3 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

Personally, I can't imagine traveling without cash. 

 

Same here, not in Thailand, but in other countries its helped me significantly. 

 

Years ago, I was unable to get foreign currency out of the Thai Banks...  They were simply refusing to give US$ out - even with a flight ticket etc - I'd tried in numerous Banks, but they were not issuing US$.

I tried at the Airport (Don Muang) upon departure, and the money changers refused... 

 

I had little choice but to travel to my destination country without 'internationally accepted currency'... 

I didn't have the cash for the Visa, and hoped they'd accept credit card, they didn't. 

 

I was being returned on the next flight - luckily my company pulled strings and someone came in and escorted me through.

 

I was young (22) and from then on, never ever travelled without cash, even now when I have multiple digital options. 

 

Thus: Entering Thailand Visa Exempt or otherwise - it makes sense to have 'some cash' with you, just to cover the bases incase things go wrong.

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Same here, not in Thailand, but in other countries its helped me significantly. 

 

Years ago, I was unable to get foreign currency out of the Thai Banks...  They were simply refusing to give US$ out - even with a flight ticket etc - I'd tried in numerous Banks, but they were not issuing US$.

I tried at the Airport (Don Muang) upon departure, and the money changers refused... 

 

I had little choice but to travel to my destination country without 'internationally accepted currency'... 

I didn't have the cash for the Visa, and hoped they'd accept credit card, they didn't. 

 

I was being returned on the next flight - luckily my company pulled strings and someone came in and escorted me through.

 

I was young (22) and from then on, never ever travelled without cash, even now when I have multiple digital options. 

 

Thus: Entering Thailand Visa Exempt or otherwise - it makes sense to have 'some cash' with you, just to cover the bases incase things go wrong.

And it's not like it costs anything to carry it. Better to have it and not need it and whatnot. 

4 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

And it's not like it costs anything to carry it. Better to have it and not need it and whatnot. 

 

I just got caught out with 'too much local' currency overseas... 

They accepted all digital payments without issue (Apple Pay via Wise card tie to local currency), so I found myself being forced to spend the local currency (slightly more inconvenient than the 'phone tap-n-go'...    Then at the Airport when getting couple of bottles of Whisky (I spent the cash and remainder on card to clear the cash)....  

 

So...  Don't really like carrying cash, but understand the necessity just incase things go wrong - in this case the 'just in case' was arriving in a place with Wife and Son, not being able to use a taxi, hotel not accepted my overseas cards etc, then having to walk around finding a local cash machine (paying exorbitant rates using those or buying with card from a money changer).... 

 

Still - I often travel (alone through work) that are sufficient shyite-holes, that carrying US$ remains important - so its good to just have it, just in case... 

 

... and again, those same reasons make sense for carrying cash into Thailand - just in case.

 

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

... Thus: Anyone younger than 50, unmarried to a Thai, without a Thai child etc may have questionable reasons for being here when it comes to 'working in Thailand'... 

 

Thus - requirements are based around this, if 'we' worked for immigration I'm sure some of our members would like to see more strict requirements !!!

Why "questionable"?  They have money, or they would be sleeping outdoors and not eating.  They would not be here "working illegally," as an under-the-table job here pays for six 10-hr days what one day pays back home at McDonalds.  

 

I definitely would NOT want "more strict" requirements for those with passports from higher-wage nations,, because I care about the Thais who benefit from our spending - some being friends and family.  However, I would be throwing every Thai-company employer in prison who hires illegal foreign labor, which undercuts Thai's wages and opportunities.  I also wish they did that in my passport-country, like they did in the past.

 

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I'd agree, but aren't there visa's for that too ? Thai Elite, Investment Visa etc ?

Elite is a complete and total rip-off.  "Investment" is set unreasonasbly high. 

Fortunately, there is now the DTV, and I expect many will switch to this, as the terms are better.

 

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

They could, but then wouldn't that be abused by everyone working here long term and just paying 5k for 90 days at a time ?

"Abused" how?  Competing with immigrants from neighboring countries to mop-floors and work on fishing boats?   If Westerners are working here, they have a work-permit and appropriate-visa included.

 

With local-extensions, the govt makes money, people stay longer and spend - and their money is spent in Thailand, vs in neighboring countries on "visa-runs."

22 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

With local-extensions, the govt makes money, people stay longer and spend - and their money is spent in Thailand, vs in neighboring countries on "visa-run

Find your entire post ridiculous 

25 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

... Thus: Anyone younger than 50, unmarried to a Thai, without a Thai child etc may have questionable reasons for being here when it comes to 'working in Thailand'... 

 

Thus - requirements are based around this, if 'we' worked for immigration I'm sure some of our members would like to see more strict requirements !!!

Why "questionable"?  They have money, or they would be sleeping outdoors and not eating.  They would not be here "working illegally," as an under-the-table job here pays for six 10-hr days what one day pays back home at McDonalds.  

