Russians make Thailand a refuge as Ukraine war enters second year

[webfact]

Russians are among the biggest groups of visitors to popular Thai resort areas such as Pattaya [Vijitra Duangdee]

 

Russians are buying up property in Southeast Asian country to avoid conscription and the economic ravages of the war.

By Vijitra Duangdee

Bangkok/Pattaya, Thailand – Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, a growing number of Russians have looked to Thailand as their ticket to a new life.

 

Tens of thousands of Russians hoping to avoid the threat of conscription and the economic ravages of the war have travelled to the kingdom in the year since the invasion, many of them seeking a new home.

In Phuket, a popular resort island, Russians are buying off-plan condos with half a million dollars or more to facilitate their relocation or provide a landing pad for a future time when they may feel forced to leave their homeland.

 

Between November 1, 2022, and January 21, 2023, more than 233,000 Russians arrived in Phuket, according to data from Phuket International Airport, making them the biggest group of visitors by far.

 

Full story: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/2/22/russians-make-thailand-a-refuge-as-ukraine-war-enters-second-year

 

-- © Copyright AL JAZEERA 2023-02-23

 

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[sammieuk1]

The vinyl boards and pointing sticks orders are going to go through the roof BJ will need a smarter car to find and eject them ???? 

[proton]

But Thailand does not do asylum seekers, send the draft dodgers home when the visa extensions run out like everyone else.

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, proton said:

But Thailand does not do asylum seekers, send the draft dodgers home when the visa extensions run out like everyone else.

I am surprised so many seem to have access to plenty funds if they are buying up off plan condo projects. My previous experience of those around Pattaya was they were here for the sunshine, but were short of money. I am expecting a lot will be looking for various extension possibilities or simply overstaying when the 45+30 day limit is reached.... or maybe short trips to neighboring countries.  

[Jingthing]

11 minutes ago, proton said:

But Thailand does not do asylum seekers, send the draft dodgers home when the visa extensions run out like everyone else.

Elite Card

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I am surprised so many seem to have access to plenty funds if they are buying up off plan condo projects. My previous experience of those around Pattaya was they were here for the sunshine, but were short of money. I am expecting a lot will be looking for various extension possibilities or simply overstaying when the 45+30 day limit is reached.... or maybe short trips to neighboring countries.  

There are different classes of Russians. 

[Jingthing]

Just now, racket said:

Hardly believe it. For example, if you are getting conscripted (regardless of country), the airlines wont even board you on a plane and if you reside overseas you'll get a notice from Embassy that it's time to get back home, and worse case you could be forced back home. I could be wrong, but I think the majority of Russians coming to Thailand are here purely for vacation. 

You're wrong.

[Dan747]

Time will tell-It will be interesting to note next year on how many "LONG STAYS" are Russians!

[norfolkandchance]

14 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You're wrong.

Well that's a helpful remark.

[bamnutsak]

Are Russians able to carry Rubles out of Russia?

Is there any limit on them bringing in Rubles?

Are they able to exchange Rubles for THB here?

What do money changers do with the Rubles they buy? (Not many Thais traveling to Russia these days.)

Can they use their credit cards here?

 

Russians get 45 days? Can they extend that another 30 days?

 

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

Between November 1, 2022, and January 21, 2023, more than 233,000 Russians arrived in Phuket

More importantly, how many have left?

 

 

That Azur aircraft that vacated a takeoff at HKT last month seemed to be full with 309 passengers, so some Russians are returning home.

[Misty]

52 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Elite Card

And some LTR visas... Russians #3 nationality in applying for the LTR (after US and China) according to a January BoI presentation

 

 

 

 

[Jingthing]

Russians have developed niche companies that facillitate Russians abroad using their bank cards. They pay a fee for that of course.

 

I heard something new and interesting yesterday.

 

Russian companies fearing they will lose key male staff to Putin's meat grinder are sending them abroad to work remotely for them. Amazing. There was talk from their regime of making it illegal to employ Russians remotely but I guess that hasn't happened yet or isn't enforced.

