Thai Foreign Ministry asked to rethink free visa fee decision

[nidieunimaitre]

Yes, it is true, it is far more difficult for thais to enter europe, then it is for europeans to enter thailand.

Now, why would that be?

If 1000 europeans enter thailand with no hassles, 999 will return before their visas expire, 1 will stay on illegally for working / whoring / or whatever.

If 1000 thais enter europe with no hassles, how many will return before their visas expire?

Please Samran, answer that one.

[CWMcMurray]

I really hope they implement this... It will be abolished again within 6 months when they see that millions will go elsewhere.

Not because of the extra cost, because of the extra hassle having to acquire a visa. When I want to travel, a visa requirement can make the difference between what countries I visit. i can't be bothered with convoluted visa applications. So much simpler to go to a similar country whre I just get my stamp at the immigration desk.

Good point... I am guessing many Thais feel the same way....

[Totster]

OP needs to be corrected in that it's Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

I'm sure it's easier to just say.. UK

totster

[nidieunimaitre]

Samran, we are waiting for your reply to post 32!

Of course, other apologists are invited to reply too.

[phuketrichard]

Guys;

i think its a great idea>>>

got to get some Baht ot bail out there Rice scheme failure!!

[Crossy]

OK, OK, we know it should be "UK", a visa-free holiday is on offer for the next person to observe this

Meanwhile, does anyone actually understand exactly what they are on about?

[YaiJung]

Hmm...reciprocality sounds good to me. When a Thai friend was granted a tourist visa to the USA it was good for 10 yrs and only have to leave once every six months for a border crossing, then can come right back. She has been several times on the same visa over the yrs. No more trips to the embassy after the initial approval.

I will happily pay a few hundred dollars for that. Sure she had show evidence of sufficient funds and convince the embassy she wasn't a risk of abusing the system, but that is only fair and I don't mind going through the same procedure if it means I can get a 10 yr multiple entry visa to Thailand.

[OJAS]

Yes, it is true, it is far more difficult for thais to enter europe, then it is for europeans to enter thailand.

Now, why would that be?

If 1000 europeans enter thailand with no hassles, 999 will return before their visas expire, 1 will stay on illegally for working / whoring / or whatever.

If 1000 thais enter europe with no hassles, how many will return before their visas expire?

Please Samran, answer that one.

What with all 'em braggers on this forum who proudly boast about how they or their mates overstayed in LOS by millions of years yet only had to to pay a 20,000 THB fine for their sins, looks like you'll need to gather together a group of several hundred thousand Europeans then!

Edited December 19, 2013 by OJAS

[Hoven]

Yes, it is true, it is far more difficult for thais to enter europe, then it is for europeans to enter thailand.

Now, why would that be?

If 1000 europeans enter thailand with no hassles, 999 will return before their visas expire, 1 will stay on illegally for working / whoring / or whatever.

If 1000 thais enter europe with no hassles, how many will return before their visas expire?

Please Samran, answer that one.

All the Thais I know who go there now return before their visa expires.

I would guess the number would be less than the amount of UK overstayers, overstaying their Thai visas.

[JoeLing]

Fully agree with reciprocal agreements.

So maybe this 17 countries should start to introduce same visa requirements
for all the Thai people who live there. No land or business in their own name.
No residence permit or passports through marriage. Minimum 20'000 Euro in
a bank account. Report to immigration or Visa runs every three months to Africa,
the Middle East or Russia.

I'm fairly sure, more Thai would loose out then any Farang does but then, Thai
people are world masters in shooting themselves in their own feet or as they

say: "Taking the wind out of your own sail"

[Tatsujin]

Might be worth looking at "why" the US, UK and other countries made their visa restrictions so much harder for Thai's over the years. A few spoiled it for all.

[Totster]

OK, OK, we know it should be "UK", a visa-free holiday is on offer for the next person to observe this

Meanwhile, does anyone actually understand exactly what they are on about?

It seems to me they want to scrap the visa exempt status for the listed countries.

totster

[samran]

Samran, we are waiting for your reply to post 32!