 

Yet how many people are here working illegally....     You, of course, have forgotten that the regulations are not solely by nationality... but generalised and thus must be fit for numerous nationalities, whatever the expected home income....  Besides, your point is made moot by how many 'westerners' work here on a tourist / retirement - Non-Imm O and Elite Visas.... 

 

 

25 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

I definitely would NOT want "more strict" requirements for those with passports from higher-wage nations,, because I care about the Thais who benefit from our spending - some being friends and family. 

Valid point - then give out 10 year Visa's like the US does....    But, still what about those coming here to work ?...   should you also not care about the Thai's who's jobs foreigners may take ?.... OK, you mentioned wealthy nations only...     Which are ? (include Russia ? China ? Korea ? etc.... there are already massive issues with people from those nations taking the Tourist Guide jobs etc...    

 

25 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

However, I would be throwing every Thai-company employer in prison who hires illegal foreign labor, which undercuts Thai's wages and opportunities.  I also wish they did that in my passport-country, like they did in the past.

 

Westerners, neighbouring migrant labourers or both ? 

 

25 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I'd agree, but aren't there visa's for that too ? Thai Elite, Investment Visa etc ?

Elite is a complete and total rip-off.  "Investment" is set unreasonasbly high. 

Fortunately, there is now the DTV, and I expect many will switch to this, as the terms are better.

 

Elite is valuable to the right people....  

 

DTV - its yet to be seen if after the given 180 days, can someone extend it for another 180 days, and so on for 5 years ?? - and...

... its yet to be seen 'who' will be considered legitimate - i.e. the Caveat is already out there 'it is unlikely that you will qualify for the DTV Visa Thailand if the Thai authorities do not consider your foreign employer to be “legitimate' -

This visa may expect overseas employer letters etc (for 'digital nomads') to be able to show documentation of employer etc..  Meanwhile those taking courses (muay Thai, cooking, Semiars etc) would be expected to show poof of that.

I don' think the DTV will be attainable for many.

 

25 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

They could, but then wouldn't that be abused by everyone working here long term and just paying 5k for 90 days at a time ?

"Abused" how?  Competing with immigrants from neighboring countries to mop-floors and work on fishing boats?   If Westerners are working here, they have a work-permit and appropriate-visa included.

 

No they don't [all working Westerners don't have a work-permit]  - who did you think the DTV you mentioned above was going to be used by - All those who are here under variable visa's playing the markets, working remotely, 

 

Agreed (to the abused point), but if those enforcing the law were able to stop all this - then would the Thai's do the job? and if so, how much more would it cost the businesses ?

 

(part of the cost: - how much more would that would impact the Thai Economy, local products became more costly, business importing from overseas, supermarkets source from overseas..  farms can't afford to pay their workers, what they expect because the produce is coming from overseas. 

Farms shut down, no work... what do the workers do ?... Or the workers will have to work. perhaps with Govt subsidy, but what about trade agreements with other ASEAN nations ?..... but the rates would still be low...  (we'd end up with tonnes of rice we can't sell again !)...  So... no, migrant labourers don't push down the rates/wages, not by too much...   but allowing skilled labour will, especially if that 'skilled Labor' is from country whose people is more poorly paid...

 

 

25 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

With local-extensions, the govt makes money, people stay longer and spend - and their money is spent in Thailand, vs in neighboring countries on "visa-runs."

 

Agreed - more income from foreign (incoming) spending has strong impact - but most of that is 'real tourism'.

 

I do agree, make it far easier for the legitimate 'digital nomads' working from overseas 'operations' etc to stay here, they are effectively brining money into Thailand, rather than re-spending money gained in Thailand... 

 

8 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

No - it has been confirmed repeatedly by multiple posters here, over years.

 

If Thai immigration want to deny a passenger entry all they have to do is state officially we do not consider yourself a genuine tourist

 

Why make up a fanatsy story in the first place. Fact they dont need to.

 

Why on earth would (any) immigration officer lie and claim no money was the reason when the highlighted passage of text above could be used every time. Quite simply they wouldnt.

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, Chivas said:

 

If Thai immigration want to deny a passenger entry all they have to do is state officially we do not consider yourself a genuine tourist

 

Why make up a fanatsy story in the first place. Fact they dont need to.

 

Why on earth would (any) immigration officer lie and claim no money was the reason when the highlighted passage of text above could be used every time. Quite simply they wouldnt.

 

 

Because there has to a 'because'...  they can't deny someone without reason, and 'insufficient funds' is an easy reason to state officially.... as in.... "we do not consider yourself a genuine tourist, because you have insufficient funds" 

 

 

 

 

16 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

should you also not care about the Thai's who's jobs foreigners may take ?.... OK, you mentioned wealthy nations only...     Which are ? (include Russia ? China ? Korea ? etc.... there are already massive issues with people from those nations taking the Tourist Guide jobs etc.

