Virus + failing economy = major changes for visas and extensions?

[EbhB]

Just need to do some pure speculation, as the world did completely change in March - those who adopts to that will do well, and I'm just someone who likes to map out everything ????

 

I've been delving deep into the agent route, something I never expected to have to do, also trying to learn as much as possible while trying to run a company through all of this...

 

There MUST be at lot of pressure from different factions on the top, and now recently this organization for schools started a campaign to make it easier to change into ED without leaving.

 

Will all of this lead to major changes, especially for all visa runners and those being "tourists" ? (Most of us have been there, no criticism at all!)

 

# The tourist industry and huge malls need and want people that spend cash

# Nationalists want to use the opportunity to "clean up"

# Agents and their contacts will want to secure their income, especially after a long amnesty

# World wide all "sheeple" will take whatever is pushed upon them, in order to be able to travel long term

# The parts of Thailand that IS modern will want to make it easier for the right people to stay, type BOI

 

Could all of this lead to everything inbetween being married here & working and arriving on charterflights just vanishing?

 

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst...

 

[SteveK]

It would be very wise given the current circumstances to relax the very restrictive visa rules and regulations for both tourists and ex-pats to keep as many foreigners spending money in Thailand as possible. Will that happen? I certainly won't be holding my breath.

[EricTh]

There is an article on bangkok post titled Tourism Meltdown. More than 30% of tourism related companies have exited the market and there are huge unemployment that the government is ignoring.

[EbhB]

58 minutes ago, SteveK said:

It would be very wise given the current circumstances to relax the very restrictive visa rules and regulations for both tourists and ex-pats to keep as many foreigners spending money in Thailand as possible. Will that happen? I certainly won't be holding my breath.

No one have managed to couple wisdom to statecraft, not even Plato... ????

 

But some type of compromise could well happen, and quite likely some pretty major changes to how everything is done!

 

I just seriously hope Thailand will not go down the totalitarian road of mandated vaccines and biometric surveillance 24/7...

[JTXR]

The likelihood that very, very high health insurance cover will be required for the foreseeable future may spell the eventual death of the NonImm OA retirement visa, at least for those much over 60.

[DrJack54]

17 minutes ago, JTXR said:

The likelihood that very, very high health insurance cover will be required for the foreseeable future may spell the eventual death of the NonImm OA retirement visa, at least for those much over 60.

How did you decide to use the word "likelihood" to take wild guess at health insurance requirements for folk on extensions based on retirement/marriage.

Just a dream or have some secret info.

[steven100]

I doubt anything major will happen as a result of the economic downturn apart form the usual promotions to try to woo tourists back or coax new ones. 

Thailand has been through hard times before although probably not to this magnitude. I believe the powers that be will alter a couple of things that may make it ever so slightly easier to enter or stay long term but I don't anticipate any huge changes to the current visa requirements. imo

 

 

 

Edited July 22, 2020 by steven100

[EbhB]

2 hours ago, steven100 said:

I doubt anything major will happen as a result of the economic downturn apart form the usual promotions to try to woo tourists back or coax new ones. 

Thailand has been through hard times before although probably not to this magnitude. I believe the powers that be will alter a couple of things that may make it ever so slightly easier to enter or stay long term but I don't anticipate any huge changes to the current visa requirements. imo

Agree on some positive changes for people chosing to settle, hopefully sooner than later! ????

[DrJack54]

14 minutes ago, EbhB said:

Agree on some positive changes for people chosing to settle, hopefully sooner than later! ????

So what are your suggestions re positive changes. Thailand already has some of the most generous and flexible options to "settle".

[howerde]

3 hours ago, JTXR said:

The likelihood that very, very high health insurance cover will be required for the foreseeable future may spell the eventual death of the NonImm OA retirement visa, at least for those much over 60.

For those settling in Thailand i have no doubt that medical insurance will be required(covid will speed up what was going to happen anyway), i also believe that the insurance required for an OA visa was introduced to 'test the water' and see what problems it created. i of course could be completly  wrong. Time will tell

[baansgr]

30 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

So what are your suggestions re positive changes. Thailand already has some of the most generous and flexible options to "settle".

For short term yes...ie max 12 months with 90 day reporting or leaving....most other countries offer 5 or 10 years and residency for families and retirees..no need to report or entry permits...that's changes we would all like to see

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, baansgr said:

For short term yes...ie max 12 months with 90 day reporting or leaving....most other countries offer 5 or 10 years and residency for families and retirees..no need to report or entry permits...that's changes we would all like to see

List them. 

BTW what country can I swan into with my Thai partner. Japan only one of note.

Edited July 22, 2020 by DrJack54

[SteveK]

Thailand needs to stop treating every visitor as if they are a criminal. I came to marry my wife here with money in the bank, payslips to show where my money had come from, and still was treated with contempt because I had used tourist visas to visit her when when we were fiancees. 

