h5n1 Posted October 3, 2007 Author Share Posted October 3, 2007 Cambodia and Philippines visas are half the price. To clarify this... this is inclusive of fees, visa run costs independantly or otherwise vs simply fronting up for an extention or buying a LT visa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tropo Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Cambodia and Philippines visas are half the price.To clarify this... this is inclusive of fees, visa run costs independantly or otherwise vs simply fronting up for an extention or buying a LT visa. For a one year stay in the Philippines it would cost about 7,000 - 9,000 baht depending on whether you pay express fees or not. The only travelling required would be a trip to any local Immigration Office every 2 months. That's 20 - 25% the cost of visa runs in Thailand (for a year), not to mention saving at least 10 days of your life by not travelling to the borders on visa runs. They've just recently increased the stay allowed to 16 months on 2 month renewals, and 24 months by completing a special new application form. As this is brand new, I can't give exact details on how much it costs. I will be heading to Penang in 3 weeks to apply for another tourist visa. I have 2 in my passport already (over a period or 14 months), so let's see what happens. I shall be asking a lot of questions and will report back here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnieB Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 (edited) In the end .. they change the rules and we figure another way round them. Nothing earth shaking at a certain level. ========================================================================== But I am really souring on the place, spending far too much for the privilage of spending my money here. Cambodia and Philippines visas are half the price. For the life of me I do not see why anyone would bother with the O visas the way they sit now. The perpetual changing requirments are one thing but the arbitrary and capricious nature of what/who is accepted/rejected based on who accepts the app, their mood, potential baksheesh and of course their in/ability to understand the laws they are paid to enforce. I also love the fact that somehow married couples can get by on 400k but singles men need double the amount. I feel pretty much the same way but the fact is you get what you pay for. If you want to live long-term in this part of the world with a modicum of Western creature comforts and some semblemce of safety and quality standards, then Thailand still stacks up very well (when you factor out the visa hassles for staying if younger than 50). Cambo...give me a break...good place to veg for a few days or weeks but any sane person would go stir-crazy there after that . Phils present an interesting alternative for many already discussed reasons but you do give up quite a bit in general comfort, safety, and standards/quality departments. I think for these reasons, that's why so many of still make the effort to stay in Thailand. Especially those of us who have been here long-term and know that no place is perfect, have traveled around here alot, and maybe even have friends who actually reside in these alternative countries and heard the unvarnished truth about them also. Malaysia just doesn't have the sanook factor of Thailand or the Philippines. Indo is too undeveloped, however, Bali presents an interesting destination (but still very undeveloped vs. Thailand. For me, if push came time to shove off...I would likely choose the Phils but not happily. Edited October 4, 2007 by JonnieB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gharknes Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 The flip side of this is the growing number of people that I know that are just living here without any visa, they believe if they get caught they will simply pay a small fine and get deported, in the long run they may even be saving money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LivinLOS Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 The flip side of this is the growing number of people that I know that are just living here without any visa, they believe if they get caught they will simply pay a small fine and get deported, in the long run they may even be saving money Someone I know just cleaned up 973 days overstay !!! Couldnt he have waited for the round 1000 !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torrenova Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 Amazing how those well off enough to not worry about such things or retired or grandfathered in under less onerous rules or if fact people not wanting to live in Thailand pontificate about it being good for Thailand to get rit of the poor foreigners. What crap. What is wrong with a guy who does not get Bt65k per month living here ? No consideration is given to whether he rents in Bangkok or owns his house or condo in some cheap backwater village. My other half's family come from Non Suawan in Buriram, not far from Nang Rong. You cannot spend Bt1000 a day if you tried. Foo dlike a king, pay all your bills, have money for medical and a large booze allocation thrown in. You sure as hel_l could not spend Bt65k or more. As for those does some work "illegally". Why not make it possible for them to work legally without a gazillion forms, having to have so much working capital in the company, employing so many Thais, ridiculous costs for those on near minimum WP money etc. Small businesses would gladly pay some taxes if they could get the visa situation sorted out. A bar manager with free food, free room, free beer and perhaps a free bike does not need Bt50k per month. He might work for 25k etc and getting tax on 25k is better than nothing. What about well off but not mega rich people under 50 and not married ? Why are they forced to the border every 90 days and until recently, forced back to their