Too much immigration stress

[1happykamper]

 

I get tired of hearing "we are a guest in this country". True... But it should be a 2-way deal! I'm a "guest" bringing lots of gifts.. Money to add to dozens or hundreds of small businesses! A little respect towards me would be welcome. A smile and thanks for a small tip would go a looooong way. Here in Krabi only half do this. The North has more manners. Attitudes towards me and other expats I know have gone right downhill.. fast! The lighthearted of Thai woman is just a memory now. Now I have to put up with aggressive and rude local people.

 

Five years in this abusive relationship with Thailand and I'm at the end of my rope. I'm lucky.. No wife.. Biggest asset.. A motorbike. I'll start selling up here. Again! 555. I keep coming back to my abuser.. Thailand.. and I get kicked in the balls on a regular basis!

 

In Thailand, the topic of visas, 90 day reports, tm30/tm28, health insurance and keeping up with all the ever-changing visa financial requirements is something I think about on a WEEKLY basis. I have to! In other countries I've been an expat in, the immigration topic was something I thought of once or twice a YEAR! Thailand is VERY stressful in this regard.

 

Thailand has seen its day. It's a sad place that's changed drastically since my arrival here in 2015. Even tourists I meet call this area <snip>.. and they are only here 2 weeks! 555

 

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

 

 

 

[holy cow cm]

Your attitude will become the norm eventually for many. But in all honesty, southern Thai have always been a little rude and the ultimate hot heads, but Krabi you could not pay me to live in. It is a very beautiful place in parts, but AO Nang is a dung hole now and was only beautiful over 20+++ years ago. And the ongoing saga of will immigration pull another one out of their rear end to taunt us is a stress. We have been replaced by the come and go Chinese so no longer needed.

[Skallywag]

31 minutes ago, 1happykamper said:

But it should be a 2-way deal! I'm a "guest" bringing lots of gifts.. Money to add to dozens or hundreds of small businesses! A little respect towards me would be welcome. A smile and thanks for a small tip

Thais smile at me at almost every shop, grocery, massage, 7-11, or bank I visit. 

You greet people and smile, they smile back.   

Never heard of someone going about their daily business and using the words "bringing lots of gifts" ?
 

[colinneil]

Well ihappykamper certainly isnt a happykamper, chill mate.

Immigration officers are a law unto themselves.

Last time my 90 day was due my wife went as usual, male io said where is your husband?

At home my wife said, he has to come himself, he is paralyzed my wife said.

Next time if he does not come himself you have to bring proof of his disability, photos of him confined to his bed.

My wife has just done my 90 day this week, took photos of me on my hospital bed, side rails up.

She goes to Khonkaen immigration, offers to show photos lady io says why, your husbands situation and photos are logged in the system, we are fully aware of his problems.

Just shows each io makes up their own rules.

Edited October 25, 2019 by colinneil

[JWRC]

1 hour ago, 1happykamper said:

n Thailand, the topic of visas, 90 day reports, tm30/tm28, health insurance and keeping up with all the ever-changing visa financial requirements is something I think about on a WEEKLY basis. I have to! In other countries I've been an expat in, the immigration topic was something I thought of once or twice a YEAR! Thailand is VERY stressful in this regard.

It seems to me you have been reading Thai visa too much and letting the constant moans and groans, the negative attitudes and the BS get to you. It is easy to get depressed about something when you are wallowing in it all the time. Sure things change, but it really isn't as bad as some would make out, usually those people are the ones who cannot for some reason comply with the requirements, as an example, lack of funds. I still find Thais the same as when I came here a couple of decades ago, you get back what you give in this life, maybe your lacking in the smile department.

[1happykamper]

Thais smile at me at almost every shop, grocery, massage, 7-11, or bank I visit. 
You greet people and smile, they smile back.   
Never heard of someone going about their daily business and using the words "bringing lots of gifts" ?
 

The gifts I am referring to is my money!. Money I spend at lots of small businesses. I'm their guest. Yes. But.. I am also their customer.

As for smiling.. I smile.. I'm a happy guy... I get the insincere smile back...

