I  was watching kev in Thailand live stream just few minutes ago, and there was a guy that comment And said that a friend of him in the Cardiff consulate, soon tourists will only be able to spend 6 months in a calendar year in Thailand, anyone heard something about it ??

 

Thailand really needs to have some options for those under 50 years / not married to a thai, hard to stay here unless you can afford the elite visa or you want, learn thai get det ed visa... 

There has been nothing official about limiting tourism to 6 months per year, but I will not be surprised if/when it happens.

 

They clearly don’t want lots of under 50’s in the situation you describe. If they did they’d have come up with a visa. 

If you don't mind travelling you could still move around SE Asia with not too much effort ... stay 3 months in Thailand then jump somewhere else ... Philippines offers long stay options ... then jump back to Thailand. Or, as stated above, do the Ed Visa. 

 

It looks to me that the authorities are trying to make it harder for everyone, with the 800,000 Baht deposit to restrictions on the under 50's. Travellers will need to be more flexible and move around. Requires a slightly larger budget, but doable.

3 minutes ago, AlexRich said:

It looks to me that the authorities are trying to make it harder for everyone, with the 800,000 Baht deposit to restrictions on the under 50's. Travellers will need to be more flexible and move around. Requires a slightly larger budget, but doable

They aren't. It is still very easy for anyone to stay that qualifies for a visa/permit. It generally only get's harder for those that don't. Tourist visas were never meant to be used to stay in the country for 6 months+ per year.

1 minute ago, elviajero said:

They aren't. It is still very easy for anyone to stay that qualifies for a visa/permit. It generally only get's harder for those that don't. Tourist visas were never meant to be used to stay in the country for 6 months+ per year.

 

They are ... irrespective of what tourist visas are intended for. There have been numerous posts on TV about people being stopped at the airport and questioned or not let in ... which of course they have a right to do ... but appears to be happening with much greater frequency. A tighter policy.

17 minutes ago, AlexRich said:

 

They are ... irrespective of what tourist visas are intended for. There have been numerous posts on TV about people being stopped at the airport and questioned or not let in ... which of course they have a right to do ... but appears to be happening with much greater frequency. A tighter policy.

They are only stopping people trying to stay long term as tourists. Those people (me in the past) have got away with it for years and can’t really complain when the system gets enforced.

 

You said they are trying to make it harder for everyone, which they aren’t.

1 minute ago, elviajero said:

They are only stopping people trying to stay long term as tourists. Those people (me in the past) have got away with it for years and can’t teally complain when the system gets enforced.

 

You said they are trying to make it harder for everyone, which they aren’t.

 

I've just been reading about the withdrawal of income letters from the British Embassy, US too if my memory serves me right. The over 50's with a regular income but not 800,000 Baht will have to deposit the cash rather than show the income ... that's making things more difficult for them. 

1 hour ago, elviajero said:

There has been nothing official about limiting tourism to 6 months per year, but I will not be surprised if/when it happens.

Yes, I am in agreement with this.  Would actually be a sensible law insomuch that it would make things totally clear about how much time one can spend in the country without a non-immigrant / long stay visa.

50 minutes ago, AlexRich said:

 

I've just been reading about the withdrawal of income letters from the British Embassy, US too if my memory serves me right. The over 50's with a regular income but not 800,000 Baht will have to deposit the cash rather than show the income ... that's making things more difficult for them. 

That is not immigration making things harder. They have asked embassies to validate income presumably because of all the fraud, and the British and US embassies have refused. Immigration will still accept letters if the embassies issue them. 

 

That situation will no doubt get resolved.

That is not immigration making things harder. They have asked embassies to validate income presumably because of all the fraud, and the British and US embassies have refused. Immigration will still accept letters if the embassies issue them. 
 
That situation will no doubt get resolved.

Yes and no. Nobody knows that TI Have asked "embassies" apart from the 2 mentioned which coincidently happen to be the 2 biggest in the West.

That's what we know is true. The next 7 days will start to create a better picture

3 minutes ago, blackhorse said:

Yes and no. Nobody knows that TI Have asked "embassies" apart from the 2 mentioned which coincidently happen to be the 2 biggest in the West.

That's what we know is true. The next 7 days will start to create a better picture

I cannot believe that immigration would impose a condition on these two nationalities that they won’t impose on others 

 

We will soon know.

