Expats angry at huge concessions in latest Thai visa announcements

[Neeranam]

34 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

On retirement status with an O base.

I'm happy when things are made easier for all tourists and expats.

I'm on their side not immigration coppers side.

I have no resentment. 

It's mean spirited to have resentment.

Also doing border runs is a pain and more liberal policies can and probably will be changed back on a dime. 

Retirees that love visa runs for life go to flippin' Vietnam why dontcha?

Good post. 

 

Retired people are moaners and Thai bashers.

 

What's the big deal of going to immigration once a year, you have all the time in the world. 

What's the big deal of going to a neighboring country to do a visa run?

What's the big deal in paying 15,000 baht year to become an illegal immigrant?

What's the big deal of keeping 800k in  a bank for a few months, If a Thai goes to USA, they must INVEST

17 million baht for a retirement visa. 

[hydraides]

12 minutes ago, chuang said:

If you can't beat them join them....what's the problem....

Because some of these people just wasted 900,000 baht when they could have got the same stay for only 50,000 baht

[pookett]

It's a bit of a desperate move from Thailand as, despite the data TAT churn out, real tourism in Thailand is still in the doldrums. "They" are thrashing around trying to boost figures to the hay-day 40mil. pax a year, still blind to the facts that Thailand simply does not have the infrastructure, enforced standards & safety, sanitory mechanisms or even water supplies that are required to attract, support and expand repeat mass tourism.

 

To the moaners on the "sucker" visas, TIT! Rules and regulations change at the drop of a hat without any concern on how they fit with other existing RnRs, should have seen that one coming.

Edited July 20 by pookett

[paahlman]

53 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

A Non-Immigrant visa allows you to open bank accounts, obtain a driving licence and other privileges that the 60 day stamps and DTV don't support.

 

Also, you don't qualify for the DTV, because you are a retiree, and that is not a category that it supports.

This is a hit and miss.. Obtaining a driving license can be done on both a visa exemption stamp and on or a normal tourist visa as well. Also to open a bank account can be done also withouth any non o or dtv. There are many ways. work permit or purchase of condominium comes to mind. But yes.. With banks.. it helps to have a long stay visa.. Absolutely.. But its not always required.

[Patong2021]

46 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

A Non-Immigrant visa allows you to open bank accounts, obtain a driving licence and other privileges that the 60 day stamps and DTV don't support.

Also, you don't qualify for the DTV, because you are a retiree, and that is not a category that it supports.

 

It's worth a bump on this. You are the only one who understood this. (Non immigrant long stay visa can also qualify  some people as expats for the purposes of placing lower cost expat health insurance vs. travel health insurance.) 

In even simpler language, the revised visa rules addresses the biggest tourist complaint amongst the high end and older demographic who just want to visit Thailand for 2-3 months at the most per visit without the hassle of applying for a visa.

[Hakuna Matata]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

you can come and go as you please with the new visas

 

Yes, we are very disappointed about the new visa rules. It makes even easier for criminals and fugitives from all over the world to stay indefinitely in Thailand finding a safe heaven over here. What a shame for Thailand!

 

 

 

 

[CLW]

The DTV is not a five year visa. You can stay a maximum of 360 days (180 + extension 180) within those five years in Thailand. If you are planning to stay long term here, it'll give you a mere 72 days per year, the other time you need to spend outside of Thailand. 

Of course it's an option for those who are awaiting other visa types. But under the new rules they also could enter Thailand 60 days, extension 30 days. Leave and re-enter the country, do the same procedure. Also 180 days total. With less paperwork and probably same cost. 

On the other hand I wouldn't trust any policy of this government for five years. You never know what happens (see cannabis legalisation...)

[prakhonchai nick]

11 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

They are making things easier. 

If married to a Thai citizen, you can become a citizen yourself.

It used to be hard and take many years, often with bribery and had to learn Thai fluently. 

When I did it, it cost me 5,000 baht, didn't need to speak Thai, and only had to be working for 3 years with a salary of 40k baht a month. Easier than many other countries.

 

I am happy with permanent residency. Don't want Thai citizenship.   With PR, no money in the bank, no 90 days, no extensions and just a trip every 5 years to the local police station to have a new photo  put in the Alien reg book.  Also get your name in the blue house book for what its worth.

[CANSIAM]

Sounds like easy street for the folks with limited funds and want long long stays........should keep them men in brown tight uniforms busy........

[brianthainess]

1 hour ago, JeffersLos said:

 

The 10,000THB payment is one time only, that gives you a 5 year visa with border runs every 180 days? Or you have to pay 10,000THB every entry?

 

If it is a one time fee of 10,000THB, and all you need to do is do a border bounce twice a year, it sounds like a much better deal than keeping 800,000THB locked in a Thai bank account etc.

AS long as you are not disabled doing a boarder bounce twice a year is not easy for those, and how much to do the boarder bounces will that cost over 5 years.  That's 10 boarder bounces and entry/ exit visas for the boarders you bounce + Transport costs.

visa for Cambodia $ 36 x 2 x 5 = $ 360 + $ 86 ( pay 300 baht for not staying overnight.

= 445 USD. + transport fee say 6,000 baht for a mini bus. 1714 USD = 2159 USD = nearly 8,000 baht, Nah not for me especially having to make sure you can remember to get there twice a year, or you'll be on overstay, with a possible ban the stress for some could be too much . Just saying. 

