Richard4849

They did their dye diligence to stay legal? So they had a corporate entity reporting income and paying tax on it? Work permits for the farangs? Provident fund and social security for the employees? Do I have that right?

Wife's opinion - whales and dolphins are fish - The sun goes around the earth.

There are more but these 2 stand out to me.

A Thai English language teacher told one of her students not to ask Farang questions about English. The qustion was about an item of clothing and it's correct name. It was a multi choice question. The daft thing is all the answers were right, it depended if you were a Brit, Australian, or American. We told the kid it was a jumper, the teacher insisted it was a sweater. The other 2 answers were jersey and pullover

The first one can be explained. It's a linguistic issue.

Pla = fish

Whale = pla waan

Dolphin = pla loma

Tuna = pla tuna

Mackerel = pla thuu

All are "pla".

Do you know the word for "mammal" in Thai? Neither do I -- so that's probably where the confusion arises. Of course dolphin and whale are "pla" -- that's what they're called!

i have lived in thai for 6 years now and for the most part been very happy here but now i find myself getting pretty p............d off with all these visa changes ..........its pretty obvious that the thais dont want anyone living here long term apart from thais but now they are even making it harder for tourists to get tourist visas ...........maybe all us farangs should just move to somewhere else in asia where they want us and just leave the thais to it !!!!..............

Six years as a tourist? Therein the problem!

Anyway, bon voyage and happy trails!

They can speed up the process all they want, but they are powerless to rush the man whose signature is required.

Battle of Britain? For real?

On average, I'd say the average Thai knows a lot more about the US, UK, Western Europe, Japan, Korea, China, etc. than the average American or European or Korean knows about Thailand -- if for no other reason than all the foreign movies, music, and other popular culture they lap up.

It was so horrific that it wasn't worth reporting to the authorities? Hmmm.

Tens of thousands of foreigners, if not hundreds of thousands, do this in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, all above board and legal. I don't think those of you without money realize how easy it is, if you can show proof of income in most European countries. It's just as easy in Europe as it used to be in Thailand, but then again Europeans have always known allowing people with money, who aren't doing anything illegal, to stay there is beneficial for everyone. I'm also British, so for me to stay just about anywhere in Europe for as long as I want, without even having to do visa runs, is as simple as getting registered once I get there and making a quick trip to the local police station.

The Thai government however is too stupid to understand the benefits of this, so will never end up with foreigners like me who have money and are willing to stay here and spend it. I mean, look how far the Thai government got with that in the past - instituting that ridiculous 'visa' a few years ago for people who had money. It was an expensive scam, even for the wealthy, and with few benefits. No wonder those who did pay into it got scammed when the scheme collapsed from lack of interest.

Unlike Europe, Thailand is the one that treats people with money,like me, like criminals, even though most of us are doing everything legally - applying for visas, paying for visas, doing visa runs on time and without overstays, spending lots of money while we're here etc. and we still get treated like we're criminals, while the truly dodgy ones are allowed to stay because some of them are 'teachers'.

I was lucky that I started the right business, worked hard at it, and when I sold it and my house had enough money to set me up well to well past retirement age and beyond. I worked hard for 20 years so I could retire early and reap the benefits, so now I have no interest in getting another job or, god forbid, a 'teaching job' just so I can stay in Thailand. Too many other countries to live in where i'm treated with respect and not like a criminal trying to game the system.

Anyway, got to go. Off to dinner with friends. Looks like my next fortnight will be pretty much every night of that - saying goodbye to friends and packing everything up so I can get off to Hong Kong on time. Bye bye Thailand. I'm sure Hong Kong will be happy to have me, LOL.

Again, what is this unlimited stay rich person visa called? I would like to look it up, please.

Rules are unfair? Um, how? Because you can't do as you please? "Lol".

Stupid reply

Yes some rules are very unfair.

This stupid rule will make me have to leave my kids which isnt going to be nice and return to my home country at a considerable cost to get a visa just to come back.

Its very unfair that i cant get the visa from here. You see!

Rules arent always fair.

Think before you say stupid things in future. doh

Fair would be total reciprocity on visa rules between nations.

Inconvenient, not happy-making? Maybe. But unfair? No.

Thai kids? So you're married? Great! There's an "O" visa waiting for you.

Stupid? How? If your country accepted Thai perpetual tourists like you want Thailand to -- I might use the word unfair. But they don't. Where is the unfairness?

All pretend to be either an attempt to address "security" or those wicked money-spending "perpetual tourists" who are not "genuine tourists."

Just a new attempt, probably related to the new administration, to reduce the amount of farang keynoke roaming the streets.

Hard to say if concentrating on the "perpetual tourists" will do the trick. Won't bother me if some of these scary characters are made to disappear, however.

Might be wrong about this, Jim, but I don't think so...

In all likelihood, a lot of the truly disreputable individuals currently staying here on tourist visas, if those disappear or become much harder to get, will probably find another disreputable means of staying here...

