Homelessness Among Foreign Visitors in Thailand Grows

19 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Conversely, one would think the Kingdom of Thailand would treat long stay foreigners, say with a trouble free stay of 10 years to be granted Permanent Residency status. Recognizing their long term steady influence economically aiding sustain the Thai economy and in many cases Thai national family members.

Oh dear, another "my money built your country" delusion.

3 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Oh dear, another "my money built your country" delusion.

His contribution over the years was taken into consideration and now he will have to file taxes.

Based on the responses that I'm seeing many of you guys have either never been in a difficult position, or just don't seem to have my sympathy for people who find themselves in a difficult spot.

It's a very fortunate thing in life to be financially stable and to have a pension and savings, but not all people are in that position, and some may end up finding themselves with unexpected medical expenses, or perhaps being ripped off by a girlfriend or scammed in some way, and countless other ways that people can lose their savings.

This is a truly horrific position for someone to find themselves in, and all you can hope for at that point is that somebody comes to your aid or your host nation somehow helps you to get back on your feet.

12 hours ago, blaze master said:

What a wonderful blanket statement you have made.

He isn't far off the mark though. I am puzzled by those people who failed in their home country and come over here with belief that everything will be easier in a third world country. There is also a certain arrogance in that, isn't?

34 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Conversely, one would think the Kingdom of Thailand would treat long stay foreigners, say with a trouble free stay of 10 years to be granted Permanent Residency status. Recognizing their long term steady influence economically aiding sustain the Thai economy and in many cases Thai national family members.

That route is already in place, providing you contribute through paying tax and social security.

18 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Oh dear, another "my money built your country" delusion.

Exactly, almost every expat thinks by just living here they are contributing to society, how wrong can they be. No contributing to, police force, street lighting, fire service, government workers etc, etc, etc..and to top it, when they get I'll, it's straight to a government hospital. This article is basically about the younger generation which we have seen a mass invasion of since covid but they are the worse of the worse

Send them back!

1 hour ago, wmorris61 said:

Not sure how much help the foreign embassies offer these people in a time of need. My experience and observations of embassy priorities is that they are more in line with the business and financial needs related to trade and geopolitics rather than the direct care of its citizens. Unless you are able to pay for their help they are unlikely to do much in these circumstances.

I don't know what the situation is now, and it will depend on which country they are from. At one time the UK embassy would provide funds to repatriate but it had to be paid back. If they are deported I wonder how that is paid for?

45 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

Conversely, one would think the Kingdom of Thailand would treat long stay foreigners, say with a trouble free stay of 10 years to be granted Permanent Residency status. Recognizing their long term steady influence economically aiding sustain the Thai economy and in many cases Thai national family members.

One might think that, and it might make sense, but that doesn't mean the Thai government would think that, unfortunately.

5 minutes ago, NedR69 said:

Send them back!

Come on, most of them came on a cheap flight with 3 stopovers and taking almost a week to get here....where to send them back 😁 😁 😁

6 minutes ago, NedR69 said:

Send them back!

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with your comment , but who pays to send them back? If they are stuck here due to lack of funds for the return flight, then sending them back is most likely exactly what they want, and need.

6 hours ago, ZigM said:

