Thailand May Change Visa Policy As Country Fears More Terror

[Rainmon]

(2nd link at start of this thread)

NUT CASE AP Writer JOCELYN GECKER, what a bias slanted article, talking about Thailand, sin prostitutes and criminal haven, how does she know these guys were in the company of prostitutes and this is a sin, what a bitch, look how she starts her article on the story, <deleted> does she work for the christian right and Santorum campaign or something?:

JOCELYN GECKER The Associated Press

BANGKOK — Unwinding with bar girls at a beach town came first. Building bombs was allegedly for later. They spent several days at a seaside town in the company of prostitutes, soaking up the sun and sin that has attracted many of the world's unsavory characters.

The "Land of Smiles" has long been a favorite haven for criminals — from Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to gangsters, drug smugglers and pedophiles — drawn by its open-door visa policy, lax law enforcement and huge variety of white sand beaches.

Thai immigration officers escort detained Iranian Mohammad Kharzei, center, at the immigration headquarters in Bangkok on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012. Kharzei and two fellow Iranians arrested after accidentally setting off an explosives cache in Bangkok were planning to attack Israeli diplomats, Thailand's police chief said Thursday, the first confirmation by local officials that the group was plotting terror attacks in the Southeast Asian country.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Edited February 20, 2012 by Rainmon

[StevieH]

What about restricting visa's for all those soul brothers who come here for the sole purpose of crime?

I don't know if anyone has noticed but there seems to be more and more of them every month!

erm, the what now?

[Jingthing]

What about restricting visa's for all those soul brothers who come here for the sole purpose of crime?

I don't know if anyone has noticed but there seems to be more and more of them every month!

Soul brothers? who they?

I reckon he is talking about darker skinned folks from some African nations.

[blazes]

While fiddling with visas, they might consider a couple of sensible suggestions:

1/ Make the term of you visa start from when you enter the country. Most people buy their visas well before departure and the clock starts ticking from date of purchase. If you buy a double entry Tourist one month before arrival, the second leg will expire before it can be used, or if you use it to visit a 2nd country, the same will happen.

2/ the date your visa expires should be marked as "Expiry Date" not "Use Before." The expressions do not mean the same thing.

Although this contribution is not exactly spot on topic, it might be a good idea to clarify this. My OA One -year visa says "Use before Nov 15." (I received the visa on August 25.) I arrived at BKK on Oct 25. My passport has a stamp that says the visa expires on Oct 24, 2012.

So, clearly, the clock starts ticking the moment you enter the country, not on receipt of the visa in your home country.

Unless, it is a different set of regulations for OA one-yr visas, compared to double-entry Tourist visa.....

[Soutpeel]

(2nd link at start of this thread)

NUT CASE AP Writer JOCELYN GECKER, what a bias slanted article, talking about Thailand, sin prostitutes and criminal haven, how does she know these guys were in the company of prostitutes and this is a sin, what a bitch, look how she starts her article on the story, <deleted> does she work for the christian right and Santorum campaign or something?:

JOCELYN GECKER The Associated Press

BANGKOK — Unwinding with bar girls at a beach town came first. Building bombs was allegedly for later. They spent several days at a seaside town in the company of prostitutes, soaking up the sun and sin that has attracted many of the world's unsavory characters.

The "Land of Smiles" has long been a favorite haven for criminals — from Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to gangsters, drug smugglers and pedophiles — drawn by its open-door visa policy, lax law enforcement and huge variety of white sand beaches.

Thai immigration officers escort detained Iranian Mohammad Kharzei, center, at the immigration headquarters in Bangkok on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012. Kharzei and two fellow Iranians arrested after accidentally setting off an explosives cache in Bangkok were planning to attack Israeli diplomats, Thailand's police chief said Thursday, the first confirmation by local officials that the group was plotting terror attacks in the Southeast Asian country.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Well you know the whole article is crock when they state Pattaya has " a huge variety white sand beaches"

Pattaya has a beach ?......never mind the white sand type LOL

[Soutpeel]

Removing the laptop when putting the bag through the scanner is standard everywhere.

Maybe not...came through Singapore 3 days ago and didnt have to remove the laptop, I even asked and the security guy said no problem

[thaiIand]

just fyi, the 'use before' is rarely used. Many times i have been a few weeks late on it for my second entry.. Most thais at immigration can't even read english letter which is why it always takes time, they just glare at the passport trying to look busy before they finally put the stamp.

[yellow1red1]

Credit checks, simple credit history checks, would flag most of the 'Gamers'.

