Visa madness has to stop, calling all US citizens

[vinegarbase]

Thai immigration is out of control and something needs to be done. Now before I hear the comments about "It's their country and if you don't like it get out" let me tell you I agree with you 100%. However, I also agree that relationships between 2 countries peoples should have diplomacy and standards in foreign affairs. This diplomacy is non existent anymore and we are being treated very poorly and have a very bad deal.

 

Are you ok that Thai citizens can get a 10 year 6 month tourist visa to the USA yet we get a lousy 2 month visa? I could care less about the visa exemption if it meant we could get the same visa that Thai's get to our country. So I want to encourage right now any US citizen that is reading this to petition the Embassy, State department, and office of the President to demand a reciprocal deal! If we can harness the thousands of people that are reading this whether you read this now or a month from now someone might get the message and do something about this. Otherwise we enable them and continue to encourage this madness.

 

Disclaimer: This is my opinion and I invite others who agree with me to join in this movement. If you don't agree I don't care what you think so just move on from this post.

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, vinegarbase said:

Are you ok that Thai citizens can get a 10 year 6 month tourist visa to the USA yet we get a lousy 2 month visa?

Are you aware of how difficult it can be for a Thai to get even a single entry tourist visa to the US much less the 10 year multiple entry after having their first single entry. Many are denied after paying the fee for it.

Even apply for a multiple entry tourist visa for Thailand is easier to get in the US than for a Thai to get a visa for the US.

[likerdup1]

There is no comparing a US tourist Visa to Thai citizens and a Thai Tourist Visa extended to US citizens. Most Thais would never be able to visit the US legally because the restrictions are insurmountable. First the have to prove they have at least 20,000 USD I believe. etc.. Most Thais can't even dream of having this much money.

 

I believe the OP has not investigated the current circumstances or been given bad information and posting out of incorrect assumptions.

[Number 6]

It is much more difficult for Thais to get a ten year multi than you to get a few TRs every year although dealing with both LA and DC I do understand your grief.

 

I would argue it is far easier for my wife to travel in US after obtaining her B1 than all the hassle I have making the extension and reporting. I have come to realize it's just a third world make work program that also unfortunately allows people with little education and empathy to lord over me. Having said that, my extension is always processed in minutes although picking up the extension stamp takes an infuriating half day.

 

Come in on a 30 day exempt, go to Lao, get a TR, extend that for a month and GTFH.

 

Edit: Actually, my wife's visa was pretty breezy. She did have me as a boyfriend at the time though and therefore a purpose to visit for a young single woman as well as job guarantee paper from employer. Not much else beyond that. She looks cute and honest so shes got that going for her.

[overherebc]

24 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Are you aware of how difficult it can be for a Thai to get even a single entry tourist visa to the US much less the 10 year multiple entry after having their first single entry. Many are denied after paying the fee for it.

Even apply for a multiple entry tourist visa for Thailand is easier to get in the US than for a Thai to get a visa for the US.

Trvelling to US as an individual I would say it is not that easy, but it's possible, for a Thai person, even with a USA sponsor.

I've always wondered if a Thai travelling as part of a group going on a holiday organised by a Thai tour company would have an easier time.

The stumbling block seems to be ' reason to return,' as per UK.

Rightly or wrongly the thinking may be that it's much more likely for a Thai to try and remain ( overstay ) in USA, that thinking is probably applied to many other races as well.

I don't think many Americans come to Thailand to find better paid jobs in Thailand.

 

[Belzybob]

Its not just Thais that have problems getting US visas; an Australian friend of mine had to wait over 6 months for one, all because he inadvertently ticked a box he shouldn't have. So much for the claimed 'special relationship'.

[overherebc]

42 minutes ago, likerdup1 said:

There is no comparing a US tourist Visa to Thai citizens and a Thai Tourist Visa extended to US citizens. Most Thais would never be able to visit the US legally because the restrictions are insurmountable. First the have to prove they have at least 20,000 USD I believe. etc.. Most Thais can't even dream of having this much money.

 

I believe the OP has not investigated the current circumstances or been given bad information and posting out of incorrect assumptions.

You might be surprised how many Thais have 20,000 dollars,

663,000 baht.

[glegolo]

To the OP. stop having your head in the sand. What you describing is valid for all countries not just USA. Get over it...

