Cabinet okays 9-month visas for foreigners

[Walker88]

There's an unmistakable trend in all the border/tourism schemes that should get everyone's attention. Yes, this is my opinion, but I go back to the words of Maya Angelou and say:

 

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time"

 

Look at both who has been allowed back in Thailand and on what time frame, as well as the various schemes tabled re re-opening to Tourism.

 

-Those with visa and residence permits had to wait, even if they had a wife and family inside Thailand

-The powers that be gave scant concern to the plight of displaced workers in the tourism industry

-Virtually all schemes tabled re renewed Tourism center around a similar theme, grouped under the umbrella of 'Quality Tourism'*

 

*"Quality Tourism" is pretty easy to define in local terms. It means rich and preferably Asian. High Risk Countries is a euphemism for 'farang', despite New Zealand and to a lesser extent Australia.

 

It seems abundantly clear that those who make the rules do not intend for Thailand to ever return to the 40 million/year tourists they had been welcoming over the last few years. 'Never let a crisis go to waste' seems to be being used in Thailand to redefine or reset who will be welcome. That around 18% of Thai GDP is related to foreign tourism, and the lack of tourists means a significant decline in GDP, does not seem to be a concern of those who are largely isolated from any effects of the drop. Similarly, the seeming lack of concern for family issues or for those who already have some sort of permission to come and reside in Thailand speaks volumes.

 

In the future, it is likely that ongoing permission either to come or to reside in Thailand will be altered to reflect the desires of those who make the rules.

 

This is my opinion only, but I suspect soon existing rules are going to change and those who can come, or come and stay, will be a select group who meet the desires of the rule makers.

 

-Thailand will seek elite tourists, the kind who will drop a million baht during their vacation

-Those who can reside will have some requirement like 30 million baht in a Thai bank and monthly income of, say, 500,000 baht. 

 

Those outside of that demographic, even people already living in Thailand with spouses or on retirement visas, will be asked to leave. Rules often change, and the pandemic is giving the authorities a chance to remake their country in ways that suit them. Again, note EVERYTHING they have said and done, and it all points in one direction and one direction only.

 

If I were a foreigner living in Thailand on a retirement or spousal visa, but without the kind of wealth Thailand's rule-makers prefer, I would make some back up plans for departure. The clues I would look for will be changes to the requirements for NEW retirement or spousal visas, because whatever new rules are implemented will most certainly be grandfathered at some point to those already here. Those already here have no long term contract or legal permission to remain forever, but are subject to whatever the prevailing winds are.

 

The indications seem to me to be as plain as day. Thailand's leadership only wants wealthy folks coming and staying, and they seem to have almost no genuine concern for the plight of the millions of Thais who labor in the Tourism industry. One could hardly expect them to care any more about non-Thais and their plight.

 

Others can take exception with my opinion, but I would argue opposing opinions would be more hope than reading the tea leaves. As I said, EVERYTHING done or proposed in the last six months points in the same direction: Thailand is for Thais and the world's wealthy.

 

 

[Walker88]

11 minutes ago, JusticeGB said:

The airlines will be jumping for joy as these 40 a day will probably be flying in from different locations. So maybe as many as 10 people per aircraft if they are spread over 4 incoming airports  with one airline per airport. That makes absolute economic nonsense for the airlines. Yet another badly thought out Government scheme. 

I saw a statement, either from the Cabinet minutes release, or from someone speaking with the media, that said, "coming in on chartered flights or private aircraft".

 

Again, like every proposed scheme, the goal---unrealistic or not---is to only welcome the elite.

[andre47]

1 minute ago, Walker88 said:

It seems abundantly clear that those who make the rules do not intend for Thailand to ever return to the 40 million/year tourists they had been welcoming over the last few years.

Yes, 40 Mill. were too much. Better less and more quality. 

[thaiden1]

At 1200 tourists per month, how are they going to generate 1 billion baht as reported in a leading newspaper. That's 800000+ for each person. Maybe the quarantine is very expensive

[Thomas J]

16 hours ago, Zikomat said:

I don't understand why people who are willing to spend nothing and do nothing, and are only sitting and waiting, hoping for a miracle, expect Thai government to do something for them, while at the same time they can't find one good word for this government and keep on spitting on forces in power and repeat how stupid they are?

Zikomat

 

Perhaps they are from the USA.  As you probably have seen the streets are filled with people willing to do nothing and waiting for the government to do something for them. 

 

 

[Bendi]

Dear one of you makebelivers in the government. I am not a tourist. I am not rich. I came here 11 years ago. I have a thai whife, have non-o multiple. We make by on 55-60.000 thb pr mnt. Im on extension now. Is breaking up families a good idee? Have insurance, never had any problems. You only se me every 3 month. You even cal me by my name at the border. Thailand is my home. And no, you bashers and trolls in here..i dont have 400.000. So for some it is not that easy.

