Thaivisa.com to meet with Immigration Commissioner

[Bench499d]

Could you ask why a work permit application is even required by the employer when the visa category itself could include the right to work.  Similar to the system in the UK.  For example, my wife had a "marriage visa" in the UK which automatically entitled her to work with no further permits required.  Removing the need to apply for a work permit would remove the burden on the state and also it would solve the "digital nomad" issue for those with the correct category of visa.  I'm sure people would be willing to even pay a little extra for the visa if it included the automatic right to work.

[wilcopops]

 

Has the government considered review/changing the requirements regarding establishing private language schools. E.G. the numbers of teachers that can be employed in ratio to Thai Nationals? The possibility of a foreigner establishing a school?

This would allow native speakers and experience EL teachers to set up schools and employ qualified NESs as teachers to service both the educational sector and commercial/business sectors.

 

Edited August 6, 2014 by wilcopops

[stockmktgenius]

I heard there is an existing law that is now going to be enforced regarding dual citizen wives (say American and Thai) of foreigners who enter Thailand on a Thai passport.  When they leave to fly back to America, they have no visa for America on their Thai passports, so they show their American passports as well. I'm told that in the future, when they do this, Thailand will cancel their Thai citizenship!  If true, this would be a big problem for those of us whose wives own land in Thailand, as only Thais are allowed to own land. Is this true and can you give us the exact language of the law?

Edited August 6, 2014 by metisdead
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[iamariva1957]

Please ask him to remove the ability of an individual immigration officer from being able to deny or allow entry into the Kingdom solely based upon his or her's own volition. There has to be a rule/s or foundation that these officers have to follow rather than just relying upon their own possible frame of mind at the time. We are not all law breakers or even possible ones. If there is a question as to our intended reasons for entering Thailand then those concerns should be handled by someone else rather than by just one over worked, immigration officer who already has a long line of travelers waiting in line in front of him.

 

The new rules are very well and good, but placing in the hands of a single individual who is to determine the fate of said traveler is beyond intelligent and simply not in keeping with the level of tourism that Thailand is stating is so important and trying so hard to mitigate. The panic is in place right now as has been well indicated here on TV and elsewhere. 

[camsouth]

i am retiring here with my wife. she is under 50 and needs to go out of country for an o visa and then a dependent visa, can we make a visa run for her over land or are they all closed after the 12th? or a ed visa then convert later ?

[Sergey A Nesterenko]

1. Clear guidance regarding who is considered "a tourist" and who is not - number of visits, total days stayed, days between visits etc – already cited on several occasions.
2. Any chance for 5-6 months “winter visa” or like this to be introduced for those with money who are eager to spend them in Thailand while escaping from European could from October- November till March- April.
3. Any chance for property owners and their families to stay in their property legally for 6-12 months if they are under 50 and have enough money and/or passive income not to work at all.                                                                                                                 "10MB Investment extention” is OK, but formally works for condo only. And what if a foreigner owns 9MB condo? Or 90 MB sea view villa??? What kind of visa could he or she be eligible for?

      Thank you!

[DualSportBiker]

What is the strategy to compete with China for retaining and attracting expat talent? Thailand's economy needs a constant stream of investors to accelerate knowledge transfer and diversification. China actively makes living and investing in their economy easy. Let me explain by way of a quick comparison:

 

An expat arrived in Thailand in 1991, forms a company, turns profitable, pays tax, creates 140 jobs, creates a market with a handful of competing players each employing 50 people. He is married, has kids, pays expensive school fees, trains staff etc etc. He has created and distributed wealth.

 

His mate, having arrived at a similar time, leaves for China in 1994. Starts a business, carves a space for himself and now employs 30+ staff. In 1998, the Chinese immigration department arrived in his office with citizen application forms mostly completed for him and asked him to consider applying "Because we value your contribution to our economy, and this will make it easier for you to run your business and live your life here."

 

So, does Thailand have a strategy to build intellectual capital and encourage entrepreneurial investment, or is Thailand self-sufficient in ways that China and its superior education system is not?

 

 - Fantastic job getting the interview and excellent idea opening up for questions. Try and get a follow-up to find out what was taken on-board...