 

glegolo

[chuang]

57 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Are you aware of how difficult it can be for a Thai to get even a single entry tourist visa to the US much less the 10 year multiple entry after having their first single entry. Many are denied after paying the fee for it.

Even apply for a multiple entry tourist visa for Thailand is easier to get in the US than for a Thai to get a visa for the US.

SPOT ON.....

[BEVUP]

11 minutes ago, overherebc said:

You might be surprised how many Thais have 20,000 dollars,

663,000 baht.

How true 

They seem to have it for the scams 

[chuang]

OP should get help from his congressman...?

[Number 6]

There is or at least was no need to have equivalent usd20k at the time of my girlfriend now wife's visa. That's ridiculous. Thousands of kids posting on pantip about backpacking photo adventures in US.

 

My advice to the OP is don't get to settled here, it's a big world. A few months a year in the cool season is plenty. The embassy/consulate is preventing you from living here on tourist visas. That's their job. It's not 2001 anymore.

[Kieran00001]

Are you sure you want reciprocal deals?  A 10 year US Tourist Visa doesn't allow you to stay in the US for 10 years, it is a multiple entry visa that allows a maximum stay of 6 months per year, if it were the same in Thailand it would mean you couldn't stay in Thailand permanently.

[ubonjoe]

A post trying to bring politics into the discussion has been removed. Any further such post will be removed without notice.

[overherebc]

33 minutes ago, BEVUP said:

How true 

They seem to have it for the scams 

Many of them are aware that no pensions or social security is on the horizon so, even if you don't believe it, they save it over the years.

They will at the same time tell you they don't have a lot of money, spending money that is, because the money saved is for later in life so they won't touch it except in real emergencies and even then they might borrow short term if they can.

[drtreelove]

Try China instead. As a US citizen I was recently issued a 10 year multiple entry tourist visa when I only applied for six days. When I stated that I really only wanted the six days and didn't have any further plans to travel in China, I was told that the shorter time frame would be a more complicated process and require a different application and that it may not be approved. What a difference. Go figure. 

[overherebc]

7 minutes ago, drtreelove said:

Try China instead. As a US citizen I was recently issued a 10 year multiple entry tourist visa when I only applied for six days. When I stated that I really only wanted the six days and didn't have any further plans to travel in China, I was told that the shorter time frame would be a more complicated process and require a different application and that it may not be approved. What a difference. Go figure. 

I'm guessing business trip ??

Even if not it's not likely that you are going there to find work getting paid cash and staying under the radar doing a job the Chinese don't want to do.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

51 minutes ago, overherebc said:

You might be surprised how many Thais have 20,000 dollars,

663,000 baht.

 

That's not an absolute rule for Thais to get a U.S. tourist visa.

 

My wife received hers a couple years ago, and while she had money in the bank, she didn't have that amount in her personal account.

 

When we went thru the application process, the info from the Embassy was pretty clear -- they want evidence that the Thai will be able to support themselves during their trip to the U.S., but there aren't any exact rules for assessing that.

 

[FritsSikkink]

Just get a 5 year elite visa and stop moaning.

[digbeth]

you are welcomed to contact your representative to try to lobby and change the law/immigration rules, if the us offer Thais citizen visa exemption or rights to freely live in the US, I'm sure Thailand would reciprocate 

 

The US expats living in Thailand is a powerhouse and any representative is sure to consider this   

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 minute ago, FritsSikkink said:

Just get a 5 year elite visa and stop moaning.

 

You bought it, of course. That's the way the Thai pay for play system works.

 

[FritsSikkink]

1 minute ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

You bought it, of course. That's the way the Thai pay for play system works.

 

Wrong, I didn't, no need.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

There certainly are TONS of differences between the U.S. visa policy for Thais vs the Thai visa policy for foreigners/Americans.

 

The U.S., for example, has no relatively easy one year extension of stay (kind of visa) system for Thais who want to retire to the U.S., nor those who marry U.S. citizens (yes, the U.S. has marriage visa, but not quick or easy).

 

The other difference, of course, is there likely are not masses of Americans who'd be looking to move to Thailand if Thailand relaxed its current rules. But there certainly would be masses of Thais who'd be looking to move to the U.S. if they had the opportunity due to easier visa rules.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

13 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Wrong, I didn't, no need.

 

The Thailand Elite visas require a payment. You made reference to getting an Elite visa.

