Big Joke crackdown: Foreigners under the spotlight nationwide as visa extension changes suggested

[KiChakayan]

13 minutes ago, malibukid said:

very easy to get a retirement visa for Bali and they like falangs.

Bali? Worked 30 years for the UN, I've never heard of this country.

[PoorSucker]

3 hours ago, jaiyen88 said:

A simple way to have assets and protect oneself. Thai partner owns land and gives 3x30 year lease to foreign partner and transfers ownership of buildings. So foreigner has exclusive lease plus ownership of buildings.

Thailand Civil and Commercial Code
Book IV: Marriage

TITLE I
Chapter II
Section 1469

"Any agreement concluded between husband and wife during marriage may be avoided by either of them at any time during marriage or within one year from the day of dissolution of marriage; provided that the right of third persons acting in good faith are not affected thereby."

 

[Esso49]

21 minutes ago, malibukid said:

very easy to get a retirement visa for Bali and they like falangs.

Great if you want to live with a few thousand Australians  ????

[totally thaied up]

1 hour ago, Peterw42 said:

The OP mentions being able to use collateral in Thai wives name, thats actually about making extensions easier.

That would be nice. My wife is richer than me with her own house and rice fields. Just a couple of hundred wah makes up easily the 400K. I cannot imagine this but that would be so cool. I have the 400K in the bank so no problem but again, I cannot see this happening. 

[xylophone]

3 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

There isnt any mention of a crack down on people using agents etc, the OP is about a crackdown on illegal workers. People appear to be commenting on what they "want" the crackdown to be, not what has been announced. 

There is in a link to the paper whose name we cannot mention, but British Petroleum initials might give you a clue!!

 

PM me if you haven't already got it.

[chang50]

Just a cautionary word for those posters congratulating themselves on being legit. (as I am) and thus having nothing to worry about.Just suppose the crackdown proceeds successfully...who will they look to next to make up the massive shortfall in income it will cause?Think about that before smugly patting yourselves on the back..

[jaiyen88]

1 hour ago, PoorSucker said:

Thailand Civil and Commercial Code
Book IV: Marriage

TITLE I
Chapter II
Section 1469

"Any agreement concluded between husband and wife during marriage may be avoided by either of them at any time during marriage or within one year from the day of dissolution of marriage; provided that the right of third persons acting in good faith are not affected thereby."

 

 

1 hour ago, PoorSucker said:

Thailand Civil and Commercial Code
Book IV: Marriage

TITLE I
Chapter II
Section 1469

"Any agreement concluded between husband and wife during marriage may be avoided by either of them at any time during marriage or within one year from the day of dissolution of marriage; provided that the right of third persons acting in good faith are not affected thereby."

 

It may be the contract needs to be signed before rather than during the marriage. And I believe gifting funds to buy the land can work if it is an outright gift and not a loan.. I will ask a thai lawyer and report back.

[BestB]

3 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

The OP mentions changes to extensions, nothing about making extensions more tough. and nothing about changing the amount. The OP mentions being able to use collateral in Thai wives name, thats actually about making extensions easier.

 

We do not know what he is planning to do and how he is planning to do it. 

 

Taking into consideration past changes and him going after agents, I really do not see him making positive changes to make it easier or more simple 

[BestB]

3 hours ago, DipStick said:

Possibly Thailand have realised that a large number of foreigners residing here actually give very little back as they can’t rub two baht together

True but they also do not take much as there is nothing given for free.

 While work permits have been made easier , business visa extensions remain a headache with tonnes of paperwork and visits.

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

Thailand Civil and Commercial Code
Book IV: Marriage

TITLE I
Chapter II
Section 1469

"Any agreement concluded between husband and wife during marriage may be avoided by either of them at any time during marriage or within one year from the day of dissolution of marriage; provided that the right of third persons acting in good faith are not affected thereby."

 

Also see my post #13.

[Nobbie49]

A simple way to have assets and protect oneself. Thai partner owns land and gives 3x30 year lease to foreign partner and transfers ownership of buildings. So foreigner has exclusive lease plus ownership of buildings.

