Thailand to tax residents’ foreign income irrespective of remittance

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

If you were a Thai and were able to be instrumental in changing immigration laws, how would you do it for the good of Thailand.

To keep this simple I am only going to list a few of the most used visas. Feel free to add one if you wish. You can respond to one, all or none at all - your choice.

• Illegal immigrant or visa overstay. What should punishment be if any?
  
• Tourist visa
  
• Work visa
  
• Married to Thai visa
  
• Retirement visa
  
• Other
  

It is assumed that you understand the existing laws or you would not know what you are changing. DO REMEMBER you are looking at this is a Thai not a farang, so do what you think is best for Thailand not your farang self.

Tell us what you would change and how it would help Thailand. Thailand is counting on you.

[jstumbo]

All illegal overstayers would be detained. If you showed up at the airport on overstay, you would go to detention until you could be processed (probably cost more money though than just letting you leave)

tourist visa and visa exempt. I would limit it to 6 months in a calendar year that you are allowed to be in Thailand without a non-imm visa.

work visa - I would split the B visa up. doing business in Thailand and working in Thailand are two separate things. Work visa would be much like they are now, business visa would require contracts showing that you are doing business with Thai companies. Business visas would be limited to number of days in a calendar year to prevent people from using them to live in Thailand.

married visa - make it so that you could easily get PR status and work any job. Maybe tie it to being married and lose it after divorce. But if you had children here, you could remain using your child as the reason as long as you were actually supporting your child

retirement visa - make them longer, maybe 5 years or something like that.

Other visa - Make everyone follow the rules, get rid of consulate generals that do not follow the set requirements set by the MFA.

[Tangmoo]

For Overstay the should make it very expensive, because it is easy to go the write way.

About Visas, they should do everybody personel. Because we have a lot of people they are retired but not 50 Years old.

Many People are not Married but have Childrens give a Visa for Parents.

Wy always Married look the Thais they Married without Papers and they have inaf the are gon.

Take all the black Scheeps no Woerk Pormit, Overstay long time, Criminals unsw. out of te Countrie because they make it hard for the others People they want to go the clean Way.

And do for good Staff at the Immigration.

[Jingthing]

I think long term tourists are good for Thailand. Especially the lower end ones; they spend money directly with lower end Thais. Therefore, I would allow visa runners to stay indefinitely, no limit on tourist visas, triple entries from Penang no problem (no air ticket needed), and most importantly, liberalizing the penalties for overstaying. Nobody should spend one minute in a Thai jail for overstaying a visa, fines yes, deportations sometimes, but jail, never. That is primitive.

Also, add a second class of retirement visa, the current one for over 50 and the new one for any age under 50. With the under 50's they would require DOUBLE the financial resources as the over 50's. The logic is that early retirees need more money because they tend to live longer, so only wealthy people should retire early. Similar to the Filipino model.

Of course, as far as business, Thailand's xenophobic policies have meant it has fallen behind its neighbors, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam. Thais loving Thais would radically liberalize the onerous restrictions against foreigners doing business and working here. That would be a huge benefit for Thailand.

90 day reports: ABOLISH! Waste of time and money and makes foreigners feel unwelcome. Instead, just require change of address reports when there actually is a change of address.

Its really funny to me that some posters imagine that what is good for Thailand is to become even more oppressive and reactionary and even more demonization of foreigners. That is absurd.

Edited April 18, 2008 by Jingthing

[hansnl]

If you were a Thai and were able to be instrumental in changing immigration laws, how would you do it for the good of Thailand.

To keep this simple I am only going to list a few of the most used visas. Feel free to add one if you wish. You can respond to one, all or none at all - your choice.

• Illegal immigrant or visa overstay. What should punishment be if any?
  
• Tourist visa
  
• Work visa
  
• Married to Thai visa
  
• Retirement visa
  
• Other
  

It is assumed that you understand the existing laws or you would not know what you are changing. DO REMEMBER you are looking at this is a Thai not a farang, so do what you think is best for Thailand not your farang self.

Tell us what you would change and how it would help Thailand. Thailand is counting on you.

As I am married to a Thai woman, and I am also in the market for a retirement visa, I have to keep it simple.

I asked my wife, and she is 100% Thai.

Here she goes:

Married to a Thai-visa:

After five one year extensions it must be possible to get a kind of permanent permission to stay, because the yearly extension of stay renewals and the 90 days notices are sometimes very degrading, for husband and wife.