 

Sorry, I read your earlier comment to be you "got" an Elite visa... I now see you didn't say that, just that you were advising others to "get"  one.

 

Nonetheless, the Thailand Elite Visas have upfront purchase fees that I believe range from 800,000 to 2 million baht.

 

 

[welovethailand]

How about this? A foriener can buy a car, get a drivers license and most likely work some where in the US.  Here, we have to pay for a "permission letter" just to buy a motorbike. And cannot work? We are suppose to sit around and spend money every day? That gets old.  I have been dealing with the yearly Visa thing for 8 years, and don't forget 3 months visit to Immigration. I never knew anyone in the US who had "to check-in" so often. In fact , no one who I knew ever "checked-in".

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

10 minutes ago, welovethailand said:

How about this? A foriener can buy a car, get a drivers license and most likely work some where in the US.  Here, we have to pay for a "permission letter" just to buy a motorbike. And cannot work? We are suppose to sit around and spend money every day? That gets old.  I have been dealing with the yearly Visa thing for 8 years, and don't forget 3 months visit to Immigration. I never knew anyone in the US who had "to check-in" so often. In fact , no one who I knew ever "checked-in".

 

If I was going to make anything reciprocal between the U.S. and Thailand, it would be some form of property ownership.  If Thais living in the U.S. can own property, which they can, the same right ought to be extended to Americans (or any other country that allows foreigners to buy property) living here.

 

Not unlimited, because Thailand is not so large in terms of area. But at least the right to buy a single family home and enough land to accommodate that.

 

 

[samran]

Bring on reciprocal treatment I say.

 

Before you come to Thailand you’ll have to make an appointment online to visit the embassy in Washington DC at some time a couple of months in the future. 

 

You can then line up outside in the rain, hail or sunshine until you are allowed in for your allotted appointment time.

 

The embassy official will want to see evidence of savings that probably equals a year worth of your average salary. 

 

The embassy officer will then ask for some piece of paper you don’t have on you, and of course need an offical translation into Thai. So you’ll have to come back for another appointment three months from now.

 

For your planned 30 day trip you’ll also need to fork out a 5000 baht visa application fee, with no guarantee of the length your actual visa. Non refunds if you don’t get it. 

 

So yeah, I agree with you. Sign up and protest! 

 

What you ask for is very reasonable!

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, likerdup1 said:

There is no comparing a US tourist Visa to Thai citizens and a Thai Tourist Visa extended to US citizens. Most Thais would never be able to visit the US legally because the restrictions are insurmountable. First the have to prove they have at least 20,000 USD I believe. etc.. Most Thais can't even dream of having this much money.

 

I believe the OP has not investigated the current circumstances or been given bad information and posting out of incorrect assumptions.

 

The OP seems to fit the profile I've witnessed at three arrival airports (S/pore, HK, Shanghai). Refuse to join the queue (and at all 3 airports the line moves quite fast), just say loudly:

 

- 'Where's the line for US citizens'?

 

- 'I'm an American citizen and I don't have to up with this'!

 

In S/pore and HK just ignored by the imm. staff, and with normal processing they were through within a few minutes. In HK chastised and ridiculed by many other western folks waiting in the fast moving line.

 

In Shanghai US lady picked up under the arms by 2 soldiers and gently placed at the end of the line.

 

On the other hand I took a team of 10 Thai MBA students to an invited international case study competition in Texas.

 

All the 10 had gone through the interview process etc., at the US embassy in Bkk, all had valid entry approvals.

 

I was first in line, (visa before arrival not needed), processed within 1 or 2 minutes, lady imm. officer very friendly and polite.

 

Then first Thai person, imm. officer lady flipped to the dragon from hell, her rudeness and nastiness totally unnecessary and insulting. To the first Thai female in the line the imm. officer said 'I've heard about Thai women and what you all do to make money'.

 

 

[heybuz]

I never got a permission letter to buy a motorbike.

[jenny2017]

Are you ok that Thai citizens can get a 10 year 6 month tourist visa to the USA yet we get a lousy 2 month visa? 

 

Let's be fair, please. How many Americans live here on a retirement visa without being able to fulfill the requirements? An Income Affidavit is enough to be able to receive a one year visa. How fair is that to other nationals?

 

  And it's not easy for Thais to get to any other country.