No such thing as a 3x30 yr lease. I know where you’re coming from or, more to the point, whom you have listened to with that oh so gullible ear of yours. Basic Thai law allows for a 30 year lease, period. The rest is I-wish-it-were-true nonsense. The renewal is up to the lessor and the lessor only regardless of “promises” to renew. Yes,that is what they are: promises, just that. You can’t make a promise a legal obligation.


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[garyk]

Who cares!

Let them change the rules to anything they want, if I don't like it I will head home and find another destination that is more agreeable to me. I don't have to put up with this nonsense. Personally I have been tired of the paperwork for a long time now. If they change it to make it more difficult? Screw em.

[CharlieH]

Posts removed.

 

Keep it civil and dont get personal please.

 

7) You will respect fellow members and post in a civil manner. No personal attacks, hateful or insulting towards other members, (flaming) Stalking of members on either the forum or via PM will not be allowed.

 

Troll comment also removed.

 

[fforest1]

4 hours ago, colinneil said:

Have you any info regarding your comment, or are you just being ridiculous?

The law requires me to have 800.000 baht for my retirement extension, report every 90 days, not work.

So pray tell me how you reckon that will become illegal.

They could make a new requirement that you need not 800,000 in the bank but 8,000,000 in the bank with the stroke of a pen...Then your 800,000 becomes illegal......Hell they could require a Farang to have 80,000,000 baht in the bank...They could require absolutely any thing at any time they want...

[blackhorse]

Just a cautionary word for those posters congratulating themselves on being legit. (as I am) and thus having nothing to worry about.Just suppose the crackdown proceeds successfully...who will they look to next to make up the massive shortfall in income it will cause?Think about that before smugly patting yourselves on the back..

Every country went through a developing stage. At some point corruption was tackled, toes were stepped on etc and it's gonna take a long long time but I'm really surprised that TV posters want it to continue with no attempt at all to even try

Simply unbelievable but then again it's is TV posters

[Pedrogaz]

At my company we had a saying about managing change, it went: "implementation is the only strategy." When you unpack it, what it means is that grand ideas, objectives, strategies and tactics are useless without implementation. As far as I can see each immigration office works on its own following the rules of the local boss or indeed, even lowly clerks implement the law in their own fashion, never having read the immigration laws or been trained in them, they follow what they have been told in the past. 

What it means is that implementation of grand new visions like BJ's have little chance of coming to fruition and he is likely to have moved, become PM, or been put on inactive service within the the next year. 

He has some good ideas but unless he personally will oversee over an extended time the implementation locally in each office, there is no prospect of success. 

I read this morning of his laudable efforts to combat corruption in the immigration department by putting up "No Tipping" signs in all the offices. This is hands off implementation and never, ever works, even for a short time. Indeed calling what goes on 'tipping' means he is not serious....the bribes paid, especially by agents, to migration officers are not tips for good service. They are payments for turning a blind eye.

And frankly,  me tipping for my visa extension or 90 day report is not the real problem.....the real problem is the huge bribes paid to police and immigration officers for people trafficking which seems to have been forgotten about now the threat to seafood exports has passed.

[gamini]

8 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

I know several people who live here on extensions but claim the never have to visit the immigration office at all. I'm not referring to 90 day reports here, but the once a year application process. And, they say they don't have to have proof of monetary funds either. 

Yes, I think it will be squeaky bum time for all those people who brag about never having to visit immigration in person or have no proof of monetary funds. And hopefully it will put the rogue agents these people use out of business. Good on you Big Joke.

The Visa company that offers these bogus services has been advertised many times on this forum

[gunderhill]

9 hours ago, colinneil said:

Yes many folk going to be a little scared, but all of us who do things legal should have no worries.

I would "NEVER"  count  on that here or  many other places for that matter.

[gunderhill]

7 hours ago, jaiyen88 said:

3x30 year lease

First mistake

[gunderhill]

3 hours ago, TEFLKrabi said:

Just asking, but how many people would like to see a visa based on ability to assimilate which included a reading and writing section that was only in Thai?

Like the Borg......no thanks.

