New Work Permit Regulations Coming

[Samuian]

Pretty slim on the details and exactly what types of work will be restricted, however the pattern that is emerging right now is clear - we are becoming increasingly unwelcome in this country. Within the past couple of months crackdowns have occurred on:

-ED Visa's from Thai Language Schools (testing of Thai speaking ability)

-Tourist Visa's (people extending multiple times in a row)

-Now Work Permits

That covers every type of expat I'm aware of other than Investment Visa's and Retieree's - and possibly those types have had crackdowns as well, or will have them soon.

So what's the f'n deal here? Are they trying to expel all Farang or only a particular type? I think it may be possible the overall goal is to drive unskilled and illegal workers from the country - as in lower class Farang, leaching off of an already poor country. That would make sense. It would not make sense if they just want us all gone - a form of ethnic cleansing. Bad for their country in the long run if you ask me.

The Farangs read too much over all political motive into these regulations and constraints. The people who impose them are trying to flex their muscles of control over their immediate domain and - 2) They're implementing these road blocks out of spite and to procure money from people that they can run around and charge money. It's just a giant superfluous run around. The goal being to extract money from the movements of the foreigners at every stage. From taxi fares to air and train and bus fares.

Rather than just send you back at the airport, they want to get you in here and send you through a rats maze of road blocks that you have to pay your way out of until there are so many of them you can't complete the bulcrap. THEN escort you to the plane and say "Thanks, Have a nice day ya'll" Come back real soon.

"The Farangs read too much over all political motive into these regulations and constraints. The people who impose them are trying to flex their muscles of control over their immediate domain and - 2) They're implementing these road blocks out of spite and to procure money from people that they can run around and charge money. It's just a giant superfluous run around. The goal being to extract money from the movements of the foreigners at every stage. From taxi fares to air and train and bus fares.

Rather than just send you back at the airport, they want to get you in here and send you through a rats maze of road blocks that you have to pay your way out of until there are so many of them you can't complete the bulcrap. "

Every single word chiseled in ganite......!

somewhere else it's called extortion, here, such moves are applauded and it is called "clever business"!

[simon43]

Annex III businesses that might be opened up include tour guide operators; trading in agricultural futures; stock trading; derivatives trading; commercial banking; insurance and assurance; pawnshop operators; warehousing; schools; and credit fonciers

[\quote]

Mario, my interpretation on the above (although I note the use of the phrase 'might be opened up'), is that opening a language school should be easier for a foreigner, not more difficult.

However, if the voting rights of foreign shareholders is going to be restricted, how can this action be seen as 'opening' up these Annex III businesses to foreigners?

Slightly OT, on that point, I was thinking of registering a Thai company as a 'vehicle' for some of my software work. In light of this news, should I move hastily to set up that company now? And if I do that, am I currently allowed to have preferential voting rights?

Simon

[Mario2008]

Annex III businesses that might be opened up include tour guide operators; trading in agricultural futures; stock trading; derivatives trading; commercial banking; insurance and assurance; pawnshop operators; warehousing; schools; and credit fonciers

Mario, my interpretation on the above (although I note the use of the phrase 'might be opened up'), is that opening a language school should be easier for a foreigner, not more difficult.

However, if the voting rights of foreign shareholders is going to be restricted, how can this action be seen as 'opening' up these Annex III businesses to foreigners?

Slightly OT, on that point, I was thinking of registering a Thai company as a 'vehicle' for some of my software work. In light of this news, should I move hastily to set up that company now? And if I do that, am I currently allowed to have preferential voting rights?

Simon

Your right, it might mean it will be more easy. But until the new rules will be set nothing is sure. It might mean opening will be easier, but there will be very strict controls.

[MrJohnson]

Start with 'married people'.

I am not talking about 'married' because they can't work, do business, own house, own land under the house, etc. Let's look at those 'happily' married, adopting fathers. Do they own here anything? Hmm...

No crackdown?... Wake up, mate, you have been cracked from the very start.

I don't own anything but a motorbike here. Don't have kids. Don't live here all year long. Never paid anything to wife or her family. Just would like things to be easier

Would someone please get this guy a deck chair and a drink with a little umbrella in it.

Life is obviously pretty tough

[mitrapaap]

Let's face it...

