Expats angry at huge concessions in latest Thai visa announcements

[JoeyMac]

Thailand had a little mini shot of what would happen when you let lose immigration and long term visas on a developing nation with the Russians in Phuket.

 

You've seen illegal work shoot up, crime, anti social behaviour, and Russians colonising areas of Phuket. Worst of all for Thai people they've driven up rents. 

 

To then want to repeat that on a mass scale is a scandal. 

 

This is what i would expect from a leadership which lacks experience, and is working as though they are real estate agents (no surprise the leader is a property tycoon). 

[Des1]

On 7/19/2024 at 11:16 PM, paahlman said:

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.

Drivers licence on a visa exempt stamp or tourist visa...really?????

[Maitdjai]

On 7/20/2024 at 12:16 PM, paahlman said:

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 it's not always required.

 

Sure, with dodgy agencies.

They're even advertising on FB.

Everything in 1 hour...

By the rule, at first you need a residence certificate from the IO to obtain a DL (for example).

I doubt, if IO give that to you on a VE stamp. For what reason?

What for, a VE "tourist" needs a DL, bank account, or WP? To buy a property? Lol.

All of this is the intention of

Non-O and -B visas.

The circumvent only "works" in "bulk" processing, beneath connected pals from "certain" agencies. TiT.

Dodgy demands need dodgy processing.

 

 

[Lorry]

2 hours ago, Maitdjai said:

 

Sure, with dodgy agencies.

They're even advertising on FB.

Everything in 1 hour...

By the rule, at first you need a residence certificate from the IO to obtain a DL (for example).

I doubt, if IO give that to you on a VE stamp. For what reason?

What for, a VE "tourist" needs a DL, bank account, or WP? To buy a property? Lol.

All of this is the intention of

Non-O and -B visas.

The circumvent only "works" in "bulk" processing, beneath connected pals from "certain" agencies. TiT.

Dodgy demands need dodgy processing.

 

 

A VE tourist could make very good use of a bank account.

Formerly, many  tourists would open an account,  deposit some money and then use ATMs during their stay. 

Very convenient,  especially for repeat tourists coming every couple of years,  of which Thailand has many.

Nowadays, you need a bank account for paying by "scan", if you cannot do this,  sooner or later tourists will end up like in China,  where it's hard for them to pay anything, 

 

A DL is convenient to have (that's why residents have had it for years,  even when Thai police still let you use your international license forever),  but not really necessary. 

 

A  WP? Never heard of a VE tourist applying for one.

 

 

[Maitdjai]

42 minutes ago, Lorry said:

A VE tourist could make very good use of a bank account.

Formerly, many  tourists would open an account,  deposit some money and then use ATMs during their stay. 

Very convenient,  especially for repeat tourists coming every couple of years,  of which Thailand has many.

Nowadays, you need a bank account for paying by "scan", if you cannot do this,  sooner or later tourists will end up like in China,  where it's hard for them to pay anything, 

 

A DL is convenient to have (that's why residents have had it for years,  even when Thai police still let you use your international license forever),  but not really necessary. 

 

A  WP? Never heard of a VE tourist applying for one.

 

 

I was anseering on a comment!

If you've read it also, you'd know, why I mentioned "WP".

 

On VE you don't need a local DL.

You need it from the 90th day of a continuous stay.

But you need a "valid" international DL on VE.

 

Unfortunately, the days to open a bank account, just with presenting your passport within 15 minutes are long gone.

Btw, electronic payment is possible with every halfway sophisticated foreign bank account. If not use cash!

Those people fiddling with their apps in 7/11, to pay 23 baht are annoying anyway.

 

Finally, "Residents"

are usually not on VE stamps. 

Some individual, temporary exceptions only confirm the rule.

And I don't think, that those are urgently needing to get a DL, or bank account during this "special" temporary time.

Even, if they don't have it yet.

