As an American, I'm embarrassed about what's going on with our country and the orange jesus. It just seems to get crazier every day. I've never supported this guy in any way, not for the first time they called him our leader, and certainly not now. What I do find so interesting is the language from a year ago and all the other countries that supported this guy, saying he was going to be the world's savior. How quickly so many of you can have amnesia! The same applies to all those who voted for him, "less his cult followers," that might be roughly 30% of the most uneducated. We are getting exactly what we voted for, and once we figure out how to get rid of him and his totally corrupt cabinet, we will spend the next decade trying to repair the damage they have done, not only in the US but also around the World.

I really do love Thailand, but those who have pointed out that it's nearly impossible to get citizenship here speak the truth. Even anything greater than a short-term visa is difficult unless you are wealthy. My wife applied for a tourist visa to the USA and was granted a 10-year visa with six-month stays before needing to leave the USA. I'd say that was pretty good when you compare visa's

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I certainly wish that would be the case, it will certainly return to a semblance of reasonable and coherent policy, but it could take decades to repair the damage that this insane street thug has imposed on the American people and the world.

The United States must embrace the principles of Joe Biden’s open borders once again. Open borders are not just a policy; they represent a moral obligation—no human being deserves to be labeled as illegal. American taxpayers would proudly support initiatives that uplift the less fortunate, recognizing our shared responsibility to help one another. It is the duty of compassionate individuals to champion open borders, as this is fundamentally the right course of action. Our pursuit of diversity should be relentless, as it enriches the fabric of our society and reflects our highest values.

35 minutes ago, Caldera said:

I'd reciprocate first (no more Thai visas for American citizens, with immediate effect) and ask questions later. That's the only language the current US administration understands.

A warmongering super corrupt freak does not understand the language of reason. Only power, war and his own self created disaster.

10 minutes ago, topcat333 said:

I really do love Thailand, but those who have pointed out that it's nearly impossible to get citizenship here speak the truth. Even anything greater than a short-term visa is difficult unless you are wealthy. My wife applied for a tourist visa to the USA and was granted a 10-year visa with six-month stays before needing to leave the USA. I'd say that was pretty good when you compare visa's

It is imperative for the people of Thailand to actively safeguard their rich cultural heritage by thoughtfully regulating immigration. It is vital to prevent any ideologies, such as white supremacy, from gaining a foothold in their society. By doing so, they can foster an environment that celebrates their traditions and values, ensuring a vibrant future for generations to come.

3 minutes ago, nick supreme said:

It is imperative for the people of Thailand to actively safeguard their rich cultural heritage by thoughtfully regulating immigration. It is vital to prevent any ideologies, such as white supremacy, from gaining a foothold in their society. By doing so, they can foster an environment that celebrates their traditions and values, ensuring a vibrant future for generations to come.

AI came up with this:

Based on available data from official reports, news articles, surveys, and public discussions (including social media sentiments from locals and expats in Thailand), here's a ranked list of foreign nationalities often cited as the most associated with violent incidents, criminal activities (e.g., drugs, scams, theft), troublesome behavior (e.g., rudeness, illegal work, overstaying), and obnoxious conduct (e.g., disrespecting local customs, littering, harassment). This is compiled from sources like Thai police statistics, tourism authority reports, and community feedback, focusing on patterns in popular areas like Phuket, Bangkok, Pattaya, and Pai. Note that these are generalizations drawn from reported incidents and perceptions—not all individuals from these groups behave this way, and Thailand welcomes millions of respectful visitors annually. Rankings start with the most frequently mentioned as "worst" based on volume of complaints and arrests.