[Orac]

I flew on a domestic flight yesterday and the security was absurd. Not only did I have to go through the usual reasonable formalities of taking off everything metal and putting it and my carry-on bag through the scanner, I was asked to remove my laptop which they regarded with great suspicion, and after having the metal detector run over me (despite the fact that I did not beep when I walked through the scanner), I then was groped all over - excessively in the groin and anal region, I might add. Then the guy asked me if I had a spray pack in my bag (meaning aerosol spray) and I didn't understand him. He repeated it once, then asked me to empty the carefully packed contents of my bag. Finding a tiny deodorant aerosol that I always carry on flights, he removed it triumphantly. I respect the fact that these people have jobs to do, but it's the usual paranoid response to some terrorism activity - just getting worse...

Removing the laptop when putting the bag through the scanner is standard everywhere.

Not sure that they would need to take the aerosol can away, unless they think it's got some virus in it. You can carry up to 100ml containers of liquid. I thought the aerosol would come under that.

Technically it needs to be shown in a clear, resealable plastic bag so in effect what he is saying he go caught out trying to circumvent anti-terrorism laws at a time of a heightened alert.

[dean999]

What about the ones that don't come from the middle east. The Swedish/Lebanesse has a Swedish Passport.

They can come from anywhere. They are already living everywhere.

They don't have to worry about the UK's home grown terrorists; they just get trained in Pakistan and the hills of Afghan and then come home to terrorise. So Thailand is safe from us.....well apart from are criminals and tattoo clad hooligans

[Maseratimartin]

What is it good for if theses Thalibanskies already have western passports?

Or what made the lebanese Swede a Swede? ...it was his swedish passport!

I still remeber some words of my father when he said...everything what has a "mus" has some bad sides. (In german mus means must!)

Fashismus, Kommunismus...so now the next one Muslim!

[blows]

*Deleted quote edited out* Get the sheeple runn'in scared.

Since Thailand supported Palestinian state its been bombs, fear, travel warnings...Thailand got a long road ahead.

Conspiracy theory much?

Edited February 20, 2012 by Scott
Deleted quote edited out

[FiFtHeLeMeNt]

Iran has been never on visa on arrival list , you should apply in Iran for visa and it takes few days until they issue a visa for you. seems thai officials have no idea about their country visa affairs !

also applying such restrictions will only cause problems to ordinary citizens and tourists , terrorists can come from other countries and use other methods as they have strong financial and tactical support.

if you want to resolve this issue , help iranian people to fight and change this rotten islamic rejime. all of the problems of middle east will go away if we can replace this regime with a democratic government.

[toenail]

Basically there is only one reason why men from the MIddle East come to Bangkok, and it isn't for the culture or shopping; yet, back in their own country, they will say "haram" "haram" (forbidden) to the drinking and night life that they find in the Nana night district.

Why are you singling out men from the middle east in this regard ?....the vast majority of men from the West dont come here for the culture or shopping either !!!

Woopsie forgot all the men from mud island, US, Aussie land etc all come her for the beaches and temples...

--Because I spent 15 years living in various middle eastern countries working and I know what the ME locals tell me. And U?

[New2LOS]

The problem still lies, as most terrorists already live all over the world with passports for those countries.

"Most terrorists live all over the world . . ." as oppose to the Middle East? Do you have supporting links to back up that contention?

[blows]

Basically there is only one reason why men from the MIddle East come to Bangkok, and it isn't for the culture or shopping; yet, back in their own country, they will say "haram" "haram" (forbidden) to the drinking and night life that they find in the Nana night district.

Why are you singling out men from the middle east in this regard ?....the vast majority of men from the West dont come here for the culture or shopping either !!!

Woopsie forgot all the men from mud island, US, Aussie land etc all come her for the beaches and temples...

--Because I spent 15 years living in various middle eastern countries working and I know what the ME locals tell me. And U?

Probably the same reason the causeway to Bahrain from Saudi Arabia is packed with Saudis every Wednesday afternoon.

[Scott]

Countries have names. Use them correctly.

Posts and replies deleted.

[bigbamboo]

It is not only Iranian gays who come here, there are many Baha'is and minority Christians fleeing religious persecution, as well as those fleeing political persecution

No doubt. And also pro regime people as well. In any case, MOSTLY tourists and the Iranian tourists and residents here are MOSTLY not threats.

I mention the gays because I estimate based on gaydar that the percentage of gay tourists among the Iranians to be at least 20 percent in a country where the president claims there are no gays. So I think it is a remarkable thing. (Its a matter of controversy, but I think the actual occurrence of gay male homosexuality in human populations is closer to 2 to 3 percent rather than the 10 percent that used to be promoted by gay activists.)