 

[Crash999]

Gatekeepers like Dan should remember that border runs are never guaranteed. In the past there have been plenty of cases of people being turned away at the border for “excessive” (at the discretion of the immigration official in front of you) number of tourist entries despite the person technically doing nothing wrong. 

[Calach]

So Elite visa holders basically spent $25,000 for 5 years of airport rides and fast track. 

[brianthainess]

20 minutes ago, rocketboy2 said:

Thailand moving the goal post after getting your money. that's unusual. 

Thailand, the Asian Hub of the Flip flop. 

 

I agree this Government has more U-turns than Highway 3, and that runs from BKK to Cambodia .....

[impulse]

I'm wondering where the idea is coming from that they won't be scrutinizing land border bounces like they do airside border bounces?  Just because they eliminated the limit of 2, doesn't mean you can live in Thailand on exempt, any more than those why fly in and out today. 

 

I think it'll be awhile before we know how the new rules will be implemented. 

 

Personally, I'd like to see them go back to pre-coup when guys could actually live in Thailand on border bounces and perpetual ED visas.  Maybe with a fine for overstay that doesn't cap out at 20K, but no blacklist if you pay the whole fine.  I don't think the guys we lost when those loopholes slammed shut were any dodgier than many of the guys that are still in Thailand on whatever visa programs they're currently using.

 

 

[brianthainess]

12 minutes ago, prakhonchai nick said:

I am happy with permanent residency. Don't want Thai citizenship.   With PR, no money in the bank, no 90 days, no extensions and just a trip every 5 years to the local police station to have a new photo  put in the Alien reg book.  Also get your name in the blue house book for what its worth.

My name is in the Blue house book on a marriage extension no big deal in that.  How much did it cost you for a PR ?

[Neeranam]

17 minutes ago, prakhonchai nick said:

I am happy with permanent residency. Don't want Thai citizenship.   With PR, no money in the bank, no 90 days, no extensions and just a trip every 5 years to the local police station to have a new photo  put in the Alien reg book.  Also get your name in the blue house book for what its worth.

If you prefer PR, fair enough but I don't understand why.

It cost you 200,000 baht? 

Do you need a reentry permit when leaving the country? 

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

Because that ones who come and leave bring this broke country more money. If this is not a message that you are not desired here, I don't know what is.

Jesus...

[cjinchiangrai]

Whatever. No tourists are coming to my little rice field.

[newbee2022]

Well, here another annoying fact:

If I stay on a retirement visa in Thailand I would have to pay taxes.

If I go for a DTV, what I cannot because I live in Thailand, then I pay NO taxes.

☹️🥴🤮😡

[mokwit]

13 minutes ago, Calach said:

So Elite visa holders basically spent $25,000 for 5 years of airport rides and fast track. 

I think you get a discount at some Spas too.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

American expat Dan Silverman, who holds a yearly extension based on retirement, said, “It’s just ridiculous. I have to keep 800,000 baht in a Thai bank, obtain medical insurance, face ever-changing regulations and regularly report my Thai address throughout the year, or be fined.” He added, “And for what, when you can come and go as you please with the new visas?”

So change to the new system... what's the issue.

[Liverpool Lou]

36 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

What's the big deal in paying 15,000 baht year to become an illegal immigrant?

What?

[Liverpool Lou]

33 minutes ago, pookett said:

It's a bit of a desperate move from Thailand as, despite the data TAT churn out, real tourism in Thailand is still in the doldrums.

Tourism numbers are increasing each year despite the inaccuracies you churn out.

[Celsius]

11 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Well, here another annoying fact:

If I stay on a retirement visa in Thailand I would have to pay taxes.

If I go for a DTV, what I cannot because I live in Thailand, then I pay NO taxes.

☹️🥴🤮😡

 

Wrong, but I think this tax thing is very exaggerate so it makes no difference.

[brianthainess]

20 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

My name is in the Blue house book on a marriage extension no big deal in that.  How much did it cost you for a PR ?

Why are you all confused ? My wife did it when I got my Yellow book.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, mokwit said:

I'm saying how and where will they enforce TM30 and 90 day. They enforce it currently when people go for an extension, whether 1 year or 30 day VE, but not at borders entering and leaving so DTV people fall through the TM30/47 reporting enforcement under current enforcement - can stay 5 years and Immigration will never know where they are. Immigration enforce TM30/47 on US like it is important, but hardly enforce it on Landlords.

 

I did a TM30  in 2019 when I moved into my current house.

Ive done 2 extensions since and no request for TM30 has been asked on either occasions, my next extension is in 12 months... maybe they will ask then, no biggie though, only takes a few secs to do online

[Ralf001]

18 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Well, here another annoying fact:

If I stay on a retirement visa in Thailand I would have to pay taxes.

If I go for a DTV, what I cannot because I live in Thailand, then I pay NO taxes.

☹️🥴🤮😡

 

if you stay 180 days or more... taxes !.

Stamp in your passport does not change this.

[sabai-dee-man]

Oh, boo hoo!

 

It's called "sh*t happens"! Things change... sometimes in your favour, sometimes against. Being bitter about it just makes you look spoilt & childish.

 

Anyone buying an Elite Visa has always had more money than sense anyway!

[Liverpool Lou]

23 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

If I stay on a retirement visa in Thailand I would have to pay taxes.

Says who?  

[Polaky]

To compensate expats they should remove the 90 day requirement,  kill the re-entry permits, and eliminate the 800k in bank process, and then the sweetener....allow expats to purchase land outright.