Immigration General Wants National Stability

[ray23]

Is Thailand missing the boat?

There is a huge market in the world these days Baby Boomers. People all over the world are retiring with annual incomes that are the result of years of hard work and planning. Thailand is a wonderful place to live. But, people come and begin building lives. Many marry Thai women and build families. Only to become discouraged and move away. When they do that take those annual incomes with them. Where is the problem my belief immigration policies. Imagine investing all you have worked for your entire life. With only one year at a time available to you. Now that is having faith in a country.

There is a Residence Visa available, but it does not fit the retiree at all, one requirement is you have a work permit. If your here on a retirement visa you can’t get a work permit. I have enough to live comfortably, it’s not right for me to take a job and deprive others who really need the job. Not the smartest guy in the world but I have tried and will continue to learn the language, to read and write. Helping in the community another aspect I would love to do volunteer work. But if I do I am violating the law. Remember that work permit covers a very broad area. So there really is nothing I can do to live in the Country that I call home, on a permanent basis.

There is lots of effort in bringing tourist here, but they have to be catered to and yes money is made there.

I will use myself as an example I have been here six years have an annual visa. I bring in 100K a month each and every month. Am I rich no I’m not. But, that represents 7.2 million, spent primarily in my home community. I employee a house keeper I have four colleges funds set up for nephews and the housekeepers children.

I don’t drink I do enjoy traveling the country and seeing he sites.

What does Thailand really have to do for that, I haven’t asked for a change in laws so I can own real estate, I know if my wife and I divorcé I can trust the Thai courts to be fair, That based on experience of seeing other cases, not rumor.

Do I expect Thailand to take care of me if I’m sick? No I purchased medical insurance.

I follow Thailand’s laws and try to help where I am allowed to do so.

I’m just one person, but there are thousand and thousands in Thailand just like me. The world has hit that point now where people are retiring after working many many years. They have incomes sufficient not to be a burden on Thailand but a benefit. Why isn’t that happening at a faster level, let’s see the climate is good, the people are good, the country is good and life here for a retiree is wonderful.

We are not talking about a bunch of drunks here we are talking about people who have made sound and secure decisions in their lives to achieve what they have. You welcome them, but only for one year at a time.

So they go to other countries that may not have a much to offer a Thailand but offer some amount of security, in the form of a real retirement visa.

What happens is Thailand losses good guest that would enjoy helping in their communities. Where is the risk to Thailand? I don’t see any you have laws to deport undesirables, no matter what kind of visa they have.

So in the mean time all that money that could be here year after year is going to some other country. There is a huge stable income to be had in this without Thailand doing anymore then modifying its immigration laws slightly, to include a real retirement visa.

[TheDon]

I believe there immigation laws are good for the Thai people, I also will have to go through the pain with hops etc.

But Thailand is very very popular with tourists and they would buy out all the good places for cheap and most of the Thai's would be missing out. I believe when Thailand comes close to 1st world country they will ease the visa restrictions and I think it will be the right time for the country.

Thats what I think anyways

[meom]

So they go to other countries that may not have a much to offer a Thailand but offer some amount of security, in the form of a real retirement visa.

Can you give some examples of other countries that give a "real retirement visa"

[ray23]

The Philippines, Malaysia comes close a ten year visa. Ecuador, Mexico ha a program but they don't call it a retirement visa, Belieze, Costa Rica actually there are a lot of them, this is just a few off the top of my head.

Actually it would make it easier on them and us. If some sort of program if even after several years of living here and causing no problem you could get a lng trem visa. They do have a program for permaneant visas. It si designed for people who work here i=on a long trem basi. There are some requirements such a Speaking reading and writing Thai at I believe a sixth grade level, not as easy it sounds. But at least it would give you a way to work for something valuable, if this is your home as it is mine. Bit, wioht that program yuo haev to have a work permit and paying record.

So retirement just does not fit, woudln't take a lot to adjust the current system, the method is already really established. We ar the off ball in tha what we take from Thailand really comes in lifestyle not jobs or money. What we give, money and if you figure out how many foriegn national are here on Annual visas (So Called Retirement) It's a lot of money.

It's really not that difficult to meet the annual requirements once you know the rules and you follow them. Sure would be a nice comfort cushion, for retirees. I may be called a visitor but Thailand is my home and has been for six years. I truthfully never plan on relocating.

[chiang mai]

You seem to be expressing the same sentiments that many other residents ex pats experience, I go through this same thinking on a regular basis - the problem is that you cannot push water uphill! Thailand is simply not ready for the type of thinking that you talk about and indeed is probably not even capable of it yet. Trust foreign retiree's here in Thailand, doubtful - if you are not convinced then just read what the new Head of Immigration had to say today about the need to keep check's on foreigners here in Thailand, it's almost a step backwards in terms of acceptance that the vast majority of farang ex pats can and do contribute to the country in some shape and form.