own countries for non immigrant visas ? I don't buy that rag where this story originated and just as Toxin, I would not give the owner the steam off my poo poo. That said, if penang is only doing 3 TVs now then Thailand is going to have to take a step back and think where it goes from here. It is confusing enough for us that live here visa wise but for tourists and travel agents it is a nightmare and they need little inducement to forget Thailand and promote another SE Asia place. I always liked Vietnam by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrazoru Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 Interestingly enough, I got another T-visa from Penang...but i did get the stamp with the visa saying: "The holder has travelled to Thailand with Tourist Visa '3' times. The Consulate - General may not accept the application next time" Infact, the T-visa count in my passport is now = 4 (dating back to the first one issued at the beginning of 2007 & all from Penang!! Furthermore, the above statement was stamped with T-visa #3!! ....Now, excuse my ignorance (& count my lucky stars!!) but honestly, i don't remember if it was there when i got my 3rd T-visa or if they put it there after issuing my 4th???...but like i said, it's stamped above the 3rd T-visa in my passport. Also, the authorized signature of #3 & #4 visa are both the same! I was told that i need to go back to my home country b4 i can get another T-visa from the Consulate this time. Curious how others would fare...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapamita Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 i have somtebody 7 years 6 month overstay - and he go clear out next month. woowwww ........how much money he save ,even the fine would be 50000 or more but pesople with property ,car and other asssets in thaialnd could not do so, if could do, i would do it already too,, since i not have 1 yr visa more,thx to taxsin, immigration and stupid grantfathering ( for those who belive.............my 1 yr visa was granted in 2000 , just come you have fo ever, than txsin come, and 2004 you can have but on diffrent requierments ( they changed investemntvisa, 2004 you have to put to govermentbank on 0% remember taxsins foreign 0%polic. for foreign acs) so far everything is grandfatherd ...as long you can keep on with changes in moneyrequirment an d other. your visa maybe is grandfatherd but not the conditions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Abbott Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 i have somtebody 7 years 6 month overstay - and he go clear out next month.woowwww ........how much money he save ,even the fine would be 50000 or more but pesople with property ,car and other asssets in thaialnd could not do so, if could do, i would do it already too,, since i not have 1 yr visa more,thx to taxsin, immigration and stupid grantfathering ( for those who belive.............my 1 yr visa was granted in 2000 , just come you have fo ever, than txsin come, and 2004 you can have but on diffrent requierments ( they changed investemntvisa, 2004 you have to put to govermentbank on 0% remember taxsins foreign 0%polic. for foreign acs) so far everything is grandfatherd ...as long you can keep on with changes in moneyrequirment an d other. your visa maybe is grandfatherd but not the conditions any chance you could repeat that in English please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Abbott Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 (edited) Interestingly enough, I got another T-visa from Penang...but i did get the stamp with the visa saying: "The holder has travelled to Thailand with Tourist Visa '3' times. The Consulate - General may not accept the application next time" Infact, the T-visa count in my passport is now = 4 (dating back to the first one issued at the beginning of 2007 & all from Penang!! Furthermore, the above statement was stamped with T-visa #3!! ....Now, excuse my ignorance (& count my lucky stars!!) but honestly, i don't remember if it was there when i got my 3rd T-visa or if they put it there after issuing my 4th???...but like i said, it's stamped above the 3rd T-visa in my passport. Also, the authorized signature of #3 & #4 visa are both the same! I was told that i need to go back to my home country b4 i can get another T-visa from the Consulate this time. Curious how others would fare...... Hi Newbie, Perhaps you can scan that for all forumers to see. Everyone has been waiting to see these Penang numbered stamps but no one has produced one for the forum as yet Edited October 5, 2007 by Jim Abbott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrazoru Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 (edited) Sure.... hi JA, not sure what you mean by tell tale, but yes, i photoshopped out my own details...But i posted it for all since we are all here for the same cause.... Edited October 5, 2007 by wrazoru Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Abbott Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 Thank you 4 that wraz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Abbott Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 That scan looks pretty tell tale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Abbott Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 Interestingly enough, I got another T-visa from Penang...but i did get the stamp with the visa saying: "The holder has travelled to Thailand with Tourist Visa '3' times. The Consulate - General may not accept the application next time" Infact, the T-visa count in my passport is now = 4 (dating back to the first one issued at the beginning of 2007 & all from Penang!! Furthermore, the above statement was stamped with T-visa #3!! ....Now, excuse my ignorance (& count my lucky stars!!) but honestly, i don't remember if it was there when i got my 3rd T-visa or if they put it there after issuing my 4th???...but like i said, it's stamped above the 3rd T-visa in my passport. Also, the authorized signature of #3 & #4 visa are both the same! I was told that i need to go back to my home country b4 i can get another T-visa from the Consulate this time. Curious how others would fare...... OK, so there's nothing similar stamped above your 4th visa? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrazoru Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 No...but i got a verbal warning....otherwise they would have written "4" under the dotted line. I'm also very curious if the stamp applies to other Consulates not in Penang...or if this is the end of my return to Thailand...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tropo Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 No...but i got a verbal warning....otherwise they would have written "4" under the dotted line.I'm also very curious if the stamp applies to other Consulates not in Penang...or if this is the end of my return to Thailand...... You think that maybe you got the stamp on your last visa run to Penang, but didn't notice it? One theory (and the only one that makes any sense in your situation) would be that you got this stamp last time at the time when a new supervisor started working at the Penang Consulate. At that time we were warned (about 3 months ago) that 3 would be the limit and warning stamps would be (were) given out (although we never actually saw one). This was followed up by a futher change of policy and we started getting reports of people obtaining their 4th and 5th consecutive TV's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Professor Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 Sure....hi JA, not sure what you mean by tell tale, but yes, i photoshopped out my own details...But i posted it for all since we are all here for the same cause.... A song comes to mind when I look at that stamp "aint that peculiar". I aint never seen one of those b4. There certainly has not been a rash of those to come out of Penang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballzafire Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 The flip side of this is the growing number of people that I know that are just living here without any visa, they believe if they get caught they will simply pay a small fine and get deported, in the long run they may even be saving money Sure, if you have no significant assets to forfeit. Remember, if you get caught, they don't give you 7 days to leave the country. They don't even give you 7 seconds. You are arrested, sent to the IDC and the (potentially) long process of deportation begins. How long before your landlord or whoever learns that you are in jail and getting booted from the country before they decide to help themselves to your car, motorbike, household items, etc. Is the money you saved from visa runs and fees going to offset these larger losses? And what about personal data (particularly financial data) such as important documents or that found on your pc or laptop? Are they going to be polite and let you back into your place of residence to retrieve these important things before they escort you to your plane? Not that I've heard. What if they start seeing a lot of people doing this and now decide to start blacklisting extended overstayers who were clearly and willfully flaunting the law? With the current, growing anti-farang sentiment here, it could very well happen... Stuff to think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cali4995 Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 (edited) Thanks to Wrazoru, we finally have a peek at the infamous red stamp. What can we deduce from this? If you don't yet have a red stamp you can still get another TV? Even if you have the red stamp, it's possible you can still get another TV as Wrazoru did. Does it ever make sense? Well, you're a marked man. Holder of this passport travels to Thailand on a tourist visa you say? More than once? Throw the book at him! Edited October 6, 2007 by cali4995 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballzafire Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 (edited) Sure....hi JA, not sure what you mean by tell tale, but yes, i photoshopped out my own details...But i posted it for all since we are all here for the same cause.... Thanks for going to the trouble to post this. I can tell you it is similar to the one Vientianne was handing out last year in that neither specifies that TVs will be denied at each respective consulate. In other words, it appears to be a blanket warning that applies to all nearby consulates. But what exactly is the point of having to travel back to one's home country just to get another TV if long-term stay on these is officially allowed? Why can't travelers alternate between different countries locally to purchase new TVs? Methinks there is another reason behind this. Also, still no response from my email to Penang consulate. I can't spell in Thai so my request for clarification probably ended up in the bit bucket... Edited October 6, 2007 by ballzafire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h5n1 Posted October 6, 2007 Author Share Posted October 6, 2007 (edited) yes, i recall some time ago someone posted the stamp and it can from vientiane. thats how i know about it. until this broke i had never heard of a stamp from other cons/emb but assumed all could apply. the way i interpret this stamp (and thats all it is) is that its 3 times and your finished (at least for each pp). the way i read the stamp is not per trip out to asia or per annum. its three times - period. i would also say that it is indeed a warning (written) "may not issue..." but also the ______ tells a tale as if to say - ok, we are so fed up with your visa running and are giving you notice. it may be 3 or 6 but its a warning youve been flagged. for instance someone that is literally living on the TR+3 may