 

 

[Lorry]

10 minutes ago, Maitdjai said:

, electronic payment is possible with every halfway sophisticated foreign bank account.

Are you joking?

[Maitdjai]

14 minutes ago, Lorry said:

Are you joking?

No. But I have to confess, that I don't have knowledge about "Timbuktu" bank accounts.

Anyway, "cash is king", especially for "stoneage" account holders.

[mokwit]

21 hours ago, Lorry said:

It was designed for people who come here often,  many times a year. 

That's why all these funny airport perks.

It wasn't designed for people to  live here. 

And that's why it's just a kind of tourist visa.

 

20 or 30 years ago,  when it was designed,  there were not so many Westerners (except retirees) keen on saving a pound or two by living i  a third-world country.  Especially, as you couldn't work remotely and get a Western income.

And Russians or Chinese, now the best buyers, were unheard of.

 

 

It was assumed that those who could afford it wouldn't want to stay year 'round.

[Rob Browder]

On 7/23/2024 at 12:06 AM, MangoKorat said:

None of the border runners that I either know of have met are remote workers. 

Are you talking about folks just extending a short-term stay?  Those are probably the majority.  But, in all cases, their spending of foreign money here is good for Thailand.

[Reddavy]

On 7/20/2024 at 10:54 AM, transam said:

So what, and reads like you are stuck in Scunthorpe........

Ubon actually 😉

[Reddavy]

On 7/20/2024 at 10:49 AM, jonclark said:

I think you have an erronous view of all  expats here. I have NEVER drank Chang beer. 

Take a walk along beach road in Pattaya m8 wall to wall Chang drinkers 🤮

[transam]

2 minutes ago, Reddavy said:

Take a walk along beach road m8 wall to wall Chang drinkers 🤮

In Ubon...........

[Reddavy]

2 minutes ago, transam said:

In Ubon...........

Edited just for you 😉

[jonclark]

4 hours ago, Reddavy said:

Take a walk along beach road in Pattaya m8 wall to wall Chang drinkers 🤮

And thats just the ladies...

[proton]

19 hours ago, Neeranam said:

As a Thai, I'd have to invest 17 million Baht for a long term retiree visa. 

For a Yank retiring here they need to just show 800,000 baht. 

Its MUCH easier for Yanks to come here. 

 

Millions from all over the world have just walked across the border with Mexico in the past 3 years, no funds needed.

[Gilligan In Drag]

I don't get it. Seems like if you have the money, the elite visa is still a much better visa to be on.

If i had the money I'd probably go that route. You dont have hardly any of the

freaking hassles of having to re-new evry year and keeping  money in the bank, running to the border

I mean they really want tyou to question what the hell are you doing in their country

as many ask me when they fin dout the hoops I have to jump through to stay here.

That said I'm glad there's  now a back door if just staying here on extensions of non-O married

become problematic. I struggle financially to keep the 400k in and if they up that amount I'm schlitz out of luck.

Now its a real relief that I could just do the border hop thing and if they limit your time to 6 months in Thailand

per year of doing that only, oh well, India beckons I guess.

[Maitdjai]

22 hours ago, Neeranam said:

As a Thai, I'd have to invest 17 million Baht for a long term retiree visa. 

For a Yank retiring here they need to just show 800,000 baht. 

Its MUCH easier for Yanks to come here. 

 

You don't like "Yanks"?

You prefer "Coconut Monkeys"?

You don't like "Krauts"?

You prefer "Pommies"?

You don't like "Spics"?

You prefer "Hamasholes"?

Etc., etc.! 

Where is all this "Respect", a word which many of you hypocrites always abusing, and mumbling about?

Just disgusting!

 

[Neeranam]

1 minute ago, Maitdjai said:

 

You don't like "Yanks"?

You prefer "Coconut Monkeys"?

You don't like "Krauts"?

You prefer "Pommies"?

You don't like "Spics"?

You prefer "Hamasholes"?

Etc., etc.! 