Suppose there would be a divorce, or the Thai woman should die, the permission should be continued, because after staying for five years, return to the original country could be very difficult. If there are children, the then ex-husband has a right to see his children on a regular basis.

Retirement Visa

If someone has been staying in Thailand for 5 years, the same, some kind of permanent permission to stay.

In both cases, the farang spend a lot of money, a lot of Thai people get something of that money, which is important for them

If a farang is married to a Thai, he should maybe also be able to own land, because if the woman dies, the husband can own the house but not the land of the house, which in this case is stupid because what must be done?

I will also try to tell what I think about other visa.

- If you are illegal in Thailand, from any country, big fine and out of the country, and no permission to come back for 5 years

- If you have tourist visa, maybe short visa for 30 days, or long visa for 90 days, maybe small fine for short overstay, big fine for long overstay?

- Work visa only for people who cannot be found in Thailand, so many people have no good job. But Thailand need English teachers very bad, so maybe short contract and long contract, and if some teacher want to stay in Thailand after 5 years easy permission to stay for long period.

If people want to stay in Thailand it should not be a lottery, all paperwork should be studied, and if someone is ok, has been "good", the authorities should study every case on merit!

Khomkhum Chathrarot

[Sunny Valentine]

When married to a Thai National, there should be a residency after some checks whether the marriage is for real or not. No work permits needed, can do any job.

Background checks on the foreigner are required.

This is reciprocal as to married Thais are treated in most other Countries.

For retirement, base the necessary financials on age. Yes, there are people in the west that retire early. It is a fact, so deal with it.

Skip the requirement of Tourist Visas, all citizens of Countries which now can get 30 Day stamps, get a 30 Day stamp at the border. This can be extended for another 30 days, as often you need, for a fee of approx. 2000 B Maximum stay 180 Days within One Year. (easy to administer, no unclear clock setting, or counting periods. This would allow a tourist to stay up to one Year, by combining the last half of one Year with the first half of the next one. Big deal!)

In case a Tourist wants to stay longer, then, and only then, he should be required to apply for permission, either at an Embassy or at Immigration in Thailand. Once he can show he is in bona fide, he should get permission.

Get rid of the requirements for Reentry prmits. Add the fee into the O or B Visa, and state that these Visas are good for reentry. The reentry permit serves no purpose other than get cash. But it is tedious, lots of people don't know about it, and absolutely useless from a Thai perspective.

Ok for setting up realistic requirements for work permits. But straighten the requirements between Labor Office and Immigration. Once a Work Permit is granted, an extension to stay will automatically be granted too.

Get rid of the limitation for Jobs that Thais are not ready to compete. Most Thais I know were ashamed when I told them this regulation exists.

Allow people to work over the Internet here. Maybe by offering a special kind of work permit, granted that their field of work does not touch Thai business interests, and combine that WP with a monthly flat tax rate to be paid. Do this in such a way that this tax can be deducted from their home tax, if the home Country has a double taxation treaty with Thailand.

[jstumbo]

Ok for setting up realistic requirements for work permits. But straighten the requirements between Labor Office and Immigration. Once a Work Permit is granted, an extension to stay will automatically be granted too.

I like this idea. I always thought it was strange that one part of the government says you have permission to work a job and another part tells you that you do not have permission to remain in the country. If you are given permission to work a job, then you should automatically be given permission to remain in the country.

[garro]

I would make it easier for me and harder for everyone else.

[baboon]

I would make it easier for me and harder for everyone else.

Errm, but if you were Thai, why would you need a visa in the first place?

[garro]

In that case I would provide visas on applicants ability to provide me with lucky lottery numbers.

[baboon]

In that case I would provide visas on applicants ability to provide me with lucky lottery numbers.

Priceless!

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

So far I think Hansni Post # 5 makes the most sense. It seems reasonable for both sides.

[garro]

Seriously though, I do think that it should be made even harder for western bar owners to obtain visas. I know many will hate me for saying this, but I don't think they bring anything to Thailand. Fair enough, the well established less seedy western bar owners might be an exception, but I do think that a line should be drawn and that no more visas should be issued to these people. In a way it will be doing many a favour, as it will prevent them losing all their money or drinking themselves to death while on public display.

