2 hours ago, TigerandDog said:

"There is a lot of other countries in tropic areas with low living costs like Thailand, who offers better retirement conditions."

 

Name them please, as most of the countries that you imply that offer better retirement conditions do NOT have long term retirement visas as an option.

The Philippines and Cambodia, just in the region.  More if you include all of Latin America and the Caribbean.

 

1 hour ago, Max69xl said:

"they are buzy to kick a lot of middle spenders, covid free farrangs, out of the country, spenders which are sure income for Thailand"

What make you think that the so called "stranded" tourists have a lot of money to spend? I know of several in my neighborhood, and they don't spend much money. 

ASK their landlords, and the shop-owners where they spend their money, if they want that income gone.  Those foreigners have an income well over that of the average Thai - are supporting Thais by staying. 

 

This is why many other countries have FRIENDLY Immigration - "Welcome Back" being the response to frequent / longer-staying visitors from higher-wage nations. 

 

Contrast this to to frowning, throwing your passport back at you, and staring menacingly at some speck on the ceiling - fuming about, "Another one not paying me off through the envelope-system."
 

Edited September 18, 20205 yr by JackThompson

17 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

The Philippines and Cambodia, just in the region.  More if you include all of Latin America and the Caribbean.

 

ASK their landlords, and the shop-owners where they spend their money, if they want that income gone.  Those foreigners have an income well over that of the average Thai - are supporting Thais by staying.

Philippines and Cambodia have an absolutely horrible infrastructure starting with the most basic things such as internet. I could never live in these countries.

 

A lot if not the majority of the Thai landlords don't even declare their rental income so why would the government care?

 

In this country one hand shakes the other and the regular people are in many cases just as corrupt and two faced as the government agencies are.

18 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

This is why many other countries have FRIENDLY Immigration - "Welcome Back" being the response to frequent / longer-staying visitors from higher-wage nations. 

 

Contrast this to to frowning, throwing your passport back at you, and staring menacingly at some speck on the ceiling - fuming about, "Another one not paying me off through the envelope-system."
 

Agreed,

Philippines immigration lady suggested I should come more often (I was doing 3-4 30 days on entry a year), and hinted she'd show me around.

Kuala Lumpur Muslim immigration lady suggested I make more use of my frequent 90 days on entry, and not just pass through.

On 9/17/2020 at 10:53 AM, Sambotte said:

Looks like 18 billion, not 180.

Still... interesting.

Still wild speculation, based on figures plucked out of the air!

On 9/17/2020 at 10:13 AM, FlyingThai said:

A lot of speculation in this post and who told you this fantasy that Thai women go husband shopping overseas and then said man returns to Thailand with her? ????

I strongly believe that what FINKS is saying is absolutely incorrect and this must be refuted. The Thai government is NOT, repeat NOT, kicking out people who are legally here, or meet criteria set by laws. I don't know where you come from, but show me a country in the world, that allows foreigners to stay in their countries illegally. I would like to point out that Farangs like you, I am referring to FINKS, are responsible for the Thai people doubting the value of having even decent foreigners. The way you refer to some Thai people, Thai ladies, shows your ignorance and arrogance. 

6 hours ago, ehgnyc said:

There was a post on one of the threads that rang the most true to me. I can't find it now. It made it clear that this isn't something the government is doing to foreigners, it's to their own people. They want lots of businesses to fail so the elites can buy up their properties cheap. I find that incredibly sad.

 

From what I can understand $1000 USD per agent visa is going in the pocket of an immigration chief. I'm told they're all millionaires. If I was asked to give that money to the poor or to help the environment of this country I would have been fighting to be the first to sign up. It is a shame that to be an expat here means having to check your moral compass at the border.

 I thought agent assisted visas were <30K baht. How then can the TI chief be getting $1000 US /visa. You have zero credibility. You're just making things up from you bar stool.

BTW I don't know the true cost because I do things myself, I only read thing about agents on TVF.

