Opinion Editorial: No, It Isn’t Time to Worry About RETIREMENT VISA Changes….Yet

[scubascuba3]

2 minutes ago, Parker2100 said:

They do already, don't they.

 

I believe it is on the list of things needed.  Not sure they enforce it though.

 

 

no not for non imm O

[newnative]

Hmm.   Time to focus your attention on the lazy police and the corrupt officials.  Don't always take the easy way out by blaming the ex-pats.  You do that and you're no better than your lazy underlings.  Set an example and do some work for a change, instead.  

[mokwit]

I don't want changes to the Immigration laws because they are far more likely to affect me negatively rather than positively, despite my vast wealth and assimilation into HiSo Thai society and understanding of Thai culture.

 

A bit of sarcasm in the above.

[Scouse123]

Thailand does not need new laws, restrictions or further burdens on those with retirement and marriage extensions.

 

It needs existing laws to be enforced.

 

A few foreigners that step out of line in a few areas such as Phuket or Pattaya in a country that boasts up to 30-40 million tourists a year. The police should take it in their stride and do the job they are paid for. These people committing these crimes are hardly elderly retirees or happily married men.

 

Criminals should be dealt with on a case by case basis taking into account the crime and circumstances of that crime.

 

How the hell do you think Europe went on when all of a sudden there were open borders and freedom of movement between 27 countries?

 

What about all the people entering every day on Visa free or visa exempt who then stay on in the country and don't return when their visas expire and then need income to support their stay?,

 

Do you want every person entering Thailand to get CRO checks and destroy the country's tourism industry completely?

 

I would bet 99% of all those on marriage and retirement extensions live quietly, have no problems with the law and benefit the economy whereas some on here want them to be even further restricted than we already are. So why persecute this group of people?

[Bim Smith]

Criminal checks should be done if implemented not every year. 

[mokwit]

4 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

What about all the people entering every day on Visa free or visa exempt who then stay on in the country and don't return when their visas expire and then need income to support their stay?,

This is the problem they make first entry on VE/VoA easy for everybody and many come here with the intention of going underground and overstaying. Some don't even file a TM30 and 90 day report!. Their solution is to make it difficult for people on long stay visas that require proof of funds.

[Parker2100]

How does raising financial requirements help?  The two stories they mentioned were a businessman & a bike gang. 

 

Businesses and gangs don't have money?

 

Sounds like an excuse to me.  Nothing to do with screening out criminals.

 

Like when he instituted "Good guys in, Bad guys out." Sure, he got many bad guys out but a lot of good guys moved to Philippines or Vietnam.  I currently have a retirement Visa in Cambodia.

 

Retirees saved Thailand's Bacon during Covid.

 

They keep chipping away at Long-term tourism and Thais will continue to suffer and Thailand's neighbors will benefit.

 

 

 

 

 

[TPI]

So... none of you retirees are thinking that the photo requirements added to "copies of your home bank statement showing your income " for the last 12 months, so that they can see how you pay your B 65K a month into your Thai bank account means nothing???

 

Can't you see the thin edge of the wedge? If "they" know what your real income is do you think "they" wont make it a percentage of that income a requirement for a RV?? 

[digger70]

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Difficult for agents to differentiate between Olaf type criminals and retired pensioners.

 

Maybe time to get rid of people with tattoos

There are many people with tattoos ,Just look at your Tv sports,  Boxers and MMA fighters,Snooker players , Movie stars and many more they are covered in INK.

Are you insinuating that people with Tattoos are criminals . you better look out ,one off those Tattoo covered Sportsman might jus Bump into you.

[Nickcage49]

Yeah, I saw that and shrugged.

 

1) Most of their "crackdowns" never come to pass. It's just some government official blowing hot air.

2) It hasn't happened yet so why worry about it.

3) Like the article says, the government is in chaos at the moment. Getting things done here makes the US Congress look good.

 

So relax and enjoy Thailand everyone.

 

The odds are that when and if there are any changes (and by then the whole uproar over those murders and any supposed "crackdown" will be largely forgotten), it will be a requirement of one or two simple additional documents. But I doubt it.

[jerrymahoney]

20 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Somehow, countries other than US, AUS & UK were prepared/able to do that for their citizens.

Or at least say that they do.

[cjinchiangrai]

24 minutes ago, mokwit said:

So that makes them deadbeats? Everyone below your financial level is a "deadbeat"? Take care that they don't up things to the level where you are a "deadbeat", despite your vast wealth. I assume you have no problem with Bt3m in a Thai bank, coz my guess is that is what is coming - or the monthly income requirements/$500k/$250k investment of the LTR visas.