Where is all this "Respect", a word which many of you hypocrites always abusing, and mumbling about?

Just disgusting!

 

huh

[Neeranam]

2 hours ago, Gilligan In Drag said:

I don't get it. Seems like if you have the money, the elite visa is still a much better visa to be on.

If i had the money I'd probably go that route. You dont have hardly any of the

freaking hassles of having to re-new evry year and keeping  money in the bank, running to the border

I mean they really want tyou to question what the hell are you doing in their country

as many ask me when they fin dout the hoops I have to jump through to stay here.

That said I'm glad there's  now a back door if just staying here on extensions of non-O married

become problematic. I struggle financially to keep the 400k in and if they up that amount I'm schlitz out of luck.

Now its a real relief that I could just do the border hop thing and if they limit your time to 6 months in Thailand

per year of doing that only, oh well, India beckons I guess.

Paying 15k a year for an agent to get your visa seems as good as an elite visa. 

[Bjoern]

On 7/20/2024 at 11:18 AM, G_Money said:

One always has the option of staying home or going elsewhere.

How many times have I heard this: "If you don't like Thailand's visa regulation you are free to leave".

Don't try to find any other ways to stay long time online or in any Thai forum. "Just go home if you not like the immigration rules here". Not everybody can just leave Thailand, we (company) own a house, car, motorbike, girlfriend and dogs. Leaving or going elsewhere is not an option, and immigration officers are aware of this problem, that's why they every year make it more difficult for us to stay long time.

[Maitdjai]

10 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

huh

 

Quick response.

But, only "huh"!

Instead, think twice.

[Maitdjai]

On 7/20/2024 at 11:18 AM, G_Money said:

One always has the option of staying home or going elsewhere.

 

This is the empty, unreflected, nothing-saying reflex of stupid opportunists, within the TiT expat cloud. Lol.

[AreYouGerman]

On 7/23/2024 at 2:46 PM, Sigmund said:

Elite visa - useless.

LTR visa , same.

 

Thailand need to understand that one of the main spender here are the house owners retirees who come over just for 3 to 5 months in winter. Nothing has been done to make the O Non Imm visa more simple and friendly. For instance give at least 4 months of stay instead of the current 90 days. A 50 yr old home owner will always spend big bucks, regardless of the duration of stay.

 

No. You're delusional. Just check what the GDP influence of expats in Thailand is.

 

"Home owners". Lol. So, the people who bought their Mia Farang a house and aren't even renting?

[Captain Monday]

On 7/19/2024 at 7:35 PM, lapamita said:

I never understand People buying Elite cards.

I am over 30 Years here , and since 5 Years only half of the year ,bcs more easy living and better clima in other country.

Everchanging rules , I had Investment Visa based on  3mb  about 20 years ago, and under Taxsim , rules get changed , even it was Grandfatherd . 3mb must than stay in Goverment bank at 0% ( 0%policy of intrest for foreigner at this time) what was bringing an intrest loss per anum of aprox 200,000 thb ( local intrests at 6-7% at this time) , or the cost of visa to 200.000 ,+++

than i get the visa for 20k special from bkk immigration , and when thats not possible later ,i was travel to philippines and send passport to honorary conulate receiving a multi 1 year non b /o ( not illegal because staying outside thailand during visa aplication), and the story goes on , when this not possible more  with boarderruns and various visas.

I am even not want stay in thai more the whole year , but that i come back in June here ..get only 30 day stamp, gone 10 day abroad , 2 days longer because of the 60 days start 15.7  ...and what i received at 13h on 15.07  at the swampi airport only 30 days AMAZING THALAND, i go back overseas on 20.8 wiath 7 day overstay

 

and thats one or the reasons , i left thailand , ever changing rules, senseless anouncment.

 

PS  I dont like India , but 2 times a year i there for 3,4 days to some reason ,  but one thing they issue  a 5 year Tourist Visa valid for up to 180 days per year for 80 USD , i ts easy and 1 stamp in passport for 5 years.   ..so and that make really sense , compare to all the s**** thais making

 

You never understood buying Elite cards?