On 9/17/2020 at 10:41 AM, checkered flag said:

An Elite visa is reported to cost 500K and is good for 5 years.  That's about $15k dollars. Divided by 5 years is about $3k/year (US dollars). I don't know if a yearly fee is on top of this on top of this. I don't know the details, but if someone needs to stay it's a possibility. 

Maybe if you research it you'll find out something different, but this is my understanding.

I think your missing something and are just replying to make your point about some people that can't afford an elite visa . The numbers that are talked about here 50.000×30.000×12 are the OP's fake numbers about the money that thailand is alledgedly missing out on . 

21 minutes ago, checkered flag said:

 I thought agent assisted visas were <30K baht. How then can the TI chief be getting $1000 US /visa. You have zero credibility. You're just making things up from you bar stool.

BTW I don't know the true cost because I do things myself, I only read thing about agents on TVF.

Seems like the things you read are not being picked up by your own brains and seems like you are just here to bash on other people's replies . I think you should go find a hobby . Or is this your hobby ?? The checkered flag has been waved for you better stop replying because your replies don't make any sence and everything after the checkered flag doesn't count anymore ????

3 minutes ago, Nanaplaza666 said:

I think your missing something and are just replying to make your point about some people that can't afford an elite visa . The numbers that are talked about here 50.000×30.000×12 are the OP's fake numbers about the money that thailand is alledgedly missing out on . 

It's not 50,000 visa holders that are affected. Maybe a couple hundred. Then assuming that they spend an average 30K/month is pure speculation. Is buying a few pints of beer really helping the Thai economy? 

They don't all need to get an elite visa and can go the way of asking an agent to help. 

6 minutes ago, Nanaplaza666 said:

Seems like the things you read are not being picked up by your own brains and seems like you are just here to bash on other people's replies . I think you should go find a hobby . Or is this your hobby ?? The checkered flag has been waved for you better stop replying because your replies don't make any sence and everything after the checkered flag doesn't count anymore ????

I don't want the same hobby as you. I guess you can't understand that your preferred options are gone and you need a plan B. Their are only 5 working days left to plan. Good luck.

Comments related to the Thai Royalty have been removed.

3 hours ago, checkered flag said:

Is buying a few pints of beer really helping the Thai economy? 

Yes, from the simple Thai in a business point of view every satang help at the moment.

From the government point of view, on the other hand, few millions bahts don't make any

difference at all. particularly if the money spread only in the lowest strate of the population

it's the last of the concern for the junta actually supposed to be in charge of the country

5 hours ago, checkered flag said:

 I thought agent assisted visas were <30K baht. How then can the TI chief be getting $1000 US /visa. You have zero credibility. You're just making things up from you bar stool.

BTW I don't know the true cost because I do things myself, I only read thing about agents on TVF.

You're right you don't know the true cost now during the pandemic. The $1000 was out of a 50K baht visa charge. And that's considered cheap these days for a retirement visa that if I could cross a border and go to a Thai embassy, I would fully qualify for, but can't do here. For me, this isn't a stay in this country desperate solution, it is something I have planned for years. Your insults are not welcome.

Edited September 18, 20205 yr by ehgnyc

5 hours ago, checkered flag said:

 I thought agent assisted visas were <30K baht. How then can the TI chief be getting $1000 US /visa. You have zero credibility. You're just making things up from you bar stool.

BTW I don't know the true cost because I do things myself, I only read thing about agents on TVF.

Depends on the visa-type.  If you aren't retired, you may need a district-level sign-off - and that guy wants 10K+ Baht per-signature - whether to "overlook" the faked money - or even more for Non-B cases of "Have to go out for a new visa" (no such law).

 

It also depends what office - CW-Bangkok can be 10K more expensive per-type than Jomtien, for instance.

13 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

Depends on the visa-type.  If you aren't retired, you may need a district-level sign-off - and that guy wants 10K+ Baht per-signature - whether to "overlook" the faked money - or even more for Non-B cases of "Have to go out for a new visa" (no such law).

 

It also depends what office - CW-Bangkok can be 10K more expensive per-type than Jomtien, for instance.