[ray23]

Actually I did read it that is what prompted me to post this now. actually they are already sit up for something similar to this now.

I don't believe anything will happen now and I only think it will happen, if the economy gets bad enough that they are looking for everyday money instead of mega projects. If someone had pushed for it in 97 for example it might have happened. Basically that is what happened in the P.I. they wanted 50K cash from each individual that could be used to buy a home or invest in a business. So they changed the laws to get the money

But I don't see we are anywhere close to that today.

But I saved that in the computer, if things were to change and there was a widow of opportunity trust me I will repost it

[Spee]

So they go to other countries that may not have a much to offer a Thailand but offer some amount of security, in the form of a real retirement visa.

Can you give some examples of other countries that give a "real retirement visa"

Can you give some examples of countries that don't allow for a visa to a spouse who is married to a citizen?

[chiang mai]

So they go to other countries that may not have a much to offer a Thailand but offer some amount of security, in the form of a real retirement visa.

Can you give some examples of other countries that give a "real retirement visa"

Can you give some examples of countries that don't allow for a visa to a spouse who is married to a citizen?

Easier to make the spouse a partial non-citizen.

[boiledegg]

I believe there immigation laws are good for the Thai people, I also will have to go through the pain with hops etc.

But Thailand is very very popular with tourists and they would buy out all the good places for cheap and most of the Thai's would be missing out.

They have pushed up land prices out of the reach of 90% of Thais.

I hope they don’t start giving out visa’s to everyone and anyone so it becomes another multicultural divided nation like what we have in all of western Europe and North America.

Keep Thailand for Thais.

[Jingthing]

So they go to other countries that may not have a much to offer a Thailand but offer some amount of security, in the form of a real retirement visa.

Can you give some examples of other countries that give a "real retirement visa"

Totally agree with the OP!

Yes, many other countries offer a more permanent solution for retirees, these include ...

Argentina

Mexico

Panama

Flipapines

Malta

Ecuador

I disagree with the person who says things would get better if Thailand becomes a first world country. First world countries do NOT offer retirement visas for foreigners (they don't need us), with a few exceptions like Australia which is only for the wealthy.

In my view, Thailand's posture towards foreign retirees is passive-aggressive. They don't want us to get too comfortable, which isn't too comforting at all for people who are AGING.

Edited July 29, 2008 by Jingthing

[TheDon]

So they go to other countries that may not have a much to offer a Thailand but offer some amount of security, in the form of a real retirement visa.

Can you give some examples of other countries that give a "real retirement visa"

Totally agree with the OP!

Yes, many other countries offer a more permanent solution for retirees, these include ...

Argentina

Mexico

Panama

Flipapines

Malta

Ecuador

I disagree with the person who says things would get better if Thailand becomes a first world country. First world countries do NOT offer retirement visas for foreigners (they don't need us), with a few exceptions like Australia which is only for the wealthy.

In my view, Thailand's posture towards foreign retirees is passive-aggressive. They don't want us to get too comfortable, which isn't too comforting at all for people who are AGING.

Those places you names are crap, Ivebeen to 3 of those places adn they dont even come close to Thailand.

[ray23]

"Can you give some examples of countries that don't allow for a visa to a spouse who is married to a citizen?"

America.

However once you have went through the process the green card is good for years and easy to change your citizenship there after. The upfront process can be very challenging though.

[Smithson]

Besides the question of retirees, what about those married with children to their Thai spouse. Is there any country with similar policies to Thailand in this regard? If there was a change in attitude lot of people would be willing to invest here and unlike multi-nationals, they would not be sending their profits home.

The present policy doesn't make people feel part of the country, so they have no concern for it's development.

[ray23]

Interesting we have the widow of a friend trying to move to America with her two children, right now. The kids are American citizens, she is Lao. She has a sponsor a cousin in the states. Been two years no movement with the excpetion of denial. As I said the up front process is not easy. Could because once your done with it yuo can anything any American can do except vote.

A friend who had been through the process twice, picked an easier way for his new wife. Got his visa for Mexico, took her there through Canada. So she didn't need the visa for America. Married her in Mexico and go her into the states very easily compared to here. I guess ther is alway a way o get the hair off the Kitty.

Although I would like to see what I suggested. I could get my teaching credential change my visa to the marriage one. Get a job the work permit and pay the taxes. As I recall I think it requires a three year period. But there are somethings I really don't like about that. If you have mariage visa and you get a devoirce, guess what your visa is no longer any good. You have to leave the country and start all over. The other I will be taking away a job from somebody who really needs one, I don't. So it can be done.