[ChrisY1]

1 hour ago, proton said:

But Thailand does not do asylum seekers, send the draft dodgers home when the visa extensions run out like everyone else.

They do if they pay?

Edited February 23, 2023 by ChrisY1

[ChrisY1]

1 hour ago, racket said:

Hardly believe it. For example, if you are getting conscripted (regardless of country), the airlines wont even board you on a plane and if you reside overseas you'll get a notice from Embassy that it's time to get back home, and worse case you could be forced back home. I could be wrong, but I think the majority of Russians coming to Thailand are here purely for vacation. 

 

Many Americans fled to Canada during the Vietnam war, but that didn't help as they were sometimes denied entry or forced back home. When it's time to serve, you'll either go into battle or face prison. 

 

Property prices have gone down significantly during covid, so based on supply and demand it make sense to buy undervalued condos or apartments, especially in attractive places like Phuket.

You obviously haven't seen the scenes at the Georgian border...tens of thousands departing through there....other borders are open..Finland for one.

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

You obviously haven't seen the scenes at the Georgian border...tens of thousands departing through there....other borders are open..Finland for one.

I've heard estimates that as many as a million have fled.

They are showing up all over the world where they can get in.

Many bring their families.

Babushkas are staying though.

Edited February 23, 2023 by Jingthing

[bamnutsak]

10 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

You obviously haven't seen the scenes at the Georgian border...tens of thousands departing through there....other borders are open..Finland for one.

Yes, there are many ways off the sinking vessel but surely there are Russian authorities at these land/border crossings who enable entry and exit? Or are you saying these borders are open?

 

One assumes no Russians are fleeing to North Korea?

 

 

 

 

[Salerno]

26 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

They are showing up all over the world where they can get in.

Many bring their families.

Argentina has received around 5000 pregnant women in the past three months - baby born, gets citizenship, easier for parents to then get citizenship.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-latin-america-64722803

[Jingthing]

19 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

Yes, there are many ways off the sinking vessel but surely there are Russian authorities at these land/border crossings who enable entry and exit? Or are you saying these borders are open?

 

One assumes no Russians are fleeing to North Korea?

 

 

 

 

They can fly out.

Land crossings now require an appointment giving them time to investigate the people.

They can fly back in.

Military age men that have been abroad for multiple months are subject to interrogations and device inspections.

Speaking out against the regime is severely criminalized.

No  not to North Korea.

Too much like home.

A few by boat to Alaska though!

Also at the Mexican border.

Edited February 23, 2023 by Jingthing

[Denim]

Going to be so many there that Putin will have to annex the place to stop Russians there being scammed and exploited.

 

Meanwhile , I am pouring Lao Khao into empty Vodka bottles and plan to sell them as local Vodka. 

 

Get rich quick and they won't notice the difference.

 

 

Edited February 23, 2023 by Denim

[mikeymike100]

2 hours ago, proton said:

But Thailand does not do asylum seekers, send the draft dodgers home when the visa extensions run out like everyone else.

Right, but there have been many reports that many of them are 'purchasing' ED visas for around 50,000 Baht a pop to enable their 'extended stay'

Need to get BJ on the case?

Edited February 23, 2023 by mikeymike100

[ozimoron]

Just now, Denim said:

Going to be so many there that Putin will have to annex the place to stop Russians there being scammed and exploited.

Well he'll be justified because the Thais won't allow Russian to be spoken in schools and government.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

In Phuket, a popular resort island, Russians are buying off-plan condos with half a million dollars or more to facilitate their relocation or provide a landing pad for a future time when they may feel forced to leave their homeland.

I'm confused. If all someone had to do to get a long stay visa was to buy a condo why do we get posts asking how under 50 year olds can stay long time in LOS?

Do the Russians get a long stay visa based on being Russian or something?

 

Can someone please explain why Russians that don't qualify based on age or marriage etc think they can stay in LOS at least as long as the war lasts?

[NextG]

29 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I'm confused. If all someone had to do to get a long stay visa was to buy a condo why do we get posts asking how under 50 year olds can stay long time in LOS?