 

I could, but don't want to put $250k or even Bt3m in a Thai bank and some don't want to put Bt400k in a Thai bank.

Yes, they are deadbeats. The O visa is a preliminary step to an extension. If you do not extend, you are not holding up your end of the deal. Wait nine months and try again if you like. This is the reason that some offices are requiring the 800k up front.

 

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn stated that the gang members tend to favor Thailand due to the lack of strict law enforcement and corrupt officials.

That's the real issue, not pricing genuine expats out of the country.

[shackleton]

No point in worrying about what could happen

Let's wait and see what transpires then see what action is  required

Could be years away ???? 

 

[TigerandDog]

5 hours ago, Yeah rightio said:

Not if it's required from your home country as per an application for an OA Visa they won't.

get rid of the Non-O completely, and if the reason for being here long term is either retirement or marriage make them O-A ONLY. That way a police check must be done in home country when applying.

[soalbundy]

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Not every damn year I hope.....

That would be superfluous for anyone who has been here 20 years, the Thai police would have to issue it.  

[renaissanc]

Some posters seem to think that Immigration will want you to prove that you have not criminal record in your own country. They won't require that because many foreigners here have lived here for many years. I've not lived in the UK since 1984, for example.

[mokwit]

3 minutes ago, TigerandDog said:

get rid of the Non-O completely, and if the reason for being here long term is either retirement or marriage make them O-A ONLY. That way a police check must be done in home country when applying.

So what visa are you on that you want everybody else's cancelled and everyone subjected to onerous requirements? All these people demanding stricter visa requirements without thinking the rising tide will reach them because they are the "good" farangs.

 

Again, , all these people who think the rules should be tightened to keep out others - General Prem isn't looking down from the heavens on you thinking, ahh yes, this is the type of good falang who are welcome in Thailand.

 

The Thai elite are really actually only interested in the type of Foreigner they would like to be photographed with, or who they think can arrange a prestigious school or university place for their children with a quiet word on their behalf.

[cjinchiangrai]

7 minutes ago, TigerandDog said:

get rid of the Non-O completely, and if the reason for being here long term is either retirement or marriage make them O-A ONLY. That way a police check must be done in home country when applying.

The O and O-A serve different purposes. 

[TigerandDog]

2 minutes ago, mokwit said:

So what visa are you on that you want everybody else's cancelled and everyone subjected to onerous requirements? All these people demanding stricter visa requirements without thinking the rising tide will reach them because they are the "good" farangs.

 

Again, , all these people who think the rules should be tightened to keep out others - General Prem isn't looking down from the heavens on you thinking, ahh yes, this is the type of good falang who are welcome in Thailand.

 

The Thai elite are really actually only interested in the type of Foreigner they would like to be photographed with, or who they think can arrange a prestigious school or university place for their children with a quiet word on their behalf.

where did I say anything about visas being cancelled. Going forward all marriage & retirement visas should be Non O-A only. At least that way a police check must be done in the home country before the visa can be issued. I certainly get the impression from many in this forum, that those that complain the most about visa & extension requirements are the ones that mostly use agents to circumvent those requirements because they don't meet them. Yes there are some that use agents who actually meet the requirements, but they are basically too lazy to do it themselves. As for me I'm on an O-A and do not use an agent.

[mokwit]

13 minutes ago, mokwit said:

get rid of the Non-O completely

I think that is pretty much the same thing as "cancelled".

 

People who use agents are not affected. It is those of us who do it ourselves above board who get inconvenienced. Perhaps they want us to pay to avoid this.

 

I have no desire to be subjected to the onerous requirements of the OA and don't understand why anyone would while the much simpler O extension is available - no aligning insurance cover dates with extension dates etc.

[TigerandDog]

8 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

The O and O-A serve different purposes. 

I think you'll find that the O is more open to abuse than the O-A. Come in on a VOA or Tourist visa, extend, then convert to O. No police checks from home country or Thailand involved. That's one huge loophole in the system that allows the crims from different countries to come here and then stay long term. O-A only would shut that loophole immediately.

[TigerandDog]

1 minute ago, mokwit said:

I think that is pretty much the same thing as "cancelled".