I haven't seen any Caucasian foreigners (yet) who are homeless in Thailand. At least they didn't identify themselves as homeless. A homeless Cambodian is also a foreigner, right, or are we only talking about Caucasians? I know a few "farangs" who come and go. They go back to their country of origin to work and then come back for a year until they run out of money. A few live down the road. They have heavily invested in real-estate although they cannot legally own it or sell it. I know a 75-year old retired Australian who was refused a visa extension and had to leave after 60 days last year. His multiple Thai bank accounts had been frozen, he had no access to his meagre savings, and he eventually had to go back to Australia. Lucky for him, he had a return ticket. As far as I know, all of his visas were bought. He paid a fee directly to the immigration staff for an under-the-table 12-month visa for every extended stay over the past decade. That corrupt source was removed last year so that my friend had no way of getting a paid-for visa extension. In contrast, my visa is legitimate. I fully complied and exceeded all visa requirements. When the 75-year-old lamented about the corruption in Thailand, and asked me how to get a retirement visa, I explained the legal process to him. He scoffed: "Not everyone has money like you!" OK, perhaps those who didn't plan their retirement well shouldn't be here, right? If you're practically broke, you can't turn into a globetrotter on a <deleted>ty Australian pension which gets cut-off if you don't reside in Australia. How can someone complain about corruption in Thailand but then gets upset when his own corrupt visa source has been shut down? I have a real bank account because I obtained it with the correct visa. My bank account was never in danger of being suspended. I have a pink ID card and I actually have a real Thai drivers' license. By the way, I am by no means wealthy. I have savings (not a pension) and my wife has her Thai pension. It looks like we're wealthy but we're not. Good planning (budgeting) and common sense are required. I have no idea why some foreigners in Thailand might be homeless. Homelessness is nothing new. Scams are nothing new. My only fear is that Trump's war might devalue my savings if this morphs into a global financial crisis. That would be a problem. But I'm also pre-planning for that eventuality. Plan well - live well!

Very hard to believe story,too many holes in it!

23 minutes ago, Peter Crow said:

He isn't far off the mark though. I am puzzled by those people who failed in their home country and come over here with belief that everything will be easier in a third world country. There is also a certain arrogance in that, isn't?

If you read the post properly you'll notice they mentioned a 'blanket statement'. Some may be as you describe, but the comment was a 'blanket' description of all homeless foreigners, which was the point being made.

Whatever the reasons for their situation what's needed is a workable solution.

55 minutes ago, NONG CHOK said:

An Australian pension doesn't get cut when you're living overseas. In my case I don't get the pension as I didn't reside in Australia for 2 years prior to when it was due. I'm going ok as I sold my property in Australia and invested the money in a term deposit. Many expats live like tourists that's where their money goes. Once you decide to live here you need to set yourself up with a monthly budget. Set aside money for your rent, food and services and if you're that way inclined blow the rest but no more than what you budgeted for that month. I'm fortunate as I don't pay rent.

I think you hit the nail on the head. There are a LOT of people in the world who simply don't know how to manage money, and too easily succumb to temptation.

Sadly most are druggies and/or boozers. Gets you most every time…even with a trust fund.

6 hours ago, ZigM said:

I haven't seen any Caucasian foreigners (yet) who are homeless in Thailand. At least they didn't identify themselves as homeless. A homeless Cambodian is also a foreigner, right, or are we only talking about Caucasians? I know a few "farangs" who come and go. They go back to their country of origin to work and then come back for a year until they run out of money. A few live down the road. They have heavily invested in real-estate although they cannot legally own it or sell it. I know a 75-year old retired Australian who was refused a visa extension and had to leave after 60 days last year. His multiple Thai bank accounts had been frozen, he had no access to his meagre savings, and he eventually had to go back to Australia. Lucky for him, he had a return ticket. As far as I know, all of his visas were bought. He paid a fee directly to the immigration staff for an under-the-table 12-month visa for every extended stay over the past decade. That corrupt source was removed last year so that my friend had no way of getting a paid-for visa extension. In contrast, my visa is legitimate. I fully complied and exceeded all visa requirements. When the 75-year-old lamented about the corruption in Thailand, and asked me how to get a retirement visa, I explained the legal process to him. He scoffed: "Not everyone has money like you!" OK, perhaps those who didn't plan their retirement well shouldn't be here, right? If you're practically broke, you can't turn into a globetrotter on a <deleted>ty Australian pension which gets cut-off if you don't reside in Australia. How can someone complain about corruption in Thailand but then gets upset when his own corrupt visa source has been shut down? I have a real bank account because I obtained it with the correct visa. My bank account was never in danger of being suspended. I have a pink ID card and I actually have a real Thai drivers' license. By the way, I am by no means wealthy. I have savings (not a pension) and my wife has her Thai pension. It looks like we're wealthy but we're not. Good planning (budgeting) and common sense are required. I have no idea why some foreigners in Thailand might be homeless. Homelessness is nothing new. Scams are nothing new. My only fear is that Trump's war might devalue my savings if this morphs into a global financial crisis. That would be a problem. But I'm also pre-planning for that eventuality. Plan well - live well!