01. Still a very tight group of people run the show, like some 0.8X per cent of the populous which own every thing

02. Thailand is now a G20 member and no more 'golden triangle' or 'tiger' - state & desperately tries to westernize; i.e. 'jay-walking' laws

03. There's much concern about Farang mingling into the power circles - protectionism - see Russian & Western housing/building companies

04. Wouldn't you be kind of jealous or 'not amused' to see places and the stuff going on in like Pattaya as a Thai citizen - brothels etc.

05. You can get teachers and other low level 'employees' from countries like the Philippines or Morocco for a 1/3 of what 'white people' get

06. There seems to be a movement to regain control of certain areas & get rid of people which just bump around in 'their' country

07. Everyone in the region sees the ASEAN Union as the emerging force which makes 'western investment' rather unnecessary / avoidable

08. We see enough coverage in the media of Farang's bad behavior, i.e. the Australian Mom stealing sitting matts & swinger cartels

09. Aggression is best focused against 'outsiders' to divert the internal struggles, i.e. yellow vs. red shirts (which is a farce)

10. We can just hope that it will not end in repossession-ism / deportation B$

Please read and think twice if you will; this is not a condemnation but a point of view and many of you I guess have seen similar movements and streams. Honestly I am sick of the newsletter when every second blurp is dealing with 'crackdowns' on this and that. As for myself, I always tried to maintain a respectful and honest approach to the Thai's in general but I also am concerned of the 'status' of the Farang's image in the Kingdom. There is a breaking point in every relationship sometimes; sorry to say, but these messages simply tell: 'Behave, play after our rules or be kicked out / not allowed to come back'. Seriously hoping that our 'image' and 'treatment' will continue on a basis of mutual understanding and R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Thanks for your time

&

stay healthy and happy in this wonderful country!!!

Fully agree! And one more thing, when we read about foreigners, those in this forum always believe it is all about westerners (farangs). But we are actually not the only type of foreigners in the country that needs to be controlled. And many of us and others seem to think that Thailand is just a playroom where they can do whatever they want. Fortunately it is not.

Aside that, in this forum everything is presented as breaking news or crackdown. The reality is that this topic didn't give us ANY concrete information and if you follow the link that was mentioned in one of the first posts, then you will find an article that some businesses will be removed from the forbidden list for foreigners. So... may I wonder where the negative news is?

[luangtom]

Its about time the Thais were able to decide for themselves. I disagree to most of this and I have been married to a thai for 6 years.

Visas have been mis-used for many years. Retirement visas should be limited to the age of the expats pension age, eg UK at 65. You cannot be retired at 59, just escaping into another country for whatever reasons because you have nothing to do in your own country.

The other visas like teaching should be contracted for term times or for the academic year. It is strange that none of these teaching expat experts return to there country and sit in Thailand forever. Surely they go home to see they family or is it they dare not go home and there family have to come to Thailand to see them.

Also in the UK now we have gone to a points system for work permits. I dont see lots of Thais getting in to the UK through method. Why cannot Thais do the same and let people in on a similar system.

Hate to disagree with you mate, but some of us were forced into retirement at age 55. One could opt to not retire and lose ALL health-care benefits for self and spouse if one wished to work until Social Security age of 62 or 65. So, I took my employer retirement and chose to spend what time I could in LOS. So, no, I do not agree with your limit of pension-age set by one's government. I had my thirty-years in and was literally forced into retirement.

[lensta]

Pretty slim on the details and exactly what types of work will be restricted, however the pattern that is emerging right now is clear - we are becoming increasingly unwelcome in this country. Within the past couple of months crackdowns have occurred on:

-ED Visa's from Thai Language Schools (testing of Thai speaking ability)

-Tourist Visa's (people extending multiple times in a row)

-Now Work Permits

That covers every type of expat I'm aware of other than Investment Visa's and Retieree's - and possibly those types have had crackdowns as well, or will have them soon.

So what's the f'n deal here? Are they trying to expel all Farang or only a particular type? I think it may be possible the overall goal is to drive unskilled and illegal workers from the country - as in lower class Farang, leaching off of an already poor country. That would make sense. It would not make sense if they just want us all gone - a form of ethnic cleansing. Bad for their country in the long run if you ask me.

"we are becoming increasingly unwelcome in this country"

Agree. IMO, over the last couple of years the powers that be in Thailand would be quite happy if farangs just flew over Thailand and threw their wallets out the window of the plane and kept on going. What is even worse is that this kind of thinking is filtering down to the masses. Please note that this is a generalization and is not meant to include every Thai person or every Thai person in a position of authority.