[Ctkong]

8 hours ago, BestB said:

It’s interesting to note that all surrrounding countries in the region are easing up on immigration and granting long stays visa’s fairly easily, while Thailand is moving in the opposite direction.

 

Can nlt help but wonder why?

Maybe Thailand is trying hard to push the ‘undesirables’ to other host countries .... 

[Ctkong]

5 hours ago, yellowboat said:

True, but still easier than Thailand.  Vietnam is easy.  They do not seem to care too much about frequency of travel. 

Every country will make the passing grade higher over time.

They cannot be beggars forever... better quality tourist and residents to replace the masses....

[Ctkong]

4 hours ago, TEFLKrabi said:

Just asking, but how many people would like to see a visa based on ability to assimilate which included a reading and writing section that was only in Thai?

You can’t be serious !  My missus discourage me from learning Thai. 

We communicate with mandarin . She is a Chinese staying long time in Thailand. Her reason ? Learning Thai would make me more susceptible to Thai ladies’s wiles...... 

[Ctkong]

4 hours ago, CLW said:

Vietnam seems to be a good choice.
I met a few foreigners there who said that the situation about working (may it under the radar or legal) is much more relaxed than Thailand.

Like I said before.. once a  country has enough economic growth, they would take a hard look at the all those long stay foreigners in their country. If you don’t qualify for a long stay in Thailand, that would put you in a precarious position in any country .....

[Ctkong]

3 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

They already have those requirements for migrants obtaining PR and Citizenship.

 

For non-immigrant visas there's no requirement because you are only a temporary resident. 

I was told by my lawyer some years ago that if you want a citizenship. Pay 2 million baht to the minister of the interior and you are good to go. Wonder if that is true? 

[fforest1]

27 minutes ago, Ctkong said:

Every country will make the passing grade higher over time.

They cannot be beggars forever... better quality tourist and residents to replace the masses....

Boy these quality tourist better start working overtime to have any hope of visiting all the countries who say thats the kind of tourist they are looking for.....In the mean time lets pitch the expats we already have shit..While we wait for these elusive quality tourist to show up..

[Russell17au]

I believe that everyone is barking up the wrong tree on this. Before you all jump, just think about this. 4 years ago there was a coup where the elected government was overthrown by the military. There was no sign of Big Joke, 2 years ago or even 1 year ago, he has only been on the scene since the date for the election was decided for February. The coup promised to clean up corruption and if they had done that at the start then the people would have forgotten about it so it is being done now plus there has been 6 military ministers formed and registered a new political party and I would guess that in the not too distant future the PM and his little watch mate will resign from the military and become heads of this new political party. I would say that all this is going to continue until after the February election just so they can stay in power as a democratic government

[Ctkong]

3 hours ago, Esso49 said:

Great if you want to live with a few thousand Australians  ????

Bali has a worse traffic jams than Bangkok... narrow roads and poor infrastructure to boot. 

[MekkOne]

3 minutes ago, Ctkong said:

Like I said before.. once a  country has enough economic growth, they would take a hard look at the all those long stay foreigners in their country. If you don’t qualify for a long stay in Thailand, that would put you in a precarious position in any country .....

 

In fact the 'proposal' is that the assets of the wife AKA the business that you bought for her, will be eligible proof of founds for your extension of stay.

Anyway I don't see anything new, he proposes something but police don't make the laws and, as somebody was saying, every chicken got is coop, every coop got his rooster.

[blackhorse]

I believe that everyone is barking up the wrong tree on this. Before you all jump, just think about this. 4 years ago there was a coup where the elected government was overthrown by the military. There was no sign of Big Joke, 2 years ago or even 1 year ago, he has only been on the scene since the date for the election was decided for February. The coup promised to clean up corruption and if they had done that at the start then the people would have forgotten about it so it is being done now plus there has been 6 military ministers formed and registered a new political party and I would guess that in the not too distant future the PM and his little watch mate will resign from the military and become heads of this new political party. I would say that all this is going to continue until after the February election just so they can stay in power as a democratic government

You must be daft If you think big joke will win the election for them. That's just a farang fantasy. The Thais won't give him a second thought
If the pm stays on then its because the Thais want him