Supposedly one in ten can be applied to the number of partial or complete lefties (physical not political) and the number of partial or fully leaning homosexuals. In the case of lefties it's is down to a brain function anomaly, not sure about the other. I think my wife fancies Angelina Jolie almost as much as I do!

Edited February 20, 2012 by bigbamboo

[partington]

Hmmm...fear, just as USrael planned. Get the sheeple runn'in scared.

Since Thailand supported Palestinian state its been bombs, fear, travel warnings...Thailand got a long road ahead.

Conspiracy theory much?

My belief is the Iranian government is responsible for the bombings, but they ensured that they would be carried out badly intentionally, in order to convince observers that it was a false flag operation instigated by the Israelis.

Thus the Iranians actually instructed their operatives to trigger the so-called "accidental" explosion at their apartment; to deliberately leave Iranian passports lying around to be discovered once this planned alarm was triggered; and told them to make ostentatiously obvious attempts to "flee to Iran" -- all carefully orchestrated to make it seem plausible that it was a false flag attack and thus attempt to make the blame fall on Israel.

Looks like they succeeded admirably in this very clever plan!

[visarunner]

Looks like Jordan and Syria are on the visa on arrival list.

No, nationals of these 2 counties require a proper Thai Visa from the Royal Thai Embassy/ Consulate in their country of Residence.

[Ricardo]

Can Deputy Prime-Minister Chalerm not easily introduce a special Terrorist/Tourist Visa, for those who only wish to perform "minor symbolic acts", while visiting LOS ?

Edited February 20, 2012 by Ricardo

[SunsetT]

While fiddling with visas, they might consider a couple of sensible suggestions:

1/ Make the term of you visa start from when you enter the country. Most people buy their visas well before departure and the clock starts ticking from date of purchase. If you buy a double entry Tourist one month before arrival, the second leg will expire before it can be used, or if you use it to visit a 2nd country, the same will happen.

2/ the date your visa expires should be marked as "Expiry Date" not "Use Before." The expressions do not mean the same thing.

Although this contribution is not exactly spot on topic, it might be a good idea to clarify this. My OA One -year visa says "Use before Nov 15." (I received the visa on August 25.) I arrived at BKK on Oct 25. My passport has a stamp that says the visa expires on Oct 24, 2012.

So, clearly, the clock starts ticking the moment you enter the country, not on receipt of the visa in your home country.

Unless, it is a different set of regulations for OA one-yr visas, compared to double-entry Tourist visa.....

Yes, I agree. Off topic but I think OzMick is confusing the pre-issued Visa expiry date ("must be utilized before..." date) for which the clock does indeed start ticking as soon as it is issued, and the expiry date of the stamps u receive at immigration when entering or re-entering Thailand. As long as the entry date of your last re-entry stamp, that is the entry date of the immigration stamp u receive, whether for a double, triple, or multiple entry visa, is before the expiry date of your pre-issued visa, then it is legal. It does not matter if the expiry date (admitted until") of that re-entry stamp is after the expiry date of your pre-issued visa. E.g., I hold a pre-issued triple-entry 60 day tourist visa. This visa was issued in the UK on 28/9/11 and is valid for 6 mths so "must be utilized before 28/3/12". I just re-entered Thailand 11/2/12 for the 3rd and last time on this visa and the 60 day re-entry stamp states "admitted until 10/4/12". It does not matter that this date is after the expiry (utilize before) date; 28/3/12, of my pre-issued visa. If this is confusing Ozmick, I believe Thaivisa has a 'Visa' forum where u can post a question to someone more knowledgeable and qualified than me for a reply. Cheers

[nikkoid66]

Less Arabs in Pattaya? Good idea!

[w11guy]

I don't know how immigration does their background checks, but I seriously doubt these criminals would have been allowed to enter the United States of for sure Israel. So maybe if the Thai government can work together with these countries and learn more about security that might help...

I can't really agree with you on that one. The U.S. immigration policies are really over the top and have suppressed tourism business that has been sorely needed in hard economic times, and otherwise would have been massive given the weak dollar. Perhaps somewhere in between the two extremes.

What weak dollar? It's the strength of the dollar against the £GBP that is deterring many UK citizens from visiting the USA. The $USD has strengthened over 20% against the £GBP. The strength of the $USD has led to US citizens purchasing property in the EU area. I don't see how you can say the dollar is weak. It is strong.

