BOS2BKK

This strikes me as one of those "We'll know it when we see it" type scenarios. If you are scouring Thai visa trying to find the bare minimum stay across a border to re-enter...then guess what, you are one of the I/O people they don't want back.

Something tells me flip flops and a beer Chang tank top walking across the Bridge in Nong Kai will get you an I/O stamp alot faster than arriving on a Lufthansa flight from Germany. I bet the immigration desks at Swampy won't even have the I/O stamps on hand.

What's an I/O stamp? Do you mean visa exempt stamp?

Of course immigration will have this stamp. The vast majority of incoming tourists use visa exempt entry. What these legitimate tourists don't do is visa runs. They go back home and stay there for the remainder of the year after their holiday in Thailand has finished.

These are not the people immigration are targeting. The target are people that do visa runs.

Read the original article. They said "Visa runners" will receive an "In/Out" or I/O stamp in their passport to mark them as abusers of the system. If you're going to try to correct someone be right.

This strikes me as one of those "We'll know it when we see it" type scenarios. If you are scouring Thai visa trying to find the bare minimum stay across a border to re-enter...then guess what, you are one of the I/O people they don't want back.

Something tells me flip flops and a beer Chang tank top walking across the Bridge in Nong Kai will get you an I/O stamp alot faster than arriving on a Lufthansa flight from Germany. I bet the immigration desks at Swampy won't even have the I/O stamps on hand.

I was chatting with a Thai Taxi driver about this topic not ong ago, and he put it as succinctly as I have ever heard. "If there are no buyers, there will be no seller"

I do think we should distinguish between those milked in Get Rich scams, who are most definitely victims of their own greed and stupidity, but are distinct from people who are otherwise minding their own business enjoying their vacation and are duped by unscrupulus predators like the Jet Ski and Palace closed scams.

When you renew next time they will be valid for 5 years.

That's what the wifey said but apparently it's 1 year for farangs and 5 years for Thais.

I asked the wifey to go back and ask for sure and we were told the same. This is up in Sakon Nakhon (not that it makes any difference).

I actually thought I was part of the Thai society

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Couldn't be more wrong bro. I just renewed mine for the first time last week. I got car, motorcycle, and international conversion, all good for 5 years. My first Thai license was expired in February, and it wasn't an issue. All Thai licenses, even for Thais, are 1 Year contingent the first time. The process was quick, painless and cheap compared to renewing my license in the USA.. In fact compared to an American DMV the Thai one in BKK was refreshingly efficient. I dare say even better, I was there for under an hour, last time I renewed in the US I was there for nearly 3 hours. The depth perception, reactioon time and peripheral vision tests are all highly relevant to safe driving, and we perform none of those tests in the US. I did not need to go to Immigration for anything, I got the letter from the Embassy, the doctors note, snd that was it. They asked me for a work permit, I told them I don't work in Thailand, which is true. I spend maybe 3- 6 months a year there when I am between work assignments. Like everywhere in Thailand there are the rules, and there is the way it's done. OP seems to be a bit negative, and just having a down demeanor can incline a Thai to tell you to f-off. I am fat and cute and smile at everyone. I am routinely referred to as resembling a big kid, and I can get away with just about anything by smiling and uttering any of the ten Thai words I know and getting the "You speak Thai good, You Narak"

Isn't this exactly what happened in the old Siam Square when they initially built the SkyTrain and all those bustling shopping centers? Urban decay is alive and well in BKK and Urban renewal is the only solution. It is unfortunate when the time for Urban renewal is at hand it is never the gangs of little guys happily footing the bill. They are the first to complain, and rightfully so, but someone is always unhappy about everything. Turning to infrastructure projects supported by big business is the only solution. Unfortunately in Thailand mob rule is alive and well at the neighborhood level, and alot of times the big businesses have to be sneaky because nobody in the government will force the vendors to leave. Thais want the benefits of being an influential regional player, then they have to accept BKK must be dragged into the 21st century, even if it is kicking and screaming. Not just a few isolated segments of the city that cater to westerners, the whole thing. They should strive to be as grand asTokyo, not settle for being slightly cleaner than Jakarta.

