Overstay Charge Hiked To B500 A Day

[manutoo]

Manutoo doesn't the visa expire after 6 months though?

yup, you must do your 3rd entry before 6 months after the date your visa was issued. (but once u entered, you can stay almost 3 more months)

And actually, each visa is 58 days, and each extension is 30 days, so at the end, it's more like 8 months and half, than 9 months.

Edited February 23, 2006 by manutoo

[KhunMarco]

Manutoo doesn't the visa expire after 6 months though?

that's the tricky part.

You have to do the last entry before the expiration of the 6 months

So first entry 2+1 seconde entry 2+1 (here you have to do the visa run before the six months from issue date) and again 2+1

EDIT: ###### , manutoo wins again ,ehe

Edited February 23, 2006 by KhunMarco

[bkkmadness]

Manutoo doesn't the visa expire after 6 months though?

yup, you must do your 3rd entry before 6 months after the date your visa was issued. (but once u entered, you can stay almost 3 more months)

And actually, each visa is 58 days, and each extension is 30 days, so at the end, it's more like 8 months and half, than 9 months.

Ah ok, I did actually hear something about that before. Thanks for confirming.

[lopburi3]

Ok, I'm here as a tourist, a five year touris lol. Is that ok?

I don't work here. I just spend my time and my money around.

They told me it is fine, and they confirmed me by renewing my visa.

As I said that is fine - until they get tired of seeing you or change procedures. Now if you have the money available for investment of 3 million baht or more you might have a better option available that would not require all the running around.

[KhunMarco]

Ok, I'm here as a tourist, a five year touris lol. Is that ok?

I don't work here. I just spend my time and my money around.

They told me it is fine, and they confirmed me by renewing my visa.

As I said that is fine - until they get tired of seeing you or change procedures. Now if you have the money available for investment of 3 million baht or more you might have a better option available that would not require all the running around.

As I knew, I'm perfectly legal in this country.

Yes anything can happen here like anywhere, I know more than 50 individuals in my same position and read several forums and still have to see a proof of someone who had a renew refused as a "long time tourist".

Heh on the same principle one day tehy can tell you to forget about you 3kk investment and go home.

But I see your point... if I had a family or some sort of business here...

I just enjoy the country and the opportunity it gives me, no harm intended.

[britmaveric]

Ok, I'm here as a tourist, a five year touris lol. Is that ok?

I don't work here. I just spend my time and my money around.

They told me it is fine, and they confirmed me by renewing my visa.

As I said that is fine - until they get tired of seeing you or change procedures. Now if you have the money available for investment of 3 million baht or more you might have a better option available that would not require all the running around.

Elite Card?

[cutter007]

Seems like the Elite card would be a real great investment,

with the position Taksin is in now, he goes and it goes, som nam na

to all those that bought it, was a great deal.........if it was gauranteed.

[leti]

move the fine up to 1000 baht. who cares. i dont really see any reason why u would overstay more then 1 day... due to miscalculation. anyone who does go over that day is either lazy or just dumb and doesnt care. hel_l they should put the limit to only 1 week and throw them in jail after that. i just thought the 200 baht a day was so cheap for breaking the law. so good for them to raise the fine.

Your comment is crazy. I used to travel in and out of Thailand on business all the time and there where several times I overstayed by a few days. No due to being lazy or dumb, just to that fact tha the equipment I was installing took longer than expected and then trying to change flights and no seats etc. So it is possible for a person to over stay 2 or 3 days not becuase they are dumb or lazy. back then (1996) I had no idea about running to Cambdia for an extension, and even if I did no way could I leave a job site to do so when my company is being charged $500 USD per day for delays. Therefore before you make such a comment I would think 1st.

Its sounds like you did an installation (working) in Thailand without a work permit?

Is this true?

Because, if you would have a proper work permit to install your equiptment, then overstay would not be an issue for you.

So you travel on business in and out of Thailand?

Installing an equipment is not a business meeting in a hotel, just to let you know.

Be carefull on your next assignment in thailand,..first apply for work permit in advance and then use your screwdrivers.

You have worked and overstayed in Thailand,..wow...wow you are lucky man!!

To use your text:Therefore before you make such a comment I would think 1st bevor writing

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Seems like the Elite card would be a real great investment,

with the position Taksin is in now, he goes and it goes, som nam na

to all those that bought it, was a great deal.........if it was gauranteed.

I wonder who might have the courage to guarantee it LOL

[astral]

Smart move economically speaking if you ask me.