[OdeTheBear]

Pretty slim on the details and exactly what types of work will be restricted, however the pattern that is emerging right now is clear - we are becoming increasingly unwelcome in this country. Within the past couple of months crackdowns have occurred on:

-ED Visa's from Thai Language Schools (testing of Thai speaking ability)

-Tourist Visa's (people extending multiple times in a row)

-Now Work Permits

That covers every type of expat I'm aware of other than Investment Visa's and Retieree's - and possibly those types have had crackdowns as well, or will have them soon.

So what's the f'n deal here? Are they trying to expel all Farang or only a particular type? I think it may be possible the overall goal is to drive unskilled and illegal workers from the country - as in lower class Farang, leaching off of an already poor country. That would make sense. It would not make sense if they just want us all gone - a form of ethnic cleansing. Bad for their country in the long run if you ask me.

The Farangs read too much over all political motive into these regulations and constraints. The people who impose them are trying to flex their muscles of control over their immediate domain and - 2) They're implementing these road blocks out of spite and to procure money from people that they can run around and charge money. It's just a giant superfluous run around. The goal being to extract money from the movements of the foreigners at every stage. From taxi fares to air and train and bus fares.

Rather than just send you back at the airport, they want to get you in here and send you through a rats maze of road blocks that you have to pay your way out of until there are so many of them you can't complete the bulcrap. THEN escort you to the plane and say "Thanks, Have a nice day ya'll" Come back real soon.

So yes - As I have predicted on many posts. If your actually working in Thailand and your middle aged, And you bought a condo - don't rent it. And you married a Thai lady and have daughters. And you own a motorbike and a car. I would say that's not smart. period. I would sell everything I own and would start moving my daughters out of Thailand. I'm serious. I would. They'le try to kick not kick but work you towards the door very slowly and tyr to keep everything you've accumulated. Even your daughters. Don't think so? Ok , lets hope I'm wrong. But look at it. Is it not definetly going there in plane sight? Now I'm getting sick of thinking about and writing about such monkey turd business so I don't know why I do. None of this affects me - I 've already left Thailand and I never owned a thing and I never married a Thai lady and don't have any Thai daughters.

Come on now... "They" want my motorbike? Maybe. Land and other real estate? Yes, probably. But my daughters? Hey, listen to yourself. Adjusting immigration laws is far from becoming baby snatchers!

[Luciano1860]

in some touristic places, russians seem to have taken over the business of thai (russian hotels, restaurants AND hookers, etc...)

how do they manage to stay here ?

if those people are on EDvisa...let's kick them all out, if that would make Thai Gov happy

and leave the (more) 'honest' expat farang from western countries alone...

but thailand have a lot of low education (illegal) refugies from myanmar, cambodia, china...

these are the one's stealing low level jobs from thais

Thai Gov should not confuse farangs with all the rest of the foreigners

Here, here my friend, I take exception to your ED Visa comment. I just retired at 50 in Thailand (retired in California at 42, after selling my advertising agency) with a A-O Retirement visa.

Without the Ed Visa and 12 months of Thai language study, I would not be as comfortable or prepared for a life in this exotic, kind, tropical paradise.

The Ed Visa is in fact used by many as a legitimate tool for "education".

The USA has the strictest visa and work permit rules in the world and getting tougher by the day as well. Your options as an expat wanting to work and live in Thailand are quite good compared to the chances for most Thai's abroad. I bet they view this phenomenon has a bit unfair.

Just an observance, most of my expat friends with work permits are MD level executives (and technical experts) hired by Thai and multi-national companies for one reason: PRODUCTION. They insure the work gets done by western business standards - no small feat with the sabai sabai attitude that permeates the work place (God bless them).

...These expats earn their place in this country by creating products and services suitable for export and sale, while the profits are shared by Thailand and it's good people.

...back to the books!

[WindyCity]

Visas have been mis-used for many years. Retirement visas should be limited to the age of the expats pension age, eg UK at 65. You cannot be retired at 59, just escaping into another country for whatever reasons because you have nothing to do in your own country

You cannot be retired at 59, just escaping into.....

Who says you can't? Why should there be a standard for retirement age. I worked hard for about 15 years, made a lot of money and have a monthly cash flow that would embarrass crown pensioners. I could retire at any age in Panama if I show a monthly income of $500 a month.

