As we all know, frequent visitors often get grilled by Immigration at airports upon entering Thailand. But do they grill people who are over 50 years old and frequently visit Thailand on tourist visas? There seems to be little incentive to grill them because such people have the right to stay in Thailand as long as they want using the yearly retirement extensions if they wish so. But how is it in practice?

What’s your definition of frequent visitor? 3 times a year? 7 times a year? With or without multiple extensions and border bounces? 

1 minute ago, novacova said:

What’s your definition of frequent visitor? 3 times a year? 7 times a year? With or without multiple extensions and border bounces? 

A "frequent visitor" is the one who gets told by Immigration "You come to Thailand too much". This can be any of the ones you mentioned.

"do they grill people who are over 50 years old and frequently visit Thailand on tourist visas? There seems to be little incentive to grill them because such people have the right to stay in Thailand as long as they want using the yearly retirement extensions if they wish so." 

 

The incentive is to get those who want to stay in Thailand long term to get the right visa - i.e. those who want to retire in Thailand get a retirement visa. Some people cannot/do not qualify for a retirement visa so they try to game the system by doing border runs and therefore "frequently visit" Thailand, and catch the attention of immigration officers. 

 

My opinion is that it depends on a combination of how often someone visits Thailand, how long between visits  and where they go between visits. Are they genuine visitors or are they trying to live in Thailand without the correct visa?

3 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

A "frequent visitor" is the one who gets told by Immigration "You come to Thailand too much". This can be any of the ones you mentioned.

This issue may depend on the individual IO and if one is using ve to avoid applying for a retirement or tourist visa by excessive extensions and border bouncing by land and air. 

2 minutes ago, asf6 said:

"do they grill people who are over 50 years old and frequently visit Thailand on tourist visas? There seems to be little incentive to grill them because such people have the right to stay in Thailand as long as they want using the yearly retirement extensions if they wish so." 

 

The incentive is to get those who want to stay in Thailand long term to get the right visa - i.e. those who want to retire in Thailand get a retirement visa. Some people cannot/do not qualify for a retirement visa so they try to game the system by doing border runs and therefore "frequently visit" Thailand, and catch the attention of immigration officers. 

 

My opinion is that it depends on a combination of how often someone visits Thailand, how long between visits  and where they go between visits. Are they genuine visitors or are they trying to live in Thailand without the correct visa?

But to be honest, if you want to stay in Thailand long term and are over 50, it is easier/cheaper to get a retirement visa than try to "game the system". If you don't have the 800k in the bank, use an agent, anyway it's cheaper than doing border hops.

Silly thread.

If you are over 50 and spending ongoing time in Thailand you should obtain the appropriate visa.

That being non O based on retirement with subsequent extension. 

30 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

But to be honest, if you want to stay in Thailand long term and are over 50, it is easier/cheaper to get a retirement visa than try to "game the system". If you don't have the 800k in the bank, use an agent, anyway it's cheaper than doing border hops.

You answered your own thread. 

What are you asking

1 hour ago, JoseThailand said:

such people have the right to stay in Thailand as long as they want using the yearly retirement extensions if they wish so

You got that waaaaay wrong. Same like you can stay in UK, or EU, or China "as long as you want". Where you from?

If you aren't a criminal and don't cause any issues then even if they do ask a few questions it shouldn't be a problem. You are in THEIR country and not the other way around.  

I am over 50 actually I am 75 now lived in Thailand for many years before moving back to the west, still visit Thailand twice a year on visa on arrival never been stopped yet.

9 minutes ago, still kicking said:

I am over 50 actually I am 75 now lived in Thailand for many years before moving back to the west, still visit Thailand twice a year on visa on arrival never been stopped yet.

That's sort of irrelevant.

You are clearly a tourist regardless of age..

If you were spending LOT of time in Thailand immigration might suggest a non O retirement more appropriate. 

If a foreigner APPLIES FOR the so called retirement visa, can satisfy al lthe requirements that person will probably be approved to hold the so called retirement visa, which in most cses/probably all cases is valid for one year. The holder can re-apply at the end of the one year and if the foreigner can satisfy all the requirements the visa will probably be re-issed for one year etc.

 

Obviously above I'm focused on foreigners who have been through the application and satisfied the requirements. 

 

If a foreigner is 50 years old or older but has never applied for the so called retirement visa but could satisfy all the reeuirements that doesn't automatically mean the foreigner is 'treated' the same as a foreigner who holds a valid so called retirement visa. 

 

At any ago the police can and do stop foreigners and ask various questions. One reason is to establish if the foreigner does have any type of valid visa which has not expired. In other words looking for folks who have overstayed.

 

The age of such foreigners is not relevant, there's no regulations saying that foreigners over 50, regardless of visa status, should be questioned differently to foreigners of any age under 50 years old. 

 

 

16 minutes ago, scorecard said:

If a foreigner APPLIES FOR the so called retirement visa, can satisfy al lthe requirements that person will probably be approved to hold the so called retirement visa, which in most cses/probably all cases is valid for one year. The holder can re-apply at the end of the one year and if the foreigner can satisfy all the requirements the visa will probably be re-issed for one year etc.

 

Obviously above I'm focused on foreigners who have been through the application and satisfied the requirements. 

 

If a foreigner is 50 years old or older but has never applied for the so called retirement visa but could satisfy all the reeuirements that doesn't automatically mean the foreigner is 'treated' the same as a foreigner who holds a valid so called retirement visa. . 

 

At any ago the police can and do stop foreigners and ask various questions. One reason is to establish if the foreigner does have any type of valid visa which has not expired. In other words looking for folks who have overstayed.