[Bakeman]

I am 10 years from the retirement age for a retirement visa. Are the current currency rates for a retirement visa going to stay at the same rate or will Thailand raise the retirement requirement amount in the future?

[asean]

when foreigners have their passports at immigration to obtain extensions can they get an official receipt to carry with them to present when asked for ID?

[cosmosis]

Dear Minister.

 

Thank you for this opportunity, within 7 hours of announcing the upcoming interview Thai Visa had more than 210 comments and suggestions.  These fell into several broad categories.

 

1. Are there any plans for your department to upate the categories of Visa available for foreigners ? For example to accommodate the changing realities of today's international workforce, who either come to Thailand to stay during their rest periods, such as people who work in the oil and gas business OR to accommodate the legions of people who work remotely via computer and the internet with clients outside Thailand.  Both these examples are people who are well paid, if administered properly, pose no threat to taking work from Thai people, and if the rates of income tax were at reasonable low level (say for example 10% of funds brought into Thailand) would be source of income to the Thai government and solve the dilemma of no appropriate Visa to cover their presence in Thailand.  Thailand is a very attractive destination for both these categories of people.

 

2. Are there any plans for your department to update/streamline the 90 day Reporting Requirements by bringing them 'on-line' ? 

 

3. Are there any plans for your department to distinguish people who have been 'good' residents in Thailand for periods of say 3 or 5+ years ? For example  to ease the category of Visa available to them and/or ease the 90 day Reporting Requirements and/or the need for Re-Entry stamps.

 

4. Are there any plans for your department to consider discussing with the Ministry of Labour to allow non-working Visa holders  to work as 'genuine unpaid volunteers' without the need of a work visa or work permit ?  Such as people on Retirement Visas with relevant skills being alowed to help young Thais improve their English language diction and comprehension, especially in light of the new Asean era.

 

 

[Jonmarleesco]

Having addressed the tightening up, would immigration consider the easing of some of the regulations, such as to allow once again the issue of multi-entry visas based on being the natural parent of a Thai child, without the need to obtain a single entry, before then changing it at immigration?

[BarbaraW]

Have been lurking for more than a year but this story brought me out of hiding. I come to Thailand every winter & spend 2-3 months. In the past I have done VOA and then dne border runs or flown out for a couple of days and back in to get a couple of months stay. Last year I got an officiall 2 month tourist visa and one extension. I am 62 and plan to eventually retire in Thailand but at the moment am sharimg care of my 88-year old terminally ill father with my two sisters, so cannot stay long term at the moment. I plan to be back this coming December, but want to enter Thailand, then leave again for a three week trip to Myanmar, and come back to Thailand for another month or two. What should I do in this situation? Can I get a two-month multiple entry visa, and where can I get that if out of the U.S. (I'll be coming from Europe). If I just do a VOA and then leave a few days later for Myanmar, anm I going to be let back in three weeks later? Very confusing for those of us who visit legitimatelyand regularly. Maybe immigration commssioner can clarify.

[hilfiger]

What are the options for foreigners who would like to stay legally in Thailand and who:

 

1) Are too young for retirement visa

2) Are not married to a Thai person

3) Would like to stay 5 to 6 months with plenty cash to spend

4) Don't work in Thailand (how can they prove this?)

 

What's the problem if these people can show a return ticket to home country?

 

How can they prove they're tourists when they don't always have hotel bookings for the entire period stay.

[connda]

In the United States there are Widower Protections that allows the foreign spouse to remain in the US if their US citizen spouse dies.  These protections allow the spouse and any children from the marriage to remain in the country on a valid US visa as long as they have:
* not remarried after the death;
* not divorced or legally separated before the U.S. citizen’s death; and
* can prove a bona fide marital relationship to the deceased.

Over the period of 7 years of marriage, I've provided significantly to the well being of my immediate family including private schooling for my Thai step son who is now in the Thai Air Force, and my extended family in our village, and I've pay taxes.  So what happens in five or ten or twenty years when my son is married, I have grandchildren, and significant extended Thai family - and my wife dies???

If I'm retirement age, but I meet all the financial requirements of a marriage visa, then I'm still forced into a extra cost of a retirement visa (which can be put to better use for supporting my family -- or I need to leave the country and my entire family.  My entire family!
If I'm not retirement age, but I meet all the financial requirements of a marriage visa, then what do I do?  If unable to find a job or start a business, if I don't have a biological child from the marriage under the age of majority, then the only option is to leave the country and my entire family.  My entire family!