This is the usual "Thais running scared" mentality. The failure to recognize that there is more on the this rock in space than Thailand. Thailand is a perfect picture of xenophobia and they are just hurting themselves. Retirees plus working expats plus foreign tourists equal huge revenue for Thailand. They can't see passed their glasses perched on the ends of their little noses and will kill the goose that lays the golden egg. They equate revenue with the number of flights in and out of Thailand and fail to realize that foreigners also drop baht at 7-11, grocery stores, gas stations etc

They are too busy counting a few baht that is made in departure fees and hotel bookings and fail to focus on the much larger amount spent out and about in Thailand.

You can't teach the old elite anything. They know it all........

Of course that it why they are STILL nowhere near developed.

[sproket]

Quote

The other visas like teaching should be contracted for term times or for the academic year. It is strange that none of these teaching expat experts return to there country and sit in Thailand forever. Surely they go home to see they family or is it they dare not go home and there family have to come to Thailand to see them.

It’s to easy to sit back and make bold statements. I am a teacher here and do you honestly think it would be practical to issue visas for term times only? That would be three work visas per year, and who pays? What happens at the end of the year? I work in an international school and although married to a Thai national, I need my visa to relate to working here. Although I could get a visa on the strength of my wife, it won’t allow me to work. Considering there are many legitimate teachers here in Thailand and contrary to belief, we earn quite a good wage. Your statement would cause chaos within the private sector. I do wonder how qualified you are to make such an elitist statement.

Edited January 6, 2010 by sproket

[Mario2008]

Let's try to stay on topic here: work permits/investment and probable changes. It is not about how you can stay in Thailand.

[hansnl]

Its about time the Thais were able to decide for themselves. I disagree to most of this and I have been married to a thai for 6 years.

Visas have been mis-used for many years. Retirement visas should be limited to the age of the expats pension age, eg UK at 65. You cannot be retired at 59, just escaping into another country for whatever reasons because you have nothing to do in your own country.

Really a person in the UK with allot of money at say the age of 30 can't retire? they HAVE to work until they are 65?

Not only in the UK!

I retired, legally, with a 100% pension, at the ripe age of 56.

I worked for nearly 43 years.

I presume that would be enough?

Other thing, there are countires without a "legal" age for retirement.

I presume those can never be allowed?

[Mario2008]

Quote

The other visas like teaching should be contracted for term times or for the academic year. It is strange that none of these teaching expat experts return to there country and sit in Thailand forever. Surely they go home to see they family or is it they dare not go home and there family have to come to Thailand to see them.

It’s to easy to sit back and make bold statements. I am a teacher here and do you honestly think it would be practical to issue visas for term times only? That would be three work visas per year, and who pays? What happens at the end of the year? I work in an international school and although married to a Thai national, I need my visa to relate to working here. Although I could get a visa on the strength of my wife, it won’t allow me to work. Considering there are many legitimate teachers here in Thailand and contrary to belief, we earn quite a good wage. Your statement would cause chaos within the private sector. I do wonder how qualified you are to make such an elitist statement.

If you get an extension of stay based on your wife, you are allowed to work. An extension of stay based on mariage does not mean that you cannot apply for a work permit.

But this is off topic, if you have any questions about this please open-up your own topic.

[madmitch]

Let's face it...

01. Still a very tight group of people run the show, like some 0.8X per cent of the populous which own every thing

02. Thailand is now a G20 member and no more 'golden triangle' or 'tiger' - state & desperately tries to westernize; i.e. 'jay-walking' laws

03. There's much concern about Farang mingling into the power circles - protectionism - see Russian & Western housing/building companies

04. Wouldn't you be kind of jealous or 'not amused' to see places and the stuff going on in like Pattaya as a Thai citizen - brothels etc.

05. You can get teachers and other low level 'employees' from countries like the Philippines or Morocco for a 1/3 of what 'white people' get

06. There seems to be a movement to regain control of certain areas & get rid of people which just bump around in 'their' country

07. Everyone in the region sees the ASEAN Union as the emerging force which makes 'western investment' rather unnecessary / avoidable

08. We see enough coverage in the media of Farang's bad behavior, i.e. the Australian Mom stealing sitting matts & swinger cartels

09. Aggression is best focused against 'outsiders' to divert the internal struggles, i.e. yellow vs. red shirts (which is a farce)

10. We can just hope that it will not end in repossession-ism / deportation B$

Please read and think twice if you will; this is not a condemnation but a point of view and many of you I guess have seen similar movements and streams. Honestly I am sick of the newsletter when every second blurp is dealing with 'crackdowns' on this and that. As for myself, I always tried to maintain a respectful and honest approach to the Thai's in general but I also am concerned of the 'status' of the Farang's image in the Kingdom. There is a breaking point in every relationship sometimes; sorry to say, but these messages simply tell: 'Behave, play after our rules or be kicked out / not allowed to come back'. Seriously hoping that our 'image' and 'treatment' will continue on a basis of mutual understanding and R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Thanks for your time

&

stay healthy and happy in this wonderful country!!!