 

The age of such foreigners is not relevant, there's no regulations saying that foreigners over 50, regardless of visa status, should be questioned differently to foreigners of any age under 50 years old. 

 

 

Don't understand one part of that. 

 

You are trying to discuss extensions based on retirement from a non O visa. 

Or a non O-A which is a visa valid for one year Or a multiple entry visa based in retirement. 

 

BTW no such thing as a retirement visa. 

 

 

 

Edited March 25, 20233 yr by DrJack54

33 minutes ago, scorecard said:

If a foreigner APPLIES FOR the so called retirement visa, can satisfy al lthe requirements that person will probably be approved to hold the so called retirement visa, which in most cses/probably all cases is valid for one year. The holder can re-apply at the end of the one year and if the foreigner can satisfy all the requirements the visa will probably be re-issed for one year etc.

 

Obviously above I'm focused on foreigners who have been through the application and satisfied the requirements. 

 

If a foreigner is 50 years old or older but has never applied for the so called retirement visa but could satisfy all the reeuirements that doesn't automatically mean the foreigner is 'treated' the same as a foreigner who holds a valid so called retirement visa. 

 

At any ago the police can and do stop foreigners and ask various questions. One reason is to establish if the foreigner does have any type of valid visa which has not expired. In other words looking for folks who have overstayed.

 

The age of such foreigners is not relevant, there's no regulations saying that foreigners over 50, regardless of visa status, should be questioned differently to foreigners of any age under 50 years old. 

 

 

Drivel comes to mind

38 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Don't understand one part of that. 

 

You are trying to discuss extensions based on retirement from a non O visa. 

Or a non O-A which is a visa valid for one year Or a multiple entry visa based in retirement. 

 

BTW no such thing as a retirement visa. 

 

 

 

I did say 'so called retirement visa' several times.

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You answered your own thread. 

What are you asking

I am asking because some people over 50 really are frequent visitors, but don't want to stay in Thailand all year long. For example, some prefer to spend say 5 winter months in Thailand. Younger folks who do that, get routinely grilled at Immigration. Is it the same for people over 50? .

Edited March 25, 20233 yr by JoseThailand

4 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

. . . . . such people have the right to stay in Thailand as long as they want using the yearly retirement extensions if they wish so.

There is no such right.  They request permission to stay which may or may not be granted.

14 minutes ago, treetops said:

There is no such right.  They request permission to stay which may or may not be granted.

Okay, call this the ability, opportunity, whatever. The thing is, people over 50 don't need to "game" the system, as we younger folks do. ????

Edited March 25, 20233 yr by JoseThailand

19 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

Okay, call this the ability, opportunity, whatever. The thing is, people over 50 don't need to "game" the system, as we younger folks do. ????

Lots of over 50s game the system. Some need to and others make a choice. Leaving 800k festering in a Thai bank at a low interest rate for 20 or 30 years is anathema to some people.

23 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

Lots of over 50s game the system. Some need to and others make a choice. Leaving 800k festering in a Thai bank at a low interest rate for 20 or 30 years is anathema to some people.

They don't know about agents? With an agent, you don't need the 800k.

4 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

They don't know about agents? With an agent, you don't need the 800k.

I'm talking about agents mate, that's the 'game' I'm referring to. For a lot of over-50s dudes it's the only way to stay here so they do in fact need to game the system.

Edited March 25, 20233 yr by Lemsta69

38 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

I'm talking about agents mate, that's the 'game' I'm referring to. For a lot of over-50s dudes it's the only way to stay here so they do in fact need to game the system.

It's not a real "game". Just use the agent and you'll be fine for the rest of your life. Nobody's gonna grill you at Immigration.

The real game is when you're under 50. You can't just pay an agent 20-30k and be worry free. If you pay for an ED visa, you WILL be grilled upon entering Thailand and may be refused entry if they check your non-existent Thai skills.

Edited March 25, 20233 yr by JoseThailand

39 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

It's not a real "game". Just use the agent and you'll be fine for the rest of your life. Nobody's gonna grill you at Immigration.

Sounds like Trolling to me.

The older you are, the less likely you are to be hassled by Immigration. That is because they are less inclined to suspect you of illegal working. However, no matter what age you are, if you spend a lot of time in Thailand as a tourist, especially on visa exemptions, you are vulnerable to being hassled by the wrong official. Some officials simply dislike long stay tourists.

1 hour ago, JoseThailand said:

It's not a real "game". Just use the agent and you'll be fine for the rest of your life. Nobody's gonna grill you at Immigration.

Not a real game, mate that's a bit harsh. It's not as tough as you poor young-uns have it but it's not Tiddlywinks. You'll probably have to Google that expression ????

23 minutes ago, quake said:

Sounds like Trolling to me.

Nah, just a young bull flexing ????

8 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

There seems to be little incentive to grill them because such people have the right to stay in Thailand as long as they want using the yearly retirement extensions if they wish so

What? People who are married can also get extensions "if they wish so". People with lots of money can get an Elite Visa and extensions "if they chose so".

 

The fact that a genuine visa is available "if you chose so" and that you didn't "chose so" surely gives the IO more reason to be suspicious of you ("just why hasn't he got the visa he's entitled to???"), not less.

5 hours ago, JoseThailand said:

I am asking because some people over 50 really are frequent visitors, but don't want to stay in Thailand all year long. For example, some prefer to spend say 5 winter months in Thailand. Younger folks who do that, get routinely grilled at Immigration. Is it the same for people over 50? .

They are trying to stop people illegally working in LOS. Visiting frequently raises a red flag.

If one is staying 5 months at a time, one should get an appropriate visa.