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

[Puchaiyank]

We are on the same page...sold the car...sent money back to home country...bought an airline ticket months ago to spend Thanksgiving and holidays with my children.  Counting the days.

 

Bought a return ticket...will go unused.

 

Immigration hassles and healthcare insurance issues became too much...????

[MisterTee]

We don't even qualify as guests here.

I wasn't invited... were you?

We're more like party-crashers who have blundered in too late and found a banquet-hall deserted, whose lights are fled, whose garlands dead, and all but he departed.

[Pilotman]

15 minutes ago, JWRC said:

It seems to me you have been reading Thai visa too much and letting the constant moans and groans, the negative attitudes and the BS get to you. It is easy to get depressed about something when you are wallowing in it all the time. Sure things change, but it really isn't as bad as some would make out, usually those people are the ones who cannot for some reason comply with the requirements, as an example, lack of funds. I still find Thais the same as when I came here a couple of decades ago, you get back what you give in this life, maybe your lacking in the smile department.

I think the OP's attitude  and feelings are not unusual among expats now and are justified. Immigration is inconsistent and the ever changing regulations are annoying at best.  This latest change, to require Health Insurance for an extension to be granted, is the latest and probably the final nail in the coffin for many, including I am very sad to say, my Thai wife and I. At 71 the premium for health insurance for me is over US$20,000 per year, I can pay that, but I refuse to do so, for a near useless policy. As to Thais, I find them friendly and welcoming, part from an isolated  few.  They are not the problem, this xenophobic and economically illiterate government is the problem and nothing expats can do will change that fact.  

[baansgr]

Easy...vote with your wallet and go elsewhere...simples

[TSF]

22 minutes ago, 1happykamper said:

The gifts I am referring to is my money!. Money I spend at lots of small businesses. I'm their guest. Yes. But.. I am also their customer.

As for smiling.. I smile.. I'm a happy guy... I get the insincere smile back...

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
 

Got to agree with you. As I've said a few times before on this forum...what's the problem? All we do is spend spend spend, we get nothin' for nothin' here. We'll never get Thai citizenship or welfare payments and free housing and free medical....all those things that Thais get back in our home countries. So what's it matter if John Doe spends 10 months a year in Thailand ringing the bell in a Pattaya bar or eating a coconut on Patong Beach?

[Vacuum]

2 hours ago, 1happykamper said:

the immigration topic was something I thought of once or twice a YEAR! Thailand is VERY stressful in this regard.

I meet the IOs 1-2 hours/year, no stress.  

[Kwasaki]

2 hours ago, 1happykamper said:

Five years in this abusive relationship with Thailand and I'm at the end of my rope.

Be seeing you up North I don't get stressed over immigration anymore we have an immi office nearby also internet now electric and water as well. ????

[Kwasaki]

56 minutes ago, JWRC said:

I still find Thais the same as when I came here a couple of decades ago, you get back what you give in this life, maybe your lacking in the smile department.

Well said some people just can't cope.

[bkk6060]

2 hours ago, 1happykamper said:

It's a sad place that's changed drastically since my arrival here in 2015.

Interesting. So you are saying it change so much for the negative after you arrived??

Seems strange.

[Isaanbiker]

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Well ihappykamper certainly isnt a happykamper, chill mate.

Immigration officers are a law unto themselves.

Last time my 90 day was due my wife went as usual, male io said where is your husband?

At home my wife said, he has to come himself, he is paralyzed my wife said.

Next time if he does not come himself you have to bring proof of his disability, photos of him confined to his bed.

My wife has just done my 90 day this week, took photos of me on my hospital bed, side rails up.

She goes to Khonkaen immigration, offers to show photos lady io says why, your husbands situation and photos are logged in the system, we are fully aware of his problems.

Just shows each io makes up their own rules.

Yep, too many are very unhappy campers and it's their own fault for being so unhappy and stressed out about everything.

 

  You can hardly blame others for your own problems, can you?

 

  Exactly these people were unhappy campers back home and they'll always be unhappy wherever they go to. 