I cannot believe that immigration would impose a condition on these two nationalities that they won’t impose on others 
 
We will soon know.

There is also the possibly that TI were caught off guard when those 2 pushed back which they might not have expected

Your right, time will tell

If not resolved soon I can see a big hole in the Thai economy from all the expats leaving. Having a beer with a mate the other day he uses pension + super top up to live a decent lifestyle but to put 800,000 in Thai bank, no siree I'll just go back to Oz

If not resolved soon I can see a big hole in the Thai economy from all the expats leaving. Having a beer with a mate the other day he uses pension + super top up to live a decent lifestyle but to put 800,000 in Thai bank, no siree I'll just go back to Oz

He is a goose. I had 8 million for 10 months while searching for a condo and where do you think the middle class and the elite keep billions?

Tell him bye bye dummy [emoji16]

43 minutes ago, a977 said:

If not resolved soon I can see a big hole in the Thai economy from all the expats leaving. Having a beer with a mate the other day he uses pension + super top up to live a decent lifestyle but to put 800,000 in Thai bank, no siree I'll just go back to Oz

50,000 expats times the 10% who refuse/can't/don't have the 800k Baht to keep in a bank in Thailand is a very very small number when compared to the USD 450 billion that is the Thai GDP. 

8 hours ago, The traveler said:

unless you can afford the elite visa or you want, learn thai get det ed visa...

Many learn several languages - one after the other.  Can get quite a few years that way.  Also, they lowered the hours/wk in some areas (had raised it awhile back), so each course can take longer than before.

 

7 hours ago, AlexRich said:

I've just been reading about the withdrawal of income letters from the British Embassy, US too if my memory serves me right. The over 50's with a regular income but not 800,000 Baht will have to deposit the cash rather than show the income ... that's making things more difficult for them. 

Removing the ability to use income-letters from the UK/USA (so far - I'd bet more coming) changes the income-rules significantly.  We may be now looking at "net imported money to a Thai bank" (assuming even this is allowed) vs the previous "gross worldwide income" standard.  Clearly, more agent-extensions are in the pipeline - likely not an accident - and provides insight into their views on "fraud," vs "tribute."

 

2 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

50,000 expats times the 10% who refuse/can't/don't have the 800k Baht to keep in a bank in Thailand is a very very small number when compared to the USD 450 billion that is the Thai GDP. 

Where did you get the 10% figure?  Based on those I've talked to, I'd guess 80% use either income-letters or agents - and more will now go the agent-route.  Some of those may have the money, but don't want to tie it up here.  Cambodia, Vietnam, and the PI will benefit from those who don't switch to agents. 

 

This may not drastically effect total GDP for the country, but will lead to thousands of Thais losing their businesses and jobs.  Even those who stay, but must now pay agents, will have less money to spend at local-businesses, so those in the agent-chain will have taken money directly from the local-business and put it into their pockets.

 

7 hours ago, AlexRich said:

They are ... irrespective of what tourist visas are intended for. There have been numerous posts on TV about people being stopped at the airport and questioned or not let in ... which of course they have a right to do ... but appears to be happening with much greater frequency. A tighter policy.

They have a right to, but based on grounds on which there is a corresponding reason for denial specified in Immigration-Law, or specially-authorized by the minister.  "Too much time as a tourist" does not exist in the law regarding Tourist-Visa use, and the section-number for minister's special orders is not being reported stamped in rejected-applicant's passports.

 

And it's not just the "stay almost all year" under-50 expats.  We have reports of elder snowbirds, staying under 6-mo/yr, being stopped as well.  The likely reason why, is there is no agent or elite money to be gained for immigration from Tourist Visas. 

 

One thing for certain, this isn't about them giving a hoot about some sort of Western ideals of honesty / applicability of this or that visa/extension within the ranks.  The fact some can get visas or extensions via honest means is what they view as the "loophole," which they are actively trying to close.

4 hours ago, a977 said:

If not resolved soon I can see a big hole in the Thai economy from all the expats leaving. Having a beer with a mate the other day he uses pension + super top up to live a decent lifestyle but to put 800,000 in Thai bank, no siree I'll just go back to Oz

Have to agree,why would anyone pull 800,000 baht out of a super fund usually getting 7% plus and put it in a thai bank and get what 1 1/2---2% interest..

