that if you don't have a lot of cash then that person is scum. I know some very nice people who live here who don't have a lot of money. They have enough to support there simple lifestyle and are law abiding citizens. They are not taking anything from Thailand they are only giving.

It's no big deal to many of the farangs who have to go back to the US or the UK, it is a much bigger deal for Thailand.

Very good post, I couldn't agree more

It's a big deal to me and i have a non imm b visa. I put a lot of money into this country and I hate to see the little guy take it up the ass because some crooked poli says they need more money from the farang. DUHHHHHH Hello!!!! What do you think all the these people are doing with their money? It's being put right back into the Thai economy. I would be upset and I would understand if all these farangs were taking their money they make here and pumping it into US or UK. But &lt;deleted&gt;? They aren't doing that... It's going right back into Thailand. Just so wrong on soooooo many levels...

Riddle me this Thaiman, how the hel_l do these people know that people on a tourist visa are working here? THis is complete bullshit, they have no idea. They think that they are here working but think about it for a second, who gets a job without getting the work permit? I've never seen anyone working here that didn't have the work permit. Work permit equals 750 baht tax from employee and the same amount gets paid by the employer. So, &lt;deleted&gt;, should i just stop bitching about it.

Sure, i'm done with this. I've said my peace.

I hate Thailand politics and Thaskin can kiss my white ass, not on the left side, not on the right side but right in the GOD ###### MIDDLE!!!

Pucker up all you Tourists... It's time to bend over and take it like a man...

I'M OUTTTTTAAAA HEREE!!!!

Long live the AllStar Band at CM2 and long live white women...

You're dead wrong. I know plenty who work without work permits. I'd say and so would many others, that half of the teachers in Thailand don't have work permits. Some government schools employing farangs as English teachers don't even have any idea how to get a work permit for a foreigner. I think a lot of schools are going to be seriously lacking in teachers by 2007. So, perhaps you don't know any teachers.

For many Thai employers, dealing with work permits for foreigners is just too complicated and costly for them that they just hire workers without them. This probably happens in schools, mostly.

The problem with this new Thai immigration policy is that it may root out illegal workers, but it will also root out people who have income coming from overseas and don't need to work in Thailand, and are too young to get a retirement visa. That means lost money. There's good and bad for them.

And those of you who have proper visas, why are you complaining and want to leave? You won't be affected.

How the hel_l is it complicated? I needed a work permit to open a bank account and I didn't have a job here. I called sunbeltasia and went on one day and got a work permit. It's so ###### easy so not sure why they say it's complicated. They put the paper work in, i went to the office with my passport and a photo and got a pretty work permit. It's nice and blue too.

But I find it strange that teachers are working without a work permit. Ask me, that would be the first place I would look if I was the tax man! Crack down on them, not the people that put so much money into the economy!

Idiots!

Riddle me this Thaiman, how the hel_l do these people know that people on a tourist visa are working here? THis is complete bullshit, they have no idea. They think that they are here working but think about it for a second, who gets a job without getting the work permit? I've never seen anyone working here that didn't have the work permit. Work permit equals 750 baht tax from employee and the same amount gets paid by the employer. So, &lt;deleted&gt;, should i just stop bitching about it.

Sure, i'm done with this. I've said my peace.

I hate Thailand politics and Thaskin can kiss my white ass, not on the left side, not on the right side but right in the GOD ###### MIDDLE!!!

Pucker up all you Tourists... It's time to bend over and take it like a man...

I'M OUTTTTTAAAA HEREE!!!!

Long live the AllStar Band at CM2 and long live white women...

ummmm bye bye Dippy .... <if you ever meet a person working in Thailand ... come back and let us know>

Exactly!

You got it.

Riddle me this Thaiman, how the hel_l do these people know that people on a tourist visa are working here? THis is complete bullshit, they have no idea. They think that they are here working but think about it for a second, who gets a job without getting the work permit? I've never seen anyone working here that didn't have the work permit. Work permit equals 750 baht tax from employee and the same amount gets paid by the employer. So, &lt;deleted&gt;, should i just stop bitching about it.

Sure, i'm done with this. I've said my peace.

I hate Thailand politics and Thaskin can kiss my white ass, not on the left side, not on the right side but right in the GOD ###### MIDDLE!!!

Pucker up all you Tourists... It's time to bend over and take it like a man...

I'M OUTTTTTAAAA HEREE!!!!

Long live the AllStar Band at CM2 and long live white women...

Oh, and one more thing...

ThaiVisa charges wayyyy toooo much for advertising. They are price gouging by asking people to pay 75 dollars for 50CPM impressions. Just a rip off. It's so sad to see internet business come to this. Nobody clicks on banners anymore. It's just wrong for them to charge for an impression. Should be charging for clicks if you ask me.

On a personal note... If i have one. There is a really cool bar on the 2nd floor on Soi 3 or 4, not sure but it's a arab bar. I'm an American and I went in there last night and I was the only white guy smoking the apple stuff. You get it? American with all Arabs... I was scared shitless but my Russian girlfriend, who is also Muslim, told me no worries. I thought for sure my head was coming off. You know what? I made a couple new friends. So despite what most people say about Americans, I for one love Arabs. They are cool people and they don't want to kill me.