Pretty simple story. I have lived and worked in China, Myanmar and then for the last 2 1/2 years in Cambodia. Thailand is where I went to the beach, the doctor, the dentist and made major purchases, like a computer. I came here for two weeks in March on a 30 day, and then the border to Cambodia was closed to US citizens. Now, due to the pandemic, my job in Cambodia is finished. I planned on retiring in December here anyway, so it was no great loss. I tried to start the retirement visa process in the Koh Samui IO and was pretty much laughed out of the place. "You have to leave the country to do that." Ha, ha, ha. They, of course, knew full well that I wouldn't be able to get back into Thailand. I tried to show financials, etc., and they were having none of it. I don't know how to bribe people on my own and wouldn't even begin to attempt it. I'm on an embassy letter extension, and yes, much to my chagrin, an agent is next.

9 hours ago, FlyingThai said:

Philippines and Cambodia have an absolutely horrible infrastructure starting with the most basic things such as internet. I could never live in these countries.

Internet was better in Cambodia than here, when I first came to the region.  Thailand has caught up, but no problem getting good internet there.  PI, it's been awhile - but had good fiber fairly recently.
 

Quote

A lot if not the majority of the Thai landlords don't even declare their rental income so why would the government care?

They get income and spend the money you pay them, for starters.  Much better than foreclosures - and many do pay tax.

 

Quote

In this country one hand shakes the other and the regular people are in many cases just as corrupt and two faced as the government agencies are.

The Thais I know are decent folks and hate the corruption they must also endure at many govt-agencies with which they must interact.

 

That's why I push back against the "they want us gone" bit - they just want their back-handers, and resent our thinking there is something "bad" about extorting it from us - while Thais are subjected to similar.

Edited September 18, 20205 yr by JackThompson

17 hours ago, checkered flag said:

 I thought agent assisted visas were <30K baht. How then can the TI chief be getting $1000 US /visa. You have zero credibility. You're just making things up from you bar stool.

BTW I don't know the true cost because I do things myself, I only read thing about agents on TVF.

Well said. Man y thanks.

12 hours ago, ehgnyc said:

You're right you don't know the true cost now during the pandemic. The $1000 was out of a 50K baht visa charge. And that's considered cheap these days for a retirement visa that if I could cross a border and go to a Thai embassy, I would fully qualify for, but can't do here. For me, this isn't a stay in this country desperate solution, it is something I have planned for years. Your insults are not welcome.

Wow, 50K for a retirement visa. That's very expensive indeed. I think mine was 1900 baht at immigration and showing 65K monthly foreign transfers which I use for monthly expenses. My plan was to do things legitimately through my local TI department and not need to get new visas yearly. 

I have never seen TI have their hands out and they are always polite. 

For someone trying to keep you cost down, you are now asked to pay a steep price.

12 hours ago, ehgnyc said:

Pretty simple story. I have lived and worked in China, Myanmar and then for the last 2 1/2 years in Cambodia. Thailand is where I went to the beach, the doctor, the dentist and made major purchases, like a computer. I came here for two weeks in March on a 30 day, and then the border to Cambodia was closed to US citizens. Now, due to the pandemic, my job in Cambodia is finished. I planned on retiring in December here anyway, so it was no great loss. I tried to start the retirement visa process in the Koh Samui IO and was pretty much laughed out of the place. "You have to leave the country to do that." Ha, ha, ha. They, of course, knew full well that I wouldn't be able to get back into Thailand. I tried to show financials, etc., and they were having none of it. I don't know how to bribe people on my own and wouldn't even begin to attempt it. I'm on an embassy letter extension, and yes, much to my chagrin, an agent is next.

Sounds like you're very lost in the process. It's very easy but the main hurdle is usually the financials. Financials for a Non O retirement are 800K in a Thai Bank 2 months prior and 3 months after application or 65K of foreign transfers ( could be as little as 2 months for new application but some want 12 months). There are checklists available on this forum.

The laughing probably came from not having the paperwork in order.

If you meet all the requirements agent assistance with the paperwork shouldn't be expensive. If you don't it could be expensive.

What were you doing for the past 6 months and not taking care of this important matter?

