The fate of Thai expats

by Little Wandering Wren

 

 

I am an expat, a blogger and world wanderer who became “stranded” in Thailand due the outbreak of the Corona virus. Was it by choice? Yes!!! 

 

Those of us remaining in Thailand have now been here for many months. When the Big C (COVID-19) came around and borders started to close, we did not flee back to our country of origin. We stayed at personal and family expense, knowing also that if our ageing relatives in far off lands needed us, there would be little we could do except rely on the generosity of others. 

 

Why did we stay? Many of us stayed because of jobs, to provide support and leadership to those who brought us here. Most of us bunkered down for the unknown, trusting Thailand, not knowing what would happen at the time of this deadly pandemic. Although it had lasted longer than many of us had expected, we are fortunate to be able to go about our lives.

 

Our “new normal” is weird. We can do almost all of the things we used to do, except we cannot easily return to see family and friends in our countries of origin. Or if we do, we risk many weeks of quarantine, huge expense and the stress of trying to return to Thailand.

 

We can run in Lumpini Park, we can shop at EmQuartier, we meet friends for coffee and nice lunches. I can travel freely at weekends to wherever we want in Thailand, thanks to a company car and the Air Asia unlimited pass.  For me it has been a very, very privileged Bangkok lifestyle. I have lost count of the number of people around the world who have said they want my life!

 

Some expats, ourselves included, are not here on expatriate contracts but on local contracts. That makes us sort of locals, who arrived on a one-way ticket from Australia. No wonder ‘home’ has blurred into a difficult question. And when asked at the moment “Where do you come from?” We answer firmly “Bangkok!”

 

I say to those moaning foreigners that you read about, if you don’t like the place then leave. Go back to Brexit Britain, Europe in crisis, America in turmoil or Australia/New Zealand in its second wave of lockdowns. 

 

I can not say it loud enough, or strong enough, I am so fortunate to be here in Thailand.

 

We are committed to Thailand, make us part of the solution

 

We expats are here to contribute towards our chosen lives in Thailand. It is sad when we feel we are not part of the solution, but maybe seen as part of a problem.

 

The pandemic is having such a sad impact on the economy and in particular my area of interest as a travel writer. It was always our intention to support domestic tourism right from those early days of Covid lockdown. We are now approaching our 40th hotel stay since February, we have taken tours and we visit attractions across Thailand.

 

Accessing the support of expats in the Thai domestic travel revival

 

Embrace us, love us and lets work out together on the domestic tourism front and more, to help our chosen homeland at its time of need.

 

Don’t worry or be concerned about having us stay – in your taxis, in your countryside, in your shopping malls, or running in your marathon races.

 

This means don’t cancel my booking because you are afraid that I might arrive to stay with Covid. Yes! This actually happened. 

 

• Plan and trust in your own COVID-19 protocols to pick out anyone arriving who is unwell from wherever they arrive.
• Educate your staff on Thailand’s current situation regarding International arrivals. As I understand, unless at the government invitation, and even then… all inbound arrivals will undergo a 14 day quarantine. 

 

Yes, we may be arriving with a foreign passport, but we are no more, or less, likely to have COVID-19 than your last guest. Yes, you can check exactly when our last entry into Thailand date was, in my case 12 February 2020. No, I have not been able to leave the country since then. No, thank you, I do not need collecting from international arrivals in Phuket!

 

Full Story: https://expatlifeinthailand.com/expat-life/the-fate-of-thai-expats/

 

-- © Copyright Expat Life in Thailand 2020-12-11

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

43 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

We expats are here to contribute towards our chosen lives in Thailand. It is sad when we feel we are not part of the solution, but maybe seen as part of a problem.

they could start by changing all their visa system/requirements to us expats living & having family here, we are part of their country we contribute a lot mainly financially as we are not allowed to contribute in other ways, some have been here over 20 years yet they still have to deal with the visa daily changing hurdles, as you say, we should be considered locals, not expats not some type of dangerous species

Or you could have just said :

” I feel very fortunate to be passing these troubled times here in Thailand, my lifestyle here is now 95% back to normal while the western world appears to be in turmoil “.

 

That is my sentiment and I feel it echoes your own but I just economised on type .

 

Chancer.

"The fate of Thai expats" lays in the hands of the Thai government, and always has, not in the hands of their Thai wife, as many think is the case, after they have handed over a portion of their wealth.  

 

As I have said in the past, you could be married to a Thai national here, have 2 children, a house, some land, a shop, a car, and a couple of motorbikes, but you have no more rights than a first time tourists to Thailand entering on a 30 visa exemption stamp. 

 

A fair pathway to residency does not exist here.