Now pardon me while i book my ticket to the number one destination in the Middle East. I'm going to Bagdad baby! YEAH!!! I hear it's lovly this time of year....

Riddle me this Thaiman, how the hel_l do these people know that people on a tourist visa are working here? THis is complete bullshit, they have no idea. They think that they are here working but think about it for a second, who gets a job without getting the work permit? I've never seen anyone working here that didn't have the work permit. Work permit equals 750 baht tax from employee and the same amount gets paid by the employer. So, &lt;deleted&gt;, should i just stop bitching about it.

Sure, i'm done with this. I've said my peace.

I hate Thailand politics and Thaskin can kiss my white ass, not on the left side, not on the right side but right in the GOD ###### MIDDLE!!!

Pucker up all you Tourists... It's time to bend over and take it like a man...

I'M OUTTTTTAAAA HEREE!!!!

Long live the AllStar Band at CM2 and long live white women...

... and asked how many tenants have tourist visas. ... She said between 30% and 50% had tourist visas.

Hi John K,

For me it was not the good question to ask.

There is until now no problem with tourist visa. Only with VOA.

So the question was "How many use monthly VOA ?"

And I suppose the answer would be a lot of less. May be 10% ?

And then, how many of these 10% can get a valid visa ? (nom-Imm O, Tourist, ...)

Around me in Pattaya at least 80% of guys can get a visa.

Most of the other 20% are guys under 50 yo

So 20% of 10% make only 2% of the tenants. Not a big problem so.

Pattaya46

Your calculations are 100% off. It's not 10%, it's 40% or more. I know many many people on VOA. I'm the only person I know here on a NON IMM B visa. All my friends are on VOA (30 days) doing a VR to get another 30 days.

In my condo building, there are 25 farangs. None of them have a work permit. They all have 30 day visas and get the additional 30 days at the immigration office and then do VR to cambodia. My building only has 40 units. So, do that math...

Big impact expected from tougher visa-free entry rules

BANGKOK: -- The days of foreign visitors doing endless "border runs" in order to live - and often work - in Thailand are over, the Immigration Police announced yesterday.

The Kingdom will tighten its immigration rules for tourists who exploit visa-free regulations, starting from the end of the month.

The move will affect tens of thousands of visitors from 41 countries who have been allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days without a visa - often for many months or years.

The 41 visa-exempt countries include Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States.

Tourists have been able to extend their stay by travelling to neighbouring countries - Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Burma - and returning with a further 30-day entry stamp.

But new rules have been issued because an increasing number of tourists have stayed for extended periods - without paying proper amounts of tax. This has also helped them avoid close scrutiny by authorities here and in their homeland.

"We are trying to make it more difficult for bad people to get in," Immigration Police chief Lt General Suwat Thamrongsrisakul said at a press conference yesterday.

"I don't think it's going to hurt good people because they can apply for a tourist visa [in their homeland]," he said.

The move is expected to have a big impact on the foreign community and some sectors such as teaching and diving, plus places where there are many bars run by foreigners, such as Pattaya and Chiang Mai.

From October 1, tourists from the 41 visa-exempt countries may still enter Thailand without visas and stay for up to 30 days, but they will only be able to extend their stay here two times - that is, for a maximum of 90 days.

And tourists who stay for 90 days must leave the Kingdom for at least 90 days before being permitted to re-enter Thailand.

Suwat denied the crackdown was related to the arrest in Bangkok last month of John Mark Karr, the American teacher who was thought to have been involved in the high-profile JonBenet Ramsey murder case. He said there were many reasons that extended back for a long period.

Suwat conceded the move may cause some problems, but said "maybe we have to do something to make it better [later]".

However, if foreigners wanted to work here they should get a work visa, he said.

A source added: "Under the current rules, people from these countries can stay in Thailand for as long as they want. Some even stay here for one year. Many work illegally in Thailand."

Instead of sightseeing, these tourists have taken advantage of the visa exemption by getting married to Thai women "for reasons other than love", and have conducted business here. Many of them have not paid tax.

The immigration move is a hot topic among foreign residents, and comes at a time when many are fearful about possible changes in regard to firms with local nominees.

Hundreds of comments were logged on local Web boards within hours of the Immigration Department press conference. Some said foreigners should abandon Thailand for neighbouring countries, while others predicted it might force school bosses to pay foreign teachers a proper wage or cause a boom in men wanting to marry Thai women.

Most believed the move could cost Thailand a small fortune.

Meanwhile, plans are under way to simplify the process for foreign teachers to work here as the current system requires 13 separate steps, which take many months to complete.

Heads of international schools have been meeting with the Immigration Department to try to simplify the process.

Thailand recently simplified the process for foreigners who want to become permanent residents. The amount of paperwork required has been slashed and the time involved reportedly cut from more than a year to about four months.

Last year Thailand tightened its immigration rules for South Asian tourists, who were allowed to apply for visas on arrival that permitted them to stay for 30 days. Many of them took advantage by travelling to neighbouring countries and returning to get a new visa on arrival at the airport.