Rank	Nationality	Key Issues Cited
1	Russians	Top the list for crimes in Phuket (e.g., theft, drug-related offenses, illegal work as tour guides). Locals report "colonizing" behaviors like dominating areas, rude interactions, and terrorizing communities. Surge in visa overstays and draft-dodging expats. High involvement in violent incidents and burglaries.
2	Israelis	Recent backlash for inappropriate behavior (e.g., loud partying, theft from temples, harassment). "No Israel" signs in establishments; petitions to shut down illegal Israeli-run businesses. Reports of aggressive haggling, cultural insensitivity, and exploiting visa rules in places like Pai.
3	Chinese	Often ranked as the "worst tourists" in SE Asia surveys for loudness, littering, and group disruptions. Involved in zero-dollar tours, scams, and occasional violent altercations. High numbers in Phuket generate revenue but also complaints about rudeness and overcrowding.
4	Nigerians	Linked to romance scams, fraud networks (e.g., "Operation Black Horse Down" with 50M+ THB damages), and drug distribution to tourists. Multiple arrests in sting operations; seen as troublesome due to organized crime ties.
5	Indians	Complaints about messy behavior (e.g., littering beaches with wrappers and cans), haggling aggressively, and inappropriate public conduct. Some surveys call them "ugly tourists"; involved in scams and overcrowding in Pattaya.
6	British	High arrest rates for drugs, assaults, and theft (third in Phuket crimes). "Passport bros" and rowdy tourists cited for drunken violence, sexual assaults, and disrespect. Common in full-moon party incidents on Koh Phangan.
7	French	Second in Phuket crime stats (e.g., motorcycle gangs disturbing locals, theft). Reports of violent altercations and illegal activities; seen as obnoxious in tourist hubs.
8	Australians	Involved in bar fights, assaults, and drug offenses. Perceived as loud and aggressive, especially in Pattaya and Phuket; some expat complaints about racism and entitlement.
9	Americans	"Passport bros" accused of harassing trans women, secret recordings, and exploitative behavior. Involved in assaults, DUIs, and occasional homicides; complaints about cultural insensitivity and "flag-jacking" (pretending to be Canadian).
10	Myanmar/Burmese	Migrant workers linked to petty crimes, theft, and occasional violence. High deportation numbers for overstays and illegal work; some homicide convictions noted.

This ranking prioritizes recent (2023–2026) data from sources like Bangkok Post, Thai police reports, and local petitions. For context, overall foreign crime in Thailand is low relative to tourist volume (e.g., 181 arrests in Phuket in early 2023, mostly non-violent), but spikes in drug-related and behavioral issues have fueled perceptions. If you're planning a trip or living there, focus on respecting local laws to avoid issues.

This is why Thailand is on the list. 37 % of their households are on welfare.

Philippines doesn't make the list.

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow expressed the government's need for a comprehensive explanation,

It's to stop people entering USA with limited funds, then claiming off the welfare system and medical services..

Simple explanation : if you go to USA as a tourist you fund yourself for any eventuality.

If you intend to stay for an extended period of time, have finances in place and medical insurance.

Approximately 2.4% of Thai Americans receive SNAP (food stamps) benefits, a figure significantly lower than their 16.7% poverty rate. 

This low rate of benefit receipt among Thai Americans, even when eligible due to low income, highlights a broader pattern within some Asian American subgroups of underutilizing public assistance programs. 

10 hours ago, J Branche said:

article.

People overreact sometimes as

I’d reply to these topics but it’s over obvious the racist comments toward “Yanks” as loud mouths etc. just indicates I’d be arguing with total idiots.

The rule of thumb is never argue with an idiot you can never win, Go out and get a new tattoo or something to build your deflated ego.

What a joke to read some of this nonsense. Where are you people from? And obviously your education level is very very low. My Thai wife had no issues getting her US Citizenship most recently.

Put up or shut up if you don’t have the facts. UK, EU, Australia certainly aren’t without their problems.

By the way this wasn’t meant for Pomchop it was in general meant for the first to comments at the beginning of this article. And I agree Thai are being treated a little harshly here but the dust will hopefully settle soon and the door will open again.

5 hours ago, nick supreme said:

The United States must embrace the principles of Joe Biden’s open borders once again. Open borders are not just a policy; they represent a moral obligation—no human being deserves to be labeled as illegal. American taxpayers would proudly support initiatives that uplift the less fortunate, recognizing our shared responsibility to help one another. It is the duty of compassionate individuals to champion open borders, as this is fundamentally the right course of action. Our pursuit of diversity should be relentless, as it enriches the fabric of our society and reflects our highest values.

Open borders exist nowhere on Earth and to do so only invites undesired people along with some good. Proper vetting is the only option there. Look what’s happening in the Uk, EU now overrun with people of such a different culture blood shed is on the horizon,

Joe Biden’s policy’s nearly ruined America. He is in fact a criminal.

All charges against Trump were dropped and more on the way.

This was a Biden Witch Hunt now going very bad for the Democrats. Laws for proper immigration exist for every country on Earth. Look at Mexico for ann example overstay there or enter illegally and it’s off to Mexican Hell Prison if caught.

14 hours ago, Johno57 said:

So do the same to them..less loud mouth yanks would be a positive move..

they all ready do, are you on an immigrant visa? or non-immigrant visa?

99% of the guys living here need to extend their permission to stay each year. In that case you're a guest on a non-immigrant visa!

do you think any US citizen can just apply for an immigrant visa and get one?

Non-immigrant visas are still available. (tourist, business etc)

14 hours ago, mberbae said:

America will return back to civility once the current convicted rapist and his thugs are out of office.

when was he convicted of rape?

12 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The US benefits greatly by granting citizenship to Thai nationals as most of them work very hard, for lower wages than the average American.