A minor and maybe pedantic point: Thailand is not a G20 member. Abhisit attanded the last meeting in his role as representative of ASEAN.

Otherwise a very good well-thought out post with which seems to represent the views of many TV members, jusdging by the comments.

[hansnl]

Visas have been mis-used for many years. Retirement visas should be limited to the age of the expats pension age, eg UK at 65. You cannot be retired at 59, just escaping into another country for whatever reasons because you have nothing to do in your own country

You cannot be retired at 59, just escaping into.....

Who says you can't? Why should there be a standard for retirement age. I worked hard for about 15 years, made a lot of money and have a monthly cash flow that would embarrass crown pensioners. I could retire at any age in Panama if I show a monthly income of $500 a month.

This is the usual "Thais running scared" mentality. The failure to recognize that there is more on the this rock in space than Thailand. Thailand is a perfect picture of xenophobia and they are just hurting themselves. Retirees plus working expats plus foreign tourists equal huge revenue for Thailand. They can't see passed their glasses perched on the ends of their little noses and will kill the goose that lays the golden egg. They equate revenue with the number of flights in and out of Thailand and fail to realize that foreigners also drop baht at 7-11, grocery stores, gas stations etc

They are too busy counting a few baht that is made in departure fees and hotel bookings and fail to focus on the much larger amount spent out and about in Thailand.

You can't teach the old elite anything. They know it all........

Of course that it why they are STILL nowhere near developed.

Now consider this:

- Who is running the country?

- What country is in the direct approach line?

- What is the national treat of that country?

- What might that mean for the gwai loo?

[Mario2008]

1 post discussing moderation deleted.

[Mario2008]

1 off topic post has been deleted.

[tomahawk]

I would not jump to conclusion that work permit change means govt. wants to kick all farangs out of Thailand. I imagine the work permit change, which apparently no one is saying even what changes are, have something to do with safeguarding economy of Thai workers. Kicking farangs out would destroy economy of Thailand. The bottom line is work permit rules purpose is to help Thais make money. Kicking farangs out makes Thais lose money. So one thin g has nothing to do with the other. Unless you are in one of occupations affected by work permit change, I would not worry about it.

[dude007]

time to pack... there is nothing left here for me to stay any longer. It's sure now: they simply hate us!

[bud69er]

Pretty slim on the details and exactly what types of work will be restricted, however the pattern that is emerging right now is clear - we are becoming increasingly unwelcome in this country. Within the past couple of months crackdowns have occurred on:

-ED Visa's from Thai Language Schools (testing of Thai speaking ability)

-Tourist Visa's (people extending multiple times in a row)

-Now Work Permits

That covers every type of expat I'm aware of other than Investment Visa's and Retieree's - and possibly those types have had crackdowns as well, or will have them soon.

You forgot married people. Hopefully no crackdown on us

IM sure soon the rules will change when getting married to a thai person, = it will cost you more money, ive been living in Thailand for 2yrs+ now bangkok & now phuket for the last yr, & all i seem to see now is that this country just wants more & more MONEY from us Farangs, i find it to expensive now to live here as im on a thai wage, im selling up & going back home like i to see lots & lots are doing the same, its cheaper for me to live in my own country = London UK, to come to thailand for a holiday is GT but when you live here its different in all ways. ive started to hate this place now, as i to find the people so RUDE & so DIRTY + its getting more & more dangerous as each day gos by, i dont even wear a watch when i go out these days as feared to get robbed

[Me&MrsJones]

Its about time the Thais were able to decide for themselves. I disagree to most of this and I have been married to a thai for 6 years.

Visas have been mis-used for many years. Retirement visas should be limited to the age of the expats pension age, eg UK at 65. You cannot be retired at 59, just escaping into another country for whatever reasons because you have nothing to do in your own country.

The other visas like teaching should be contracted for term times or for the academic year. It is strange that none of these teaching expat experts return to there country and sit in Thailand forever. Surely they go home to see they family or is it they dare not go home and there family have to come to Thailand to see them.

