Student-visa crackdown to hit Phuket

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Student-visa crackdown to hit Phuket

Tanyaluk Sakoot

 

The crackdown on foreign students enrolled in Thai-language courses in Phuket will begin on Wednesday (May 2). Photo: element5

 

PHUKET: Tourist Police in Phuket have confirmed they will launch a crackdown on foreigners staying on the island by use of a student visa and being enrolled in a Thai-language course only as a way of staying in the country, and not actually attending the courses they are enrolled in.

 

Capt Ekkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police confirmed to The Phuket News today (April 30) that raids will start on Wednesday (May 2).

 

“We will inspect language schools across the island,” Capt Ekkachai said.

 

Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/student-visa-crackdown-to-hit-phuket-66947.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2018-04-30

[AGareth2]

should be a good attendance day

[Somtamnication]

Yep. 100% attendance rate. The dream of all teachers! 

[Borzandy]

Luckily today is the 1st of May.

[Destiny1990]

Yes this will cause a major reducement for crimes in Phuket duhhh.

[peperobi]

1st of May and big warning before they do it, good police work. What happens with Muay Thai students???

[arithai12]

They should go after the schools too, they are the ones making big money out of the easy ED visas.

[madmitch]

19 minutes ago, arithai12 said:

They should go after the schools too, they are the ones making big money out of the easy ED visas.

Especially those that seem to advertise the visa over and above the language services.

 

 

[Old Croc]

Many years ago in Australia when similar language schools were flourishing, mainly for Chinese, it was discovered that some had only enough desks/equipment to cater for about 40% of their enrollments if all turned up.

They were blatantly selling their product, for the hefty student fees, in full knowledge that many students were really only buying the visa. I don't see much different here and now.

[jenny2017]

Almost impossible for some to attend schools that only exist on paper. 

[quandow]

11 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:

Yes this will cause a major reducement for crimes in Phuket duhhh.

I am NOT trying to be a smart ass here - using the ED Visa to stay in Thailand has been a "nudge nudge wink wink" method to stay in Thailand illegally for years. Everybody knows it. This Big Joke guy seems to be the real deal, trying to make a reduction in crime everywhere he goes. Are there better things he could go after? Certainly, but this might just be some low hanging fruit for him to look good so he gains credence to THEN go after REAL crime reduction. Just sayin' . . .

[overherebc]

12 minutes ago, quandow said:

I am NOT trying to be a smart ass here - using the ED Visa to stay in Thailand has been a "nudge nudge wink wink" method to stay in Thailand illegally for years. Everybody knows it. This Big Joke guy seems to be the real deal, trying to make a reduction in crime everywhere he goes. Are there better things he could go after? Certainly, but this might just be some low hanging fruit for him to look good so he gains credence to THEN go after REAL crime reduction. Just sayin' . . .

Remember reading years ago in UK one police force had the highest figures for traffic violation prosecutions, it led to the highest figures for all crimes detections and prosecutions.

Just sayin'

[NamKangMan]

13 hours ago, quandow said:

I am NOT trying to be a smart ass here - using the ED Visa to stay in Thailand has been a "nudge nudge wink wink" method to stay in Thailand illegally for years. Everybody knows it. This Big Joke guy seems to be the real deal, trying to make a reduction in crime everywhere he goes. Are there better things he could go after? Certainly, but this might just be some low hanging fruit for him to look good so he gains credence to THEN go after REAL crime reduction. Just sayin' . . .

 

"This Big Joke guy seems to be the real deal, trying to make a reduction in crime everywhere he goes." - "the real deal" or the real "Big Joke?"

 

It's an easy way to get his arrest figures up, virtually overnight, with very little investigation / work.

 

Targeting victimless crimes does little to nothing for reducing crime, but does boost the stats.