Immigration Bureau told to be flexible with 'visa runners'

[Lite Beer]

Immigration Bureau told to be flexible with 'visa runners'

BANGKOK: -- The military has told the Immigration Bureau to be flexible with "visa runners", junta chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said Friday.

The runners can register with the bureau, which will find a sustainable resolution to the problem, he said in his weekly televised programme last night.

Foreigners had been exploiting tourist visas and visas on arrival by illegally working in the country, mostly as English teachers.

When their visa was about the expire, they entered a neighbouring country to apply for a tourist visa and returned to the Kingdom to illegally work again.

The authorities responded by tightening the rules by not re-issuing visas to the runners and they faced deportation.

Prayuth said the change of the visa system concerning visa runners had considerably affected certain groups such as English teachers and academics.

"So, this is an ongoing problem that needs to be resolved, as it can lead to a shortage of English teachers and guides," he said during his weekly TV programme.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Immigration-Bureau-told-to-be-flexible-with-visa-r-30241608.html

-- The Nation 2014-08-23

[JesseFrank]

I bet the general noticed the empty spots already.

[ovenman]

I suppose this is another one of those phrases that lost something in translation: "The runners can register with the bureau". Register as what, visa runners?

[JesseFrank]

"So, this is an ongoing problem that needs to be resolved, as it can lead to a shortage of English teachers and guides," he said during his weekly TV programme.

How about enforcing the schools to adhere to the law and providing work permits instead of keeping teachers semi-illegal.

[benbear]

I saw this about 30 mins ago, in which I also saw these new sections, rules, or whatever they are called all goes to the PM (sorry I mean a council), him (them), so sit back and enjoy

Here's a horse

Edited August 22, 2014 by benbear

[NeverSure]

TAT told him that tourist numbers were down 50%.

[j8k]

Good news! I knew this wouldn't come to anything.

[wilcopops]

I said earlier that one thing that concerns me about all these dictums, is the lack of research and prior thinking that goes into them.

It would now seem that the losses to education have outweighed any benefits to law and or or the local language schools.

IUt seems these dictums are turning into a rapid sequence of about faces.

[Gutterboy]

"So, this is an ongoing problem that needs to be resolved, as it can lead to a shortage of English teachers and guides," he said during his weekly TV programme.

How about enforcing the schools to adhere to the law and providing work permits instead of keeping teachers semi-illegal.

That would be a good idea if only the process for getting a work permit wasn't so ridiculously complicated and expensive! Maybe an overhaul of the whole system followed by such an enforcement would be a better solution.

[jlwilliamsjr18]

Round and round she goes....tomorrow it tomorrow and today is today. I'm dizzy.

[Suradit69]

I bet the general noticed the empty spots already.

I hope you're being sarcastic. One never know here at the hub of self-promoting agenda.

[anon467367354]

I think it would be quite simple for those to that want to stay long term to just do a police background check and/or get a qualified reference or sponsor locally to vouche for one's character, issue a "green card" and let people work where ever they can get a job and pay taxes. I don't understand why that would be so damn difficult. I just find it so offensive that if you're one of a certain race to can work here. Democracy starts with equality and all people should be recognized as people and not things such as "farang".

[Hawkman]

"So, this is an ongoing problem that needs to be resolved, as it can lead to a shortage of English teachers and guides," he said during his weekly TV programme.

How about enforcing the schools to adhere to the law and providing work permits instead of keeping teachers semi-illegal.

Couldn't agree more, however, the problem is the current requirements prevent good teachers from being employed legally. A degree in Psychology doesn't make someone a good teacher.

Someone who is passionate about teaching, does preparation, knows how to get the best out of their students, has done a teaching course, how to correct and make their students better and knows how to teach is what makes a good teacher.

I wish for the day they scrap the degree requirement and do a teaching observation and screening instead. Then, everyone wins, bar the bad teachers.

Unfortunately, it's the MOE I believe that needs to wake up to this.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Edited August 22, 2014 by Hawkman

[ebean001]

Ok, that is an important step in bring back tourism. Keep making it easy for tourist to stay. I know many that want to stay 6 onths.

Now the next step. Allow all bars in tourist areas to be open 24x7. Tourist do not have to go to work in the morning. That is why there is a bar closing rule in the world to begin with. When I was in Irland the closing time was around 11pm - serioulsy.

Let the night life keep rolling allowing tourist to spend money their maximum amount that will refeash the Thailand economy. All areas in the world that are tourist heavy allow bars to be open 24x7 and some even 365. Thirdly, protect the tourist and serve them.

[tomyumchai]

so if i rock up on a 30 day exempt and tell them i want to register as a visa runner will they allow me to come n go for 180 days without problems? it would save me the hassle of £500 + in visa fees n police crbs plus doctors certificate

[dcpo]

As I said when they were rolling out the enforcement of the visa rules, it's fine to enforce the law but they should fix it first so the demand for English native speakers in education can be met within the rules.

