Charles2550

The Education Extension of Stay to study Thai was being granted for one year, last week. This week, new applications are being stamped valid for 90 days. The new applicants holding the new extension of stay will need to renew the permit at Immigration at the end of every 90 days.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Are there any strings attached to the renewal, every 90 days?

For example, attendance to the school, etc.

It would be interesting to hear if similar threatening notices have been issued by, so far, reputably "not unfriendly" Thai Consulates in South East Asia... Vientiane for example? Others?

have you put any thought into just getting legal somehow? why have the stress every few months (or every month) when it can be less than annually <every 15 months?>

Just following-up from MTW:

Can you please share your wisdom about how to do this if you are under 50, not married, not in business here, don't have a Thai child, or any of the other less obvious ways? How do you do it Jdinasia?

...would appreciate your advice JD as I'm in MTW's position and the whole visa exemption/tourist visa lark is beginning to get a bit lame for me too. Thanks a lot!

im in similar situation too.

I think our only option is something like an education visa unfortunately.

Im still looking into it.

Althought I don't see myself as "illegal", I am in the same situation and very eager to hear jdinasia solution...

Marginline I like your irony; it's so true...

Everything will be fine! Thailand is a great Country.

Good to hear your optimism Mffun and thanks for the info.

Wish you fun and good luck,

Like many others I am convinced that Thai Authorities will keep tightening the screw regarding immigration.

That said. Please keep in mind that Stickman, and his associate Mark Stick 2, are not professional journalists. They are English teachers with limited spare time. Their site is filled up with rumours, rants... Nothing is hardly ever verified or cross-checked there. I might add that the quality of their site has been going down lately.

Moreover, their "hobby" website brings them some consequent extra cash (by the hit). So sensationalism is profitable for them -while they sit comfortably on their work visa.

Cheers,

P.S. Of course posters on the Thai Visa forum are not professional journalists either. However, being personnaly concerned with immigration issues, most posters try to get their facts right. As they believe this the best way to help each others.

I obviously need English tuitions and would rely on these guys for that... but certainly not to get reliable information about Thailand.

Lopburi 3 and JR Texas, I feel your respective point of view are consistent with each other.

From a general point of view, I think with JR that "The securitization of migration is happening worldwide. Unfortunately, it is also being abused worldwide".That's the general trend that provided us with securized new passports, for example.

With Lopburi, I believe that Regional politics have an influence on immigration policies, as well.

It brings a general question to my mind. Sorry for my ignorance... I don't know enough about the Thai administrative organization.

Regarding an issue like the Tourist Visas... At which level of the administrative pyramid are decisions made? Who decides which are the requirement to qualify for such a visa? And what the modalities are going to be (2 or 3 entries, etc).

If anyone knows, I would be grateful as I am eager to understand the policy making process.

5. If you are lucky you may get a year visum but I suspect as I havent done this myself that the renewal has to be done in your homecountry.

Whatever, visiting a friendly embassy and asking what can be done but essentially options do exist if you show you have a regular income, capital or whatever. Adding a fixed deposit in Thailand sure doesnt do any damage either. In many odd circumstances it functions as a proof you can afford to stay here...

Tracer, thanks for your post. It sounds interesting... Could you please be a bit more specific:

Single entry or multi entry?

Which type of visa?

Extract from this printed form: (...)"The fee for each entry is £25. It is no longer safe to assume you can obtain an "extension of stay", such extensions are granted solely at the discretion of Thai Immigration and are given only in special circumstances."(...)

That's interesting. What's the situation on the ground? Has anyone actually applied for an extension lately? Any problems?

Cyberviking, if you go back to the top of this thread and read on, you will find some answers amongst posters...

Cheers

To A Mike U Like,

You are being very helpful here. You are providing us with a very well documented piece of information... Thanks for the link to the pdf file.

Extract from this printed form: (...)"The fee for each entry is £25. It is no longer safe to assume you can obtain an "extension of stay", such extensions are granted solely at the discretion of Thai Immigration and are given only in special circumstances."(...)

Being paranoid, people would focus on the "no longer"... That could be another sign pointing to the future and the Authorities intention to limit the lenght of stay under back to back Tourist Visas.

However, I don't try to stir up some extra fear. Not being in the most elegant visa situation, I am just trying to do some prospective. It would help to adjust, in case...

Wishing you a nice stay in LOS,

P.S.

As for Bruceboy. Being a Tourist here I can't advise him about business. opportunities. It's a good idea to spend time in Thailand first; learn the language, get familiar with cultural practices. For Western minded people, that could take a lot of time and many Tourist Visas! Then if one can come up with an idea and doesn't step on anybodyelse toes, try luck. Sorry, if I sound patronizing.