 

That means, all of the above emotional ties and financial ties here can mean mothing, next year, with a simple stroke of the pen in Bangkok, and you have to leave. 

 

So many expats see that 1 year tourist visa in their passport, and that's all it really is, as giving them a right to reside here, when it's simply not the case.

 

So, as we all know, only put into Thailand what you can afford to walk away from, completely, and ALWAYS have a Plan B for a day when you may not be able to live in Thailand anymore.   

 

Is this a sponsored article? 

1 hour ago, Leaver said:

"The fate of Thai expats" lays in the hands of the Thai government, and always has, not in the hands of their Thai wife, as many think is the case, after they have handed over a portion of their wealth.  

 

As I have said in the past, you could be married to a Thai national here, have 2 children, a house, some land, a shop, a car, and a couple of motorbikes, but you have no more rights than a first time tourists to Thailand entering on a 30 visa exemption stamp. 

 

A fair pathway to residency does not exist here.

 

That means, all of the above emotional ties and financial ties here can mean mothing, next year, with a simple stroke of the pen in Bangkok, and you have to leave. 

 

So many expats see that 1 year tourist visa in their passport, and that's all it really is, as giving them a right to reside here, when it's simply not the case.

 

So, as we all know, only put into Thailand what you can afford to walk away from, completely, and ALWAYS have a Plan B for a day when you may not be able to live in Thailand anymore.   

 

One can love Thailand "maak maak". But unfortunately obove text is still as valid as it was 20 years ago. This text should be framed an put on every Farangs nightstand. (Right next to Wifey's picture).

1 hour ago, Trujillo said:

Is this a sponsored article? 

Is he being paid?  Does he have a work permit?  ????

1 hour ago, Trujillo said:

Is this a sponsored article? 

 

well, do you reckon, Sherlock ?

As the Colonel Blimps of the old British  Army in India would say, " The dash chaps gone native, old boy"

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The fate of Thai expats

by Little Wandering Wren

 

 

I am an expat, a blogger and world wanderer who became “stranded” in Thailand due the outbreak of the Corona virus. Was it by choice? Yes!!! 

 

Those of us remaining in Thailand have now been here for many months. When the Big C (COVID-19) came around and borders started to close, we did not flee back to our country of origin. We stayed at personal and family expense, knowing also that if our ageing relatives in far off lands needed us, there would be little we could do except rely on the generosity of others. 

 

Why did we stay? Many of us stayed because of jobs, to provide support and leadership to those who brought us here. Most of us bunkered down for the unknown, trusting Thailand, not knowing what would happen at the time of this deadly pandemic. Although it had lasted longer than many of us had expected, we are fortunate to be able to go about our lives.

 

Our “new normal” is weird. We can do almost all of the things we used to do, except we cannot easily return to see family and friends in our countries of origin. Or if we do, we risk many weeks of quarantine, huge expense and the stress of trying to return to Thailand.

 

We can run in Lumpini Park, we can shop at EmQuartier, we meet friends for coffee and nice lunches. I can travel freely at weekends to wherever we want in Thailand, thanks to a company car and the Air Asia unlimited pass.  For me it has been a very, very privileged Bangkok lifestyle. I have lost count of the number of people around the world who have said they want my life!

 

Some expats, ourselves included, are not here on expatriate contracts but on local contracts. That makes us sort of locals, who arrived on a one-way ticket from Australia. No wonder ‘home’ has blurred into a difficult question. And when asked at the moment “Where do you come from?” We answer firmly “Bangkok!”

 

I say to those moaning foreigners that you read about, if you don’t like the place then leave. Go back to Brexit Britain, Europe in crisis, America in turmoil or Australia/New Zealand in its second wave of lockdowns. 

 

I can not say it loud enough, or strong enough, I am so fortunate to be here in Thailand.

 

We are committed to Thailand, make us part of the solution

 

We expats are here to contribute towards our chosen lives in Thailand. It is sad when we feel we are not part of the solution, but maybe seen as part of a problem.

 

The pandemic is having such a sad impact on the economy and in particular my area of interest as a travel writer. It was always our intention to support domestic tourism right from those early days of Covid lockdown. We are now approaching our 40th hotel stay since February, we have taken tours and we visit attractions across Thailand.

 

Accessing the support of expats in the Thai domestic travel revival

 

Embrace us, love us and lets work out together on the domestic tourism front and more, to help our chosen homeland at its time of need.

 

Don’t worry or be concerned about having us stay – in your taxis, in your countryside, in your shopping malls, or running in your marathon races.

 

This means don’t cancel my booking because you are afraid that I might arrive to stay with Covid. Yes! This actually happened. 

