Expat exodus under way?

[Boomer6969]

2 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

IMO I think most of big spenders will hunker down and avoid travelling altogether. It's those who had to border bounce to keep their visa active due to not having money in the first place that will end up out of here or fined/jailed/deported for overstay..

If you were right I'd say COVID was the last resort Thai Immigration have found to get rid of such people who were shamelessly abusing their system.

[Pottinger]

4 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

The fact is that to a live in a country other than your own you need to have adequate funds, to follow the law, to be well mannered and reasonably turned out. Best not to stick around if you are unable or unwilling to meet these criteria.

What haughty nonsense. Of course these qualities may be desired by dreamy TAT marketeers and utopian farangs, but the reality is there are any number of impecunious, foul-mouthed, up-to-no-good foreigners in soiled wife-beaters, making their homes around the Kingdom. 

[newnative]

Nobody I know has left or is planning to leave.

[AlfHuy]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

As a boozer I can definitely say Thailand is really cheap.

You just have to modify what booze you drink.

Less bottles of wine, More bottles of 'Red Cock' Vodka (Tesco, 150bht/750ml bottle)

You find me a bottle of Vodka in the UK for under 4 quid!

At 8/12 direct.

69Baht

[ExpatOilWorker]

2 hours ago, Susco said:

 

Yet he posts a list, without source or explaining what the numbers mean.

 

I also very much doubt the number of US and Aussies that have entered, knowing the situation there

Remember there were a joint Thai-US military exercise in August?

Army and supporting personnel were probably a large part of the +209 Americans in August.

 

BANGKOK — More than a hundred American troops are participating in a military exercise in Thailand amid the coronavirus pandemic that infected at least 4.8 million people in the U.S., the government said Monday. 

Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration, said the 110 soldiers will fly into the country from their bases in Guam and Japan for a joint exercise with Thai soldiers, despite the army’s pledge to suspend such operations due to the coronavirus threat. 

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/08/04/army-admits-110-us-soldiers-for-joint-exercise-in-pandemic/

[Donga]

Of 21,762 net departures, the overwhelming majority, around 18,000 were from four countries:

Myanmar -10,188

Laos -4,201

Chinese -2,453

Russians -1,416

My guess is they left due to immigration status or needed to return home for whatever reason. I'm one of the Aussies, but will be back.

It's very very difficult for people to come to Thailand during this turmoil. Don't understand the net loss of 794 Thais, as expect thousands have returned from all over the place for safety, loss of livelihood overseas.

Reckon is a trickle under the circumstances and not an exodus of long term farang in Thailand.
 

Edited September 25, 2020 by Donga

[bwpage3]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Alot of expats have already left, prior to Covid. Immigration here is heinous. Attitudes need to change. There are alternatives. Thailand is NOT COU (the center of the universe). Many more will leave in the months and years ahead. 

 

Thailand takes in from hundreds of billions annually from its expat community. And it reverberates out in countless ways. Even the rural folks benefit. Alot of the nicer houses in the poorer farming areas were built with money from expats. Alot of trucks, cars and income is from expats. Countless business employing many. To say it is insignificant, is a blatant misunderstanding of Thai economics. Thousands of hotels, restaurants, countless airlines and many tour companies, also benefit. From both expats and tourists.

 

This hapless administration needs to develop some courage and initiative. They can't hide from the world forever. Extreme timidity from supposedly tough men is an amusing thing to witness. However, the pain they are inflicting on millions is not. 

All 100% true, however, as you know, Thai politicians do NOT enter politics to help the people or the country.

 

Only to help their own pockets.

 

Therefore, things will never change.

[EVENKEEL]

9 minutes ago, Pottinger said:

What haughty nonsense. Of course these qualities may be desired by dreamy TAT marketeers and utopian farangs, but the reality is there are any number of impecunious, foul-mouthed, up-to-no-good foreigners in soiled wife-beaters, making their homes around the Kingdom. 

[Curt1591]

6 hours ago, TheFreqFlyer said:

Or [the American] just wanted to go home now anyway and return at some future date when things have improved. 

Given the current state of the States, unless they has an isolated homestead in Wyoming, Montana, or Alaska, I doubt many American expats are wanting to return home anytime soon. 

[from the home of CC]

18 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

If you were right I'd say COVID was the last resort Thai Immigration have found to get rid of such people who were shamelessly abusing their system.

it's nobodies fault but the Thais for not giving enough credit to foreigner ingenuity in scamming their rules. That being said imo the party is over..

[rumak]

28 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The imposition of so many hurdles for long term tourists and returning expats seems a bit much. From a scientific point of view, a covid free letter and a two week quarantine eliminates 99% of the risk. At some point, leaders need to do something. Therein lies my definition of timidity and cowardice. Step up. Your people are counting on you. 

OK,   i don't define it as such,  but have stated a few times how stupid,  ridiculous,  harmful  the restrictions placed on those long term tourists, retirees, people with families is really way beyond what is called for.     The simple measures you mention IMO are more than enough to insist upon, and at

a reasonable cost . 

I don't see their way as timid......... i would call it callous and greed .   But i really do not think they care.

They have had enough of the "bad apples"  that stick out and make fun of the regime.  I believe this feardemic was a perfect time for countries to enact plans that enrich and make their control even more absolute.

The only way change is going to take place is if the whole world riots and takes back their lives. 

I don't think any of us really think that is going to happen.   And IF it did , will the next "rulers" be any different?

[NCC1701A]

interesting data in this topic from various different sources.

 

as some of you know, though i hardly ever speak of it, i live on Thai Friendly with not less than 20 tabs open at one time.