2.5X more dosh!!

Don't overstay.

It is as simple as that.

[bkk_mike]

Your comment is crazy. I used to travel in and out of Thailand on business all the time and there where several times I overstayed by a few days. No due to being lazy or dumb, just to that fact tha the equipment I was installing took longer than expected and then trying to change flights and no seats etc.

Its sounds like you did an installation (working) in Thailand without a work permit?

Is this true?

Because, if you would have a proper work permit to install your equiptment, then overstay would not be an issue for you.

So you travel on business in and out of Thailand?

Installing an equipment is not a business meeting in a hotel, just to let you know.

Be carefull on your next assignment in thailand,..first apply for work permit in advance and then use your screwdrivers.

You have worked and overstayed in Thailand,..wow...wow you are lucky man!!

To use your text:Therefore before you make such a comment I would think 1st bevor writing

You need a work permit to be employed in Thailand for more than a month. - To come in as a specialist to install hardware, etc for a very short period (i.e. a couple of weeks). - you don't need a work permit. (ditto for coming in for conferences, meetings, etc.) (You're not in-country on a tourist visa or the standard 30-day entry either - but you don't NEED a work permit...)

Personally - I work on the software side of things and it's fairly common for an installation to take a few days longer than expected, even when nothing's gone wrong, someone higher up can decide that they want you to be around an extra week just in case a problem occurs. I also know people who ended up staying months longer than expected when things have gone badly (not in Thailand obviously). There's a reason why even Singapore allows a one month short-term business visa (which is what you need for this sort of work) to be extended for up to 3 months without leaving the country.

Thailand allows for tourists, people employed locally in Thailand, retirees over 50, and those married to Thais (like me). If you don't fall into one of those nice neat categories, like someone installing equipment where the job overruns, things can get complicated.

Edited February 26, 2006 by bkk_mike

[wilko]

Haven't you seen the walking class, visaless, poverty packers, bereft of funds that wander across borders every month ? Living on the bones of their asses They'd be big assets around the Kingdom.

So these people have no visa? Who are they? Do thet live off begging? or do they buy stuff? Where do they stay?

[rexall]

Haven't you seen the walking class, visaless, poverty packers, bereft of funds that wander across borders every month ? Living on the bones of their asses They'd be big assets around the Kingdom.

So these people have no visa? Who are they? Do they live off begging? or do they buy stuff? Where do they stay?

I don' know the answer to your question, Wilko. And neither does the author of that hateful post. It is much too general and based upon assumption to be of any value or to communicate anything useful. It is, however, part of the rigid mindset often expressed on TV that involves blind kowtowing to authority, sloganeering rather than thinking ("The Law is The Law!"), seeing the world in black & white, and harsh judgments of anyone who disagrees rather than open debate of the issues. The comments about the "walking class" is just one more aspect of that pattern . . . and shows deep suspicion of and contempt for the poor, confusion of poverty with crime and vice, and a an inbred, erroneous conviction that a person's socio-economic status reflects a basic superiority/inferiority of a person's essential self. It is self-serving, inverted logic, a "sillygism""

Rich people are good.

I am rich.

Therefore I am good.

Poor people are bad.

S/he is poor.

Therefore, s/he is bad.

Phooey!

Aloha,

Rex

[makavelithedon]

This casts my mind back a few weeks to the 'coach of overstayers' thing who were stopped and the consequent episode that panned out. What annoys me is the evident mixed message, double standards, and/or hypicrosy of all this!

Apologies if its already been said, but I find it ridiculous that if you overstay and make it to an exit port, behave correctly, and go to the 'overstay desk' its all dealt with nice and efficiently, and little johnny has overstayed tut tut tut. Now pay your money and we'll see you in a few hours for your new return stamp. On the other hand if you are stopped by anyone else whilst overstaying, your usually in big trouble.

The solution for me is to erradicate this entirely. There should be no silly little fines and slapped wrists, if you overstay, your arrested, processed, passport black-marked and shipped out. Were not talking about legitimate refugee type cases here even if Thailand supported such procedures and I really can't see American or EU or Australian governments allowing these types of arrangements to be dealt with in any way other than 'your in serious trouble pal, your going to jail, processed and deported'!

Edited March 1, 2006 by makavelithedon

[rexall]

. . . I really can't see American or EU or Australian governments allowing these types of arrangements to be dealt with in any way other than 'your in serious trouble pal, your going to jail, processed and deported'!