Why can't Thailand provide Widower Protections in their immigration laws in order to provide the most basic of human rights and compassion of allowing me as a widowed foreign spouse (should my Thai wife die) to remain with the family that I and my Thai spouse have raised and supported?  I believe I speak for every foreigner who is married to a Thai National spouse.

[Brunus]

My questions would be :

Dear Commissioner, don't you think it is time to give the same rights that female foreign citizens married to Thai men enjoy, also to male foreign citizens married to Thai women?

In many countries the policies enforced in Thailand in this matter would be considered a case of gender discrimination. What is your opinion?

Edited August 6, 2014 by Brunus

[Potter]

People on investments visas have had a difficult time renewing/extending stay on these visas. What should they investment visa holders do if they believe their paper work and everything else correct, but are declined a visa or an entry. In general will there be any how to take the case for higher officials?

[jimpthai]

my question is : how can I have a non immigrant visa for my non working partner as I am officially married ( my partner is a guy like me).

In other words, will Thailand honor legal same-sex marriages from countries in which they are legitimate?

[AsienExpat]

The 90 Day Reports consume massive paper. Paper is made from wood, not at least also from rainforest. So as a nations that wants to have a green and enviromental friendly image, isn't it counterproductive to have routines like this still in place, whose actually coming from an era before the invention of computers and the internet?

 

I cannot count how many copies of my passport, rental contracts, bills, different visa pages from my passort i gave already to the immigration office. I wondering how many trees was already cut just for all this paperwork. Are their any changes ahead to make it a win-win situation for all: The enviroment, the immigration officers, the foreigners and the whole country as it could help to improve an enviromental, green image what is much better for advertising tourism at all?

Edited August 6, 2014 by AsienExpat

[poweratradio]

Thank you very much Thaivisa for arranging this fact finding mission. I see in this thread that the 90 day reporting is paramount in the questions and I would like to add mine as well as a married man to a Thai who has a permanent home here. I would love if you could acquire a new directive regarding online reporting or annual reporting with visa renewals only.

[JoeLing]

Under current [Immigration] laws or interpretation of it, our investments, our families and our lives in Thailand seam not to be very secure any more and many foreigners are tempted to leave, as we fear for our livelihood, for our future. I'm sure, an exodus of western foreigners like the Cambodian one, would have catastrophic consequences for Thailand’s image and economy.

 

Any Thai person residing [legally] in my country can buy land, buy a house and own a business in their own name without reporting every 90 days or the yearly fear of losing their family, their home, business, friends and lively hood due to some harsher immigration rules.

Thai people residing in most of our western countries enjoy equal rights, duties and security as the citizens of those countries; being able to build a secure life for themselves, their families, husbands, wife and children and very often support their extended families back home in Thailand. They do work, own homes, shops and businesses. They pay taxes and social contributions, have healthcare and pensions.  Many become our managers, our teachers, lawyers or doctors. Thai people in my country just as we foreigners living in Thailand, become neighbours, workmates, friend and family. We integrate and become part of the community and contribute actively to the social and economic benefit of Thailand.

 

Would the current legislators consider bilateral immigration agreements with the same rights, duties, freedom and security for foreigners wanting to live, work, invest or retire in Thailand as Thai people have in our countries?
 

 

Edited August 6, 2014 by JoeLing

[harrry]

Would it be possible to return to the system where we can use any immigration office for extensions and reports,  If not would it be possible to have an office say in Bangkok where one can go to to extend etc. if they are concerned at their treatment in a local office.

Forcing the person to use the local office means that there is no way of avoiding local misinterpertations or worse excessive documentation needs which can be avoided for a fee.  

If records are computerised this should be no problem.

If the person can go to the immigration office of his choice the department will be able to see quickly if an  office is avoided and investigate if this is because it is either poorly located in regard to transport to get to it or provides poor service. It would also assist people like retirees who may like to spend say half the year in Chiangmai and the rest in say KohSamui.

[zeichen]

A few years ago they allowed joint income to fulfill the requirement for marriage extensions but it was done away with after only 1 year.

