Vietnam puts the kibosh on foreigners

[elephant45]

where do you check the updates on the visa?

[Mitkof Island]

2 hours ago, Roy Baht said:

UPDATE on Vietnam visa rules:

Rather than having to make a border run every 30 days, as previously announced, tourists will be given the option of reporting to their local immigration office (for a fee of US$10), or of hiring an agent to do so. That would mean, on a 90 day tourist visa, you would report to the local IO twice, and have to cross the border and return with a new visa (or in the case of Americans, with a one-year visa, cross the border and return, three times a year).

 

See new Eli the Bike Guy video. New Visa Rules discussion occur roughly 12:30- 21:00

 

 

Its nice when Eli is able to make a video with good visa information instead of trying to draw viewers when he attacks other YT channels with lies. It never ends up well for those that harass others with lies and bullying. The nutcase in Rayong/DaNang that tried that suffered greatly for it. Hopefully Eli learned his lesson.

[elephant45]

thanks Mitkoff but this is a 3 hour live video mostly talking abut nothing. I don't see where or how you find the 12:30 to 1:00 part. With a one year us visa I had to fly in only. No border runs. Was I misled? I would also like to know where people find official news about all of this stuff.

[Roy Baht]

2 hours ago, elephant45 said:

This is a live video which seems all about marriage. Is there a youtube video specifically on this topic that you mentioned? Thanks

As posted above, New Visa Rules discussion occur roughly 12:30- 21:00

[elephant45]

Thanks,

Its live and it starts at 3:34:26 and goes to zero, how do I find 12:30 to 1:00

[EliTheBikeGuy]

20 minutes ago, elephant45 said:

Thanks,

Its live and it starts at 3:34:26 and goes to zero, how do I find 12:30 to 1:00

For some reason YouTube isn’t showing the start of the video where I cover the new visa information, maybe I went too long and they cut off the beginning.

 

In short: Vietnam immigration has confirmed that tourist (DL) visa holders will be able to extend in-country at a cost of US$10 (230,000 VND), and they’ll be able to do this twice before having to leave the country after the third 30-day period. In other words, it’s not much different than before, except you’ll have to apply for extensions.

 

My apology for the livestream snafu. I’ll do a vlog about it tomorrow with sources that is much shorter.

 

[elephant45]

Tks

[Destiny1990]

So after 25 pages of mostly fake news It turns out that in Vietnam they are not going to discourage foreigners from staying longer.

 

[ThomasThBKK]

2 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:

So after 25 pages of mostly fake news It turns out that in Vietnam they are not going to discourage foreigners from staying longer.

 

 

If Thai immigration would want you to report every 30 days to them, would you say the same? No.

 

 

[elephant45]

I agree, it certainly is not not 25 wasted posts.

[drbeach]

On 1/31/2020 at 8:40 AM, GeorgeCross said:

there's always Cambodia

 

and if that goes down could try Bangladesh, i hear the women are a bit ropey there though ????

 

 

Cambodia is 6 months now (technically 7, initial entry + a 6 month extension) and then a visa run required (except if over 55 and retired). Still not too bad if you're just "hanging around" but will undoubtedly be heading the way of Thailand eventually.

[elephant45]

can you explain this a little deeper? I am 65 so it's of interest.

[drbeach]

28 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Seems visas in Vietnam are cheap and fast and agents can do all for me for just a minor fee and no TM30’s hassles..

Anyway I already discovered about u thomas that most of ur thai pitching posts  have an high fake content !

There is a TM30 equivalent just that it's not talked about much.

 

Also, they have relaxed the TM30 here in Thailand quite a bit last year.

[Roy Baht]

Fixed

 

 

[drbeach]

26 minutes ago, elephant45 said:

can you explain this a little deeper? I am 65 so it's of interest.

Do you mean me? I understand Cambodia offers a retirement visa without proof of funds to any foreigner who wants one, provided they are at least 55 years of age. However, you can't work on it and in the future, proof of funds will probably be introduced as a requirement. For now you can rest easy though.