Under the new rules, they are allowed to obtain a visa on arrival only twice from neighbouring countries. They are then required to return to their country of origin to obtain an entry visa to Thailand.

Jim Pollard

-- The Nation 2006-09-16

Here is the new rules from Oct 1, 2006

You know, I've been coming to Thailand for 10 years now. I live here now on a Non Imm B visa. This doesn't affect me but it still pisses me off. My business is the internet. I pump thousands of dollars a month into this stupid economy. I'm so pissed about this. I have many many friends that won't be able to stay here now. They don't work here, they live here and their money comes from outside the country. I actually don't know anyone that works IN Thailand. They all have money coming in from outside. So, if you ask me, this is complete bullshit. I used to love this country but it seems that day after day, i'm growing more hatred for the powers at be. I'm just ######ing pissed about it. They will soon figure out that the people that live here contribute so much money to the economy in condos, food, beer, beer, beer, taxis, women, women, women and women and when they do, it will be too late. I for one am pulling out at the end of my visa next year and I won't be coming back. This country is leaving such a bad taste in my mouth. It's stupid i say! STUPID! These Thai idiots think they know what they are doing, but the reality is that they are full of shit and i'm afraid that the rest of the country will suffer the most because of some stupid little man and his stupid little agenda.

I feel sorry for all the condo/apartment owners that now will have no income. Guess these ######ing morans didn't think about that now did they. ###### i'm pissed off. I am so mad! I'm going to go take it out on a Russian hooker... No, wait, can't do that because they are gone too. ######!!!!!

Signed.... The Wee Little Dippy Man that will no longer live in Thailand. I will not put my money back into this country.

I wonder how Vietnam is this time of year...

As of October 1, 2006 the 3 million baht investment visa will no longer be available

It has been brought to the attention of Sunbelt Asia that as of October 1, 2006 the 3 million baht investment visa will no longer be available.

This includes bank investments, condominium investments, and bond investments.

Not only will it NOT be issued, but you CANNOT renew your current investment visa on this basis.

The official statement from Thai immigration is expected this week.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

What does this mean for people who are here on a Non Imm B Visa? Does it apply and if so what does it mean to our quartly visa run?

This guy drove around the block while the bomb squad was on the scene, no one noticed anything unusual.

Looks like my old neighbors bike in Los Angeles. Can you tell me where the photo was taken?

If you look at the direction of traffic and the english signs you'll see it's not Thailand. Duhh but we knew that dippy! ha

Maestro, the answer is number 2 and thanks for playing...

Thanks to everyone for their info. I think "Thaivisarun" is the best option. Plus they have a pretty new bus! LOL! Wow, such pretty colors. Sure ThaiVisa.com, I'll have more acid please...

Now, hold it right there, dippy! You haven’t even done your visa run yet and you are talking about a certain tour company’s pretty bus and the bus’s pretty colours. Should I, perhaps, have added a fourth option to my poll?

4. None of the above. He merely looks for an opportunity to advertise a certain tour company.

If this number four should indeed apply I tender my apologies to the other posters; it certainly was not my intention to play dippy’s game.

--------------

Maestro

Now I find that just plain rude. I have no idea who they are. I was just looking for a good company to use. If you look, you'll see that I asked and someone else suggested it. I own a software company here in Bangkok. Why would I advertise someone elses service that has nothing to do with me?

Anyway.

I've been in LOS for almost 3 months now and it's time for me to do a visa run. I have a Non Imm B visa. What is the best option for me to do a run? I need cheap and quick! LOL. If that is possible. Are there any services that do this? I've read a couple but not sure.

Everybody, it’s guessing time again! What type of “visa run” does dippy want to do?

1. He wants to get a new visa at a Thai consulate in the region and then return to Thailand on the new visa.

2. His non-B visa is multiple-entry, still valid, and he wants to cross the border and return on his current visa to get another 90-day permission to stay.

3. His visa is no longer valid, he wants to cross the border and re-enter to get a 30-day stamp on arrival.

--------------

Maestro

Maestro, the answer is number 2 and thanks for playing...

Thanks to everyone for their info. I think "Thaivisarun" is the best option. Plus they have a pretty new bus! LOL! Wow, such pretty colors. Sure ThaiVisa.com, I'll have more acid please...

Has anyone done a visa run with "thaivisarun" - they leave from Baan Rai coffee shop in Ekkamai at 9.30am.

Comments?

Thanks,

JJ.

Where are they located? Do they have a website? I need to plan a run and not sure where or what to do. It will be my first VR.

I've been in LOS for almost 3 months now and it's time for me to do a visa run. I have a Non Imm B visa. What is the best option for me to do a run? I need cheap and quick! LOL. If that is possible. Are there any services that do this? I've read a couple but not sure.

Where in Thailand are you located? Makes a difference as to the visa run possibilities available

I'm in Bangkok

Ok, forgive me if this question has been asked before.

I've been in LOS for almost 3 months now and it's time for me to do a visa run. I have a Non Imm B visa. What is the best option for me to do a run? I need cheap and quick! LOL. If that is possible. Are there any services that do this? I've read a couple but not sure.

Thanks

Dippy