I generally don't discuss the fascist psychopath in the white house, but since you mentioned it my view on long term economic impact of the war is this: Trump is beholden to the major money interests of the world, the hidden oligarchs etc. that cabal will not allow Trump to crash the world economy without intervening to prevent it, they will cut his baIIs off before they let that happen. As it stands, yes we are facing an economic disruption, but (again in my opinion only) I view this as temporary and definitely recoverable. Like the economic crash post covid (caused by supply chain interruptions) which we recovered from , only this is mainly about the strait of hormuz and what amounts to 20% of the world's oil supply which passes through there. Once again a supply chain interruption, but on a much smaller scale. BTW I know an Englishman who was homeless when his wife kicked him out, until he managed enough money to find housing. I've also seen a few homeless caucasian "begpackers". Not many though. Cheers.

10-12 years ago there used to be a collection of Farangs living on Sukhumvit, under the BTS access stairways. Still there? I would see them nonchalantly creeping around street food places late at night as they were closing.

Based on my experience many years ago when admittedly things were very different, my embassy (UK) were not the slightest bit interested in helping me get back home.

I would think a more serious issue for Thailand would be the number of foreigners from less affluent countries ie India and countries in Africa that are “buying” visas and running businesses either legal or illegal.

I have been living and working in Bangkok since 2020 following a relocation from London - even in 6 years I have noticed that there are many effective refugees coming to Thailand - of course, there are Russians, Ukrainians, Middle Easterners escaping conflict (with many potemially affected by PTSD) but I also see a lot of younger people from Europe, ANZ, USACA etc etc they seem to be in Thailand looking for something they cannot get at home - many are highly educated but given the lack of opportunity at home come to Thailand seeking something more - they have dreams of becoming a content creator, crypto trader etc etc but this rarlely comes to fruition and most ship back home after a few months after telling the world how they 'live' in Thailand? However, there are many that drink too much, party to much and kind of blow a gasket - you also see the older Farangs who come here on limited funds as last chance saloon and fall on hard times - I was walking through my neighbourhood the other day and a French guy maybe 60 was walking in his socks shouting and screaming and walking in the road and this to become more common. I guess every country has its social casualties and dreamers but Thailand has become the got to place for many of these casualties simply beacuse the visas are very easy to get legitimately or otherwise - no tourist needs 3 months, 1 yr education visa to study Thai or Muay Thai (really?), DTV visa for digital nomads - so open to fraud and mismanagement and what is a digital nomad - normally broke and living in a tiny condo eating instant noodles....Thailand needs to sort the visa situation out and certianly check those that stay here have legitiamte funds to be here.

1 hour ago, baansgr said:

All of them are entitled youngsters suffering from adhd, autism and many other false mental conditions, have rocked up here thinking they can make money from social media and get stoned all day...wasters, layabouts, grifters the lot of em. 😁

Because they don't know all about a medical condition, autism or adhd, doesn't mean they are false conditions.

This sounds harsh but true: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions". For instance Santa Monica CA (just north of Venice in Los Angeles county) in the 1970's decidedd "no person should be homeless". Programs with good intentions to help the truly needed exploed into decades of homeless sleeping in driveways, sidewalks, encampments in parks and on the beaches. Millions and possibly billions were spent to deal with "homeless" problem and the numbers just kept growing. Word got out that just make you way to the city by the beach and they will take care of you. A local police chief in the 1980s's got fed up and put a newly arrived homeless person from Florida and put him on a bus back to the sunshine state. For this the chief took a lot of criticism from those leaning left and way left. If the word gets out that LOS will feed and even assist when a foreigner runs out of money then "road paved with good intentions????". This is may not be the Thai way but sometimes "tough love" is appropriate. I thought all foreigners needed a current TM-30 on file with IMM? Otherwise it is a violation of IMM laws and hence detention and deportation?