BTW if you don't turn 50 until Dec 2020, you probably cooked.

5 minutes ago, checkered flag said:

Sounds like you're very lost in the process. It's very easy but the main hurdle is usually the financials. Financials for a Non O retirement are 800K in a Thai Bank 2 months prior and 3 months after application or 65K of foreign transfers ( could be as little as 2 months for new application but some want 12 months). There are checklists available on this forum.

The laughing probably came from not having the paperwork in order.

If you meet all the requirements agent assistance with the paperwork shouldn't be expensive. If you don't it could be expensive.

What were you doing for the past 6 months and not taking care of this important matter?

BTW if you don't turn 50 until Dec 2020, you probably cooked.

I'm 61. I was waiting to see if my job in Cambodia, which I was still under contract for until December 15th, was going to resume operations. They aren't.

1 hour ago, CLW said:

Do you have a number to support it will only be hundreds?

Given the whole industry with visa agents and language schools, Muay Thai, etc.. which enabled foreigner to stay in Thailand as tourists during pre-covid times, I'd rather estimate thousands.

More than 150,000 on expired tourist visas alone, according to the deputy spokesman of the Immigration Bureau in the BP today. Non-O and other visa types would make it more. 

On 9/18/2020 at 4:09 PM, checkered flag said:

 I thought agent assisted visas were <30K baht. How then can the TI chief be getting $1000 US /visa. You have zero credibility. You're just making things up from you bar stool.

BTW I don't know the true cost because I do things myself, I only read thing about agents on TVF.

Two of my pals just bought 'agent extensions' in Chiang Mai.

One obtained one via some 'army scheme' ...... 52k.

Another got one via a 'charitable foundation scheme' ......... 45k.

 

Apparently they have to turn up for 'group activities' every 3 months where photo's of their participation will be taken as evidence of their legit participation.

Edited September 21, 20205 yr by BritManToo

12 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Two of my pals just bought 'agent extensions' in Chiang Mai.

One obtained one via some 'army scheme' ...... 52k.

Another got one via a 'foundation scheme' ......... 45k.

 

Apparently they have to turn up for 'group activities' every 3 months where photo's of their participation will be take as evidence of their legit participation.

Has the cost recently gone up? Costs seem high but understandable because of deadlines.

Just now, checkered flag said:

Has the cost recently gone up? Costs seem high but understandable because of deadlines.

It appears so as 6 months back it was only 25k for a retirement extension (with zero finances).

I'm guessing as the number of customers reduce, the level of bribes required increase. 

But I can only speak for the prices required in Chiang Mai.

Edited September 21, 20205 yr by BritManToo

12 minutes ago, checkered flag said:

Has the cost recently gone up? Costs seem high but understandable because of deadlines.

 

Costs seem high but understandable because of deadlines the opportunity for greed

43 minutes ago, greggraham said:

More than 150,000 on expired tourist visas alone, according to the deputy spokesman of the Immigration Bureau in the BP today. Non-O and other visa types would make it more. 

Why then are the hotels empty and tourist areas ghost towns? That number of tourists is very hard to hide. 

Best to make sure there's enough space at the IDC.

Edited September 21, 20205 yr by checkered flag

27 minutes ago, PatrickC said:

 

Thailand's GDP is around 4,000,000,000,000 THB. This notion that these remaining tourists spend is significant is simply not true. It is a drop in the ocean. It is like pouring a bottle of water into the Pacific Ocean - makes no material difference.

 

People who post here about how significant this cash apparently is, completely fail to understand the economics of the situation. This money they'd spend is pocket change. 

 

Does it make sense to allow these tourists onto the 9 month visa? Maybe. But that doesn't get around the fact that the money they spend is still tiny. It is nothing.

 

With their self inflated sense of importance they might think they spend a lot, but in the scheme of things, it is nothing.

If what you say is true why does Thailand bother with trying to set up the new Special Tourist Visa for only 1200 people per month. Sure they may be some high spenders among these but the number of visa affected would balance the 1200's spending power.

This topic appears to of run its course since it has gone way off topic plus a lot of bickering posts.

This topic now