It's probably the ordinary, getting-by folks who'll end up getting put out... because while they may be bending the intended purpose of tourist visas... they're not likely going to turn to really criminal or seriously illegal things...

And frankly, if the government would get serious about requiring language schools and others who want to hire farang teachers about also requiring them to obtain work permits for that purpose, a lot of the perceived problem would likely be resolved.

You're absolutely correct. Those people like me, who have always done everything the legal way, the way the government mandates it, (I've never even had a one day overstay) will be the ones to leave. WITH our money.

The disreputable ones will just stay here illegally and never leave, and then pay there 20,000 baht fine at the airport when they do. I've met three people who've done that in the past year and not one was denied entry back into Thailand.

I think they are still selling Thailand Elite cards. Would that not solve the problems of you and your young, independently wealthy, idle friends?

Bkkjai...what do they call that unlimited stay UK visa for rich people? I will inquire at the embassy for my friend tomorrow. And what level of passive income is required, and how is it proven?

It affects those who are unlawfully pretending to be tourists.

won't argue that point; but there are plenty of under 50s here, not married and with solid incomes from overseas, certainly higher income than that of many an older person relying totally on eg his UK pension - other than ED there is only the tourist visa option.

Some under 50s are on superannuation/retirement incomes eg did their time in military service, yet again, not eligible for other than tv till reaching 50+.

I have a Thai friend, 35, with passive income from investments in Thailand of about 10,000 dollars a month. He'd like to spend a year in England as a tourist, maybe two three or four years. He hasno interest in getting a job, learning the language, or marrying a local. He just wants to, you know, hang out. Mostly with other Thais at Thai restaurants and bars aimed at Thais.

Where is his visa? Fair? Or unfair?

He could easily get a visa for the UK. Just needs a guarantor. So no, nothing like Thailand. He could also easily get a visa for the US for at least a six month stay on a 10 year visa. I have several Thai friends who have them and they come and go to the US staying up to six months, or longer, at a time. As long as they were able to show proof of income at the US Embassy (and as these guys are loaded, they had no problem doing), the US gave them 10 year visas.

Thailand would do well to do the same for those of us with money.

What cracks me up about all this though is all the high and mighty ones on forums like Thaivisa going on about getting rid of the 'riff raff' who live here on tourist visas. But, most of you make less than 50,000 a month, which is a mere pittance to those of us who have money, yet you look down on people who want to live here as tourists with more money than you guys will ever see in the rest of your working life. And, while you're lording it above those of us who will just move on elsewhere, the Thais are still looking down on you and constantly changing the rules so your stability is slowly eroded away. Bloody hilarious if you ask me.

Agree...he could get a TOURIST VISA for either the US or UK to stay for a few months. Just like anyone can do with Thailand, as well.

But what about after that? How is going to stay there for a year, two, three, or indefinitely?

It affects those who are unlawfully pretending to be tourists.

won't argue that point; but there are plenty of under 50s here, not married and with solid incomes from overseas, certainly higher income than that of many an older person relying totally on eg his UK pension - other than ED there is only the tourist visa option.

Some under 50s are on superannuation/retirement incomes eg did their time in military service, yet again, not eligible for other than tv till reaching 50+.

That's me, sold a business in the UK and a house years ago and have had plenty of money to live on ever since. But it's 4 years before I reach 50 so I'm not eligible for any of the visas they offer and have no interest in studying Thai as I already speak it fluently so don't want the ED visa either Yet I bring in about 125,000 baht a month into Thailand, more than double what your average 'teacher' makes (many of whom I've met, and who can barely afford a lifestyle I would never put up with but, hey, they're 'legal' LOL), and the Thai government is still making it impossible for me to stay here.

I've met numerous farangs living here on tourist visas who do the same. In fact, I would say the stereotypical 'loser' so many of you whitter on about is actually less of a factor in Thailand than those foreigners like me who are staying here on tourist visas with substantial amounts of money.,

But, as Thailand hasn't yet figured out, we can go anywhere we don't have to stay here on tourist visas. If they don't want our money countries like Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and just about all of Europe will allow us to be indefinite tourists there with little hassle to us.

I've just booked a flight today out of Thailand to Hong Kong leaving at the beginning of October and plan on staying there for 3 months. I lived there for a year a few years ago, so Hong Kong is almost as much 'home' to me as Thailand was. Then will probably move on to Malaysia for around six months before going back to Italy, where I own an apartment, for a few months after that. Like I said, I don't lose here. Thailand does. As my money goes with me

For most people though, they're so desperate to stay in Thailand they'll do anything including jumping through all the hoops the Thai government keeps shoving up. I don't have to, I have hundreds of other options, and there are many more like me.

Would your country have a visa for a Thai in the same situation as you?

All pretend to be either an attempt to address "security" or those wicked money-spending "perpetual tourists" who are not "genuine tourists."

Just a new attempt, probably related to the new administration, to reduce the amount of farang keynoke roaming the streets.

