Editorial Immigration and the New Government

[webfact]

The resignation of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to have wide-ranging impacts, while the incoming Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration may find the more liberal immigration and visa policies quite challenging to implement.

EDITORIAL

By Pattaya Mai

 

The shock resignation of prime minister Srettha Thavisin is bound to reverberate in all sorts of directions. But it’s virtually certain that the new Pheu Thai-led administration will get round to immigration and visas sooner rather than later.

 

Mr Thavisin’s vision was to expand massively the entry and extension opportunities for visa-exempt tourists, whilst creating a new visa for long-stayers with a lawful activity in mind. But the foreign affairs ministry, which pushed through the changes in Cabinet, may have bitten off more than the new government can chew.

The latest rule allows visa-exempt tourists to receive 60 days on arrival with a 30 days’ extension at local immigration. Nothing in print prevents these tourists from leaving the country – for example on a border hop – and repeating the procedure indefinitely. That would mean a permanent leave to remain in Thailand, without any visa, simply by briefly leaving the country – even for an hour or two – four times a year. No need to show any paperwork of any kind.

 

When challenged about multiple admissions, the foreign affairs ministry spokesman said that, of course, all entries to Thailand were subject to the discretion of the immigration officer. In other words, you would never be sure what might happen further down the line. One tourist might be refused, whilst another might be hassle-free, a scenario which would create the bad publicity which the Thai government abhors. The obvious solution is for the incoming Thai government to limit entries under the visa-exempt scheme to one or two in any twelve months’ period.

 

Full story: PATTAYA MAIL 2024-08-19

 

-  Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

 

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[Gknrd]

Was planning on heading over that way my next vaccation.  Hope things don't change to fast. Or I will be bypassing Thailand.

[Artisi]

"Shock Resignation", thought we was kicked out to make room for another Thaksin clone?

[sidneybear]

51 minutes ago, Artisi said:

"Shock Resignation", thought we was kicked out to make room for another Thaksin clone?

My thoughts. The media has obviously been bought. 

[Dogbarker]

 Will be another fiasco .. about time they decided on the rules and stuck to it ... After COVID and being out of Thailand during that period I lapsed my retirement visa and decided to split my life  .. still have money in the bank but could not bother with  CM immigration  and instead doing the tourist bit ... And a hop if required ... 

[nakhonandy]

Whatever is decided, it will take time.

[PingRoundTheWorld]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The obvious solution is for the incoming Thai government to limit entries under the visa-exempt scheme to one or two in any twelve months’ period.

The "obvious solution"? Not only are there plenty of genuine tourists who enter a lot more than one or two times a year (seriously - wtf?). This sounds more like the usual drivel from expats who hate expats than actual news - has anyone in government actually mentioned ANY of these ideas of how to limit the visas? Yeah didn't think so - the whole point of allowing 60 day entries and the DTV is because they want MORE foreigners (money), not less.

 

Yes, I do think 5 years without any checks whatsoever afterwards is excessive not to mention an insult to anyone who purchased Elite recently, but let them decide what they want to do with it before we start suggesting any draconian changes.

[PingRoundTheWorld]

1 hour ago, Gknrd said:

Was planning on heading over that way my next vaccation.  Hope things don't change to fast. Or I will be bypassing Thailand.

Why wait? Just get the DTV now, while you can, and don't worry about it.

[blazes]

53 minutes ago, sidneybear said:

My thoughts. The media has obviously been bought. 

 

He "resigned" in the same way that Biden resigned.  Except that Biden still has his finger on  the nuclear red button.....

[Homburg]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

....set to have wide-ranging impacts....

Speculation, not news.  Wake me when something actually happens.  Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[Enoon]

27 minutes ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

The "obvious solution"? Not only are there plenty of genuine tourists who enter a lot more than one or two times a year (seriously - wtf?). This sounds more like the usual drivel from expats who hate expats than actual news - has anyone in government actually mentioned ANY of these ideas of how to limit the visas? Yeah didn't think so - the whole point of allowing 60 day entries and the DTV is because they want MORE foreigners (money), not less.

 

Yes, I do think 5 years without any checks whatsoever afterwards is excessive not to mention an insult to anyone who purchased Elite recently, but let them decide what they want to do with it before we start suggesting any draconian changes.

 

It's been written to agree with expat opinion.

 

That's how the media acquires and retains its target segment......it tells the segment what it thinks the segment wants to hear.

 

It agrees with it, laughs at its jokes and validates its prejudices.........just like the best mate it wants the segment to think it is.

 

 

 

Edited August 18 by Enoon

[blazes]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The obvious solution is for the incoming Thai government

 

Occam's razor:  go for the nearest, most obvious and best solution.  However, this is Thailand....

[kwilco]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The resignation of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is set to have wide-ranging impacts, while the incoming Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration may find the more liberal immigration and visa policies quite challenging to implement.

EDITORIAL

By Pattaya Mai

 

The shock resignation of prime minister Srettha Thavisin is bound to reverberate in all sorts of directions. But it’s virtually certain that the new Pheu Thai-led administration will get round to immigration and visas sooner rather than later.

 

Mr Thavisin’s vision was to expand massively the entry and extension opportunities for visa-exempt tourists, whilst creating a new visa for long-stayers with a lawful activity in mind. But the foreign affairs ministry, which pushed through the changes in Cabinet, may have bitten off more than the new government can chew.

