I started going to Thailand in 1989 and went regularly throughout the nineties, both from Canada and later Cambodia. In the mide to late 90's when I applied for a visa at the thai Consulate in Vancouver it was easy and fast. A western guy (Honorary Consul?) or his secretary would have me come back the next day. Or was it a few hours later? Once, I was given a non-immigrant visa of 3 (6?) months with multi entries, without even asking. This ws all presumably before visas on arrival. No onward tickets. No proof of funds. No checking this and that as far as I could tell. Breezy. Now, they have an impressive office in a luxury hotel, it's no longer in an old office block of second rate dentists.

In the early to mid 90s in Phnom Penh getting viasa at the charming old Embassy on Archar Mean (now Monivong) was friendly and casual. Now they have a fortress-like Embassy. Of course, that could have something to do with some Khmer punks trying to burn it down over an actress's misguided alleged political statement. But all in all I find applying for and getting vsias more complicated than twenty years ago.

On the plus side there are now visas on arrival and I must say that Suvarnabhumi is perhaps the easiest immigration in the world.

But in general, and not only in Thailand, I would say that getting visas for anywhere is stricter than in the early to mid 1990s. And I hear that farangs are no longer so welcome to hang out on their tourist visas ad infinitum. What changed - politcailly, economically, miliarily, socially, whateverarily, to cause this? I welcome opinions on major and minor causes, as relevant to Thailand.

I think with new IT technology (which even Thailand now has) it is easier to trace an individual's travel patterns. Also, I think with the increased number of flights into Thailand - more people have followed your example and visit Thailand often. Also, I think Thailand often makes sweeping immigration and visa changes trying to prevent those who stay here without a work visa or visa extension for marriage or retirrment. I'm not judging, but I just think Thailand doesn't want these people around.

I have been coming since 1986, and when the great one (Thaksin) got elected in 2001, Thailand all of a sudden didn't feel as farang friendly

At least I felt that. Fortunately I moved here in 2003 and have been on a retirement visa and now a retirement extension for the last five years and have had no problems.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Whatever negatively draconian changes may have been made to Thai immigration policies and attitudes over the past 20 years or so need to be set in context against the IMHO considerably more negatively draconian changes in virtually all Western nations' immigration policies and attitudes over the same period - which are shortly set to become even more negatively draconian in the UK's case thanks mainly to the BNP, EDL, etc. Increasing xenophobia is by no means an exclusively Thai phenomenon.

Whatever negatively draconian changes may have been made to Thai immigration policies and attitudes over the past 20 years or so need to be set in context against the IMHO considerably more negatively draconian changes in virtually all Western nations' immigration policies and attitudes over the same period - which are shortly set to become even more negatively draconian in the UK's case thanks mainly to the BNP, EDL, etc. Increasing xenophobia is by no means an exclusively Thai phenomenon.

you cant seriously blame the changes in UK visa requirements on the EDL or BNP

A new Thai Visa record. Three replies and an unrelated OP is turned into a discussion on UK immigration. Well done, am mightily I'm

pressed!