Thai Immigration ....

[koolkarl]

I have lived in 6 other countries and have never experienced such laws. I am here because of my employer and not by my own choice.

It appears to me that the Thai government does not want foreigners to stay in this country, only temporary. It seems next to impossible to become an immigrant or citizen and their reporting requirements are something else. I assume virtually all foreigners stay here on a one year visa of one kind or another which in essence is a 1 year tourist visa. It would certainly be foolish to invest permanent or long term money here as the laws could change overnight.

Thailand is a nice country with fairly good infrastructure. But there are many other countries in this world that have similar qualities but not the severe restrictions and requirements that are imposed here. I am curious as to why so many foreigners put up with the reporting requirements?

[abdulrahman]

I have lived in 6 other countries and have never experienced such laws. I am here because of my employer and not by my own choice.

It appears to me that the Thai government does not want foreigners to stay in this country, only temporary. It seems next to impossible to become an immigrant or citizen and their reporting requirements are something else. I assume virtually all foreigners stay here on a one year visa of one kind or another which in essence is a 1 year tourist visa. It would certainly be foolish to invest permanent or long term money here as the laws could change overnight.

Thailand is a nice country with fairly good infrastructure. But there are many other countries in this world that have similar qualities but not the severe restrictions and requirements that are imposed here. I am curious as to why so many foreigners put up with the reporting requirements?

Three that comes to mind:

1)They have a good job,successful business,rewarding investment.

2)They have a wife and/or children in Thailand.

3)Their pension is more worth in Thailand (better lifestyle) as in their original Country.

I'm sure someone will come with more detailed answers.

Nobody likes the reporting,and other,requirements!

[Maestro]

A nonsensical post about a rice farmer’s son has been deleted.

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Maestro

[puyaidon]

This is a personal opinion but I think years ago, someone high in either the government or immigration came up with the idea of foreigners reporting their address every 90 days. Maybe at the time, it was a good idea but after observing other rules in other areas, if they change it to something that makes sense or eliminate some rule altogether, they are saying that the original author may have made a mistake or a bad ruling.

What is amazing is paying for our visa which is understandable but reporting our address is free. We are taking some time away from the immigration official where he/she could be doing something else. I am not advocating paying for address changes but eliminating it for foreigners on marriage, work permit, retirement visas or any visa longer than six months might make more sense. When we renew our visa, time to do the address report. That seems to make more sense.

[Maestro]

You got that wrong, puyaidon. The requirement to report one’s address to the immigration office when staying longer than 90 days at a time in Thailand is written into the Immigration Act:

Section 37 :...

5. If the alien stays in the Kingdom longer than ninety days, such

alien must notify the competent official at the Immigration Division , in writing ,

concerning his place of stay , as soon as possible upon expiration of ninety days.

The alien is required to do so every ninety days. Where there is an Immigration

Office , the alien may notify a competent Immigration Official of that office.

...

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Maestro