Yes I feel accepted as an expat as that is what I am.

What sort of person would spend their time mooning over such a question?

Absolutely not accepted as a foreigner.

 

How odd is it that your typical uneducated average looking brown skinned Thai bargirl can move to any of the major countries in Europe, live 5 years and automatically become eligible to apply for either permanent non-revocable residency or for the citizenship in a First World European country straight away when I can spend 25 years in the Kingdom of Thailand (a Third World subpar country) spend/inject an average of 20 million baht into the economy and still have no clear path to either PR or the Thai citizenship while being mistreated by their immigration departments?

 

Seems fair to you?

 

There, I think I just answered the question. Anything else?

57 minutes ago, Taboo2 said:

Agree...I love how the Thais protect their country and culture.  You will never see what happened to Sweden (when they imported those folks from another part of the world), where there are parts of the country that is a "No-Go" zone for Swedes.  I have much respect for the Thai people, police and military for ensuring that no one will ever come to Thailand and then make life hard for Thais in their own country! 

I agree with this as well

Was in Immigration yesterday doing my retirement extension, so the answer is NO

They change the requirements and treat you as if you are stupid!!!

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

"Do you ever feel really accepted as an expat in Thailand?"

No but I feel really excepted 'cause I'm different.

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

But still, you are not a citizen of Thailand, you are just on visa permission still after 20 years. 

 

I keep a foot inside my home country, still paying taxes for social security there and can move home and benefit from all social services from day one. I also have EU rights, and can travel, work and live all over EU and also have local social security in other EU countries. I also have a right to have reunion with my gf/wife from Thailand, and they also will have full social security coverage from day one, and after 3 years become a citizen of the EU country we choose to live in. 

 

Im a guest in Thailand, and I will always be a guest, nothing more. 

I am not sure what your point is.

The article is about expats. Not citizens.

 

I do not want a Thai passport. I prefer my UK one.

I pay taxes in both countries and have pensions in the UK. I just do not want to live there.

In 20 years, I have never had an issue with immigration nor the labour department (work permit) nor Social Security. I have been involved in criminal and civil court cases as well as many discussion with the local police. Never a problem.

Sorry, nearly forgot. About 20 years ago,when I wanted to renew my visa for the first time, a non government employee (based in the immigration office) asked me for a bribe in order to get my extension. I walked out and asked my accountant to do it. Job done.

Yes, I am a guest here, just as I was in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia etc.

It could all go wrong but I am over 70, single with no 'baggage'. So there is no real problem and there is always plan B or plan C.

As the paper that the immigration officer gets you to sign as you apply for a visa that the farang / alien that you are only a guest to the kingdom. As a expat that’s lived and worked there for over 20 years the dramas that farangs have to get through to live and get things done really does your head in. 

1 hour ago, Taboo2 said:

Agree...I love how the Thais protect their country and culture.  You will never see what happened to Sweden (when they imported those folks from another part of the world), where there are parts of the country that is a "No-Go" zone for Swedes.  I have much respect for the Thai people, police and military for ensuring that no one will ever come to Thailand and then make life hard for Thais in their own country! 

You have respect for the police and military?

You will fit in well here.

3 hours ago, kotsak said:

My expat wallet is.. ????

Ditto.  I know my place in Thai Society - A walking, talking ATM.
And as long as I can spit out cash in the correct denominations, I'll be free to remain in Thailand to "Visit My Wife" in one year incrementes - well - until they decide to change the rules.
Then would I 'go back home?'  No.  I'd pick my Plan B country and still remain an expat.  I'm sort of fond of rural third-world myself.

1 hour ago, Taboo2 said:

Agree...I love how the Thais protect their country and culture.  You will never see what happened to Sweden

In the West protecting your country and culture would get you label as a far-right-wing racist, a supremacist, as well as possibly getting you imprisoned for racial hatred, bigotry, and extremism. 

In SE Asian Thailand?  It's 'protecting your country and culture.'  The globally accepted norm for Thailand! 

2 hours ago, TooMuchTime said:

No.  Thailand has done a good job on making it very difficult to become a citizen and then be able to buy land.  Foreigners who become Thai citizens are the type who should be respected in Thailand given the difficult process.