Of course, other apologists are invited to reply too.

Sorry, I have a life, so was away from this inter web thing. But since you were waiting with such baited breath...

I was trying to think of some cutting and witty riposte, which would show how intelligent I am and how feeble minded you are, then a realised that we are on a site called Thai Visa which is littered with stories from overstayers, visa runners and the intellectuals studying Thai for 3 hours per week on their 'education' visas, plenty of who bitch moan and complain that the pound/dollar has slipped another half baht. So I suggest you look there, given that I'm not a walking statistic book.

[Hoven]

No residence permit or passports through marriage.

But these are very easy for Westerners in Thailand to get if they fit the criteria. Doesn't take that long either.

[bubba]

I do not get this. The US charges 3000B ??? Isn't the visa time longer? I think six months? The visa here is only 2 months!

From the Thais I know who have gotten a US visa, it was up to six months entry, multiple entries with ten years validity and the cost was 3000 baht.

So does Thailand intend to reciprocate in-kind?

[Bard]

I think this is great, I vote for doing the law changes in these countries too, so that Thai spouses can only get 1 year visa at the time, they have to show there income and lock money in there account, they shall not be allowed to work, they shall not be allowed to own land, house or similar, they cannot get permanent residency anymore, they shall have no help from the government, they shall loose all rights in a divorce and loose the visa when so happen, oh yes and they must pay more at all public swimming pools, and you name it. Let me think who is shelling out tons of money to Thailand through there export of spouses?

By all means I hope they do, I hope they make maximum hassle for tourists bringing cash in. That is totally comparable with Thai nationals who travel to settle and make an income from a country they travel to. Because if they do there should be less travelers to Thailand who bring spouses back from there holidays, that will definitely reduce the social budgets in those countries. So Thank you Thailand for supporting these countries economies

[rambling]

"Immigration commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Panu Kerdlarpphol explained that the reason for reconsideration was that the 17 countries still charge visa fees on Thai nationals.

The visa fee exemption should be reciprocal …."

So he wants reciprocity? How about for land ownership? How about for entrance to parks and national museums?

Reciprocity is a two way street, not just useful for one side!

Indeed. In most of those countries listed a Thai in a genuine relationship with a citizen can go through a process of permanent residency and then citizenship withing a few years, assuming no criminal record etc.

As per the usual excuse/justification of ridiculous immigration rules here: Well if Thai tourists don't like the visa requirements in the US or those other Western countries they are welcome to travel elsewhere instead, they don't need a visa to go to Laos, Vietnam etc.

[asiaworld]

Fair enough ! Reciprocity is good, and long overdue . BUT than do make it fair >> land ownership , 10 year ID cards for foreigners ! Clear path to citizenship within reasonable period of time ! Do away with re-entry permits . My passport is polluted with Thai stamps, no other civilized country in the world treats it's resident "aliens" this way !

[dezeure]

What a crock of sh.&. It has gone down so much already tourism and now they want to mess it up all the way. Ok we can pay for the visa but charge all those Thais in our country 10 times the price on whatever they wanna buy... So then it's fair atheist style.

God am I glad I am leaving this shit for good... Really fed up with this country and their stupid laws

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Alwyn]

Mixed feelings about this. Uk immigration is a nightmare for a lot foreigners - I was married to a Swede 30 years ago and we ended up leaving the UK for Sweden it was such a nightmare. It's the same story now with my Thai wife. Hoops to jump through loads of costs involved so I can understand why the Thai immigration feels this way - but then I think about the other stuff like owning land, boat, even being married and having to show fixed incomes from home so I can stay with my missus... sigh.. nothing is ever simple is it

[StreetCowboy]

 

Being from the States, Thais have to go through hell to get a visa or even try to get a visa, so I have mixed emotions on this issue.

imagine the hell of applying for the visa to the US then the hell of security entering the country then there's the hell of being there.