You are on your early sixties... Lucky you! You can apply for a retiree visa.

Sit back and relax... No worries mate.

Good luck

You don't have to wait for the last of your 60 days Tourist Visa to apply for a 1900 Bahts/30 days extension.

You can do it beforehand.

Good luck

To Cosmont:

It's the Lyon Consulate that provided me with the potentially worrying piece of information I have started this thread with. (No more 3 entries, and a potential 30 days only for the second entry).

I don't know what the situation is in Marseille or Bordeaux... I don't rely on their websites (if any) as they are rarely up to date.

If anyone has fresh news...

Thanks Cosmont

To Fred Sanford,

Bruceboy has his visa situation sorted and feels that ALL expats should do same same. When the day comes that he is unable to qualify for this visa for whatever reason, his attitude on tourist visas will change

I am with you on this one.

I am happy for Bruceboy that his situation has been sorted out.

I am not quite comfortable about the patronizing tone of his "advice".

Anyway, being confrontational doesn't help... Especially in Thailand!

Good luck to you, Fred.

Alternatively, get a multiple entry non immigrant "O" visa. You'll get 90 days on arrival and then do a border run or fly out for a day or a few days and get another 90 days when you return.

How does she get a multiple entry non immigrant "O" visa?

(if she is a tourist...)

I would suggest a 1 year B visa that way you only have to leave Thailand 1 time for a stamp and have none of the paperwork problems.

How does she get a 1 year B visa?

To Kaksa: if your trip plan includes a visit to one of the neighbouring countries, a tourist visa could wprk very well for you.

By the way it would be interesting to know the maximum of entries (on a Tourist Visa) a Thao Consulate or Embassy in Finland will deliver to you?

Please let us know, as these facts are hard to gather for those already being in Thailand.

Good luck to you

Thanks Margineline.

Always good to remember that many of us share the same kind of "unclassifiable" status, not being misfits for that reason.

MahouAngrit brought good news when he said that Thai Consulates in the U.K. were still delivering triple entries Tourist Visas.

It would be interesting to have feedback from others nationalities within the E.U.

How does it work in Italy, Spain, Germany, Nederlands, Belgium, etc?

Bruceboy, you wrote: "A tourist visa is for tourists, many people misuse the generous Thai immigration system to stay on for years and years, I don't blame the Thais for cracking down on this, it's like the many immigrants in the UK taking advantage of our generousity back home".

You can't really compare "the many immigrants in the UK" and people staying in Thailand on back to back Tourist Visas.

We don't take advantage here of any medical or social services...And have no intention to do so.

It's clearly the other way around. Thai economy benefits from our spending here. In my case I have never made any attempt to work illegally as well.

Now, if an "honest motive" is either working or marrying, it's quite a narrow perspective on life. This is a matter of personnal choice. Nothing to do with honesty.

It may sound that many people "misuse the generous Thai Immigration system", as you say. Many do so because they don't fit anywhere in the proper system. I understand that an administrative system can't address the diversity of all individuals. Tourist Visas were useful to correct the rigidity of the system.

The crackdown on individual freedom is a worry. Eveyone benefits from diversity. However, as a guest here I don't blame or praise the local Authorities, I just respect them and look for a way to stick with legality.

Thanks for your advice about "Sunbelt". I doubt they would be able to renew the current visa system, though.

Cclub75 and Mahout Angrit,

So we are on phase regarding the trend... You wrote:

-"Can you live in France, UK or China with back to back "tourist visa"? The trend is there".

-"Thailand may drift towards Western standards...".

Spot on! The European Embassy official in Bangkok told me Thai Immigration officials here in Bangkok made their aim clear: ending with a scheme similar to the Schengen one.

As you said, I hope it's a bit too early to worry about this final aim right now. The lack of alternative options is getting stressful though as we feel the clock ticking...

To Bruceboy: you wrote: "a proper visa is not hard to get, if you want to stay and have honest motives". As Mahout Angrit said, I don't see any elegant alternative option. If you have an idea I would be more than happy to take it...

I don't mean to bother you with too much details about my life... Let's say: I am 47, not married in Thailand (no intention to do so for immigration purposes), no child and I don't work... And I have no intention to do so. I don't have time to work anymore... Done it, prooved myself, saved money and invested it.

Nowadays, I am not a rich man but comfortable enough to have a decent life without working. Lucky me! Free time rates more than money. This is the utmost luxury in my eyes.

Moreover, I need free time to practice motorbike-trekking in this part of the world. This is great way to know this country in depth, at your own pace. South-East Asia is a paradise for that purpose. And Thailand is the best base: regarding availability of parts, etc. Let's just add that my spiritual life matches best Buddhism. So, these are the main "honest motives" for me.