 

• Plan and trust in your own COVID-19 protocols to pick out anyone arriving who is unwell from wherever they arrive.
• Educate your staff on Thailand’s current situation regarding International arrivals. As I understand, unless at the government invitation, and even then… all inbound arrivals will undergo a 14 day quarantine. 

 

Yes, we may be arriving with a foreign passport, but we are no more, or less, likely to have COVID-19 than your last guest. Yes, you can check exactly when our last entry into Thailand date was, in my case 12 February 2020. No, I have not been able to leave the country since then. No, thank you, I do not need collecting from international arrivals in Phuket!

 

Full Story: https://expatlifeinthailand.com/expat-life/the-fate-of-thai-expats/

 

-- © Copyright Expat Life in Thailand 2020-12-11

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

"Australia/New Zealand in its second wave of lockdowns."  Not true, you seem to regularly post comments which are incorrect. 

10 hours ago, Trujillo said:

Is this a sponsored article? 

Sponsored by Sponsor, a refreshing, hydrating alternative to gatorade, which is made my dirty farangs!    ????

I would say that if you changed two words in this article, it would apply to myself in Nepal. But one of those words is incorrect. You are not an "expat." You are an immigrant to the country, just like all the other Nepalese, Burmese, Whatever-ese that have come to work and live there. By proclaiming ur an expat, ur just invoking some kinda privilege that does not exist, except in ur own head  (and perhaps in the heads of other grifters that want ur money). Please consider replacing the word expat with immigrant, so this article might make more sense. Thank you. 

I am glad you appreciate your life here, but really, do you think that gives you the right to write the rules here? 

 

I still don't understand why expats come here and think that Thailand should write new rules to conform to their particular circumstances because they spend 20 baht + per day at the local noodle stand... 

I find it hard to believe that the author of this piece makes a living as a "travel writer".  You can fool some of the people, some of the time . . .

19 hours ago, Mavideol said:

here, we are part of their country we contribute a lot mainly financially as we are not allowed to contribute in other ways, some have been here over 20 years yet they still have to deal with the visa daily changing hurdles, as you say, we should be considered locals, not expats not some type of dangerous species

On the contrary, we may be an endangered species being driven to extinction by unreasoning/uncaring bigotry/fear. 

20 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

I say to those moaning foreigners that you read about, if you don’t like the place then leave.

To be fair as a moaner I moan because I feel, with very little effort, things could be so much better....not for expats particularly...but for Thais.

 

The moaning is an expression of frustration...not one of dislike for Thais or Thailand.

2 hours ago, allanos said:

I find it hard to believe that the author of this piece makes a living as a "travel writer".  You can fool some of the people, some of the time . . .

 

 

I thought the same, and also simplifying text and dragging his points out. Don't use one sentence when you can use ten. Is he paid by the word?

 

Is it possible he has heard or thinks we all have learning difficulties on TVF?

34 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

To be fair as a moaner I moan because I feel, with very little effort, things could be so much better....not for expats particularly...but for Thais.

 

The moaning is an expression of frustration...not one of dislike for Thais or Thailand.

 

+1

So you are from Bangkok along with all the pollution. My guess is you are a "1year tourist" with work visa? So where do you call home?? I mean where do say you are "resident"? I expect you have a home outside Thailand? Kindly answer that. 

One concern as an expat—will we become the last generation to arrive?  I retired here nearly 8 years ago, yet I haven’t met too many expats in my circle of friends in Isaan or the beach—younger than me.  I know if I had to consider Thailand a retirement destination now—it probably wouldn’t make it to my top three choices—mainly due to its ever rising cost of living (high Baht).

19 hours ago, Leaver said:

"The fate of Thai expats" lays in the hands of the Thai government, and always has, not in the hands of their Thai wife, as many think is the case, after they have handed over a portion of their wealth.  

 

As I have said in the past, you could be married to a Thai national here, have 2 children, a house, some land, a shop, a car, and a couple of motorbikes, but you have no more rights than a first time tourists to Thailand entering on a 30 visa exemption stamp. 

 

A fair pathway to residency does not exist here.

 

That means, all of the above emotional ties and financial ties here can mean mothing, next year, with a simple stroke of the pen in Bangkok, and you have to leave. 

 

So many expats see that 1 year tourist visa in their passport, and that's all it really is, as giving them a right to reside here, when it's simply not the case.

 

So, as we all know, only put into Thailand what you can afford to walk away from, completely, and ALWAYS have a Plan B for a day when you may not be able to live in Thailand anymore.   

 

You could also apply that “ fear” of having your residency cancelled to other countries as well.

Australia has cancelled the citizenship of certain dual citizenship residents after they were convicted of certain crimes, it would only take a further stroke of the pen to apply it to others.

The question is
Why would they ?

just as 

Why would the Thai Government ?

