New Smart Visa qualifications, criteria approved

[rooster59]

New Smart Visa qualifications, criteria approved

Tanakorn Sangiam

 

BANGKOK, 17 November 2018 (NNT) - The cabinet has approved new qualifications and criteria for improvement in education sector under the Smart Visa scheme. 

Acting Prime Minsiter's Office spokesman Puttipong Punnakanta said the cabinet has approved the adjustments to the special visa scheme for highly skilled foreigners, so called the Smart Visa, according to the Board of Investment. 

The new visa scheme is aimed to attract highly skilled foreigners to work, invest, or open business in Thailand in 10 targeted industries. Three more professions have been added to the scheme, including alternative dispute resolution management, human resources development in science and technology and environment and alternative energy management. 

Smart Visa holders will be able to use Fast Track immigration service at all international airports in Thailand. The Smart Visa scheme is also aimed to promote the transfers of knowledge and expertise from foreign professionals to the emerging SMEs in Thailand, including those in the Eastern Economic Corridor project.

 

 

-- nnt 2018-11-18

[jaltsc]

"Smart Visa holders will be able to use Fast Track immigration service at all international airports in Thailand."

 

GREAT!!! They will now get faster access to under educated students, under trained workers, and a culture that will always believe it's citizens are the most intelligent on earth, and don't need some outsider telling them how to improve.

[YetAnother]

20 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The Smart Visa scheme is also aimed to promote the transfers of knowledge and expertise from foreign professionals

the 'smarts' are already here in the form of expats; who , for the most part, cannot work as the thais are afraid, rightly so, that they are quite a bit better than the local alternatives

[4MyEgo]

I suppose having lots of money doesn't get me a Smart Visa, best I go out back and have a cry while I keep counting my loot, not smart enough ''''''

 

Edited November 18, 2018 by 4MyEgo

[Artisi]

2 hours ago, jaltsc said:

"Smart Visa holders will be able to use Fast Track immigration service at all international airports in Thailand."

 

GREAT!!! They will now get faster access to under educated students, under trained workers, and a culture that will always believe it's citizens are the most intelligent on earth, and don't need some outsider telling them how to improve.

So sad, but in the main true. 

[Thailand]

Perhaps a 5 year Dumb Visa for those of us that don't have the smarts and would not be a threat to local talent?

[gamini]

2 hours ago, YetAnother said:

the 'smarts' are already here in the form of expats; who , for the most part, cannot work as the thais are afraid, rightly so, that they are quite a bit better than the local alternatives

I think that any smart expat could work in Thailand. But most of them are either sexpats or poorly educated 'Brits from northern England

[GeorgeCross]

how do they define 'highly skilled'?

 

the best entrepreneurs are self taught (they believe in action not learning so get out there and make it happen now)

 

if by highly skilled they mean lots of qualifications or references from big multinational companies i wonder why they think they will leave and come here to start a startup!!!

 

irony is there are some very skilled and young entrepreneurs sitting on beaches and in cafes all over thailand working on some amazing projects right now but due to thailands visa attitude of only granting visas to the already successful they will go home and launch their startups where the business environment is more supportive and visas aren't an issue. 

 

if they are lucky a few of them might return to spend some money here in the future but they sure as hell won't be starting anything.

 

 

 

[Redline]

It’s ok to dream, but don’t let it stand in the way of reality 

[zydeco]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The Smart Visa scheme is also aimed to promote the transfers of knowledge and expertise from foreign professionals to the emerging SMEs in Thailand, including those in the Eastern Economic Corridor project.

So another express lane at immigration to waive through Chinese construction workers.

[BritManToo]

4 hours ago, gamini said:

I think that any smart expat could work in Thailand. But most of them are either sexpats or poorly educated 'Brits from northern England

I don't think any smart expets white men would want to work in Thailand.

Most of the sexpats I used to hang with moved to Vietnam/Cambodia/The Philippines.

 

What's left are those of us that acquired local baggage (wife/kids/home), and/or don't have enough money left to move on.

 

Educated people tend to stay in their home countries, except for a two week holiday now and again, can't say I've met any living in Thailand. It appears to be a working class destination.

Edited November 18, 2018 by BritManToo

[yellowboat]

As we have read, talented people do not see Thailand as part of a successful career path.   The junta does not know much about China, Hong Kong or Singapore's ability in attracting of talented people, where immigration is not selling passes to an amusement park.  The junta competes with the average Thai for revenue in crazy tariffs, flighty visa rules and the hampering of foreigners to work in the country.  Not sure how a new type of amusement park pass translates to benefits for the Thais or those who would like to work in the country

[fforest1]

Has any one here actually read the many many requirements for a Smart Visa?...They made sure your average expat has no chance of getting one... 

 

 

[asiaexpat]

Do not assume all smart experts come from western countries. Asian countries have a lot offer in the way of highly skilled experts that would be glad to have spell in Thailand. As for westerners, look for another way to secure your stay in LOS.

[fforest1]

When are they going to come out with the beer bar visa?.....

The requirements could be....

You will need to over 50 and over weight...You will need to hang out in beer bars at least 2-3 nights a week and hit at least one balloon pig roast a week.....And if you know the names of all the girls at your local beer bar and know where all their tattoos are this would pretty much be a shoe-in for the Beer Bar Visa......