I had a friend write a joke once:

Here is a list of things that nobody will find a reason to be pissed off about:

1)

Hey! Why do the numbers who don't do anything gotta be black?

I saw the title and just naturally assumed it was an April Fools joke.

I still think it is.

I can't believe it went three and a half pages before anybody even mentioned April Fools...

I love that it went so long without anyone noticing it was April Fools. Just proves beyond any doubt how many self important spite filled angry haters there are on the interwebs. People too busy criticizing their adopted country to have a good laugh.

To all you guys pointing out the low ransom as a sign of amateurs you couldn't be more wrong. The Colombian FARC turned kidnapping into a finance scheme a long time ago. They quickly realized kidnapping millionaires for million dollar ransoms was high reward but huge risk. Security guards, influential family and friends, were the norm and the physical difficulty of moving millions of dollars in cash.(1Ml US in $100 bills weighs about 10Kg) is no joke. Also a multi million dollar ransom makes it worth it for the insurance companies to engage alternate recovery methods. Faced with these challenges they started kidnapping anonymous middle class people and asking for relatively small ransoms. Your average bar owner can probably lay his hands on $25K without too much trouble, it fits in your pocket, and it is unlikely he is connected enough to get authorities to feign concern. You do one or two of these kidnappings a month with minimal risk and you can quickly make more money that doing the once a year hgh profile kidnapping. You sit on people for a couple of days, if you don't get yoru ransom you kill them, or just walk away and they are on their own. As far as the guy getting a cell phone...that's another story, but the low end kidnapping is well established among organized criminals.

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The days of sitting by the beachside with a foam box full of ice, waiting to sell a can of coke for 35 or 40THB to a fat, lazy, but cashed up Australian, are numbered...

And so too are the businesses of thousands of Thais who have nothing to do with the tuk tuks...

So what? These are the people who look the other way and tolerate the Mafias in their back yards. Maybe if these people would speak up and point out to the governor of Phuket that all the kickbacks he gets from the Mafias are worthless if tourists stop coming, maybe then he will listen. There are no innocent victims in this scam. Complacency and willful ignorace may very well be the Thai way, and then they have to live with the consequences. I have said it many times. Speak with our dollars. Let the Russians and Iranians have Phuket. It's too far gone to save.

Same old story. I used to have an investment in a business in Phuket, but I walked away. We need to speak less withour words and more with our dollars. There are plenty of other beaches and islands around Thailand. Let the Russians and Iranians have Phuket. The problem is these guys think people will never stop coming. Bali learned that lesson the hard way, that when pushed people WILL stop coming. One thing there is no shortage of in south east Asia and the pacific rim in general is pretty beaches. Phuket is lost. Let it go.

Patong beach Phuket is one of the most notorious party strips in the world. You don't check into a hotel there for peace and quiet. You go to Koh Samed for peace and quiet. This is all just a big sham to extort money from the hotel that was smart enough to book this party and subsequently made a fortune off it. When was the last time you saw a Thai give a rats ass about litter? I love it here but the thais on the beach in Phuket have no compunction about tossing trash wherever they stand. This is just more haters hatin. Phuket has turned. Just let it go and move on.

When someone starts to spray police station with bullets, it might be time to start taking things very very seriously.

People keep overlooking one fact. They didn't spray the police station, they sprayed the commanders office, located behind the police station. This was not anti police violence this was a message to a specific person. Don't forget to consider the Russians in this. They seem to be behind more and more of the violent crime in that filthy snake pit named Pattaya.