[astral]

As this is more of a general discussion, rather than a specific question,

I have moved it to the General section

[jayhech]

No Imm Police to start with..they're a disgrace to whoever they can think of that themselves. Then no regulations. Yes, I mean, NO REGULATIONS. Everyone should walk free. It's the land of freedome after all. Thai Land. Be it sex tourists, backpackers, nature lovers, historians, anthropologists, shrinks, freaks, dark, fair, poor, rich, shorts, talls, fats, skinny junkies, whatever. Anyone can do anything here in Thailand--own business, work, labouring, travel, live, whatever. This is the way to make Thais become competitive and get out of their slobberish mode.

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

jayhech

You really believe that would be good for Thailand and the Thais? I think it would be overrun with Burmese in a month, working for nothin and taking Thai jobs.

[jayhech]

I think it's a good way to make Thai realise that they're not the only people who could actually enjoy the scene. Obviously they've been taking things for granted. I'm Thai, BTW. And I have to say I'm no better than anybody. But sometimes I have to feel frustrated because things are not done because they think you have to suck their sweet buttocks. I'm just sick of this attitude and if there was a real competition that they knew they were going to lose their job if they're not doing what they're being paid for, then I totally stick with my previous post. Burmese people are hard working. They've been through tough situations. I don't think people wanna leave their country if it's not beyond the word "extreme". I think it's time Thai start to think if they're really worth what they think they are.

[Mosha]

Married to a Thai, after 5 years PR. Divorce you lose PR unless you have children from your Thai wife/husband. Widow/widower keeps PR status.

[mel2surf]

I think long term tourists are good for Thailand. Especially the lower end ones; they spend money directly with lower end Thais. Therefore, I would allow visa runners to stay indefinitely, no limit on tourist visas, triple entries from Penang no problem (no air ticket needed), and most importantly, liberalizing the penalties for overstaying. Nobody should spend one minute in a Thai jail for overstaying a visa, fines yes, deportations sometimes, but jail, never. That is primitive.

Also, add a second class of retirement visa, the current one for over 50 and the new one for any age under 50. With the under 50's they would require DOUBLE the financial resources as the over 50's. The logic is that early retirees need more money because they tend to live longer, so only wealthy people should retire early. Similar to the Filipino model.

Of course, as far as business, Thailand's xenophobic policies have meant it has fallen behind its neighbors, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam. Thais loving Thais would radically liberalize the onerous restrictions against foreigners doing business and working here. That would be a huge benefit for Thailand.

90 day reports: ABOLISH! Waste of time and money and makes foreigners feel unwelcome. Instead, just require change of address reports when there actually is a change of address.

Its really funny to me that some posters imagine that what is good for Thailand is to become even more oppressive and reactionary and even more demonization of foreigners. That is absurd.

Agree with this post 100 %

[Gravelrash]

From a Thai perspective why change anything?

Plenty of money made on visas, keeps Thais in a job, and plenty of bonuses to be made by staff and intermediaries.

Farang will come here regardless as they want Thai pussy (despite whether they admit it or not), so screw them for all its worth every possible step of the way from the airport the taxi to the hotel to the bar to the tour to immigration.

Keep it as it is to keep the lawyers busy.

Keep it as it is so those Issaan families can get free houses and Isuzu D-Maxes.

Keep it as it is to keep those arrogant farang bastards in their place under the heel and grovelling.

Keep it as it is as it has worked really well for so long.

After all demand will never change will it?

If demand changes substantially then so will the rules, although they will try a superficial fix that actually changes nothing first. If it actually got really bad you might see some change. Other wise get rich or keep jumping.

[bonviveur]

From a Thai perspective why change anything?

Plenty of money made on visas, keeps Thais in a job, and plenty of bonuses to be made by staff and intermediaries.

Farang will come here regardless as they want Thai pussy (despite whether they admit it or not), so screw them for all its worth every possible step of the way from the airport the taxi to the hotel to the bar to the tour to immigration.

Keep it as it is to keep the lawyers busy.

Keep it as it is so those Issaan families can get free houses and Isuzu D-Maxes.

Keep it as it is to keep those arrogant farang bastards in their place under the heel and grovelling.

Keep it as it is as it has worked really well for so long.

After all demand will never change will it?

If demand changes substantially then so will the rules, although they will try a superficial fix that actually changes nothing first. If it actually got really bad you might see some change. Other wise get rich or keep jumping.

It's a good thing you are not Thai, you care too much.

[ade100]

I would like to put in place a culling policy – The Thai Culling Act of 2008.