get the warning quickly (the pp shows that ten pages taken are only thai/cambo+malaysia) - but...if you are traveling, my hunch is that you may get more leeway - 5-6?? maybe no stamp. seems to be more a flag for the person or for the specific consulate than other cons/emb - imo balls: you may be able to shift around between countries and pick up visas but assuming youve been everywhere and seen everything that is a huge waste of money for sixty days. also many embassies already notoriously tight fisted bastards anyway. i think they will tighten the three visa runs next.... people need to start maiking other plans, not getcaught w/ their pants down despite this being thailand Edited October 6, 2007 by h5n1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joka Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 Hello all, I just returned from Penang yesterday. I have been here over 4 years, and have many tourist visas, but not three consecutively, per se. Usually I get the visa and then do a border run or two. Anyway, I did get a warning from the "fixer", but there are no stamps or warnings in my passport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel2surf Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 I have seen many changes just since Dec.05..most bad. I'm under 50,no Thai wife,no WP,living here off savings from USA.Im polite, respectful,take NO one's job,and SPEND MY OWN MONEY INTO THE ECONOMY. Why are guys like me such a threat??? Because we like to socialize with the local lasses ? I make no trouble,pay my rent/bills,don't fight in bars,never get out-of-control drunk,always wear a shirt,etc..etc...it's getting VERY tiring trying to keep up with all the hoop jumping, and as H5 stated,for the "priveledge" of spending MY money here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballzafire Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 "flaunting the law" Oops. Correct word is flouting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballzafire Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 (edited) ...people need to start maiking other plans, not getcaught w/ their pants down despite this being thailand Agreed. I already have (made plans, that is. Got caught with my pants down one time, but that was on the roof-top terrace of a hotel one late evening with one of my gf's and she was,.. oh, never mind...). Like I said originally, what's happening is an obvious trend that anyone can spot. And it's not just with us perma-tourists. They've instigated a virtual across-the-board tightening that loudly declares that unless you are here on a short business trip or holiday, you're basically not welcome anymore. Edited October 6, 2007 by ballzafire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel2surf Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 ...people need to start maiking other plans, not getcaught w/ their pants down despite this being thailand Agreed. I already have (made plans, that is. Got caught with my pants down one time, but that was on the roof-top terrace of a hotel with one of my gf's and she was,.. oh, never mind...). Like I said originally, what's happening is an obvious trend that anyone can spot. And it's not just with us perma-tourists. They've instigated a virtual across-the-board tightening that loudly declares that unless you are here on a short business trip or holiday, you're basically not welcome anymore. I hear ya Ballz,It's obvious too from advertising,etc. that they aspire to attract the very uppity crusters with families,but to me this doesn't jibe,cause who's gonna come here,as opposed to other less xenophobic hotspots,especially when the beaches have ka-ka,wood,plastic bags etc. floating in them,your kid might fall into an open hole in the walkpath,or fall onto an upturned metal rod,or be electrocuted by hanging power lines,etc..not even to mention the fleecing for taxis,etc.etc? They seem to want the tuxedos and martinis crowd,but ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballzafire Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 ....They seem to want the tuxedos and martinis crowd,but ??? It's just a little up 'n coming, "western-wannabe" country. Only they don't want YOU or ME. They just want our MuNEEEEEE! (Hey, it even rhymes...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrazoru Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 (edited) At that time we were warned (about 3 months ago) that 3 would be the limit and warning stamps would be (were) given out (although we never actually saw one).This was followed up by a futher change of policy and we started getting reports of people obtaining their 4th and 5th consecutive TV's. Were they getting their 4th & 5th TV's from the same locations? or where they heading to different consulates? Anyone know the link to the other thread? Edited October 6, 2007 by wrazoru Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaiman Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 living here off savings from USA.Im polite,respectful,take NO one's job,and SPEND MY OWN MONEY INTO THE ECONOMY. Thais don't care about your small savings that you spend here, no disrespect. They're looking for the big bang money. There logic: if you want to live here either work legally, retire here with lots of cash, or dump tons of money here creating a business or corporation. They want the upper hand. It's not xenophobic it's about control. Basically if you have enough cash, like anywhere, than visas, wp, legal docs, etc. are simple to obtain. They're just weeding out the small players. Time will tell if their new approach benefits or hurts the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flanker Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 (edited) ............. Edited October 6, 2007 by flanker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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