Hard to say if concentrating on the "perpetual tourists" will do the trick. Won't bother me if some of these scary characters are made to disappear, however.

Don't forget about the upstanding gentlemen from West Africa and the sub-continent who are also doing the Phnom Penh tango. Oh, and those nice Filipino gambling-scam gentlemen...

No more or less a "fact" than your repeated assertion, without evidence, that the Thai legal system is incapable of providing a fair trial, and that the Thai prison system is too barbaric to house an upstanding, civilized British murderer (assuming he's convicted of such).

Wouldn't you say?

Yes -- you're in a corner now, and the vast majority of posters here think you're a twit...perfect time to request the thread be locked.

It affects those who are unlawfully pretending to be tourists.

won't argue that point; but there are plenty of under 50s here, not married and with solid incomes from overseas, certainly higher income than that of many an older person relying totally on eg his UK pension - other than ED there is only the tourist visa option.

Some under 50s are on superannuation/retirement incomes eg did their time in military service, yet again, not eligible for other than tv till reaching 50+.

I have a Thai friend, 35, with passive income from investments in Thailand of about 10,000 dollars a month. He'd like to spend a year in England as a tourist, maybe two three or four years. He hasno interest in getting a job, learning the language, or marrying a local. He just wants to, you know, hang out. Mostly with other Thais at Thai restaurants and bars aimed at Thais.

Where is his visa? Fair? Or unfair?

I think skepticism about this report and the possibility of other related incidents is logical. However, what I find very distasteful is a seemingly strong bias by certain people here to suppress any information of any kind that MAY put Thailand in a bad light. That's bizarre and wrong. If it proves true there are acid attacks happening, and especially IF they are racially motivated, yes that does reflect badly on Thailand, just as if Muslims were having acid thrown on them in New York would reflect poorly on the USA. Grow up. Thailand is just another country.

Our function as expats is NOT to protect its face.

I don't see anyone saying anything like that. We just want to know the facts before ringing the town bells and yelling that farangs are being targeted.

Facts like, you know, was it intentional? Who did it? What was the motivation.

At this point we know almost zilch.

Rules are unfair? Um, how? Because you can't do as you please? "Lol".

Right now Thailand has a desperate need for jobs for growing numbers of young people. Take away jobs and civil unrest will follow.

Um...the unemployment rate is a lot lower in Thailand than it is in your home country (regardless of where you come from).

Why don't we throw open the gates of your home country to anyone from Mexico, Pakistan, Jamaica, Thailand, and Nigeria who wants to come and stay for as long as they want...to create badly-needed jobs?

What I said was "fact" in many situations--young people with no jobs = civil unrest. Your observation is interesting but based on a major flaw: the data are accurate. Unemployment is much higher than official figures reveal, especially in Thailand. Underemployment pushes that figure up further, but nobody in officialdom wants to talk about underemployment. The same is true for the USA. The actual unemployment rate is likely double the official figure. But all of this is a distraction from the basic fact that Thailand is in desperate need of "decent jobs" with "decent wages". If that is not provided (and it is not being provided), we can anticipate more civil unrest than we have already seen. Many of the future troublemakers (many from Isan) could be working in low-level positions in a growing and thriving tourist industry. Unfortunately, the govt. is doing everything in its power to reduce the growth of the industry via constant and crazy visa rule changes. Other countries in the region are not doing what Thailand is doing. Their policies (especially Cambodia) seem "sane" in comparison. Thailand is so arrogant to think it can continue to get away with these changes. Each change is small, but over the course of ten years they add up to something large and destructive.

These new rules do not affect any genuine tourists, who stay on average less than a week and certainly less than the 30 days most get visa-free.

It affects those who are unlawfully pretending to be tourists.

Apology accepted.

I'm not from Europe, but I see your point: illegal immigration is bad for Europe but a boon for Thailand.

Their mistake seems to be that it was online. This all could have been avoided if the show were live on Silom, Nana, etc.

How do you spell "hippocrassie"?

The violation was of the Computer Crime Act...so yes, their first mistake was putting it online.

Good riddance to these white garbage. What the bloody Thai Immigration and Police needs to do is to be more restrictive in the visas and more intense screening esp to people from Britain, America and Australia and also other European Countries as Thailand and also other parts of Asia are attracting the garbage from these countries.

What's got your knickers in a knot? One group of consenting adults is providing a service to another group of consenting adults, and the workers are being well paid - a lot better paid than planting rice for minimum wage that some time in the distant future might go up to B300.

Yes...only problem is that it's illegal. Small detail, of course.

Right now Thailand has a desperate need for jobs for growing numbers of young people. Take away jobs and civil unrest will follow.

Um...the unemployment rate is a lot lower in Thailand than it is in your home country (regardless of where you come from).

Why don't we throw open the gates of your home country to anyone from Mexico, Pakistan, Jamaica, Thailand, and Nigeria who wants to come and stay for as long as they want...to create badly-needed jobs?

It boils down to a feeling of superiority some people have because they come from a "more advanced" country.