 

I am not a criminal, nor is my wife, so why do I have to be treated like a common scumbag every time I need to enter the country?

[EbhB]

27 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

List them. 

BTW what country can I swan into with my Thai partner. Japan only one of note.

Georgia

[DrJack54]

31 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Thailand needs to stop treating every visitor as if they are a criminal. I came to marry my wife here with money in the bank, payslips to show where my money had come from, and still was treated with contempt because I had used tourist visas to visit her when when we were fiancees. 

 

I am not a criminal, nor is my wife, so why do I have to be treated like a common scumbag every time I need to enter the country?

People get married in Thailand every day and it's a very simple process. I personally know opposite accounts to what you post.

I think you mean you came here to marry my Thai gf. Rather than marry my wife.

So how was that so difficult. 

I'm not married to Thai so happy to stand corrected. 

Edited July 22, 2020 by DrJack54

[overherebc]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

So what are your suggestions re positive changes. Thailand already has some of the most generous and flexible options to "settle".

If you are married to a Thai and get a settlement visa for your wife she doesn't have to do 90 day reports, after 18 months she has an interview and, if all is ok, she can stay another 18 months then at the end of the three years she can start work, ( apply for a passport ) and pay tax and NI contributions with a pension when she retires.

Friend and his wife are going through the process now.

[dimitriv]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

So what are your suggestions re positive changes. Thailand already has some of the most generous and flexible options to "settle".

 

A Thai passport after 3 years of marriage or after 5 years living together. My home country has the same.

 

 

[DrJack54]

Just now, dimitriv said:

 

A Thai passport after 3 years of marriage or after 5 years living together. My home country has the same.

 

 

Which country? Why need ask

[dimitriv]

Just now, DrJack54 said:

Which country? Why need ask

 

Netherlands. But all European countries I know have the same.

 

I know it is hard to get there as a Thai tourist. But rules for people who are married or are living together are much more easy.

 

 

 

[DrJack54]

15 minutes ago, dimitriv said:

 

Netherlands. But all European countries I know have the same.

 

I know it is hard to get there as a Thai tourist. But rules for people who are married or are living together are much more easy.

 

 

 

Many are missing the point. I am Australian. Yes I could perhaps obtain visa to EU for Thai partner. However difficult if you not have EU passport. Same for USA and even my own country. Have done many times but I need apply tourist 600 visa. Pain in a**

The guys I'm replying to think Thailand is restrictive. 

I can't enter anywhere nearby visa exempt or apply for retirement extensions or elite visa. Not sure about marriage. 

Why complain.

I fly (pre covid) every month Saigon. I need multi 3 month visa. Other way around I could enter Thailand visa exempt stamp.

Edited July 22, 2020 by DrJack54

[BritManToo]

Worst case .........

put 400k/800k in a Thai bank for Non-O marriage/child care/retirement extension.

or 25k to use an agent to bribe a retirement extension.

No insurance required in either case.

 

Not that big a deal IMHO.

Although if you're a single young guy, maybe time to bite the bullet and marry or reproduce with a local.

 

I'm shifting 400k over this week, just to be safe.

Edited July 22, 2020 by BritManToo

[Jajazazajaja]

8 hours ago, SteveK said:

It would be very wise given the current circumstances to relax the very restrictive visa rules and regulations for both tourists and ex-pats to keep as many foreigners spending money in Thailand as possible. Will that happen? I certainly won't be holding my breath.

“Very restrictive Visa rules???”

 

 

in Thailand? What are you talking about. It has some of the loosest visa rules in the whole world 

[JackThompson]

18 minutes ago, Jajazazajaja said:

“Very restrictive Visa rules???”

 

 

in Thailand? What are you talking about. It has some of the loosest visa rules in the whole world 

I am guessing you and the others have never checked out Cambodia, The Philippines, or just about all of Latin America?  Even Vietnam, while many do need Visas (vs exempt), is much easier than Thailand to stay. 

 

I've never heard of ANY of these countries IOs treating those holding their MFA's visas like trash - booting people at the airport or border who followed the rules. 

 

Do some Western countries do it?  Yes - and while it is despicable (pre-visa screening should suffice), it is done because people come From Here, To There, to Work Illegally, destroying the living standards in the West by working for lower wages. 

 

By contrast, Westerners do not come to Thailand to steal Thai jobs and undercut their wages.  Immigration lets in massive numbers of Cambodians and Burmese, on special visa classes which force Thais out of their jobs, for that purpose. 

 

WE are not a "problem" to the Thai people.  For every self-supported Westerner allowed into Thailand, more Thais have jobs and higher incomes.  That's just a fact.  To the degree a tiny-few Western vagrants exist, pick them up when spotted, deport, and ban them - problem solved.

 

In short - roll back ALL "crackdown"  (to increase agent and elite-visa money) measures imposed for the past several years (including under Thaksin), and let the sois of boarded up businesses open, again.