[elephant45]

yes/ tks

[Destiny1990]

11 minutes ago, Roy Baht said:

Fixed

 

 

Wow Danang has great wide streets and comfortable big pavements...

[sanemax]

3 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Wow Danang has great wide streets and comfortable big pavements...

Only the new bit by the sea and a few main roads  , much of all the other roads and pavements are very congested 

[drbeach]

On 1/31/2020 at 8:00 PM, Gweiloman said:

Naturally, we don’t discuss illegal immigration here as I don’t think any of us condone it. 
 

My point is that it is a lot harder for an Asian to live legally in the west than it is for a westerner to live legally in Asia. The financial requirements are a lot less, thus I feel that a lot of the complaints are not justified. 
 

Reference your last sentence, countries like Thailand and Vietnam does depend a lot on tourism. But equally, tourism (and especially from Asia) is very important to many European countries as well. Without tourism, countries like the UK, France, Italy, Spain and a whole host of Eastern European countries will also be suffering. 

He does make a good point though. I think SE Asian countries are clearly much more reliant on tourism than any western countries are. Certainly, if one goes online and reads news about SE Asia, whether it's Thailand or Vietnam or Laos, Cambodia etc. the only common factor is that tourism is ALWAYS mentioned as being very important for their economies. It's especially regularly mentioned in reference to Thailand.

 

And indeed, almost no westerner seeks to sneak into or out of Thailand or any other country in the region (even though it's actually quite easy to do such as getting on a casino boat from Myawaddy to Mae Sot) BUT it's neither a good idea NOR necessary in most cases (unless you are a criminal and need to flee the country). Besides, even if you did manage to remain in the country for a while, being illegal you can probably never hope to achieve legal status or citizenship UNLIKE in say, the USA.

[CharlieH]

bickering posts removed.

[elephant45]

(off topic) Charlie, do you know what that ad is doing in the right bottom corner of the forum section covering 15% of the page?

[Destiny1990]

26 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Only the new bit by the sea and a few main roads  , much of all the other roads and pavements are very congested 

Hi max.. The Danang beaches are chosen as one of the best , widest and cleanest beaches in asia.

but whats ur opinion ????????????

[sanemax]

2 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Hi max.. The Danang beaches are chosen as one of the best , widest and cleanest beaches in asia.

but whats ur opinion ????????????

Yes, the beaches are very nice , although with the numerous high rise hotels going up on the beach front, it may soon become crowded

[drbeach]

41 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Hi max.. The Danang beaches are chosen as one of the best , widest and cleanest beaches in asia.

but whats ur opinion ????????????

Cleanest? Only during the summer high season when the cleaners have done their rounds. If you visit during the winter off-season, storms bring in all sorts of trash, mostly from China. In December 2018 I stayed at a beach side resort in Danang, the trash was out of this world and the vast majority floated in from China, probably Hainan.

 

Danang is unfortunately not a year-round beach destination. At best, 9 months of the year can be considered suitable weather/temperatures for swimming, but probably more likely 7-8, similar to the Gold Coast in Australia or northern Florida or South Texas.

[Destiny1990]

21 minutes ago, drbeach said:

Cleanest? Only during the summer high season when the cleaners have done their rounds. If you visit during the winter off-season, storms bring in all sorts of trash, mostly from China. In December 2018 I stayed at a beach side resort in Danang, the trash was out of this world and the vast majority floated in from China, probably Hainan.

 

Danang is unfortunately not a year-round beach destination. At best, 9 months of the year can be considered suitable weather/temperatures for swimming, but probably more likely 7-8, similar to the Gold Coast in Australia or northern Florida or South Texas.

Yeah I already knew that u and max and thomas would desperately try to spin it into a negative direction.. just as what u tried with Vietnam visa extensions.
Danang chosen by Time magazine as best beach and with cleanest water. But maybe someone believes ur stuff.