 

  

[Bournville]

34 minutes ago, Isaanbiker said:

Yep, too many are very unhappy campers and it's their own fault for being so unhappy and stressed out about everything.

 

  You can hardly blame others for your own problems, can you?

 

  Exactly these people were unhappy campers back home and they'll always be unhappy wherever they go to. 

 

  

Load of rubbish. Gosh, so may posters are so full of themselves on TV. You have no idea how my personalty is. Just because I am writing here about miserable twits in Thailand doesn't mean i am the same for gosh sakes!!555. I've been blessed and happy all my life! READ my post.. this is about the stress that IM is causing me. It's not about happiness!!555. One other comment was that they spend 2 hours a year at immigration. Load of rubbish. There is a lot more to living legally in TH than just an annual trip to extend a visa. I am talking about the ever changing rules..financials..embassy rules..different province Im rules, different IO rules, insurance rules and so on!! Like I said..other countries I have been an expat in (I've been an expat from the UK for 44 years) have NO such silly forms and reporting rules and have CONSISTENT RULES throughout the country! 

 

However if you sit on your bum 365 days a year, do not travel domestically or internationally and have a Thai wife to hold your hand for everything...then your life is stress free. And maybe boring as hell 5555

Edited October 25, 2019 by Bournville
uupsss

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

10 minutes ago, Bournville said:

this is about the stress that IM is causing me. It's not about happiness!!555. One other comment was that they spend 2 hours a year at immigration. Load of rubbish. There is a lot more to living legally in TH than just an annual trip to extend a visa. I am talking about the ever changing rules..financials..embassy rules..different province Im rules, different IO rules, insurance rules and so on!! Like I said..other countries I have been an expat in (I've been an expat from the UK for 44 years) have NO such silly forms and reporting rules and have CONSISTENT RULES throughout the country! 

 

I think that's well put. It's not just the Immigration rules and enforcement themselves, or the fact that they're being changed pretty regularly in one way or another over the recent years. It's that they can't ever announce and make clear a consistent, coherent clearly articulated policy.

 

Any/every change always entails months of uncertainty and speculation and debate over just what it's going to mean or not, who is or isn't going to be affected, etc etc. And whether any particular IO is going to enforce it one way or another. It's been pretty much a constant merry-go-round for years now. And all that ongoing uncertainty does create stress and bad feelings...

 

At least, if you have any type of personal investment in this place that gives you a reason to stay here, like a wife or family or business... And it matters to more than just you whether you can or can't qualify for an extension of stay or visa the next time you have to visit Immigration, and potentially getting turfed out of the country.

[crazykopite]

If you think Krabi is bad visit Koh Samui or Koh Phangan it’s even worse.

[samran]

Yes, Sahib.

[sunnyboy2018]

4 hours ago, JWRC said:

It seems to me you have been reading Thai visa too much and letting the constant moans and groans, the negative attitudes and the BS get to you. It is easy to get depressed about something when you are wallowing in it all the time. Sure things change, but it really isn't as bad as some would make out, usually those people are the ones who cannot for some reason comply with the requirements, as an example, lack of funds. I still find Thais the same as when I came here a couple of decades ago, you get back what you give in this life, maybe your lacking in the smile department.

Yes. So true. Thai Visa is an echo chamber of complaints and grumbles. 99% of people only hear about IO problems from gossip on this forum.

[sunnyboy2018]

2 hours ago, Bournville said:

Load of rubbish. Gosh, so may posters are so full of themselves on TV. You have no idea how my personalty is. Just because I am writing here about miserable twits in Thailand doesn't mean i am the same for gosh sakes!!555. I've been blessed and happy all my life! READ my post.. this is about the stress that IM is causing me. It's not about happiness!!555. One other comment was that they spend 2 hours a year at immigration. Load of rubbish. There is a lot more to living legally in TH than just an annual trip to extend a visa. I am talking about the ever changing rules..financials..embassy rules..different province Im rules, different IO rules, insurance rules and so on!! Like I said..other countries I have been an expat in (I've been an expat from the UK for 44 years) have NO such silly forms and reporting rules and have CONSISTENT RULES throughout the country! 