Excuse me, but you are misinformed about "illegal immigration" in the States. It is exponentially more complex than you can imagine! Estimates of the number of "illegals" currently in America range from 5 to 11 million! Thousands cross the (mostly unguarded) Mexico-U.S. border every day. Often, those who are apprehended are not detained, processed and deported, but merely given a summons to appear in court and issued a bus ticked (So help me gawd!) to a city in the U.S. I think the destination can be wherever the illegal wants! Needless to say, no one appears for his or her court date. As immigration is a Federal matter, it is the U.S. federales who must make an arrest, process, detain, try and ultimately deport the illegal. In theory, local cops can arrest and hold an illegal for the federales to pick up, but in actual practice, this just does not happen. In fact, several major cities such as Los Angeles are "sanctuary cities" and have explicit public policy that local cops will not get involved with immigration issues, so that even if a cop knows for a fact that a sleazy-looking character is not in the U.S. legally, he is not permitted to take any action.

This situation produces all kinds of interesting anomalies. For example, a pregnant woman enters the U.S. illegally with small child in hand. The newborn will be eligible for U.S. citizenship. The small child is, of course, illegal. The child might grow up in the U.S. identifying as an American with little feeling for his birth country, graduate from college, but not be legally entitled to work and does not enjoy any of the rights of citizenship or even of legal residecy, and technically remains a criminal subject to deportation!

This controversy raises passions from conservatives who want to build fences, close the border, and employ the U.S. National Guard to patrol the perimeter . . . to liberals who are groping for some humane and just solution to a very, very complex problem.

The bottom line, IMHO, is that, whether governments like it or not, globalization and all that it implies will force borders to continue to become more and more porous all over the world. This is going to drive conservatives crazy as they perceive their authority being challenged and even the very sovereignly of their countries being threatened. This is an overreaction, but it is not entirely paranoid either. The fact is that good or bad, patterns of international migration and gong to create sweeping changes in the cultures and ethnic mix of many countries.

BTW, it would be interesting to hear any first-hand information about what happens to those in the U.S. on a valid passport with brief overstans. We know they are not going to be arrested, obviously. However, to they surrender to immigration or just turn up at the airport with tix in hand? And how are they treated? Anyone know for sure?

Aloha,

Rex

Edited March 1, 2006 by rexall

[ray23]

I don't know how the U S immigration got into this, the topic originally seemed to have very little to do with anyother country then Thailand.

I undersytand the fristartion to a point. Maybe Thai law should be different but it's not. Maybe thier practise of enforcement should be different but it's not.

What I don't understand I did anyone come here thinking they would not have to abide by Thai law?

Did anyone come here thinking that they would always be treated fairly by Thia authoritities ?

If you thought these things if you believed these things then you were wrong.

All the complaining in the world is not going to change what thailand is, the only power farrangs have here is money. Do you think that we are going to band together and stop coming to Thailand I doubt it. I assure you the Thai government doesn't think so and they are probably right.

So it would seem to me that the only answers available if you want to be here is to avoid the overstay, if you make the mistake pay the fine and move on with your life.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I don't know how the U S immigration got into this, the topic originally seemed to have very little to do with anyother country then Thailand.

I undersytand the fristartion to a point. Maybe Thai law should be different but it's not. Maybe thier practise of enforcement should be different but it's not.

What I don't understand I did anyone come here thinking they would not have to abide by Thai law?

Did anyone come here thinking that they would always be treated fairly by Thia authoritities ?

If you thought these things if you believed these things then you were wrong.

All the complaining in the world is not going to change what thailand is, the only power farrangs have here is money. Do you think that we are going to band together and stop coming to Thailand I doubt it. I assure you the Thai government doesn't think so and they are probably right.

So it would seem to me that the only answers available if you want to be here is to avoid the overstay, if you make the mistake pay the fine and move on with your life.

Great post.

[samran]

. . . I really can't see American or EU or Australian governments allowing these types of arrangements to be dealt with in any way other than 'your in serious trouble pal, your going to jail, processed and deported'!

Excuse me, but you are misinformed about "illegal immigration" in the States.

Unfortunately, you are slighly off with your reply as well.

For example, a pregnant woman enters the U.S. illegally with small child in hand. The newborn will be eligible for U.S. citizenship. The small child is, of course, illegal. The child might grow up in the U.S. identifying as an American with little feeling for his birth country, graduate from college, but not be legally entitled to work and does not enjoy any of the rights of citizenship or even of legal residecy, and technically remains a criminal subject to deportation!