Also in the UK now we have gone to a points system for work permits. I dont see lots of Thais getting in to the UK through method. Why cannot Thais do the same and let people in on a similar system.

What a snobbish, ill-researched and thoroughly empty comment!

Oh dear, oh dear! Did you ever consider, "Johnswift1956", that some people retire before the official retirement age because they can afford to? What you are saying is that "visas should be limited to the age of the expat's pension age". What rubbish! So if I have the same Net Worth as a 65 year old, wealthy enough, have earned my stripes, and just so happen to be in my 50's I don't deserve a Retirement Visa? It's a free World, don't you know. Why should I stay in UK if I am near retirement age and can afford to be elsewhere - namely Thailand?

Don't you know that many families depend on their 50-something year old breadwinner in order to sustain a reasonable lifestyle and that having a Retirement Visa makes life far easier for the breadwinner to stay here? What do we do, prohibit them from coming here to take care of their adopted family? Kick them out?

You say - "just because you have nothing to do in your own country"! What bol_lox is that! "Retire" means, if you check your thesaurus (you'd need a dictionary first, to check the meaning of THESAURUS) , that you "stop work", "take leave of work", "withdraw" etc. To be retired means that you are free to do as you wish, and that does not mean you have to stay in your own country of normal residence and domicile.

It means you don't HAVE to do anything at all. Look in the dictionary.

Furthermore, you say "It is strange that none of these teaching expat experts return to there country and sit in Thailand forever". I think you need to check the correct usage of the words "there, their and they're" for a start. At least most teachers have a command of the English Language. Teacher expats are here because they want to be here and maybe they've been stuck in a humdrum life in the UK for too long in the past, working with people like you. Maybe the teacher community over here decided to broaden their horizons and leave the grey faces, insular mentalities and nonsensical people behind in the UK. Why should they return? They pay taxes here and have their legal right to be here as much as anywhere else.

In addition you say "dare not go home". You think that there are loads of folk here because they remain outside the reach of the UK police? What a joke you are! Heard of Interpol have you? What a shortsighted take on life you have! It's serve you well to get some lessons in life after you've had your lessons on English Language.

I'm by no means done with you yet!

You go on to say "I dont see lots of Thais getting in to the UK through method". If reciprocation was the order of the day when considering the implications and effects of allowing an immigrant into any country, there would be no immigration law. Immigration is taken on a case-by-case basis with law used as a metaphorical "line in the sand". A certain former Prime Minister became an exile in the UK and bought a football club and a number of houses in the UK - can a foreigner do that here without circumventing or evading the rules of this land? No! So why are you staying what's good for us should be good for them? It has never been and never will be reciprocal, simply because reciprocal agreements do not always work. A slightly off-topic example, but for the purpose of demonstration, please read on:- If we could all buy land over here in Thailand, the locals would not be able to afford to buy land of their own - basic economics. As much as I dislike the fact that I can't own my own land over here I am fully aware of the reasons. Concerning immigration, maybe Thailand took a look at the UK's porous immigration laws, considered that in about 50 years the native British man will be a minority in his own country and thought "why the hel_l would we want to go down that road"! Reciprocation does not always work - even though in a rose-tinted fanciful way we'd all like it to work!

Sorry....no I’m not.....but your post has to get the award for "worst I’ve ever had the misfortune of reading".

I rest my case!

[thaibkk]

somebody posted earlier: prices of land skyrocket because the boyfriend or husband of thai girlfriend/wife is buying land and making it more expensive...

farang cannot buy land here anyway

what is keeping the poor farmers' daughter to catch one farang herself and extort him some money to buy land for mommy/daddy/sick buffalo ?

- my home country is taking in more illegal/refugies that i can support

- since the european comission crap took it headsquarters, natives had to move to other towns as price soared for normal people

- there was already a shortage of land to build new houses

- poor or rich, if you have money or get a loan from the bank, at least you can buy the overpriced land !!!

- it would be a big racist lawsuit that the landowner or governement would lose for sure if a foreigner could not buy a house/land (in my home country)

Edited January 6, 2010 by thaibkk

[Me&MrsJones]

i live in phuket and maybe its only here but thai people only care about one thing MONEY i mean i love it here and its all great but some times it sickens me... farangs are treatet like shit and it pisses me off

It's not just Phuket, it's most places. Although i have never expected a 21 gun salute and a red carpet for being a farang, it would nice to have at least common courtesy here instead of race discrimination. How many times each day do i leave the house and try to get ripped off and treated like a scumbag? I don't even count anymore - i'm past caring and that is why i am out of this place in April. Eight years here have taken their toll!