Imagine if you will,  a foreigner who works overseas outside of Thailand on "rotations".

• He was under 50.
• He was not married to a Thai.
• He had no intention of working in Thailand.
• He was sold a Condo in Thailand in the 2000s
• At the time never ever told by anybody or any rumours  he could not fly in and out visa exempt as often as he wanted without any hassle whatsoever about "coming too many times" or having the "proper visa". Then the goalposts were changed, or you could say screws were tightened. Don't forget the TM30 rubbish. Owned a condo for about 10 years before I ever heard of it. Then most every long-stay  foreigner in Chiang Mai got finned for having not lodged one.

 

Until this foreigner turned 50 the Elite Programme was a great option.

[G_Money]

1 hour ago, Bjoern said:

How many times have I heard this: "If you don't like Thailand's visa regulation you are free to leave".

Don't try to find any other ways to stay long time online or in any Thai forum. "Just go home if you not like the immigration rules here". Not everybody can just leave Thailand, we (company) own a house, car, motorbike, girlfriend and dogs. Leaving or going elsewhere is not an option, and immigration officers are aware of this problem, that's why they every year make it more difficult for us to stay long time.

Sounds like a personal problem.  
 

Burned your bridges.  Sold up and put everything into your beloved Thailand.

 

 Never invest more in Thailand than you are willing to walk away from.

 

And now you have to deal with what comes down.  
 

Up to you.

[G_Money]

1 hour ago, Maitdjai said:

 

This is the empty, unreflected, nothing-saying reflex of stupid opportunists, within the TiT expat cloud. Lol.

 

[ukrules]

5 hours ago, Gilligan In Drag said:

I don't get it. Seems like if you have the money, the elite visa is still a much better visa to be on.

 

It is, I renewed mine for an additional 15 years last year which takes me up to 2040 for a one off 500k Baht fee.

I've had people tell me there's no such thing as a 5 year visa and that I've been scammed - most people seem to have no clue just what you get with it.

I've over 50 now and still decided to extend it as it's that useful.

[racket]

On 7/23/2024 at 2:41 PM, Lorry said:

It was designed for people who come here often,  many times a year. 

That's why all these funny airport perks.

It wasn't designed for people to  live here. 

And that's why it's just a kind of tourist visa.

 

20 or 30 years ago,  when it was designed,  there were not so many Westerners (except retirees) keen on saving a pound or two by living i  a third-world country.  Especially, as you couldn't work remotely and get a Western income.

And Russians or Chinese, now the best buyers, were unheard of.

 

 

 

That’s not necessarily true. You can enjoy airport perks and access to VIP lounges when flying domestically to different provinces, along with discounts on many facilities, which counters your point. Furthermore, if you leave the country without obtaining a re-entry permit, you’ll void your elite visa, rendering it invalid, which is a crucial consideration. The elite visa is specifically designed for individuals under 50 who don’t qualify for a retirement visa but want to live in Thailand long-term without needing work permits or tourist visas. In fact, this visa offers benefits like extended stays of up to 5 years without the need for frequent renewals. I have friends who visit Thailand 4-7 times per year, and they don’t consider the elite visa, preferring other short-term visa options.

[Maitdjai]

9 hours ago, G_Money said:

 

 

Oh, now it's getting visually "creative".

I'd bet after you learned that, you came to the conclusion, that you belong to the first group.

[Maitdjai]

2 hours ago, racket said:

"if you leave the country without obtaining a re-entry permit, you’ll void your elite visa, rendering it invalid, which is a crucial consideration"

 

Wow, I thought at least the REP was included in the "bargain" package.

So even the "Elite" program is not carefree.

Containing hurdles and ripp-off traps hidden in the small print.

I wonder if and how many holders had the experience of a personal wake-up call.