Edited July 22, 2020 by JackThompson

[VBF]

My only "cautious prediction" is that Thailand and many other countries will require all entering foreigners to have been vaccinated against CV when such a vaccine exists - much as, at one time, Yellow Fever Vac was required in some places

 

Other than that......anybody's guess......IMO

[dimitriv]

10 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Many are missing the point. I am Australian. Yes I could perhaps obtain visa to EU for Thai partner. However difficult if you not have EU passport. Same for USA and even my own country. Have done many times but I need apply tourist 600 visa. Pain in a**

The guys I'm replying to think Thailand is restrictive.

 

 

Yes, Thailand is restrictive.

 

Why do you think that everybody is Australian here?  I am Dutch. And when I compare Thailand to my country I see that Thailand is easy for tourists who want to visit for some weeks. But very restrictive for foreigners who marry with a Thai and/or have a family here. In Europe a Thai wife could get a passport in 3 years. If you are a foreigner in Thailand you have to extend visa every year, do 90 day reporting, prove income every year. Every year you depend on the law that can be changed every day. Every year you must be happy if everything is ok again for another year. Thailand is very very restrictive.

 

 

[DrJack54]

Just now, dimitriv said:

 

Yes, Thailand is restrictive.

 

Why do you think that everybody is Australian here?  I am Dutch. And when I compare Thailand to my country I see that Thailand is easy for tourists who want to visit for some weeks. But very restrictive for foreigners who marry with a Thai and/or have a family here. In Europe a Thai wife could get a passport in 3 years. If you are a foreigner in Thailand you have to extend visa every year, do 90 day reporting, prove income every year. Every year you depend on the law that can be changed every day. Every year you must be happy if everything is ok again for another year. Thailand is very very restrictive.

 

 

So I can fly into Thailand visa exempt. Marry my online sweetheart. Obtain a non O at immigration stick 400k in a Thai bank for 2 months and obtain 12 month permission of stay. Wash and repeat.

Or, as in my case over 50, fly in visa exempt obtain non o at immigration having 800 in Thai bank. Obtain 12 month permission of stay. Wash and repeat.

Done that for 8 years. Only ONE change and that was money in bank requirements.

I visit CW once a year. Very easy process if your organized.

[Bangkok Barry]

13 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

List them. 

BTW what country can I swan into with my Thai partner. Japan only one of note.

Dear Thai apologist

I have personal experience of one. My Thai sister-in-law is in Hungary with her Dutch husband. She has a five year visa, no 90 day reporting, no immigration coming to the house, no having to exit the country every 90 days or pay for extensions, no 90 day reporting, no minimum amount in a local bank. Many other countries in Europe have the same conditions. By contrast, after being married for nearly 30 years, I still have to apply every year, giving the same information for the 10th, 20th, 30th time, for permission to VISIT my wife. Not live with her, to VISIT. It's beyond absurd.

Edited July 23, 2020 by Bangkok Barry

[DrJack54]

Just now, Bangkok Barry said:

I have personal experience of one. My Thai sister-in-law is in Hungary with her Dutch husband. She has a five year visa, no 90 day reporting, no immigration coming to the house, no having to exit the country every 90 days or pay for extensions, no 90 day reporting. Many other countries in Europe have the same conditions. By contrast, after being married for nearly 30 years, I still have to apply every year, giving the same information for the 10th, 20th, 30th time, for permission to VISIT my wife. Not live with her, to VISIT. It's beyond absurd.

Sounds like you have ME (marriage). You could of obtained a non-O and obtained annual extensions based on marriage.

You can do your 90 day report online. Very simple 5 minute process. 

Agreed the home visit I would regard an invasion of privacy. Personally even if I was married I would go down the retirement path. The EU is easy if your passport is EU.

AU folk find it bit more difficult to take their Thai partner to Europe, USA etc.

[Bender Rodriguez]

you think "thailand" will appreciate more the farangs here long term spending 50k/month, every month, for years ?

 

nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Bangkok Barry]

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Sounds like you have ME (marriage). You could of obtained a non-O and obtained annual extensions based on marriage.

You can do your 90 day report online. Very simple 5 minute process. 

Agreed the home visit I would regard an invasion of privacy. Personally even if I was married I would go down the retirement path. The EU is easy if your passport is EU.

AU folk find it bit more difficult to take their Thai partner to Europe, USA etc.

Personally I wouldn't go down the retirement path, or do more than a 60-day extension, as I see no practical reason to tie up a considerable sum of money in a Thai bank. I can live here very comfortably on less that 20,000 a month, but unfortunately the Thai government has a one size fits all financial demand. So, I do border hops or spend a couple of days in other countries in the region if I don't need to travel further afield.

All of which doesn't address the fact that many other countries have far less demands on people who want to settle and spend money in their country. They actually welcome them. Imagine that.