Essentially 50% of foreigners would be culled every Fiscal Year. The effects would be absolutely marvellous for the Thai economy:

More Foreign assets returned to their rightful owner: – Thailand

More revenue generated from funerals, burials, post-mortems and grieving relatives coming into the country (of course most of them would be culled too)

“Farangs” would be culled before having the chance to get all uppity and start complaining and sullying the good name of Thailand.

I am sure you will agree, this could be the turning point in the economic future of Thailand.

:-)

[lardy]

I think it's a good way to make Thai realise that they're not the only people who could actually enjoy the scene. Obviously they've been taking things for granted. I'm Thai, BTW. And I have to say I'm no better than anybody. But sometimes I have to feel frustrated because things are not done because they think you have to suck their sweet buttocks. I'm just sick of this attitude and if there was a real competition that they knew they were going to lose their job if they're not doing what they're being paid for, then I totally stick with my previous post. Burmese people are hard working. They've been through tough situations. I don't think people wanna leave their country if it's not beyond the word "extreme". I think it's time Thai start to think if they're really worth what they think they are.

Blimey well said its nice to see a Thai saying this my wife (Thai) is often angry at what she calls "stupid Thai people" and their ridiculous mai pen rai amongst many other things she doesnt like she does get very angry at Thai attiutudes.

[Jingthing]

I would like to put in place a culling policy – The Thai Culling Act of 2008.

The Jonathon Swift of thaivisa speaks. Bravo.

Why burn or bury us, we make excellent meatballs for nooden sup.

Edited April 18, 2008 by Jingthing

[elkangorito]

The OP's question is;

If you were a Thai and were able to be instrumental in changing immigration laws, how would you do it for the good of Thailand.

If I was Thai, I'd probably be a programmed, nationalistic xenophobe, which means that all foreigners are banned. Therefore, I wouldn't change a thing. As a matter of fact, I'd make it more difficult for foreigners to stay here.

On a different note, as far as many Thai people I know, the "good of Thailand" means "unity". Against what, I'm unsure but this word "unity" is being passed around to many an educational institution as we speak. Associated with this "unity" is an undercurrent of "fear of cultural change". In other words, the effects the "outside world" are having on Thailand.

Fear is such an inhibitive & destructive thing. I thought that the world was one place? Obviously, I am wrong.

Edited April 18, 2008 by elkangorito

[Naam]

“Farangs” would be culled before having the chance to get all uppity and start complaining and sullying the good name of Thailand.

:D

[lioness]

I think Border runs are a waste of time and money, if a person could check in at the immigration office close to them it would be far easier and even paying a reasonable fee would be ok.

Retirement visas, well the monetary requirement could be reduced or abolished or at the very least investment in Thailand could be taken into account.

Malaysia has a silver haired policy, whereby retirees from other countries can purchase and own homes (including the land). I would like to see this happen in Thailand, it would make Thailand more "user" friendly and really open it up, maybe Thailand doesn't want an influx of foreigners, but they do like the money that comes in with it. If you want us to spend our money then give us some incentive please.

By opening up Thailand for home and land ownership it will perhaps spread people out a bit rather than creating Farang areas like Phuket and Pttaya and the likes.

Interesting comment from one new business owner in central Thailand, he has recently moved from Pattaya where he had a business for many years. He said he used to love Pattaya, but he now classes it as a slum area despite the mansions. I've mentioned this statement to a few people who know Pattaya and they tend to agree. ( And before I am verbally bashed, this is not my opinion, I have never been to Pattaya and have no desire to go there ).

[elkangorito]

Malaysia has a silver haired policy, whereby retirees from other countries can purchase and own homes (including the land).

Yeah but who wants to live with Shariah Law?

[PhilHarries]

Malaysia has a silver haired policy, whereby retirees from other countries can purchase and own homes (including the land).

Yeah but who wants to live with Shariah Law?

Another uninformed piece of TV miasmagoric twaddle.

I've lived in Malaysia and Shariah Law ONLY applies to MUSLIMS. Do YOU GET THAT? Are you a muslim?

Jeezus Aitch Christ some people need to get off the porch a little more often.

[elkangorito]

Malaysia has a silver haired policy, whereby retirees from other countries can purchase and own homes (including the land).

Yeah but who wants to live with Shariah Law?

Another uninformed piece of TV miasmagoric twaddle.

I've lived in Malaysia and Shariah Law ONLY applies to MUSLIMS. Do YOU GET THAT? Are you a muslim?

Jeezus Aitch Christ some people need to get off the porch a little more often.

Just wait a while, Phil.