If a child is born on US soil, it is a US citizen. It is NOT illegal (of course). However, the parent can then use the child as an 'anchor' to remain in the US as a carer of a US citizen and use their child as an avenue of gaining residency.

Amendment XIV of the US Constituion.

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

[Noel]

The solution for me is to erradicate this entirely. There should be no silly little fines and slapped wrists, if you overstay, your arrested, processed, passport black-marked and shipped out. Were not talking about legitimate refugee type cases here even if Thailand supported such procedures and I really can't see American or EU or Australian governments allowing these types of arrangements to be dealt with in any way other than 'your in serious trouble pal, your going to jail, processed and deported'!

It is difficult for anyone to rationally argue against the spirit of the above conclusions (some of course will try and fail though...).

That said, there may sometimes be exceptional circumstances.

The most obvious such circumstance that springs to mind is incapacitation for medical reasons.

However, it should be simple enough to put procedures in place to accommodate such eventualities.

It is also quite possible that there may be other exceptional circumstances worthy of special treatment, but none that cannot be foreseen and dealt with in advance of the due date come immediately to mind.

This whole issue essentially stems from some visitors paying scant regard to the law of the land (cue our bleating 'Aloha' friend... ) as they appear to consider themselves above the law or at best reluctantly deign to comply when it suits them.

Moreover, whilst there are of course people who have taken the trouble to acquire visas which may require them to periodically leave the Kingdom, many of the so-called 'Visa Runners' effectively abuse the 30 Day Tourist Visa Exemption facility by going back and forth across a border every 30 days to keep themselves 'legal'.

These people are not bona fide tourists. The truth is of course that some of these 'visa runners' (which is a misnomer as they do not obtain a visa) ostensibly live in the Kingdom; some of course work illegally which translates into a further single digit salute to the law.

The more incidents such as the ‘Ranong 12’ that occur, the more the likelihood is that the authorities may eventually take a closer look at the perpetual back-to-back 30 day runners and ask them to explain themselves.

Yes, rumours of that happening have abounded over the years but to date nothing permanent has actually been put in place.

Perhaps the ongoing increased computerisation within the Immigration system is already daubing the writing on the wall?

Hmmm, I wonder how many of the ‘Ranong 12’ were back-to-back 30 day runners?

I would also be interested to know the excuses each of the twelve gave for being on overstay.

Ignorance cannot be the reason as they were obviously going on a ‘visa run’ for a specific purpose and it was not to leave the country for more than but an hour or two.

Contempt for the law might be a possibility though, which brings us back full circle to the suggestions made above by ‘makavelithedon' to make people take the law seriously…

[rexall]

If a child is born on US soil, it is a US citizen. It is NOT illegal (of course). However, the parent can then use the child as an 'anchor' to remain in the US as a carer of a US citizen and use their child as an avenue of gaining residency.

I am not sure where we are disagreeing. I don't think we are. I was describing two children. One born in the U.S. to an "illegal" mother who arrives in the U.S. pregnant. I said the newborn was "eligible" to become a U.S. citizen because I couldn't remember if the entitlement to automatic citizenship had been modified slightly. But that is neither here nor there. The second person I was describing was a young child brought into the country illegally by the pregnant woman who ends up in a kind of "Twilight Zone", a person without a country in many ways.

Aloha,

Rex

[rexall]

. . . All the complaining in the world is not going to change what thailand is . . .

Disagree! I hear this all the time, and while it sounds sort of reasonable, it simply isn't true! "Complaining" (or "bleating" as the "Steppford Wives" like to refer to it) is exactly and precisely the beginning of political change. Social criticism, airing of grievances (a constitutionally protected right in many places), and rigorous public debatE ARE the engines that can lead to re-examination of social-cultural-political values and grow into larger social movements which indeed do result revisions in (are you ready) " T H E.....L A W !!!" . True, farang have little political clout . . . and because of that, all the more reason to complain! Complaining is good for you! Complain! Complain! Complain!

Where did this "complaining phobia" come from? Where is it written that one must not complain? Baloney! Baloney! Baloney!

I certainly hope that those people who are so worried about the law check their software to make sure they are not accidentally using one of those "funny" CDs from Pantip Plaza . . . and that they never, never, pay any official any "tea money" ever, and that they don't drive after a few drinks, and always wear their helmet on a motorbike. I could go on . . . but I might sould like I am complaining . . . and we couldn't have that!