For the Original poster. No Judgement...Just an observation

You are not "Retiring" you are moving to Thailand to live and work remotely. I would seriously rethink your plan, because as one pointed out you are at a very real level committing an ongoing fraud. Granted, as others have pointed out, it is victimless, and generally nobody cares, but... there will always be that fact out there. Also if you are retiring at 50 and you can't produce $26,000 even temporarily to park in a bank account for a visa application you need to reconsider. The reason the Thai Visa want's to see pension income is it is generally stable and reliable. Job income and rental income can both dissapear quickly and without warning, and without an adequate cash reserve you will be in a real bind. Again, I am not judging your situation, just observing that your plan may have some holes in it. Good luck, as long as your expectations are realistic and your attitude positiveyou will enjoy living in Thailand.

Fantastic idea !! Recently at about 7pm, I was outside central world, and had to go to LadPharo. Taxi drivers just gave that stupid grin, and drove off......I wonder though if the penalty system can be enforced?

I am so happy to see this rule. Even if it is difficult to enforce. I travel quite extensively and Thailand is the only Civilized country that still runs it's taxi's third world style. Recently my Thai Girlfriend and I spent a few days in Dubai and she was shocked that you could just get into a taxi and tell them where to go without begging the driver or paying an exploitative price. Thailand has the potential to be as well off as Singapore or Hong Kong if they can jsut get their Mafias/Police under control.

It's a great idea........well done!!

Some of you guys need to get over yourselves, this announcement has greatly increased access to the ticketing, and the efficiency of getting the tickets. Big like......more of this please, it saves us from having to deal with shyster tour operators and the like.

Try to look for the positives for a change eh?

Yes, that's ok for you,as your a tourist,but for the ex-pats who live here with thier Thai families

Many of whom also pay Tax, we think that duel pricing is unfair. This is what I believe is behind most of The people who you think are negative are complaining about.

We absolutley have teird pricing all over the US. In Hawaii they have Kamaina price, in alot of states everything from Museums to Universities have "Resident" prices. I used to pay the "Student rate" on the Subway and to get into the Art museum free with a student ID. Get off your high horse admit your just a cheapskate. You picked up a Thai wife,thinking you could get a housemaid/sexslave for short money and now you're stuck living up to the expectations of the culture. When you adopt a new homeland you have to take the good with the bad. I would think if you have the money to send your wifes Grandparents to a decent hospital you would want to. She is a lucky lady to have a guy like you taking care of her family.

Some of you are attacking this question from the wrong angle.

I'm asking you if you think normal Thai women will find the sign offensive....there are plenty of them if you venture outside of the Nana or Soi 23 area you know!

Just asked the missus. She said she understood completely why the sign is there and didnt have a problem with it. 'Up to them' as she eloquently put it.

My girl simply suggested the wording should be changed. That's all...as the way it is put is wrong.....and we enjoyed the bar and its relatively cheap drinks.

The problem is if they changed the sign to what it really meant "No Whores" You would get a parade of Thai women saying. "I'm not a whore, I'm a university studfent. I just go with farang men sometimes to help my family. Can by me drink sexy man? Dahling you like my iPhone? You play Facebook and Whatsapp?"

Can I ask the question that is being ignored?

Who cares? If the bar isn't your taste, and a sign that offends you means it isn't, don't drink there. Bangkok is not short of bars.

Of all the ideas we expats should be exporting to Thailand do we really want one to be the "I have an inalienable human right to be offended at any time for any reason" nonsense that is driving most of our home countries to new heights of stupidity? Grow a pair. Be offended, tell the owner he is an asshol_e, and walk away. Speak with your dollars. One of the things I have always loved about Thailand is their no nonsense approach to this type of thing. There are no shortage of "Japanese Only" etc... sign around, and when I see one, I walk on to the next place.