 

Average expat shouldn't expect respect or anything else just for existing.  If they aren't a sexpat, can speak/read/write Thai, have an educated family, provide for the community, and other things, they can then start to expect to feel welcomed.

 

Thailand protects their people and culture and aren't the type to import problems like your home country probably did.

The topic is about whether you feel "accepted" not "respected".

I am only truly accepted by my wife of 25 years. Very few others really treat you like you were one of their other Thai family members or friends. As long as things go well, that's all fine. But don't expect much understanding if you're down and out. Been there, experienced that.

And of course officialdom always sees foreigners as a necessary evil which has to be dealt with. True equality and acceptance will probably always remain elusive here.

 

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Why would you want to be accepted or blend in?

How ironic.  Every women in the village wants to have the same color skin as if have.  And they just can't grasp why the crazy farang lays out in the sun a few minutes each day (Vitamin D Booster). 

Or course, I find it equally ironic that most Westerners come to Thailand and lay in the sun in order to attain a brown that is a birthright to the same Thais who spends billions on skin whitening cream. 

Freakin' Crazy world, 'eh? 

An off topic inflammatory post has been removed

1 hour ago, bignbad said:

Was in Immigration yesterday doing my retirement extension, so the answer is NO

They change the requirements and treat you as if you are stupid!!!

What did they change? 

Not sure about millions (in Thailand), but it's a mutual respect thing with me.  Accept the good and the not so good, as they do with us.  We can both ignore the A-holes as not representative of either.

 

Love / hate relationship.  As long as there's more love going around, it's a beautiful thing.

What a stupid question when even people from Issan are looked down upon.

3 hours ago, petermik said:

Same here...we are tolerated by many but accepted by few.....farang farang is all we are.

Yes. Some folk are deluding themselves. One can have a good life with nice people and the rest of it, but you do need to switch off somewhat. How can one feel truly accepted in Thailand when the cards are stacked against you in the form of indifferent immigration policies delivered with an air of apathy and disdain, know that laws can be changed on a whim, very hard to attain any sort of permanence—citizenship, land etc—and the kicker, being treated completely differently from the general populace. You need to switch off and know your place. With that, you might be happy and tolerated, but accepted?

3 hours ago, petermik said:

And how do you avoid looking like a westerner????

What i meant by blending in was "when in Rome do as the Romans do" as much as you can, of course you'll never look and behave as a Thai but you'll be tolerated with kindness and acceptance and after 30+ years here i think i should have an idea of what i'm talking about...

4 hours ago, Pravda said:

I feel like 100% local especially when I write 555 after cracking my own joke or ting tong Farang when arguing about wanna be expat poster who obviously didn't integrate.

555

If the only thing attractive about you is your money then others will accept your money and not you.

 

Imagine if Thai people were reading what some on here say about them in their own country they would be more accepting 5555.

 

33 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

What a stupid question when even people from Issan are looked down upon.

Yup. Fair skinned Thais hate darker ones.

Don’t Care about unavailable Acceptance only Accommodation &Courtesy. 

Old fat geezers are only excepted in Thailand if they have lots of money. It's about money and nothing else. You are excepted for your money so forget about leaning Thai or making merit at the local Wat. You will always be a Falung and always required to do a 90 day report. I have to laugh at the expats moving to the village and trying to assimilate with the natives. What a joke.

6 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Honestly? No not really....

Honestly speaking 90% of the time I feel ok... until I go to immigration

I do feel accepted in the small city where I live, being part of the community helps but I have noticed a few unfriendly glances since covid19 reared its ugly head, particularly in the beginning

5 hours ago, DrJoy said:

Thai also never blend in.

 

I have met several Thais in Australia, most of them cannot speak English fluently even after spending several years.

They hardly have Aussie friends, they are like a 'Gaggle of Geese' who quack quack together.

Quite right. A mate of mine lives in England with his Thai wife and their son and she only has other Thai friends.

you can only feel like an expat for so long, just a question of time before they kick you out physically or politically

I think I learned something in the years I spent doing documentary/art photography hanging out with street kids and homeless in their squats and music venues; I had to cultivate a neutral, accepting, understanding responsive persona, which is actually me. I was at once accepted and invisible. It's similar here.