Aloha and aloha and aloha,

Rex

[PREM-R]

Noel

This whole issue essentially stems from some visitors paying scant regard to the law of the land (cue our bleating 'Aloha' friend... ) as they appear to consider themselves above the law or at best reluctantly deign to comply when it suits them.

Moreover, whilst there are of course people who have taken the trouble to acquire visas which may require them to periodically leave the Kingdom, many of the so-called 'Visa Runners' effectively abuse the 30 Day Tourist Visa Exemption facility by going back and forth across a border every 30 days to keep themselves 'legal'.

These people are not bona fide tourists. The truth is of course that some of these 'visa runners' (which is a misnomer as they do not obtain a visa) ostensibly live in the Kingdom; some of course work illegally which translates into a further single digit salute to the law.

The more incidents such as the ‘Ranong 12’ that occur, the more the likelihood is that the authorities may eventually take a closer look at the perpetual back-to-back 30 day runners and ask them to explain themselves.

Yes, rumours of that happening have abounded over the years but to date nothing permanent has actually been put in place.

Perhaps the ongoing increased computerisation within the Immigration system is already daubing the writing on the wall?

Hmmm, I wonder how many of the ‘Ranong 12’ were back-to-back 30 day runners?

I would also be interested to know the excuses each of the twelve gave for being on overstay.

Ignorance cannot be the reason as they were obviously going on a ‘visa run’ for a specific purpose and it was not to leave the country for more than but an hour or two.

Contempt for the law might be a possibility though, which brings us back full circle to the suggestions made above by ‘makavelithedon' to make people take the law seriously…

If people overstay and have no "official stamp" in their passport they are piloried (rightly) if they make 30 day "visa" runs they are piloried (wrongly) There are others

Moreover, whilst there are of course people who have taken the trouble to acquire visas which may require them to periodically leave the Kingdom

These people may also not be bona fide tourists, merely leaving Thailand every few months and then visiting an adjacent country to get another Multi-entry Tourist visa when the last one is used up. I do not see that, under the current circumstances, that these people are doing anything wrong (More importantly it also seems that, at present, the Thai Authorities agree with me)

[dog412]

a tourist visa designates the holder as a "tourist". they are as legal as any other visa classification, and,as long as applied for and granted by a bona fide thai embassy or consulate, no matter how many consecutive times granted, the holder is legally a tourist. and "bona fide"one at that, no matter who may be jealous of your position.

[Maestro]

a tourist visa designates the holder as a "tourist". they are as legal as any other visa classification, and,as long as applied for and granted by a bona fide thai embassy or consulate, no matter how many consecutive times granted, the holder is legally a tourist. and "bona fide"one at that, no matter who may be jealous of your position.

...whereby “bona fide” includes 20K Baht in your pocket, if you should be asked by Immigration to show it.

--------------

Maestro

[lopburi3]

a tourist visa designates the holder as a "tourist". they are as legal as any other visa classification, and,as long as applied for and granted by a bona fide thai embassy or consulate, no matter how many consecutive times granted, the holder is legally a tourist. and "bona fide"one at that, no matter who may be jealous of your position.

Regardless of the visa entry if they are working in Thailand, as many are, with such a visa they are not a bona fide tourist. If you obtained the visa under false pretense you are not a bona fide tourist (the visa as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on there website - note the word "requirement")

2. TOURIST VISA

1. REQUIREMENT

This type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom for tourism purposes .

[wilko]

. . . All the complaining in the world is not going to change what thailand is . . .

Disagree! I hear this all the time, and while it sounds sort of reasonable, it simply isn't true! "Complaining" (or "bleating" as the "Steppford Wives" like to refer to it) is exactly and precisely the beginning of political change. Social criticism, airing of grievances (a constitutionally protected right in many places), and rigorous public debatE ARE the engines that can lead to re-examination of social-cultural-political values and grow into larger social movements which indeed do result revisions in (are you ready) " T H E.....L A W !!!" . True, farang have little political clout . . . and because of that, all the more reason to complain! Complaining is good for you! Complain! Complain! Complain!

Where did this "complaining phobia" come from? Where is it written that one must not complain? Baloney! Baloney! Baloney!

I certainly hope that those people who are so worried about the law check their software to make sure they are not accidentally using one of those "funny" CDs from Pantip Plaza . . . and that they never, never, pay any official any "tea money" ever, and that they don't drive after a few drinks, and always wear their helmet on a motorbike. I could go on . . . but I might sould like I am complaining . . . and we couldn't have that!

