Who Is Loosing Out?

[jayenram]

I have a friend who generally spends two, three month stints in Thailand every year. Prior to the hike in visa prices, he would obtain a two month tourist visa from Australia and then spend Bht 500.00 to extend said visa by 30 days. Since the price increases, he now finds it cheaper to leave the country (Cambodia) and return obtaining a 30 day tourist visa for his final month.

The economics of this are: prior to the visa price increase, the Thai immigration made Bht 500.00 for the extension. Following the visa price increase (in his case), the Khmers make Bht 1,000 (for the Cambodia visa) and the Thai’s loose Bht 500.00. He saves Bht 900.00 less the cost of travelling 40 kms further.

So who is loosing out?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

As long as he's happy Jayenram. The Thai Government gets $AUD 45 out of him for a tourist visa, where they only got $AUD 18 before. Win some, lose some.

[tomy]

for some poeple like me, its all about convenient, if they are affraid to pay the 900Bht extra, i guest they shouldn't be here.

1-2hr at the immigration, half or full day running across border

[12call]

Hi Chaps,

Just got an extra 15 days today for Baht1900.This place is making MORE money than any casino on the Border.All they are missing now is a DECENT fast food joint and there home!!!!!

Also Baht1900 for a 30day,15 day,10 day & 7 dayextention.That's fair is it not???

[dr_Pat_Pong]

You should have got a proper tourist visa before you left home. A 60 day stay with no hassles, and that would have been extendable by 30 days for the same amount of baht.

[PK2]

All they are missing now is a DECENT fast food joint and there home!!!!!

Isn?t DECENT fast food any oxymoron? Anyway they have fast food at the Suan Plu Immigration in Bangkok. Also short queues since visa fees went up.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

You are dead right ...Decent fast food has to be an oxymoron....

[lopburi3]

You are dead right ...Decent fast food has to be an oxymoron.... 

Disagree. Food Courts serve what is termed 'fast food' and I find plenty of good eats in them. Even the chains are decent if used in moderation.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Not all Lop....sorry....we have to disagree

[jayenram]

for some poeple like me, its all about convenient, if they are affraid to pay the 900Bht extra, i guest they shouldn't be here.

1-2hr at the immigration, half or full day running across border

Being 'afraid' has nothing to do with it. It's a question of economics. Also obtaining a 30 day tourist visa at Chong Chom takes the equivalent time as obtaining a 30 day extension at Kab Cheong. In addition, the former permits importation of duty free goods, i.e. more savings.

[California Dave]

It's a question of economics.

Next time, add to the price of the Cambodian visa (1000 baht) the cost of getting to Aranya Prathet and back (150 baht each way by bus from Mo Chit), the cost of getting from Aranya bus station to the border and back (40 or 50 baht by motorcycle or tuk tuk), the 100 baht you'll need to pay the Cambodian officials to be stamped in and out on the same day, the cost of getting to Mo Chit in the first place, and the cost of all the food/beer you're gonna want during the course of this wasted day.

Add it all up and you'll find that the cost for extending your visa at the immigration department is about the same. It's aslo a whole lot more convenient.

I would say that the Thais have got their pricing absolutely bang on.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Cal Dave ...well put ...but you mustn't apply logic to the argument

[jayenram]

Our local immigration office for obtaining visa extensions is 50 km south of Surin. The Cambodian border is a further 20 km south. So in this case, the 'wasted' time is the time taken to travel 40 km, approximately 30 minutes.

I'm also at a loss to comprehend why the cost of food and beer should be more than any other, normal, day.

[monitorlizard]

I heard a rumor that the real reasons for the visa hikes is to move the foreigners closer to Thai border towns. The effect will be improved economy for border towns and the foreigners will be out of sight in Bangkok! Hehe

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I heard a rumor that the real reasons for the visa hikes is to move the foreigners closer to Thai border towns. The effect will be improved economy for border towns and the foreigners will be out of sight in Bangkok! Hehe

Same same as soi dogs, beggars, and street prostitutes during APEC. Clean the undesirables off the capital's streets.

[Neng]

Just extended a tourist visa at Phuket immigration. Phew, that's a hefty increase. I only really needed a couple of extra days, so 1,900 baht kinda pissed me off. Should have just overstayed, I guess, but not worth the possible hassle.

Anyway, when I was filling out the form the immigration officer offered me another alternative - 15 days for 2,100 baht! That seemed very reasonable so I went for it and am staying the full fifteen instead of just buggering off when I originally planned.

Economics? At 500 baht I would have gone after a couple of days and happily written off the rest of the extension. At 1,900/2,100 baht I am taking full advantage of the extension and am spending more money in Thailand.

I know not everybody has my freedom of moving when they feel like it, but in my book 1,900 baht certainly makes me appreciate the extra time a whole lot more.

Have Fun,

S

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Anyway, when I was filling out the form the immigration officer offered me another alternative - 15 days for 2,100 baht! That seemed very reasonable so I went for it and am staying the full fifteen instead of just buggering off when I originally planned.

The officer was a real entrepreneur...the fee is 1900 baht ....he charged you 2100 baht...1900 for the Government, 200 baht for the entrepreneurial officer, and you an extra 15 days of bliss ....everyone happy