 

anyway i have seen a huge uptick in women looking very forlorn. sad photos. and then when i get their line the comments on their timeline are all like "i miss you so much" "when will i see you again" "i must go on alone" "will i be happy again?" "Do i have to die first?" "do i have to endure it?" these are actual quotes. 

 

anyway perhaps not a accurate data source but there does seem to be a realization that no one is coming back for high season, their boyfriends have left or are leaving and in general a sense of desperation which is why of course they are talking to the likes of me. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 25, 2020 by NCC1701A

[rumak]

8 minutes ago, Curt1591 said:

Given the current state of the States, unless they has an isolated homestead in Wyoming, Montana, or Alaska, I doubt many American expats are wanting to return home anytime soon. 

Texas is warmer   ????

[rumak]

Just now, NCC1701A said:

sense of desperation which is why of course they are talking to the likes of me. 

 

i guess we are supposed to give laughs .    ????????????????????   

 

[Matzzon]

Great! The fewer the better.

[herfiehandbag]

5 hours ago, JusticeGB said:

A huge number of farangs here were the border bouncers and probably Immigration was targeting them. Good riddance to people who were fiddling the system. 

If I can crave your forgiveness, oh purest of the pure, but I, along with several other scurrilous, disgusting, low life "border bouncers" that I associate with from time to time (after all, scum does float to the top and stick together doesn't it) have applied for and are either under consideration for or have received the appropriate (marriage, retirement or guardian ) extensions.

 

I do fervently beg your forgiveness, and am sorry that you will be forced to forgo the entertaining prospect of us being led, shackled, onto outbound aircraft, craning our necks to catch a last glimpse of weeping destitute children. Never mind! 

 

I declare, that although I can never hope to even aspire to, much less attain, the heights of moral probity on which you perch, I will attempt, to the best of my humble abilities, to live up to the peerless example which you set!

 

Go on, complain! Nasty brutish man is taking the mickey out of you...

Edited September 25, 2020 by herfiehandbag

[patman30]

4 hours ago, crazykopite said:

My local coffee shop that had a really good customer base closed its doors last weekend without any notice the Thai owner must have had financial issues as it’s been cleared of everything with a big For Rent sign on  it very sad as it did a wonderful coffee.

sad to hear, this is really a time we should be supporting SMALL local biz as much as possible
(that does not mean using Grab or Line, or big chain delivery etc)
especially any local biz you frequent or expect them to be gone forever

[Lacessit]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

As a boozer I can definitely say Thailand is really cheap.

 

I'm just wondering how many boozers go on 40 km bike rides.

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, Boomer6969 said:

If you were right I'd say COVID was the last resort Thai Immigration have found to get rid of such people who were shamelessly abusing their system.

If Thai Immigration, (or more properly the Thai Government, 'cos that is who Immigration work for) wanted to get rid of people who were shamelessly abusing their system, (Non O multiple entry?) all they had to do was publish a simple order prohibiting back to back entries; as they did with tourist visas and visa exempt entry.

 

They didn't. For years. They set the criteria for those visas and continued to issue them, for years.

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, Pottinger said:

What haughty nonsense. Of course these qualities may be desired by dreamy TAT marketeers and utopian farangs, but the reality is there are any number of impecunious, foul-mouthed, up-to-no-good foreigners in soiled wife-beaters, making their homes around the Kingdom. 

Of course not, I had a shower and got changed for the photographs and home visit when I applied for my extension!

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, Zikomat said:

 Even with the amnesty in force many foreigners preferred to leave Thailand during the last 6 months. Now, when the amnesty was finished - even more will leave. If this is what Thailand's rulers want (less foreigners) - then they definitely succeed at it. And ,after reading TV and this thread in particular, it looks like the Exodus also makes happy many old misanthropic farangs who are still in Thailand. 

Of course we are happy. Much less competition around.

[herfiehandbag]

23 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Of course we are happy. Much less competition around.

Competion for what, many of you seem to dislike the Thais as much as you dislike Farangs...

[bkk6060]

So very sad to see them leaving.

Hope they have a good successful life where ever they go.

[1FinickyOne]

8 hours ago, TheFreqFlyer said:

 

Or he just wanted to go home now

or, he had been saving his $$ all these years and got a great buy on a small estate... one never knows.

 

but yes, I imagine many expat places are empty... I think it started when they eliminated the liars letter and people actually needed to meet the qualifications. 

[steven100]

bye ... don't forget to write.

[herfiehandbag]

41 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I'm just wondering how many boozers go on 40 km bike rides.

I tried once, but I was <deleted> and kept falling off!

 

[86Tiger]

1 hour ago, Curt1591 said:

Given the current state of the States, unless they has an isolated homestead in Wyoming, Montana, or Alaska, I doubt many American expats are wanting to return home anytime soon. 

I gotta say wrong on this implication of US being doom and gloom.

 

Life in US is back to normal.  There are still lot of mask nazis but for most part all have accepted there is a virus in the world and you may get sick.  But 99.9% will be over it in week or so just like everything else.

 

Now, the economy being a bombed out shell of itself is a different conversation.....

[Ubonquest]

6 hours ago, trucking said:

 

And where have you profited  ? How does it effect you ? Were they stealing from you in some way ?

 

Those people were still spending money here and their departure will not benefit the Thai economy in any way. Quite the opposite. They say they want tourists to return but the covid free ones they still have are being obliged to leave. Not very smart.

 

One day, the people with permanent resident visas ( the correct visa for living here full time ) will  probably say the same thing about you .....fiddling the system by extending ad nauseum.

Well said. Thank you.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

I'm just wondering how many boozers go on 40 km bike rides.

Only managed 20Km today ........ getting old.

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, herfiehandbag said:

Competion for what, many of you seem to dislike the Thais as much as you dislike Farangs...

Perhaps I should be finding a sarcasm alert icon, for the underprivileged.