[Bill Miller]

5 hours ago, Thailand said:

Perhaps a 5 year Dumb Visa for those of us that don't have the smarts and would not be a threat to local talent?

Sign me up!

[GeorgeCross]

46 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

Has any one here actually read the many many requirements for a Smart Visa?...They made sure your average expat has no chance of getting one... 

 

 

 

i have hence my post above - they just don't get it, its a souped up H1-B style visa which is not needed because they already have an easy to acquire non-b and boi fast track work permits.

 

another opportunity missed

 

 

[dcnx]

8 hours ago, YetAnother said:

the 'smarts' are already here in the form of expats; who , for the most part, cannot work as the thais are afraid, rightly so, that they are quite a bit better than the local alternatives

The smart ones left a long time ago.

 

Only the desperate, delusional, demented, addicted, and trapped remain.

 

I currently fall into the latter category, but I’m working on resolving it so I can also leave these __________ in the rear view mirror.

[Media1]

8 hours ago, YetAnother said:

the 'smarts' are already here in the form of expats; who , for the most part, cannot work as the thais are afraid, rightly so, that they are quite a bit better than the local alternatives

Thank you

[cyberfarang]

8 hours ago, YetAnother said:

the 'smarts' are already here in the form of expats; who , for the most part, cannot work as the thais are afraid, rightly so, that they are quite a bit better than the local alternatives

What this tells us is, Thai immigration prefers expats that either have high technical skills or reasonable amounts of money in Thai banks. Those they consider are of benefit to the country.

 

Also what they`re telling us is that Thailand is not interested in having expats stay here that are struggling to raise $12000 per year to extend their annual visas or paying agencies to pull strings for them.

 

But it seems that many just can`t seem to get the message.

[ukrules]

1 hour ago, fforest1 said:

When are they going to come out with the beer bar visa?.....

The requirements could be....

You will need to over 50 and over weight...You will need to hang out in beer bars at least 2-3 nights a week and hit at least one balloon pig roast a week.....And if you know the names of all the girls at your local beer bar and know where all their tattoos are this would pretty much be a shoe-in for the Beer Bar Visa......

I don't qualify right now but with some dedication and extra work I think I could do it ????

 

Edited November 18, 2018 by ukrules

[madmitch]

Why all the negativity? Thailand is making an effort to attract quality expats. They won't come without a package commensurate to their skills. Why do highly skilled workers go to Saudi Arabia or Nigeria? It's not for the fun!  Of course Thailand should be able to attract the right calibre of person but it will take more than a fast track visa. 

[fforest1]

2 hours ago, cyberfarang said:

What this tells us is, Thai immigration prefers expats that either have high technical skills or reasonable amounts of money in Thai banks. Those they consider are of benefit to the country.

 

Also what they`re telling us is that Thailand is not interested in having expats stay here that are struggling to raise $12000 per year to extend their annual visas or paying agencies to pull strings for them.

 

But it seems that many just can`t seem to get the message.

Your just not getting it......Expats receive exactly zero finical benefits from Thailand.....Where is the expat welfare card?...99.9% of expats do not take jobs from Thais instead they create untold thousands of jobs for Thais....

 

But you are right about one thing....What they are telling us is Thailand is not interested in having expats period unless the expat is pretty wealthy....800,000 in the bank is not going to cut it soon enough....

 

Smart visa what a joke....   

Edited November 18, 2018 by fforest1

[fforest1]

51 minutes ago, madmitch said:

Why all the negativity? Thailand is making an effort to attract quality expats. They won't come without a package commensurate to their skills.Why do highly skilled workers go to Saudi Arabia or Nigeria? It's not for the fun!  Of course Thailand should be able to attract the right calibre of person but it will take more than a fast track visa. 

Why do highly skilled workers go to Saudi Arabia or Nigeria?

 

Money,Money,and Money....

[Fex Bluse]

12 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Smart Visa holders will be able to use Fast Track immigration service at all international airports in Thailand. The Smart Visa scheme is also aimed to promote the transfers of knowledge and expertise from foreign professionals to the emerging SMEs in Thailand

 

Thai benefits = receipt of expat knowledge and kick out expats after 4 years

 

Expat benefits = fast track immigration 

 

No mention of wanting to provide expat business with opportunities. Typical arrogant and incompetent xenophobes. Thais, in general, are pleasant but just too arrogant (and incompetent) for top talent foreigners to handle. They are in many ways insufferable. 

 

I predict this effort will fall flat. There will be a couple of companies, maybe some Chinese ones that stole their IP from western countries, who will come, but I have no faith that Thais will attract lots of foreign talent. 

 

Edited November 18, 2018 by Fex Bluse

[Fex Bluse]

Outline of issues I see with this. 

 

Will Thais pay good money? Probably not. 

 

Will expats have reliable legal recourse when disputes arise or will Thais revert to their highly xenophobic systems to ensure that foreigners always lose? 

 

Where will the foreigners find competent Thais who are willing to learn from outsiders? 

 

What other sort of benefits will Thais offer foreigners and their companies such as lifting bans on certain investment vehicles? 

 

Thailand has fabulously sexy girls, good weather, food and reasonably cheaper prices, but it's an absolute dead end professionally. It's the place that you lie and don't admit you work in. 

 

Edited November 18, 2018 by Fex Bluse