You say "massive issues" - with Koreans and Russians?  Yes, I saw a few news reports of a few cases of such illegal workers - and they were busted, which is good.   We used to see the occasional "dive instructor" from the West busted.  The joke was using this to pretend every border-bouncer from the West was an "illegal dive-instructor." 

 

Compare/contrast to the millions of illegal-workers from neighboring countries, in addition to those allowed in en-masse on L1 Visas (like the H2B in the USA) to keep wages down for Thais.  They even use the same "don't want those jobs" sales-pitch, when "... at the low-wage a foreign worker will accept," is left off the statement.

 

As to how it would affect costs, if those companies had to hire Thais - what is the "labor cost" in the retail-price of the products/services?  For example, if a condo building had to pay 2x more for the maid who cleans the public areas - how much per condo-unit in annual fees?  Repeat with condo-construction per sq-meter with well-paid Thai workers.  And how much per KG of shrimp or rice (consider the volume per-worker per-hour)?  

 

It is trivial for all but a few edge-cases, and those higher-paid citizen-workers become productive taxpayers instead of an economic net-loss to the country.  The tiny difference isn't passed to the consumer, anyway - only "adds up" to significant money on the meta-scale - passed-on via stock-dividends and board-member bonuses.

 

Returning to the DTV - yes, I hope the enforce the provisions for application, which should reduce the number of people from lower-wage nations using it to get access to working illegally in the Thai market - though that is flooded and not being enforced often, regardless.

 

Yes, you can border-bounce on the DTV, every 180 days, for 5 years.  Whether some "grease" will be needed at some border-crossings, has yet to be seen - but that would not change the equation.

On 8/26/2024 at 4:57 PM, wisemonkey said:

Just got the bad news that the closest border run for Chiang Mai, the (Chiang Khong - Huay Xai) border is now requiring a 2 night stay in Laos, despite this not being the law, its being enforced.

 

 

 

Whether or not to be allowed to enter / re-enter Thailand is at the discretion of the IOs.

29 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

You say "massive issues" - with Koreans and Russians?  Yes, I saw a few news reports of a few cases of such illegal workers - and they were busted, which is good.   We used to see the occasional "dive instructor" from the West busted.  The joke was using this to pretend every border-bouncer from the West was an "illegal dive-instructor." 

 

Compare/contrast to the millions of illegal-workers from neighboring countries, in addition to those allowed in en-masse on L1 Visas (like the H2B in the USA) to keep wages down for Thais.  They even use the same "don't want those jobs" sales-pitch, when "... at the low-wage a foreign worker will accept," is left off the statement.

 

As to how it would affect costs, if those companies had to hire Thais - what is the "labor cost" in the retail-price of the products/services?  For example, if a condo building had to pay 2x more for the maid who cleans the public areas - how much per condo-unit in annual fees?  Repeat with condo-construction per sq-meter with well-paid Thai workers.  And how much per KG of shrimp or rice (consider the volume per-worker per-hour)?  

 

It is trivial for all but a few edge-cases, and those higher-paid citizen-workers become productive taxpayers instead of an economic net-loss to the country.  The tiny difference isn't passed to the consumer, anyway - only "adds up" to significant money on the meta-scale - passed-on via stock-dividends and board-member bonuses.

 

Returning to the DTV - yes, I hope the enforce the provisions for application, which should reduce the number of people from lower-wage nations using it to get access to working illegally in the Thai market - though that is flooded and not being enforced often, regardless.

 

Yes, you can border-bounce on the DTV, every 180 days, for 5 years.  Whether some "grease" will be needed at some border-crossings, has yet to be seen - but that would not change the equation.

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2853708/complaints-over-illegal-chinese-bus-services

On 8/28/2024 at 7:03 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

Its relevant to the thread - in that it highlights to anyone foolish enough to be paying attention to your comments that they are the worthless, pointless musings of someone who truly has no concept of providing a valuable response when a question that matters is asked. 

 

In this example: It clearly matters to the Op that he finds the best solution to his 'visa and border bounce woes'....    you have unnecessarily muddied the waters and therein lies the relevance of calling out your posts as rubbish, though I initially took your comments at face value, answered them with the understanding that you maybe intelligent enough to subsequently recognise the irrelevance.... you didn't, and instead continued to 'make noise'.... 

 

 

you are wasting your time to reply me, i don't interest what you wanna say, believe me

On 8/29/2024 at 3:52 PM, Saigon said:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2853708/complaints-over-illegal-chinese-bus-services

See also the Chinese w/ "Thai nominees" inland-transport / trucking companies.  I doubt folks from the West are doing illegal-driving gigs - but whoever they are, should be busted, deported, and banned - with those who hired them doing prison-time.