[connda]

17 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

This measure will start from next month, and up to 1,200 tourists per month will be granted this extended visa.

I'm overwhelmed.  This will, for sure, save Thailand's tourism sector.

[thaistocks]

Double CV19 test, plus 14 days quarantine -and on top you must in advance specify where you will rent/stay the whole time?  Leaving no freedom to move around? Its too draconian and sadly will be passed up by most all.

[John CS]

More Blah Blah from La La land

[Mr Meeseeks]

33 minutes ago, YuryBalyasnikov said:

Again. My business is in Russia. All taxes are paid in Russia. I just transfer money here and spend 3 times more than I spend in Russia (thanks to strong THB)

Why would i need work permit? And what work permit can i obtain? and how without leaving the country?

 

You work in Thailand so you need to pay Thai taxes and part of the process involves getting a work permit, it is pretty simple. 

 

The fact that you cannot just stay here and do what you want because you pay taxes in Russia should be self-evident.

[jackdd]

1 hour ago, Peterw42 said:

Who are these people that can just pop off to another country for 9 months ???

Anyone who is that well off has already purchased an elite visa or set up a company to support a work visa etc.

Today it's possible to work remotely. There are many ways to earn money without having to be physically at your place of work every day, as it was probably required back in your working days.

It doesn't mean that they are well off. With 40k a month somebody can have a nice life in Thailand, not so much back in Europe, they have the same motivation to come to a country like Thailand as many retirees do.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

17 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Thailand does have ways for people to stay here long time.

 

If you're over 50, you can put 800k in bank account and apply for retirement extensions, provided you keep that in the bank all the time, or at least most of the time.

If you're married, you can put 400k in the bank account and apply for a marriage extension. If you are working with work permit on top of that, you can also apply for Thai citizenship.

If you are partner of PR holder, you can apply for extension based on PR holder.

If you are a parent of a Thai child, you can apply for extension based on that.

If you have a decent job in Thailand, you can apply for extension based on work permit, and if you hold same job for 2+ years, apply for PR. And if you keep PR for 5 years, you can apply for Thai citizenship.

And there are more of these, but all of them have something in common: they are for people who bring value to the country and are not a burden to it. Like every other country, Thailand doesn't want people that will be a burden on society.

 

I don't understand why people who are willing to spend nothing and do nothing, and are only sitting and waiting, hoping for a miracle, expect Thai government to do something for them, while at the same time they can't find one good word for this government and keep on spitting on forces in power and repeat how stupid they are?

 

Scrap together whatever is required for extension of stay, or stop complaining and accept you just don't belong here. There are flights out of Thailand every day.

Post of the year.

[EricTh]

When the vaccine comes, this plan is going to change again. 

[Bangkok Barry]

How do they choose the 1200 a month from the millions that TAT claims are champing at the bit to enter Thailand? I know, let's make it easy. Chinese only?

[chilli42]

17 hours ago, MadMac said:

And how do they get in? Flights are banned, remember?

There are regular (once or twice a month depending on the point of origin) flights into Thailand ... same flights citizens and residents have been using.  Assume they will allow long stay visa people to use the same flights ... it’s not like these flights are full. The return process for citizens and residents is now harmonized with the long stay visa people.  What I am curious about is how they coordinate the number of monthly visas.  A lot of countries/embassies/consulates will be involved.

[essox essox]

17 hours ago, thaibestlover said:

Where to apply? 

DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

could i be IMMIGRATION......???

or seven eleven shop ???!!!!!

so long as you wear a mask !!!

[thaistocks]

4 minutes ago, EricTh said:

When the vaccine comes, this plan is going to change again. 

The problem is when? and even when it comes, how will they scale it up to vaccinate a billion people out of 8 bill., worldwide.  First they will allocate those to health care workers, then to some privileged like Govt. elites. It will take a long time to filter down to the common traveler. And in the meantime there is a risk of something else going wrong, like a backlash. Not least, many will then not want to take the vaccine for legitimate or not, fears. Its a nightmare.

[NoshowJones]

17 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Maybe they can swim in!

Dinghy?

[polpott]

1 hour ago, YuryBalyasnikov said:

Ok. Iam 40 years old. My wife is 40 years old. Kid 7 years old. We had ED visa expiring this month. Our daughter was supposed to go to international school school this year.

So we cant continue our ED visas. We cant make ED visa for our daughter to obtain parental visas. We cant leave and reenter.