The latest rule allows visa-exempt tourists to receive 60 days on arrival with a 30 days’ extension at local immigration. Nothing in print prevents these tourists from leaving the country – for example on a border hop – and repeating the procedure indefinitely. That would mean a permanent leave to remain in Thailand, without any visa, simply by briefly leaving the country – even for an hour or two – four times a year. No need to show any paperwork of any kind.

 

When challenged about multiple admissions, the foreign affairs ministry spokesman said that, of course, all entries to Thailand were subject to the discretion of the immigration officer. In other words, you would never be sure what might happen further down the line. One tourist might be refused, whilst another might be hassle-free, a scenario which would create the bad publicity which the Thai government abhors. The obvious solution is for the incoming Thai government to limit entries under the visa-exempt scheme to one or two in any twelve months’ period.

 

Full story: PATTAYA MAIL 2024-08-19

 

-  Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

When I suggested this a few weeks back I was snootily told how wrong I was and the idea was loudly rejected

[AhFarangJa]

1 hour ago, sidneybear said:

My thoughts. The media has obviously been bought. 

Very true, but I believe the media world wide are just mouthpieces for the people in charge. Only feed us what they want.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The obvious solution is for the incoming Thai government to limit entries under the visa-exempt scheme to one or two in any twelve months’ period.

Or just allow multiple entries... what's the problem with that?

Annual POS means no border hops for the expats

[JimboB4]

Not exactly a shock I told you this was going to happen from day one. I knew he was going to be gone the second he said something bad about weed after all the great things it’s doing for Thailand, health, and the economy. Sounds like new government might be good news. 

[bradiston]

2 hours ago, sidneybear said:

My thoughts. The media has obviously been bought. 

Probably AI.

[spidermike007]

2 hours ago, sidneybear said:

My thoughts. The media has obviously been bought. 

When was the last time we have seen any investigative reporting in Thailand? What you said was the understatement of the decade. Total complicity and cooperation. 

[itsari]

I thought there was the computer related crime act 2017 to regulate false news in Thailand.

[Expat Tom]

Obama runs America and Taskin runs Thailand. There is no democracy in either country. 

[thailand49]

Resign! 

He was kicked out replaced!

She was elected!  Hand pick more like it.

In a year one mis-step she be sneaking off the dead of the night like her aunt in exile. 

As the world of politics turn in Thailand

[Andycoops]

Any changes will happen with minimal notice usually 3-5 days before becoming law, as usual.

 

We are after all still waiting for clarification of the tax situation which was announced at the end of last year and only 4.5 months left until the end of this one.

 

The new visa rules, like most Thai pronouncements are never thought through properly.

[Artisi]

6 minutes ago, thailand49 said:

Resign! 

He was kicked out replaced!

She was elected!  Hand pick more like it.

In a year one mis-step she be sneaking off the dead of the night like her aunt in exile. 

As the world of politics turn in Thailand

Hopefully with daddy in tow along with the rest of the Shinawatra clan - all useless oxygen thieves. 

[renaissanc]

Thaksin, since you'll be running the government ... please reform the Marriage Visa. I've been here for 40 years (38 years married to a Thai) and I still have to renew the visa annually. The process at Imm. takes an hour each year as the same information as last year has to be typed into a computer while the Officer is interrupted many times, and this usually spreads over their lunch hour so I have to wait an hour extra. Then the Imm. Police come to my home and ask for some of the same information and take the same photographs I have provided before asking the neighbours if we live in the house. Then we have to wait a month for approval, which we drive an hour to get from the provincial Imm. office. The system is making you and your fellows look like idiots.

[Artisi]

3 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

Any changes will happen with minimal notice usually 3-5 days before becoming law, as usual.

 

We are after all still waiting for clarification of the tax situation which was announced at the end of last year and only 4.5 months left until the end of this one.

 

The new visa rules, like most Thai pronouncements are never thought through properly.

"Thought through" and "properly" are unknown concepts to Thai's. 

[Frankie baby]

What's the point of going through the election process when the back-room boys can change anything to their advantage at will.

[sikishrory]

Strange article. More like an expats opinion that you would read in this forum rather than any objective news based on fact.

Most of what is mentioned has been already been adressed in-depth in both the podcast and the vlog (with foreign affairs) which went quite deep into this.

The number being mentioned as 2 visa exempt entries per year. Even before the recent changes the number of visa exempt entries was a grey area and you would hear different things from different people. Also changes regarding your approach of using agent, land / air,  what contacts you have or which visa run company and which border crossing.

[SouthThailand]

4 minutes ago, renaissanc said:

The process at Imm. takes an hour each year

 

Only one hour a year.

Not bad at all.

You can rest for another year after this one hour of hard work.

[Ben Zioner]

16 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

We are after all still waiting for clarification of the tax situation which was announced at the end of last year and only 4.5 months left until the end of this one.

IMHO everything is clear for 2024: remittance during 2024 of any money earned in 2024 is income. Then the DTA, if any, applies. But you may need to go to court to claim your tax credit.

 

The wise would avoid any to remit any money earned after Dec 31, 2023 for the next couple of years. And get an LTR if they can. Maybe recruit a good tax accountant.

Edited August 19 by Ben Zioner

[LukKrueng]

Why would there be any changes? It's the same people, same coalition. The only "major" change is the front puppet