Do the Russians get a long stay visa based on being Russian or something?

 

Can someone please explain why Russians that don't qualify based on age or marriage etc think they can stay in LOS at least as long as the war lasts?

If they are buying a US$500,000 apartment, one might extrapolate that they have the funds available for an Elite Visa or whatever else might be on offer. 

Are you regretting your decision to bail out? 
These people are making their decisions based on life or death. Perhaps you made yours based on financials. Financials are at least secondary to death. 

Edited February 23, 2023 by NextG

[Freddy42OZ]

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I am surprised so many seem to have access to plenty funds if they are buying up off plan condo projects. My previous experience of those around Pattaya was they were here for the sunshine, but were short of money. I am expecting a lot will be looking for various extension possibilities or simply overstaying when the 45+30 day limit is reached.... or maybe short trips to neighboring countries.  

I suspect that they are operating their own version of Hawala - 

 

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/hawala.asp

 

[Freddy42OZ]

4 hours ago, norfolkandchance said:

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

You're wrong.

Well that's a helpful remark.

 

He's not wrong though.

[Saanim]

"Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, a growing number of Russians have looked to Thailand as their ticket to a new life."? 

What a surprise?  Haven't we read it here many times? The finding based on what? 

The Russians pouring into Thailand?  If seeing foreign arrivals, it's no big figure, far lower - less than half - than years before pandemic. 

http://www.atta.or.th/?p=4019

 

And currently , seeing e.g. on:

https://www.thaiwebsites.com/tourists-nationalities-Thailand.asp

Beside the Asians, the Russians are behind UK, US, not much more than Germany, France. Is it so significant with their 150 M population and war waging? 

[Tropposurfer]

2 hours ago, NextG said:

If they are buying a US$500,000 apartment, one might extrapolate that they have the funds available for an Elite Visa or whatever else might be on offer. 

Are you regretting your decision to bail out? 
These people are making their decisions based on life or death. Perhaps you made yours based on financials. Financials are at least secondary to death. 

Aren't those fleeing only conscription aged males and their young families? Other than ED, and border bounces, these folks don't qualify for much else in terms of visa options. AS far as i am aware there is no official political/war refugee p[olicy in place here at this time forRrussians.

For those who hold dissident views and fear persecution they're fleeing and have been for years now? The rest are simply (maybe?) the usual Ruskie tourists.

You have to be 50 or over to meet the criteria for an Elite plus funds to sustain life for the entire duration of the visa (need solid proofs of this). 

[Tropposurfer]

Regardless of this refuge discussion my honest, straight-up comment on the barbaric cruel war in Ukraine is that the Russian ORCS lay in the soil of Ukraine forever and feed the Spring flowers for decades to come.

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, Freddy42OZ said:

I suspect that they are operating their own version of Hawala - 

 

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/hawala.asp

 

Well sadly, they would struggle to get trust from me!

[NextG]

1 minute ago, Tropposurfer said:

Aren't those fleeing only conscription aged males and their young families? Other than ED, and border bounces, these folks don't qualify for much else in terms of visa options. AS far as i am aware there is no official political/war refugee p[olicy in place here at this time forRrussians.

For those who hold dissident views and fear persecution they're fleeing and have been for years now? The rest are simply (maybe?) the usual Ruskie tourists.

You have to be 50 or over to meet the criteria for an Elite plus funds to sustain life for the entire duration of the visa (need solid proofs of this). 

Amazing…. You just made that all up in your head and present it as a fait accompli

 

Elite Program:

• Holder of a foreign passport
• Being allowed to stay in Thailand in accordance with the immigration laws, which means the applicant has no overstay record in Thailand
• No age limit is required for this program apart from the Elite Ultimate Privilege (Premium Package) which requires to be at least 20 years old
• Not having been sentenced by a judgment to imprisonment in any country except for an offense committed to negligence
• Not having been adjudicated bankrupt
• Not having been declared as a person of unsound mind, incompetence, or quasi-incompetence