Thailand would benefit greatly by offering citizenship to foreign nationals as they're bringing in three to five times the amount of money per month as the average Thai earns, but the government here are simply too thick and too fearful to understand that kind of a concept.

The US benefits greatly??? maybe benefits a little bit. Don't see how you can say that about 320,000 Thais in the US contribute greatly to a country of 340+ Million!

All my my wife's friends are getting paid same as everyone else. Most of her friends are severs or cooks in Thai restaurants.

I've heard them talking and the girls make anywhere between $150-$200 a day in tips plus their hourly wage of $10.98.

That's about 60K a year, not great but livable. Most send money back to Thailand every month, That's not good for the US.

My wife has about 11 Thai girlfriends in then US and 9 of them overstayed their visas for years and then married someone to stay in the US.

Thailand does offer citizenship to foreigners. You just need to qualify for it. I have 2 friends with Thai citizenship.

11 hours ago, John Drake said:

Is there a US policy to evict Thais from the US? Meanwhile, Thailand already evicts Americans (and other nationalities) when they are caught violating Thai immigration law.

The left told me this is fascist.

15 hours ago, mberbae said:

America will return back to civility once the current convicted rapist and his thugs are out of office.

Never convicted. Try again.

2 hours ago, TedG said:

Never convicted. Try again.

they just repeat what CNN / MSNBC tells them.

5 hours ago, S Mart said:

Open borders exist nowhere on Earth and to do so only invites undesired people along with some good. Proper vetting is the only option there. Look what’s happening in the Uk, EU now overrun with people of such a different culture blood shed is on the horizon,

Joe Biden’s policy’s nearly ruined America. He is in fact a criminal.

All charges against Trump were dropped and more on the way.

This was a Biden Witch Hunt now going very bad for the Democrats. Laws for proper immigration exist for every country on Earth. Look at Mexico for ann example overstay there or enter illegally and it’s off to Mexican Hell Prison if caught.

They were dropped because he won the election. The SS has ruled that a sitting president can not be prosecuted. Jack Smith had a very strong case for the J6 attempt to overthrow the election. As for the classified document, that was a slam prosecution. The only thing that saved Trump was his appointed judge, Cannon, who constantly gets overruled on appeals. But she managed to drag it out till after the election. The republicans tried to get Smith in a closed hearing, but he embarrassed them with facts because he is three times the attorney they ever thought of being. It was so bad that they waited until New Year's Eve to release a redacted transcript. Smith has demanded an open hearing on national TV and has made Cannon release the second part of his investigation, which she is blocking because of all the daming information about Trump. No, I am not a Democrat. Just know a piece of low-life trash, like Trump, when I see it. Yes, Biden caused a lot of this by flooding the US with open borders. So, from one extreme to another. Come this year's elections, the Dems will take the House and probably the Senate. By 2028, hopefully, we can come back to a happy medium.

5 hours ago, S Mart said:

Open borders exist nowhere on Earth and to do so only invites undesired people along with some good. Proper vetting is the only option there. Look what’s happening in the Uk, EU now overrun with people of such a different culture blood shed is on the horizon,

Joe Biden’s policy’s nearly ruined America. He is in fact a criminal.

All charges against Trump were dropped and more on the way.

This was a Biden Witch Hunt now going very bad for the Democrats. Laws for proper immigration exist for every country on Earth. Look at Mexico for ann example overstay there or enter illegally and it’s off to Mexican Hell Prison if caught.

15 hours ago, Purdey said:

Thailand could consider some slogans like Make Thailand Great Again and Thailand First. Then follow the Trump model by evicting Americans.

Won't happen because Thailand is more respectful.

That’s a ridiculous comparison. American expats in Thailand are not here illegally. They hold valid visas, follow Thai immigration laws, and are subject to the same rules and enforcement as any other foreign nationals. Thai authorities, like American authorities, actively oppose illegal immigration and do not allow it.

Opposition to illegal immigration in the United States has nothing to do with evicting lawful residents or visitors. It reflects the same concern many countries now have after watching what has happened in parts of Europe, where uncontrolled illegal immigration has created serious social, economic, and security problems.

Every country has the right to control its borders and enforce its laws. Wanting immigration to be legal, orderly, and enforceable isn’t “disrespectful”, it’s normal state behavior, and Thailand practices it just as firmly as the United States does.

2 hours ago, ericthai said:

they just repeat what CNN / MSNBC tells them.

Yep.

6 hours ago, TedG said:

Never convicted. Try again.

was trump convicted of crimes

Yes, Donald Trump was convicted of crimes in 2024. As of 2026, he remains a convicted felon, though he received no active punishment (such as jail time or fines) for these convictions.

 

New York "Hush Money" Conviction

On May 30, 2024, a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. 