You'd have thought Phuket Thai's would have learned that nothing lasts forever when the tsunami came and wreaked havoc, took away their livelihood and sent their life screaming back into the dark ages! But no, because they cannot see futher than their own noses. Live for today, mai-pen-rai! You can't change 1000's of years of racism or blatant disregard for all things foreign.

Even if you learn the language, as i have done, it makes no difference. It only serves to open your ears to the way in which the locals slag us off.

The sooner we realize this the better: - We'll never belong!

[thaibkk]

i live in phuket and maybe its only here but thai people only care about one thing MONEY i mean i love it here and its all great but some times it sickens me... farangs are treatet like shit and it pisses me off

It's not just Phuket, it's most places. Although i have never expected a 21 gun salute and a red carpet for being a farang, it would nice to have at least common courtesy here instead of race discrimination. How many times each day do i leave the house and try to get ripped off and treated like a scumbag? I don't even count anymore - i'm past caring and that is why i am out of this place in April. Eight years here have taken their toll!

You'd have thought Phuket Thai's would have learned that nothing lasts forever when the tsunami came and wreaked havoc, took away their livelihood and sent their life screaming back into the dark ages! But no, because they cannot see futher than their own noses. Live for today, mai-pen-rai! You can't change 1000's of years of racism or blatant disregard for all things foreign.

Even if you learn the language, as i have done, it makes no difference. It only serves to open your ears to the way in which the locals slag us off.

The sooner we realize this the better: - We'll never belong!

((edit))

((edit))at least most of us have money of our own and most of us do not steal/rob/ripp off locals as a living, do we ?

we do not lean on social security/welfare, as there is NONE ... not for us, anyway

[Seismic]

Visas have been mis-used for many years. Retirement visas should be limited to the age of the expats pension age, eg UK at 65. You cannot be retired at 59, just escaping into another country for whatever reasons because you have nothing to do in your own country.

The other visas like teaching should be contracted for term times or for the academic year. It is strange that none of these teaching expat experts return to there country and sit in Thailand forever. Surely they go home to see they family or is it they dare not go home and there family have to come to Thailand to see them.

Also in the UK now we have gone to a points system for work permits. I dont see lots of Thais getting in to the UK through method. Why cannot Thais do the same and let people in on a similar system.

What utter rubbish, you cannot compare the state pension in the UK to private pension schemes anymore. I have Company pension plus 3 private pension schemes and all are geared to allow me to retire at 50 or 55. The pittance doled out by the government, I discounted that long ago. There are many people with private pnsions that would allow them to retire comfortably in their 40's.

[NanLaew]

Seriously, that list could have used some updating long ago. Most of the prohibited jobs are targeted at immigrants from Burma, Laos, Cambodia and China and largely concern lowly, menial or agricultural tasks. Time to add "Web Design", "Cold Calling" and "Loitering" to get back to reality.

Not at all feeling serious today.

And if I lose another stunning potential wife in a bar to yet another smooth-talking, young, handsome but ultimately low-income 'information architect', I really don't know what I can do since I haven't a clue about teaching and haven't got around being able to 'poot thai' after all these years. I guess I will just have to join the exodus to Cambodia.

[craig123]

Sigh. Yet another obstacle for the young, the able-bodied, the bright who might, in spite of all reason, be interested in living in and building the country. Oh well. At least LOS will always have Nana and its ilk. Hope they can continue to sustain the country on prostitution ... the smart tourist money is going elsewhere.

Completely agree with you there mate. I mean why are they just soooo determined to make expats life hel_l out here?

I think I will soon have to rethink my position in Thailand aswell...

[waza]

Just my thoughts... The core issue is the world is over populated, there isnt enough resourses to maintain this growing population in universal comfort. It is understandable that governments and population wish to have control and benifit from the resourses of their own countires, and wish to limit the benifits that other nationalities get from them. Rather they would prefer to profit from these other nationalities. To see others come to Thaialnd and live comfortable lives, profit from businesses, while the local population have less comfortable lives makes for social unrest.

[lopburi3]

Several off-topic/language posts removed. This is about legal work and changes that may be coming. It is not about bars.