3 hours ago, JackThompson said:

 

 

Where did you get the 10% figure?  Based on those I've talked to, I'd guess 80% use either income-letters or agents - and more will now go the agent-route.  Some of those may have the money, but don't want to tie it up here.  Cambodia, Vietnam, and the PI will benefit from those who don't switch to agents. 

 

.

1

10% is my finger in the air guess of the number of western expats who are nor prepared/don/t have 800k into a Thai bank, the number is certainly no higher than that, the rest will have the funds and will bite the bullet and deposit the money into an account here.

 

Cambodia and the PI will benefit you say, hmm, perhaps from those expats who are prepared to live in the wild west with no infrastructure, no decent medical facilities and the law of the gun!

10% is my finger in the air guess of the number of western expats who are nor prepared/don/t have 800k into a Thai bank, the number is certainly no higher than that, the rest will have the funds and will bite the bullet and deposit the money into an account here.
 
Cambodia and the PI will benefit you say, hmm, perhaps from those expats who are prepared to live in the wild west with no infrastructure, no decent medical facilities and the law of the gun!

I don't think there is any way to know the percentage but since you're obviously guessing my guess is about 35 percent. As meaningless as your guess.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

I don't think there is any way to know the percentage but since you're obviously guessing my guess is about 35 percent. As meaningless as your guess.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

1

Fine, make it 35%, even at that level the impact of the loss on GDP is nada, niet, nothing.

 

13 hours ago, AlexRich said:

 

I've just been reading about the withdrawal of income letters from the British Embassy, US too if my memory serves me right. The over 50's with a regular income but not 800,000 Baht will have to deposit the cash rather than show the income ... that's making things more difficult for them. 

They are making it difficult for all foreigners to stay here, including the grey nomads as you have mentioned. Very soon NO foreigners will be allowed to  live in Thailand. ????????????

So a friend of a guy who appears in a YouTube bloggers clip said this is happening.

Must be true then.

 

<deleted>. ????

On 10/29/2018 at 5:02 PM, mockingbird said:

So a friend of a guy who appears in a YouTube bloggers clip said this is happening.

Must be true then.

 

<deleted>. ????

Yes he said that, but I replied to him I haven’t heard anything of that, so that’s why I’m starting this topic, I try to be little bit up to date on the visas and stuff here.

 

im 25 years old living in Thailand find it hard, so Is there any country near Thailand where I can stay long term without issue? 

Will soon be a new name for the Expat group....Hoop Jumpers......????????????????

16 hours ago, bbi1 said:

 

They are making it difficult for all foreigners to stay here, including the grey nomads as you have mentioned. Very soon NO foreigners will be allowed to  live in Thailand. ????????????

Will the freedom to marry certificate be next on the chopping block??

Many times here people make fake news about visa and Thai rules and immigrants policy.Sometime,they do not simply understand .Nothing will change and Thailand is open country.

Since 2017, the Dutch embassy has been asking for irrefutable proof of income for issuing an income letter and is now requesting 2,000 Baht for it. So it's not just about the UK and the USA.

On 10/29/2018 at 12:30 AM, The traveler said:

Thailand really needs to have some options for those under 50 years / not married to a thai, hard to stay here unless you can afford the elite visa or you want, learn thai get det ed visa... 

I must be missing something here. You want to spend more than six months in Thailand on a tourist visa and are under 50. But surely you are going to need 'some' months working to be able to afford to come and live here and enjoy it ? You must be on a good salary to work only 4-5 months a year or less to be able to spend time here - and not working here.  

Everybody bashing eachother again about being rich or poor, having 800000 or not . I thought this was about the 180 days per calander year . Shows how many people like to show of how much money they have or how big their .... is . What i remember is that the 180 days per calander year is being talked about for years already . Happy for everybody that has money , maybe do something good with it like giving some to homeless or parentless children here in thailand , instead of bragging about it . People who really have money dont brag about it on the internet or wherever , stupid bunch of loosers . Think whatever you want about what i just said and reply whatever you want but this is how i think about people bragging about their money .

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

You must be on a good salary to work only 4-5 months a year or less to be able to spend time here - and not working here.  

I know a guy from Sweden that does it, as he lives over 180 days abroad he's not considered a tax resident in Sweden, consider half his income in Sweden would go to pay taxes.