The Balinese were positive their tourism industry would sustain them forever without fail. Two bombings later and they learned their lesson. Bali's tourism industry is only just now starting to recover. I work with an Aussie who cancelled his upcoming trip to Phuket after that lady was stabbed. There are two places in Thailand you see reports of this kind of violence. Phuket and Pattaya. The Tuk Tuk drivers blockading the docks have cost themselves cruise business, they are beating and stabbing tourists over extortionist prices. Screw them. I recommend anyone I know to go to Thailand without hesitation. It is a magical wonderful place. I also recommend against anyone going to Phuket. It is nothing but Detroit with Palm trees.

I still don't understand why I can go anywhere in Bangkok for 50 or 60 baht in air conditioned comfort, but I have to pay 500 baht to go over a hill in Phuket. I used to own interest in a business in Phuket, and I walked away a couple of years ago. It is a shithole and getting shittier by the day. Pattaya two the electric boogaloo. The more tourism drops the more depserate and aggressive the criminals will become. There are plenty of beautiful beaches in Thailand, leave this one to the Russians and Nigerians like they did with Pattaya. I speak with my dollars. My dollars have not gone to Phuket for a while now.

The US military is shrinking as and while there is no boogieman to be defending against, military budgets will get smaller

Red China is looking mighty boogy-ish these days. If you don't have a reason, make one.

Oh Goody...I can't remember the last time there was a good round of America bashing on TV.

Don't.......Seriously!

There are so many guys near where I live that continue to fall in to this trap. They all end up separated and/or divorced. The reasons are simple. If your relationship gets that serious you want to marry then you will have to/pretend convert to Islam. Once you have children the problems will start. About the age of two or three the wife's parents will insist on a strong muslim upbringing for their Grandchild. You may be living away from the Grandparents home area, but your wife WILL up and leave with your child, back to her parental home. There are many broken hearted men I know and when I hear another is about to embark on the same course of action I just say why? I have not known a relationship in Thailand between a muslim girl/non muslim man end any differently. If you have a baby girl she will be a valuable 'asset' to the family, new blood, whitish skin, worthy of a good dowry. I am not being racist or bigoted, these are just the facts from many many thai men I know that fell in love with a muslim woman. All will be great and well until you have children and they reach toddler age. Your wife may even love you very much but when her parents say 'come home and bring the child', thats it, and you will get NO visiting rights.

By the way, don't be fooled by the no sex before marriage thing. Young Muslim women are just as curious about sex as any other young woman, but don't get caught, her brothers will have your gonads.

So...you have been warned. Good luck.

I agree with this completely. My last Thai Girlfriend was a Muslim. Initially she seemed about as Muslim as I am Catholic. It was an upbringing, and not much more. Sex was fun and often, and she was a blast to go out drinking with. She did not eat pork, but she did not go overboard with the praying either. Sometimes only first thing in the morning. She did not wear a scarf, or flaunt her religion. In fact we had dated probably 4 or 5 months before I even knew she was Muslim. I asked her why she didn't ask me to go to temple with her like past girlfriends had and she told me. After a while we got serious and started talking about a future. She started talking about our kids have to be raised Muslim, she made me take down all the Buddhas and the Virgin Mary Statue I had in my apartment. Eventually she took me to meet her family. That was a disaster. We went to her mothers birthday party with the whole family. I didn't need to speak the language to understand they were NOT HAPPY, and the dirty looks were not in short supply.. The following weekend she went home to visit, she came back with bruises and cigarette burns which she wouldn't talk about, Her earings and Navel peircing were out, and she was adament that I had to convert to Islam. Sex became less and less frequent, with her even encouraging me to go out and get with bar girls. We pushed through about another year of an off and on relationship fighting alot and eventually dropping the whole thing. I think this process will be repeated more often than not.

Maybe it was referring to her religious place of worship as a "temple" I'd bet that really set it all sideways!

In Thailand, assuming someone is Buddhist is not a bad call. In fact the thing that set it off was her family discovering I wasn't muslim. The bane of Islam is the elders.

Africa offering help managing a country. That is fantastic.