[AleG]

Wouldn't be more effective to tighten the "requirements" for obtaining explosive in Thailand?

I don't know, crazy idea; maybe if men and women of low moral fiber wouldn't be able to buy C4 things would actually be safer.

[khunken]

Hmmm...fear, just as USrael planned. Get the sheeple runn'in scared.

Since Thailand supported Palestinian state its been bombs, fear, travel warnings...Thailand got a long road ahead.

Conspiracy theory much?

My belief is the Iranian government is responsible for the bombings, but they ensured that they would be carried out badly intentionally, in order to convince observers that it was a false flag operation instigated by the Israelis.

Thus the Iranians actually instructed their operatives to trigger the so-called "accidental" explosion at their apartment; to deliberately leave Iranian passports lying around to be discovered once this planned alarm was triggered; and told them to make ostentatiously obvious attempts to "flee to Iran" -- all carefully orchestrated to make it seem plausible that it was a false flag attack and thus attempt to make the blame fall on Israel.

Looks like they succeeded admirably in this very clever plan!

Well IMO the opposite is just as, or maybe even more, likely. Israel is more likely to have paid some incompetent Iranians to make a show of doing some dirty work in Bangkok. Iran does not stand to gain anything from this episode. No professional 'terrorist' throws a bomb or grenade at a taxi just because it wouldn't stop.

On the subject of visas I'm sure any country that wants to overcome any clamp down can just follow the Israeli model: forge a bundle of EU passports & your visa problems disappear.

[NowImEasy]

I don't know how immigration does their background checks, but I seriously doubt these criminals would have been allowed to enter the United States of for sure Israel. So maybe if the Thai government can work together with these countries and learn more about security that might help...

I can't really agree with you on that one. The U.S. immigration policies are really over the top and have suppressed tourism business that has been sorely needed in hard economic times, and otherwise would have been massive given the weak dollar. Perhaps somewhere in between the two extremes.

It may be tough to get a visa to the US for many people, but the US doesn't depend on tourism to the extent that Thailand does. On my last visit to Manhattan last July, I was truly amazed at the numbers of, and diversity of foreign tourists. I met Brazilians, Finns, Morrocans, Germans and Koreans.... these are just those I encountered personally on a 3 day trip. And the most important fact about these tourists was that they were rich. No falang kee noks doing NYC on the cheap.

[Eddy1960]

well, what about EU countries that give very very easy a double nationality to those kind of people ? they seem DUTCH, FRENCH, BELGIAN op paper, but you just have to look at their name or had, to know these have more than one nationality

I come also from Belgium. It is not so easy for double nationality. Mine Thai wive had to live in Belgium for 3 years before shy get Belgium nationality and had to follow some Netherlands and had to find work. Its the people ho come from Europa to Belgium the get more easy a double nationality.

[bendix]

Basically there is only one reason why men from the MIddle East come to Bangkok, and it isn't for the culture or shopping; yet, back in their own country, they will say "haram" "haram" (forbidden) to the drinking and night life that they find in the Nana night district.

<flame removed>.

Walk around Bumrungrad and do some profiling and come back when you have finally managed to get a clue.

Edited February 20, 2012 by metisdead

[tragickingdom]

The fact hat politicians, policemen and army men live in a dreamworld is always most evident when they act on a silly threat in order to give the impression that things can be made saver. Last Friday a Moroccan with a bomb vest was apprehended near the Capitol. The rednecks are one of the most inhospitable countries in the world. Even North Korea is nicer to arriving passengers from abroad than the Americans are.

You can twist any visa policy, people who come over to commit acts of terrorism always have the right papers. They always have a decent passport they get the right visa and they do not have a criminal record. Western governments are so cocky that they issue travel warnings for countries like Thailand or Indonesia but they find it appalling if countries do the same for them.

Let's make it clear. Timothy McVeigh blew up a building he would not have been subjected to any visa rules. The Saudi's flew into several buildings they had long stay visas. In the UK they blew up the subway and a bus, the bombers didn't need a visa. If they needed one they would have found terrorists who would be welcome anywhere. In Spain the same, in Germany or France the same.

It does not make a difference. Visa or no Visa policy. It only makes difference for the millions of people earning a living. Too much hassle and the tourists move to Cambodia, Vietnam or Indonesia and they do rightfully so.

All that the authorities are doing is lying to the people that by tougher immigration rules they can protect society. It is bull###. As the IRA already said when Thatcher escaped a bombing: "They have to be lucky all the time, we only have to be lucky once".