 

I went to the US where Pittsburgh is. It seemed to be a much nicer country than the US that you go to. The immigration staff at Atlanta were polite and friendly, and my travel authorisation came over the internet in the space of a few minutes.

SC

[cmiuc]

quote: "The immigration chief said further that charging visa fees would help screen visitors to Thailand, especially criminal elements and tricksters who may capitalize on the privilege to come to Thailand to seek refuge or to commit crimes."

i guess the 17 countries(which are economically viable) have the most criminals and tricksters... hmm what about the other 999 countries that are corrupt? get to come in for free? its a joke... i guess the tea pot is getting low...need to fill it up... if they'd stop stealing money from each other and the foreigners, then they wouldn't have any need for this... btw, did the requirement for foreigners to buy insurance get passed? is that a requirement?

[eddie61]

Erm...... lets skip Bangkok on our next trip to Vietnam, Myanmar or Cambodia.....

Just as I skipped a 2 day transit through Delhi to visit Agra, recently, on account of visa fees.

I must say, I welcome the idea.

This will definitely get rid of trash tourists who clog up the airports and streets. Most westerners have been to Thailand at least once amyway....

[anon467367354]

so being from the USA, I pay 3900 baht for a visa because the Thai pay 3900 baht for a visa.

The Thai pay 3900 baht, the visa is good for 10 years, they can work, buy land, have a business,

be treated like anybody else, no double pricing, no reporting every 90 days for fingerprints.

3900 baht to 10 years, what does that break down into for 30 days? 32 baht 50 satang

on the other hand, 3900 baht, give me a 10 year visa, no reporting, i want to work, buy land,

have a business and not pay double anywhere.

[realenglish1]

They want reciprocal fee structure to be fair Well then why not have a fair visa program like other countries. There is no balance here They suffer from xenophobia

[Blindside]

Lets talk about reciprocity Mr. Immigration;

Thais come to my country (South Africa) and get 30 days free, whether they come in via land, sea or air.

We come in via air 30 days granted - for now. Land 2 weeks. When we do come in - especially over land eg. Sadao - we often need to show means (B 20 000 - and in some cases an air ticket). We fill in a special form and get to see the immigration officer in the office. We often get "lectures" and are made to feel pretty low sometimes. Its not just us of course - there are lots of "risk nations".

Now I am not saying that this is not the law and they not are entitled to do that etc. etc. - but if he wants to talk about reciprocity....

Maybe SA needs to be like this too - every time we see rhinos poached its either someone from Vietnam or Thailand trafficking the horns. We can all play this game.

I enjoy being in Thailand and it has every right to defend its borders and integrity and whatever, but don't talk to me about reciprocity - that's just a crock!

[SaorAlba]

So it's free for England but not Scotland and rest of UK?

[RogueLeader]

The balance of power and wealth between East and West is slowly changing. This is the way wealthy countries act towards less-wealthy ones, and it's interesting to see how the Daily Mailers and Daily Expressers bleat about being treated far better than their country treats its immigrants.

Expect more of this.

[PhilipCook]

Totally agree with the Thai government this time, its all about reciprocity. You think China doesn't do that, guess again. Look at the cost of a chinese visa for Thais vs Americans, Thais pay 1,000, Americans pay 4,000 something.

[Docno]

The difference is that the foreign countries system is clearly documented and transparent to a large extent to the majority of applicants. The Thai system is littered with hoops and stumbling blocks and generally dependant on the mood and whim of immigration officer or official you deal with each time.

But it wouldn't be, right? Everyone would potentially pay the same fee, or at least a country-specific fee. I don't see how the immigration officer would have any discretion in this. In fact, if done like other countries, the officer who stamps your passport would be different from the one who takes your cash. This is how it works in Cambodia, which is arguably more corrupt than Thailand. And the fee collection system works there (even if it's a little amusing to see 7 officers collecting fees from a lineup of westerners then later trying to match faces to passport photos).

Why shouldn't Thailand do this if places like the US charge money for entry and also make it difficult for Thai nationals (and others!) to go there?