• The Crime: The conviction centered on records intended to conceal a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

• The Sentence: On January 10, 2025, Judge Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to an unconditional discharge. This means the conviction is formalized on his criminal record, but he faces no jail time, probation, or fines.

• Current Status: Trump is currently appealing the conviction, arguing that evidence used during the trial should have been excluded based on the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling on presidential immunity. 

Status of Other Criminal Cases

As of 2026, the other three major criminal indictments against Trump have either been dismissed or dropped:

• Federal Election Interference (D.C.): Dismissed in November 2024 at the request of Special Counsel Jack Smith following Trump's election victory.

• Classified Documents Case (Florida): Initially dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon in July 2024. The federal appeal of this dismissal was abandoned by the Justice Department in November 2024.

• Georgia Election Interference: All remaining charges against Trump and other defendants were dropped by the prosecutor in November 2025 after a lengthy pause and the disqualification of the original District Attorney, Fani Willis. 

Summary of Legal Consequences

• Presidency: His status as a convicted felon did not legally prevent him from holding the office of the President.

• Travel Restrictions: As a convicted felon, Trump may face travel restrictions to countries that bar entry to those with criminal records, such as Canada and the UK, though he can seek special waivers as a head of state.

• Pardon Power: As president, Trump cannot pardon himself for the New York conviction because it is a state-level crime, not a federal one. 

Read TM35 by the local immigration office, the last sentence just above the signature refers to "are not allow to appeal".

Tit for tat? Difference is between zero visa issuance at departure for travelers intending to IMMIGRATE (not visit) versus denial at arrival as per enclosure.

According to the poster of enclosed expulsion order he had/has no clue, why he is being "expulsed" and returns to origin departure point - an unverified statement, I agree.

It is all in the communication, while legally not always necessary it facilitates the understanding by the affected and can serve as a learning step for others with the same traveling intention in the future - me thinks.

22 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow expressed the government's need for a comprehensive explanation,

It's to stop people entering USA with limited funds, then claiming off the welfare system and medical services..

Simple explanation : if you go to USA as a tourist you fund yourself for any eventuality.

If you intend to stay for an extended period of time, have finances in place and medical insurance.

Except theres a system thats supposed to prevent that already. They are required to have a sponsor thats financially responsible for them.

I can't wait to see who's the responsible person for all of the immigrants on public assistance and can't wait until they go after them to recoup the funds spent.

20 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

Not even Americans have enough funds to provide for any eventuality in a country where medical need results in bankruptcy. Our economic squeeze on the working middle class is not the result of immigrants but rather the 3conomic policies of both parties over the last half century plus.

It's called health insurance... not a "Go-Fund-Me"

On 1/16/2026 at 8:08 AM, mberbae said:

America will return back to civility once the current convicted rapist and his thugs are out of office.

And who is this "convicted rapist "...

Considering all the hassles in Thailand on visa issues enforced towards westerners...would anybody sincerely be concerned if it also works the other way ?

22 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The US benefits greatly by granting citizenship to Thai nationals as most of them work very hard, for lower wages than the average American.

Thailand would benefit greatly by offering citizenship to foreign nationals as they're bringing in three to five times the amount of money per month as the average Thai earns, but the government here are simply too thick and too fearful to understand that kind of a concept.

The Thai immigrants I have had the pleasure of meeting in the US are largely as you say: hard working, as well as being model citizens.

I'm going to guess there wasn't a single person of Thai ancestry who attacked the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.

Now all of those MAGA janitors, truck drivers and people on SSDI who did storm the Capitol should be deported to CECOT in El Salvador. They have lost the right to be American, as has the fat man Trump himself (for trying to overturn 250 years of US democracy).

7 hours ago, ericthai said:

they just repeat what CNN / MSNBC tells them.

sure and also what the judge who actually tried the case says

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/07/19/trump-carroll-judge-rape/

38 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

And who is this "convicted rapist "...

I guess you missed the civil case. The official conviction was for "sexual assault". The judge said technically it was rape.

No doubt rape is okay for MAGAs, as is stealing highly classified documents and trying to overthrow a democratic election. There is neither morality nor integrity among MAGAs. That's why they're MAGAs.

Those on marriage or retirement visas are essentially immigrants, as few ever plan to leave Thailand, so Thailand would be fair in doing a quid pro quo and either deporting Americans or demanding they significantly up their funds in country and insurance coverage, lest the bloated old decrepit ones become a burden on the Thai taxpayer as they fade into worm food.

Certainly it would be poetic justice if Thailand did this to resident MAGAs, as no doubt those people fully support everything their messiah is doing. I believe in this culture that would be called "karma".

In the US under Trump it's now "Show us your papers", if your face is not lily white, so maybe the Thai equivalent is "Whom did you vote for?"