Explain how that is possible since any overstay where on is apprehended, results in a 5 year ban. Oh wait, you are saying you not arrest people that are broke. Gotcha, gotcha, almost forgot it was about Thailand again, the country where even deportation jails are not free.

As with everything it is about the lack of governing and policing here. Nothing else. Case closed.

Expert tip of the day: If you overstay, make sure you appear and are broke.

45 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Because they don't know all about a medical condition, autism or adhd, doesn't mean they are false conditions.

When you misbehave, you get a clip round the ear... unfortunately westerners are molly cuddled and grow up believing they are always right and have what they want...it's a farce and a money spinner now. 👍

To add to that, I see less 'homeless' foreigners today than I saw 15 years ago when all was a 24/7 nightlife and vibrant real deal thing, that Vietnam today is. Where are the actual stats to even back this claim up.

14 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

They are just a bunch of born losers, that thought they could hack it, but that was just a dream!

What a nice guy!

5 minutes ago, dougieboy said:

What a nice guy!

No really, and it´s always hard to hear the truth!

8 hours ago, ZigM said:

I haven't seen any Caucasian foreigners (yet) who are homeless in Thailand. At least they didn't identify themselves as homeless. A homeless Cambodian is also a foreigner, right, or are we only talking about Caucasians? I know a few "farangs" who come and go. They go back to their country of origin to work and then come back for a year until they run out of money. A few live down the road. They have heavily invested in real-estate although they cannot legally own it or sell it. I know a 75-year old retired Australian who was refused a visa extension and had to leave after 60 days last year. His multiple Thai bank accounts had been frozen, he had no access to his meagre savings, and he eventually had to go back to Australia. Lucky for him, he had a return ticket. As far as I know, all of his visas were bought. He paid a fee directly to the immigration staff for an under-the-table 12-month visa for every extended stay over the past decade. That corrupt source was removed last year so that my friend had no way of getting a paid-for visa extension. In contrast, my visa is legitimate. I fully complied and exceeded all visa requirements. When the 75-year-old lamented about the corruption in Thailand, and asked me how to get a retirement visa, I explained the legal process to him. He scoffed: "Not everyone has money like you!" OK, perhaps those who didn't plan their retirement well shouldn't be here, right? If you're practically broke, you can't turn into a globetrotter on a <deleted>ty Australian pension which gets cut-off if you don't reside in Australia. How can someone complain about corruption in Thailand but then gets upset when his own corrupt visa source has been shut down? I have a real bank account because I obtained it with the correct visa. My bank account was never in danger of being suspended. I have a pink ID card and I actually have a real Thai drivers' license. By the way, I am by no means wealthy. I have savings (not a pension) and my wife has her Thai pension. It looks like we're wealthy but we're not. Good planning (budgeting) and common sense are required. I have no idea why some foreigners in Thailand might be homeless. Homelessness is nothing new. Scams are nothing new. My only fear is that Trump's war might devalue my savings if this morphs into a global financial crisis. That would be a problem. But I'm also pre-planning for that eventuality. Plan well - live well!

Can you write a bit longer comment next time?

12 hours ago, IsmeUno said:

That's not nice...

Sure! It was not intended to be, but it´s still the cold hard truth.

Just now, Gottfrid said:

No really, and it´s always hard to hear the truth!

I think you are very unsympathetic, I'm sure there are plenty of folk who make poor decisions and perhaps deserve the outcomes, but to say "They are just a bunch of born losers, that thought they could hack it, but that was just a dream!" is cruel and unfair. You cannot possibly know the circumstances all of them who hit hard times.

You may think you are smarter than them all, you might be too, but I doubt that because if you were that smart I don't believe you would be that cruel.

I feel for anyone who may need your help, hope you never fall on the hardest of times.

14 hours ago, blaze master said:

What a wonderful blanket statement you have made.

I know! I am proud of it!

8 hours ago, ZigM said:

you can't turn into a globetrotter on a <deleted>ty Australian pension which gets cut-off if you don't reside in Australia

Not correct. You get a rate of Pension paid to Australians living overseas. You don't get any increases if in Thailand.

The OZ pension overseas is only around 50k baht a month, less than the 65k needed for a retirement extension