 

People who use agents are not affected. It is those of us who do it ourselves bove board who get inconvenienced.

it has nothing to do with cancelled. Existing O's continue or are converted to O-A automatically by Immigration. All future new retirement or marriage visa applications should be O-A only.

[Mario Cosmopolite]

4 hours ago, Robin said:

Careful about asking for a 'Criminal Record Check'  as my experience of this (in UK) is that you have to apply in person at your local police station and not that quick or easy.   If this was required for every extension (yearly?) how many of us retires would want to go back to home country every year?

Are we sure hat every M/c gang member has a criminal record?

AS ever it would be far easier for criminals to get round this that ordinary citizens.

(UK) Last time I looked at this (for a job prospect) it had been farmed out to a private company and they required a post code ie UK residence, as they simply checked court judgements against the address. I gave up but will no doubt have to deal with this in due course.

[mokwit]

Just now, Mario Cosmopolite said:

(UK) Last time I looked at this (for a job prospect) it had been farmed out to a private company and they required a post code ie UK residence, as they simply checked court judgements against the address. I gave up but will no doubt have to deal with this in due course.

Surely not - years ago criminal convictions were in a central database and the form generated was called a "Form 609". I can't imagine they have decentralised it. Are you thinking about civil "county court" judgements?

[BusyB]

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

To be clear, I have nothing against agents or the people that use them.

I've never used an agent but I like that's it's an option in case of a desperate situation.

I'm talking of course about how most clients use the agents -- to get extensions WITHOUT financially qualifying.

Obviously this doesn't apply to the small number of people that are complying but just need convenience.

Anyway IF the authorities actually believe that MO MONEY means NO CRIMS, then surely their very first target would be these agents and the people that use them where people everyday are getting extensions showing NO MONEY.

Yet not a peep about that!

Something is very rotten. 

Don't tell me they don't know what's going on with the agents.

That would be an insult to their intellegence.

But I can't for the life of me understand what's the real motivation to basically punish the expats that have been qualifying following all the rules to the letter.

 

I think partly xenophobia in certain quarters, sadly, though LOS is not unique in this respect.

 

And also perhaps envy. Both of our lifestyles and perceived riches. In comparison to them we are fabulously rich, and even most of the less well off among us  'live the dream' most Thais cannot even aspire to. I can remember the darkness and anger that befell the IO's face as she saw my pension statement as I went through the process. It's probably many times her (official) income as an Immi Captain.

 

And how they threw stones in my way and even asked outright for a 5 figure bribe to sort problems they themselves had raised. I skirted round it all and simply did the footwork that was obviously being required, even though it is nowhere stated in the requirements IB itself puts out.

 

If Hakporn is serious that's where he has to start. With his own. Or in my case at least it'll be good guy out, bad guys can stay. I'm neither on the run from my home country, nor am I addicted to sex with barely articulate rice farmers' daughters. I first came here 20 years ago and have been in love with and a friend of the country and some people here since then. 

 

But if he insists, then OK, I have a good life back home as well.

 

[mokwit]

7 minutes ago, TigerandDog said:

I think you'll find that the O is more open to abuse than the O-A. Come in on a VOA or Tourist visa, extend, then convert to O. No police checks from home country or Thailand involved. That's one huge loophole in the system that allows the crims from different countries to come here and then stay long term. O-A only would shut that loophole immediately.

What about the criminals who come in on a VE/VOA and stay long term by overstaying? They are after all criminals, so they can't be relied on to follow the law.

 

That is what fake stamps are about - they are not in the computer but they will stand an on the street inspection by ordinary RTP - maybe even IB as they seem not to be able to access their own data via the internet when out and about.

 

 

 

 

[TigerandDog]

1 minute ago, mokwit said:

What about the criminals who come in on a VE/VOA and stay long term by overstaying? They are after all criminals, so they can't be relied on to follow the law.

 

That is what fake stamps are about - they are not in the computer but they will stand an on the street inspection by ordinary RTP - maybe even IB as they seem not to be able to access their own data via the internet when out and about.

 

 

 

 

gotta start somewhere.

 

[Skeptic7]

Once again in Overreaction World...a very few bad apples spoils it for the vast majority good bunch. 

[Al BB]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

It takes quite a while in the UK to get the said document and what do you want people already here on Non 0 visas for many years already to do?

 

Fly back to the UK to get one of these documents once a year?

God knows how long it would take! ....When I was in UK (2008) I needed a CR Check for a job application. Applied in Feb and finally got it in April, No Criminal Record BTW, by which time I had another (Different) Job!