I have my own internet business, that allows me spending many many THB each month here. But i dont and i dont need a work permit for that.

I dont wanna take a chances with shady volonter visas and i dont trust in the Thai future enought to spend 800К for the family elite visas.

 

So,mister, whats are my options?

 

 

International visa or not, your child won't receive a quality education in Thailand. Move to a country that can provide your child with a good, internationally recognised education. Why are you living in Thailand anyway?

[essox essox]

17 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Maybe they can swim in!

or hitch a lift on one of the 600 trucks they have bought/or are buying from INDIA !!!!

[ebean001]

no matter what country immigration puts a lot of rules around a visa. these people are spending millions of bahts in thailand. they keep 100s employed. right?

 

i would make it just like the retirement visa. instead of age 50 (?) I would make it age 0. 90 day report i would keep. actually i would push for 120 day report. 

 

cost would be 2000/yr with required thailand medical insurance...about 3000b/month. if they complain about the 3000 then tell them cambodia is nearby. in other words...you don't need them. 

[ebean001]

why not 1 visa for all of asia. what happened to the joint asian group.

[madisongy]

As I read some of these posts, it's just a crazy and complicated situation.   The economy is decimated.  The smart money seems to be in making it as easy as possible for those foreigners already in the country to stay in the country, while implementing policies that would attract and hold additional foreigners with money to spend.......not unlike a casino.   My Thai wife and I are retired, and currently in Florida.   At one point, I had the retiree visa, but due to personal reasons I had to let it lapse.   When I looked into getting a new one, they've got the silly new "You have to buy Thai health insurance" rule.   Well, I've got exemplary insurance that covers us both while we're in Thailand, or anywhere else.   So I'm going to be limited on how long I stay in Thailand as I don't intend to purchase additional insurance to qualify for the visa.   I like this 9 month visa idea, but it needs to be in ADDITION to implementing policies that allow the foreigners living in Thailand to stay there.    

This logic will help to restore the economy more quickly, and may be implemented if anyone in authority had a clue.

[essox essox]

9 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Dinghy?

the one that will arrive at the NEW PORT OF JOMTIEN !!!!!

or Bali Hai???

Edited September 16, 2020 by essox essox
wrong spelling

[CheelBeel]

17 hours ago, Ludo55 said:

He is asking for special treatment, which he's had plenty of, and now wants this new law changed to suit him

Hmm , and what is wrong with that?

Isn't laws suppose  to be for the people?

Don't Thai people want foreigners to be in Thailand so much?

Where is your antagonism is coming from? Is it coming from dislike and prejudice against people from other countries. There is a name for it :  xen·o·pho·bi·a

Do you mind me to ask?

[ThailandRyan]

21 minutes ago, EricTh said:

When the vaccine comes, this plan is going to change again. 

A vaccine won't change anything. Many folks will not partake because of unknown side effects.  It would be just stupid to take a vaccination so you could enter Thailand only to find out you had an adverse reaction to the formulary and then kicked off....

[thaistocks]

9 minutes ago, polpott said:

International visa or not, your child won't receive a quality education in Thailand. Move to a country that can provide your child with a good, internationally recognised education. Why are you living in Thailand anyway?

Generalized nonsense. We raised a daughter here, all in Thai schools...but all along instilled my thinking/ways as well. Correcting some of the heavy stigma's at the dinner table, regularly. Not speaking Thai to her, so she learns the good/perfect Thai -without a foreign accent. Today she is very accomplished, independent besides successful in Bangkok making it on her own, and then some. She speaks perfect English and Thai, with no accents whatsoever.

[Bender Rodriguez]

if only, they would give an option for this magical 270 day visa for the people who are here, want to be here but visa problems, etc...  we are supposed to be all covid19 free

 

but again, people who have obtained a valid visa or via crooked ways (agents with no money in the bank) will spit on those less fortunate that cannot get a valid visa because of corruption at immigration -> visa agent pushers

[Iforbach]

It's a start...and yes complications but people jumping the gun ..keep cheap Charlie's out ...I love moaning banter on here   sad people.....living in their winge bubble ..

No insurance...well at least we maybe not hear of ....eg..I  fell of..my bike ..in hospital gofundme...

[polpott]

12 minutes ago, thaistocks said:

Generalized nonsense. We raised a daughter here, all in Thai schools...but all along instilled my thinking/ways as well. Correcting some of the heavy stigma's at the dinner table, regularly. Not speaking Thai to her, so she learns the good/perfect Thai -without a foreign accent. Today she is very accomplished, independent besides successful in Bangkok making it on her own, and then some. She speaks perfect English and Thai, with no accents whatsoever.

Just imagine how much she could have achieved had she been educated in a Western country.