 

Shouldn't Thailand have the same policies for men and women regarding extension of stay based on marriage especially when children are involved?

 

Not all immigration offices follow the same policies. I have been refused extension of stay in the past even though the requirements were written on the board and I qualified. Is there a way to ensure that all provinces of Thailand enforce the same regulations on visa extensions.

 

 

[DrTuner]

The obvious: What changes to immigration policies are currently in the pipeline ?

[peergin]

Have you any plans to change the rules for foreigners married to Thai (and those with children, if that makes a difference)?

Sir, I have been married to a Thai lady and have been a permanent resident for nearly half a century but I am still not a Thai national. Why is it so difficult to become a Thai national? For example, Hong Kong automatically grants citizenship after just 7 years. Why does Thailand not grant it automatically after an x number of years?  

[VBF]

Sorry if this has been asked before...

 

Would it be possible to ask the Embassies / Consulates  (specifically UK) to reinstate the issuing of Multiple-Entry "O" visas for retired or semi-retired people over 50, but under 65 therefore NOT receiving a UK State Pension?

If this meant showing a monthly income or money in the bank, so be it.

 

This used to be possible, but it no longer is.

 

Thank you

Edited August 6, 2014 by VBF

[peergin]

Why do holders of Permanent Residence Permit need reentry visa?

Dear Sir, applying for a re-entry visa every time one wants to leave the country is highly inconvenient and time-consuming as well. I cannot think of a single country, apart from Thailand, that has this rule. Would you consider doing away with this requirement? Thank you.

P.S. One day I was in Mae Sai and thought of crossing the border to Tachilek in Myanmar for perhaps an hour just to have a look there. The Thai Immigration Officer insisted that I apply for a re-entry permit! That really does not make sense, does it?  

Edited August 6, 2014 by peergin

[Mudcrab]

Can consideration be given to reciprocal treatment aligning Thailand with other countries treatment of Thais overseas?

 

For example, when my Thai wife came to Australia she was able to immediately enrol in the Government health care programme.

 

She was able to work immediately on her visa - no work permit required (even though Australia has a high unemployment rate).

 

After two years she was eligible to apply for citizenship and an Australian passport.

 

She has dual nationality and can freely travel between Thailand and Australia and stay in both countries with no restrictions.

 

The process for her to be able to apply to come to Australia as a spouse was very onerous, involving many checks of character, education, family background as well as police and medical checks and took around 12 months. 

 

Could Thailand take the same approach instead of the simple conversion to a marriage extension from another visa, where the background of the person may not be fully known?

 

Could it be made it a more rigorous process initially, but then relax the restrictions to residency, citizenship and the ability to work freely after?

 

Will I ever be able to enjoy the same rights?

Edited August 6, 2014 by Mudcrab

[boike]

Why the need for re-entry permits? Why are the prices so excessive. Why not 1 standard extension that has multiple entries for e.g 3500bt

Sent from my Galaxy S4 4G LTE Edited August 6, 2014 by boike

[greenchair]

Can teachers change school without renewing wp everytime. Can there be a wp for teachers who work in informal education who don't have a degree. Non degreed teachers provide a valuable service in thailand and could work with the pretext of specialist in their field. This would not apply to teachers who work in formal non formal education. Such as all subjects in bilingual school which require tl.

[AYJAYDEE]

Can consideration be given to reciprocal treatment aligning Thailand with other countries treatment of Thais overseas?

 

For example, when my Thai wife came to Australia she was able to immediately enrol in the Government health care programme.

 

She was able to work immediately on her visa - no work permit required (even though Australia has a high unemployment rate).

 

After two years she was eligible to apply for citizenship and an Australian passport.

 

She has dual nationality and can freely travel between Thailand and Australia and stay in both countries with no restrictions.

 

The process for her to be able to apply to come to Australia as a spouse was very onerous, involving many checks of character, education, family background as well as police and medical checks and took around 12 months. 

 

Could Thailand take the same approach instead of the simple conversion to a marriage extension from another visa, where the background of the person may not be fully known?

 

Could it be made it a more rigorous process initially, but then relax the restrictions to residency, citizenship and the ability to work freely after?

 

Will I ever be able to enjoy the same rights?

 

 

Edited August 6, 2014 by AYJAYDEE