I know it could sound a bit weird but it's not a crime to seek freedom and independance as long as I am able to support myself and my passion.

I am not a burden in anyway for the Thaï society... It's all ll the contrary in fact. Alas, I don't fit anywhere in the current Thai visa scheme. Bad luck!

As a French poet wrote, "I make a profession of being a Tourist".I don't see anything wrong with that. Back to back Tourist Visas have been fully appropriate for my case for the last 6 years. No distorsion at all. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the flavour of the day anymore.In the meantime Thailand has become my home.

Another day I might go through the hassle of getting a Thai registered motorbike through neighbouring countries borders... I don't want to write a too long post or to bother you with this specific issue. It's enough to say that coordinating the bike "visa" with my increasingly restricted personnal visa is getting trickier and trickier. In that respect South East Asia has still a long way to go before it can compare to the E.U. and the Schengen agreement!

I appreciate the attention you guys gave to my posts and apologize for my poor English language skills.

Thanks again for sharing ideas and facts.

Fred,

I know it's hard to buy(wishing it stays that way). From a rational point of view I would say we contribute to Thai economy in many ways. By applying for a proper visa we pay: visa fee, re-entry permit fee, visa extension.

For those who are not infringing Thai laws and cultural practices in any way, I don't see how we could be perceive as a "nuisance".

However, rationalism is not always the driving force in this part of the world... And I have to say in some ways that's why I love it.

Mahout Angkrit,

I get you are an E.U. citizen. Good to hear you haven't had any information consistent with mine. It would be interesting to hear from other E.U. citizens and where are the most friendly consulates overthere.

Till next note, best regards,

I am not trying to steer up some extra paranoia here...

However, I wish to add that the essence of the printed information provided by Thai Consulate in France is consistent with a talk I had in december 2006 with an Embassy official, here in Bangkok. This person told me Thai immigration policy will tend to limit the amount of time foreigners spend in LOS under a 60 days Tourist Visa within a one year period. This was after a meeting they had with Immigration officials in Bangkok. Details were unclear back then.

I am just trying to anticipate possible negative future changes in order to have time for organizing B plan... Which in my case (no biz and a bit too young for retiree visa) is going to be tricky. I can't see any "elegant" option so far.

Cheers

Thanks guys for the reassuring information.

Indeed there are a lot of misunterpretation floating about (especially about this Tourist Visa issue)... That's what gets me worrying at times.

This time the misunterpretion was printed. The information form available at the Consulate stipulated that the second of the two entries (of the Tourist Visa) might only be validated for only 30 days upon a discretionary decision of the Immigration officer at the border post.

Anyway, you say all the information you have been gathering so far on this forum shows that it doesn't work this way on the ground (and you seem pretty experienced when you have noticed it's only my second post). That's good to hear.

I am grateful for your time.

I would like to put my all my faith in these good statistics.

It would be awful but let's suppose... And if the French Consulate interpretation was a sign pointing to the future? It would be interesting to hear if someone else, elsewhere in the world has been given the same interpretation.

By the way Brahmburgers, I don't really belong to the "young folks"; turned 47 and greying. Thanks anyway!

Hi,

I am in the same situation as the guy who posted under the title: "Too young and no biz". So no easy option.

However I have been using the Tourist Visa option for years. It was not uncomfortable...Having to get out of Thailand in order to validate the next entry of my visa was not an hassle at all. It was an opportunity to visit neighbouring countries.

Alas, authorities seem to tighten the screw nowadays-not only for the 30 days visa exemption.

In France, my home country, the Consulate was providing me with 3 entries Tourist Visa without any problem... Untill last month. When I went to apply in April they told me :

a)They could only give me 2 entries.

b)The second entry might only be valid for 30 days: "it would be up to the immigration officer at the border".

c)Time spent in Thailand with a proper Tourist Visa counts towards the 180 days rule. Meaning; even with proper Tourist Visa obtained at Embassies or Consulates, I could only spend 180 days/a year in Thailand.

I am not too surprised with the first two points: limitation has been in the air since october 2006... However, so far I was hoping the Tourist Visa would get me out of trouble.

The third point is contradictory with informations obtained elsewhere... For example on this site where Pol Capt Krissarat Nuesen (Phuket Provincial Immigration Office) is quoted stressing that "the 90 days rule does not affect people who have been issued a visa from the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate".

It looks like the screw is being tightened from both ends targetting people who use 60 days tourist visa.

Is anyone getting the same feeling?

Anyone seeing the truth through such contradictory information?

Thanks for your comments and good luck!