Me thinks you worry to much.

"Yes, you can check exactly when our last entry into Thailand date was, in my case 12 February 2020."

 

My goodness so long you have been here already? Crazy. But let's talk again when you have been living here for almost 30 years. 

3 hours ago, Surelynot said:

I moan because I feel, with very little effort, things could be so much better....not for expats particularly...but for Thais.

 

Of course, you need a basic understanding of the people and cultural differences before you try and make things better for someone of another culture... what do you want for them? More cheeseburgers, less rice? More serious, less laughing? 

 

Just maybe not everyone wants for themselves what you think they should want for themselves... 

 

From what I see a poor Thai is happier than most middle and even upper middle class people in my Western Home country... why would I think it a good idea to change that? 

 

Can you imagine Mexican fruit pickers in USA complaining about Americans - 'they would be much happier if they picked their own fruit'  

2 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

Is it possible he has heard or thinks we all have learning difficulties on TVF?

That certainly would explain somethings to me... 

2 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

Just maybe not everyone wants for themselves what you think they should want for themselves... 

 

From what I see a poor Thai is happier than most middle and even upper middle class people in my Western Home country... why would I think it a good idea to change that? 

A very good point well made......I often tell my stressed, overworked, relatively wealthy friends back home how incredibly poor and happy my Thai relatives are.

 

I guess the only thing I could reasonably justify imposing on them would be improved health care and health care facilities......

21 hours ago, swissie said:

One can love Thailand "maak maak". But unfortunately obove text is still as valid as it was 20 years ago. This text should be framed an put on every Farangs nightstand. (Right next to Wifey's picture).

Wifey's picture????

 

How she looked 20 years ago.

On 12/11/2020 at 10:23 AM, snoop1130 said:

And when asked at the moment “Where do you come from?” We answer firmly “Bangkok!”

 

I say to those moaning foreigners that you read about, if you don’t like the place then leave

??? If someone asks me where I stay I tell them , if they ask where I come from I don’t say the place I’m living at I say the country I come from .

As for the don’t like it leave comment ???? 

Seems someone thinks they are special from reading the article , till I got to this section above and stopped reading ! 

On 12/12/2020 at 1:34 PM, kenk24 said:

I still don't understand why expats come here and think that Thailand should write new rules to conform to their particular circumstances because they spend 20 baht + per day at the local noodle stand... 

 

Now that could well be because back in the civilised or should I say modern day world or other more advanced countries they allow "Aliens" to apply for permanent residency as opposed to having to do 90 reporting and going through all the BS to get another years extension, so repetitive and stressful for the "Alien" and IO's who have to check it also, but that is their job, don't you not think they're sick of it as much as we are ?

 

I came here 5 years ago with no intention of obtaining permanent residency here under their 200 spots per year and their draconian rules to apply for such a visa.

 

When my Thai wife of 14 years soon, first arrived in Australia on a 3 month tourist visa in 2007, we married and applied for permanent residency for her, she was provided with a bridging visa and given a temporary visa while waiting for her application to be approved or declined, i.e. she could stay in the country and come back to Thailand as many times as she liked while waiting for her permanent resident visa to be approved or declined, it was approved within the 2 year period and then she could apply for Australian Citizenship 2 years after her permanent residency visa was approved. She did apply for citizenship and it was approved, so simple, no 90 days every 90 days, no annual extensions, no needing to speak English fluently or have worked for x amount of years and paid taxes, no nothing, "nothing".

 

Yes I am sure things have changed since then, however if you can't see the difference, then you are blind as a bat as they saying goes.

 

I will live here for as long as I can, with the extensions or one day with permanent residency, but not under their draconian rules of applying, yes, their country, their rules, which are nothing short of repetitive, stressful and of no benefit to the "Alien" short of providing him/her another years stay.

 

In time I am sure things will change when Thailand see's that "Aliens" stop coming to live here, after all, they do contribute to their economy, however with no security of tenure for the long haul, to me that is nothing short of xenophobia.

 

Make of that what you will, as I said before, I have no misconceptions of where I stand here, but I also have a choice, so as the Thai's usually say; "up to you" but now squirm as no tourists arrive during the pandemic, although the ones up top keep trying to come up with ideas of how to get those with the $'s 5 year visas while at the same time increasing the Elite visa application fee, but keeping those on them out during the pandemic, including those on retirement visa's out, maybe that's changed now, maybe it hasn't, but it just goes to show you the mentality and steadfastness one is dealing with, almost like military if you like ????

  

2 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Now that could well be because back in the civilised or should I say modern day world or other more advanced countries

Obviously not a reference to the UK and it's aggressive and intimidating policies toward 'aliens'.