 

However if you sit on your bum 365 days a year, do not travel domestically or internationally and have a Thai wife to hold your hand for everything...then your life is stress free. And maybe boring as hell 5555

The immigration rules in the UK are a nightmare and change all the time.

[CharlieH]

Its a matter of keeping things in perspective. The number of negative nellies, balanced against the number of members, and then compare that to the expat population, its so insignificant in the over all scheme or bigger picture.

 

Keep it in perspective.????

[steve187]

3 hours ago, Pilotman said:

I think the OP's attitude  and feelings are not unusual among expats now and are justified. Immigration is inconsistent and the ever changing regulations are annoying at best.  This latest change, to require Health Insurance for an extension to be granted, is the latest and probably the final nail in the coffin for many, including I am very sad to say, my Thai wife and I. At 71 the premium for health insurance for me is over US$20,000 per year, I can pay that, but I refuse to do so, for a near useless policy. As to Thais, I find them friendly and welcoming, part from an isolated  few.  They are not the problem, this xenophobic and economically illiterate government is the problem and nothing expats can do will change that fact.  

20,000 usd seem a lot for the 400/40 insurance prices i have seen on tv

[NCC1701A]

having a great time in Thailand for almost 6 years.

no problems with immigration at all.

no problems with banks. in fact apps getting better.

 

Thai people are great. Neighbors love me. Landlord loves me.

 

never understood this expectation that somehow farangs are owed something more just because they spend some money here. so what.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pilotman]

Just now, steve187 said:

20,000 usd seem a lot for the 400/40 insurance prices i have seen on tv

Yep it does. I was horrified.  The quote was between 18K and 20K US$.  Granted I have only got three quotes but it is still problematic for me and many others of my age. 

[steve187]

8 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Yep it does. I was horrified.  The quote was between 18K and 20K US$.  Granted I have only got three quotes but it is still problematic for me and many others of my age. 

have you looked at sheryl's posts on the companies and prices

[LivinLOS]

5 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Your attitude will become the norm eventually for many. But in all honesty, southern Thai have always been a little rude and the ultimate hot heads, but Krabi you could not pay me to live in. It is a very beautiful place in parts

Its funny, you live in it so long like a boiling frog you dont notice the water temp. 

 

I live up north, and while I love the mountains and wild, also get the pull of the beach, each trip down south to more tourist centric thailand I am shocked by the rudeness, price gouging and general abuse and end up glad to head home, then the desire for a beach break grows and he cycle continues. 

[PaoloR]

I have lived in Krabi for 15 years. Immigration here is great, helpful staff, short wait times. Compared with Phuket, Bangkok etc. it's a piece of pie.

Ao Nang is not great - it's a tourist town - what do you expect! Krabi is fine (just a few backpackers) and the surrounding countryside is wonderful. If you only spend your time in a tourist town no wonder you don't like it!

If you choose to live overseas, as I have done for the last 30 years, then you can expect to put up with a little red tape but the 3 hours a year I spend at the Immigration office (yearly renewal, 90 day reports, check in after overseas trips) hardly constitutes a reason to bitch, moan and decide to leave.

All the people on here moaning about Thailand, when in reality they don't know Thailand, they just know a few tourist spots. Get out and about - find the real Thailand and give us all a break!

 

 

[yellowboat]

3 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Please go as soon as you can, good riddance. good luck in you new <deleted>hole.

An unhappy customer only making an observation.  Complaints are a good thing. 

46 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

having a great time in Thailand for almost 6 years.

no problems with immigration at all.

no problems with banks. in fact apps getting better.

 

Thai people are great. Neighbors love me. Landlord loves me.

 

never understood this expectation that somehow farangs are owed something more just because they spend some money here. so what.

 

We had a second home there and loved it.  When the army usurped power, we did not want to go the retiree route, as we were still working.  Also, our friends left.  So we are looking for a little place in either Vietnam or Malaysia to call home during down time.  Our dog and cat are getting tired of the boat.