[sanemax]

25 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Yeah I already knew that u and max and thomas would desperately try to spin it into a negative direction.. 

No, we are just telling it the way we see it .

Did you not see the 10-15 20 new 30-40 story hotels now being built along the beach road ?

What will happen when they are built and full of tourists ?

[griffon2011]

On 1/31/2020 at 9:48 AM, Mike Teavee said:

Malaysia has a well established long term visa (MM2H), financial requirements are much higher than Thailand but it's there for anybody who's looking at a place to stay long term in the region... 

 

Applicants are required to show they have sufficient financial resources to live in Malaysia without seeking employment or other assistance from the government.

Applicants under 50 are required to show liquid assets above RM500,000 and a monthly income of over RM10,000 (equivalent).

Applicants over 50 have to show liquid assets over RM350,000,and a monthly income over RM10,000.

Acceptable liquid assets for people over 50 include cash in the bank, bonds and securities.

Upon Approval – Fixed Deposit Requirements For MM2H

All applicants have to make a Fixed Deposit based on their age, as follows:

i) MM2H Applicants aged below 50 years old:

• Must place a Fixed Deposit in a bank account in Malaysia of RM300,000
• Can withdraw up to RM150,000 for the purchase of house, medical insurance or children’s education expenses after the deposit has been placed for one year
• Applicants can use their car purchase grant to withdraw part of their Fixed Deposit after two years.
• Must maintain a minimum balance of RM150,000 from second year onwards and throughout stay in Malaysia under this programme.

ii) MM2H Applicants aged 50 years and above:

• Must place a Fixed Deposit in a bank account in Malaysia of RM150,000
• Can withdraw up to RM50,000 of the fixed deposit after one year to purchase of house, medical insurance or children’s education expenses.
• Applicants can use their car purchase grant to withdraw part of their Fixed Deposit after two years.
• Must maintain a minimum balance of RM100,000 throughout their stay in Malaysia under this programme.

 

[1,000 MYR is approx 7,500 THB so for >50 you need to be able to show worldwide liquid assets of 2.625 Million Baht & 75,000 pm income, once visa has been approved you need to transfer 1.125 Million Baht into a Fixed Deposit account in Malaysia]

 

 

Once I realized Vietnam was not an option I contacted an agent in Penang regarding the MM2H visa.  I met the financial requirements and sent them a brief resume.  They replied that there was an issue with my security background.  My entire security/military background was 4 years as an aircraft mechanic in the US Navy ending 51 years ago. I'm not quite sure what the issue was but I suspect that for obvious reasons, being an American was not a plus. Also, in the paragraph above the guidelines they emailed was a statement indicating that they were not to accept "blue-collar" applicants. As the changes are fairly recent I decided not to apply until the program matured.   

[Destiny1990]

7 minutes ago, sanemax said:

No, we are just telling it the way we see it .

Did you not see the 10-15 20 new 30-40 story hotels now being built along the beach road ?

What will happen when they are built and full of tourists ?

Yes great the sooner the better. I like  progress so new fancy hotels nearby and lots of tourists giving me an holiday atmosphere  .. u only prove me that the momentum is clearly there !!

[sanemax]

4 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Yes great the sooner the better. I like  progress so new fancy hotels nearby and lots of tourists giving me an holiday atmosphere  .. u only prove me that the momentum is clearly there !!

Yes, but with hoards of Chinese tourists , it would no longer be so clean pristine and empty beaches .

   It was the motorbikes that got me though, with the constant horn beeping , and I mean constant . 

  Many drove down the road using their horns like a siren 

[ravip]

On 1/31/2020 at 7:15 AM, GeorgeCross said:

 

Thailand clamps down on visa requirements

 

foreigners flee to nearby countries

 

nearby countries clamp down on visas

 

foreigners ______ ??

 

 

Stay home!

Slowly, but surely the 3rd world, non developed countries are realising that the $$$$$ loaded foreigners realy are not a blessing.