Aloha and aloha and aloha,

Rex

Hear! Hear!

Good postings Rex.....but I doubt if you'll get through to some old f*rt who thinks that everyone who breaks any "law" should undergo some manatory and severe punishment....except themselves of course!

[Noel]

a tourist visa designates the holder as a "tourist". they are as legal as any other visa classification, and,as long as applied for and granted by a bona fide thai embassy or consulate, no matter how many consecutive times granted, the holder is legally a tourist. and "bona fide"one at that, no matter who may be jealous of your position.

I quite agree, provided of course the visa holder does not work.

However, over recent times it has become increasing difficult to get consecutive Tourist Visas at certain Consulates.

Penang continues to be the most relaxed it would appear, but they certainly do monitor the number of consecutive Tourist Visas in an applicant's passport (even if the previous Tourist Visas were issued at different Consulates) as witnessed by their stamp below:

[ray23]

. . . All the complaining in the world is not going to change what thailand is . . .

Disagree! I hear this all the time, and while it sounds sort of reasonable, it simply isn't true! "Complaining" (or "bleating" as the "Steppford Wives" like to refer to it) is exactly and precisely the beginning of political change. Social criticism, airing of grievances (a constitutionally protected right in many places), and rigorous public debatE ARE the engines that can lead to re-examination of social-cultural-political values and grow into larger social movements which indeed do result revisions in (are you ready) " T H E.....L A W !!!" . True, farang have little political clout . . . and because of that, all the more reason to complain! Complaining is good for you! Complain! Complain! Complain!

Where did this "complaining phobia" come from? Where is it written that one must not complain? Baloney! Baloney! Baloney!

I certainly hope that those people who are so worried about the law check their software to make sure they are not accidentally using one of those "funny" CDs from Pantip Plaza . . . and that they never, never, pay any official any "tea money" ever, and that they don't drive after a few drinks, and always wear their helmet on a motorbike. I could go on . . . but I might sould like I am complaining . . . and we couldn't have that!

Aloha and aloha and aloha,

Rex

Hear! Hear!

Good postings Rex.....but I doubt if you'll get through to some old f*rt who thinks that everyone who breaks any "law" should undergo some manatory and severe punishment....except themselves of course!

Good Point Rex but as you know laws are changed all the time by voting citizens influence in a country. So if you can vote here and hold some power, that could effect a change to a law. Complaints heck I got lots of them including being reffered to as an old fart, by someone who disagrees with me thoughts. They are my thoughts what my age has to do it with I have no idea.

You know this may be hard to believe but many of us have tried to be law abiding people the majority lives including when we were teenagers. ( note: the word majority everyone makes mistakes )

That's like a burglar justifying breaking into your house because you had something he wants. Being caught and complaining the real probleem was with society becuase he didn't have enough money to buy it.

Or the rapist who say it's not my fault she was asking for it she wore a mini skirt.

The point I'm trying to make with over the top examples is usually laws are in place for reasons. Sometimes the reasons are stupid and eventually the laws are changed, through complaining as you have pointed out. But that is not effected by someone who spend a few a months A year in a country.

The one thing that I have to believe is that if Thailand truly decides to enforce thie immigration laws a lot of people are going some big problems. Personally I have no problem with guys who do the thirty day runs. I have one friend that has been rotating between Cambodia, Lao and Thailand for about twenty years. He has never had a problem why he is playing by the rules, thirty days each country.

If it were me and I was doing the 30 day runs for an hour acrooss the border the last thing I would want to do is bring attention to myself. I could have removed here permanantly at age 50, but at the time the lawful age was 55, did I like no. I had to wait to assure that once I left all I had and began building a new life for myself the chances of keeping all that together was much higher.

So if you want to get the Thai governments attention by all means do so, I'm sure they are going to be very impressed that you are spending vast somes of money ever month and contributing the well being of thier economy. You know I bring into this country year after year in excess of a mil. a year, but they could care less. What the country wants is someone to come here and spend that in a month or even a week and get out.

It would seem to me that the best approach to living in a foriegn country is to adapt and enjoy life, not that hard and a lot more fun. But sometimes I think everyone has those time when you just got to shove water uphill. Can be a frustrating experince. But old farts like me enjoy the entertainment so by all means go for it.

[wilko]

Complaints heck I got lots of them including being reffered to as an old fart, by someone who disagrees with me thoughts.

I'm sorry the comment wasn't aimed at a particular person at all....but if you feel that the cap fits....

[dr_Pat_Pong]