[wilcopops]

Good news! I knew this wouldn't come to anything.

actually no you didn't, like everyone else you made a guess.........and by chance the result has coincided with your guess.

don't confuse co-incidence with good reasoning.

[Maroon Watcher]

Thank you! I actually saw it with my own eyes...

But seriously - why throw people out -

just educate the people.......

[wilcopops]

I suppose this is another one of those phrases that lost something in translation: "The runners can register with the bureau". Register as what, visa runners?

Every announcement on this sort of thing for the past decade....and probably longer......always contains enough "guff" to start another 200 post thread.

What on EARTH does "The runners can register with the bureau" mean,, where has THIS suddenly come from?

[wilcopops]

Hope to see some clarification in the coming week.

Yes - but past experience leads us to suspect that any clarification is likely to be accompanied by an equal amount of obfuscation.

[Deacon Bell]

Dear Leader.

Remove the degree requirement for all NES teachers employed as speaking and listening teachers.

Criminal check.

TEFL cert.

Work Permit and extension.

Job done. Beneficial to many speaking and listening TEFL people and Thais.

[AlexDorneles]

Great news!! I love this circus.

[istinspring]

Why do they think that most of visa runners are english teachers. Kinda strange for me.

This new rules affected many people who spend more than 60+ baht each month and not work in Thailand.

P.S. Damn English teachers, why innocent should suffer because of your sins? If you work in Thailand got work permit, what's wrong with you i though western people are good enough to respect the laws.

Edited August 22, 2014 by istinspring

[ericthai]

"So, this is an ongoing problem that needs to be resolved, as it can lead to a shortage of English teachers and guides," he said during his weekly TV programme.

How about enforcing the schools to adhere to the law and providing work permits instead of keeping teachers semi-illegal.

That would be a good idea if only the process for getting a work permit wasn't so ridiculously complicated and expensive! Maybe an overhaul of the whole system followed by such an enforcement would be a better solution.

Getting a work permit is not difficult nor expensive. The reason schools don't get work permits is one of two reasons, either they don't qualify or they don't want to pay the taxes on the teachers salary. Schools give excuses it's expensive and difficult. More or less the teachers are working under the table and no taxes are being paid. The cost for a work permit is a little less than 3000B.

[iReason]

Not too well thought out?

'eh General?

[Fullstop]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

"So, this is an ongoing problem that needs to be resolved, as it can lead to a shortage of English teachers and guides," he said during his weekly TV programme.

How about enforcing the schools to adhere to the law and providing work permits instead of keeping teachers semi-illegal.

How about just making it CHEAPER and EASIER for the little schools to get work permits.

[max72]

Ok, that is an important step in bring back tourism. Keep making it easy for tourist to stay. I know many that want to stay 6 onths.

Now the next step. Allow all bars in tourist areas to be open 24x7. Tourist do not have to go to work in the morning. That is why there is a bar closing rule in the world to begin with. When I was in Irland the closing time was around 11pm - serioulsy.

Let the night life keep rolling allowing tourist to spend money their maximum amount that will refeash the Thailand economy. All areas in the world that are tourist heavy allow bars to be open 24x7 and some even 365. Thirdly, protect the tourist and serve them.

Maybe they should think about giving retirement visas to people under 50, if they have money to show they can live , what is the problem if they are young or old ? If they have money to stay and spend, and have clean criminal record, let's welcome than. Nobody can milk any system in Thailand, because there is no system, you pay for everything, so it makes sense to let people choose to spend their moneys in Thailand.

[Somtamboopala]

Someone who is passionate about teaching, does preparation, knows how to get the best out of their students, has done a teaching course, how to correct and make their students better and knows how to teach is what makes a good teacher.

I wish for the day they scrap the degree requirement and do a teaching observation and screening instead. Then, everyone wins, bar the bad teachers.

Unfortunately, it's the MOE I believe that needs to wake up to this.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

I am in favor of this.

Edited August 22, 2014 by Somtamboopala

[AYJAYDEE]

Ok, that is an important step in bring back tourism. Keep making it easy for tourist to stay. I know many that want to stay 6 onths.

Now the next step. Allow all bars in tourist areas to be open 24x7. Tourist do not have to go to work in the morning. That is why there is a bar closing rule in the world to begin with. When I was in Irland the closing time was around 11pm - serioulsy.

Let the night life keep rolling allowing tourist to spend money their maximum amount that will refeash the Thailand economy. All areas in the world that are tourist heavy allow bars to be open 24x7 and some even 365. Thirdly, protect the tourist and serve them.

Maybe they should think about giving retirement visas to people under 50, if they have money to show they can live , what is the problem if they are young or old ? If they have money to stay and spend, and have clean criminal record, let's welcome than. Nobody can milk any system in Thailand, because there is no system, you pay for everything, so it makes sense to let people choose to spend their moneys in Thailand.

does your home country allow that?

[arisaje]

"So, this is an ongoing problem that needs to be resolved, as it can lead to a shortage of English teachers and guides," he said during his weekly TV programme.

How about enforcing the schools to adhere to the law and providing work permits instead of keeping teachers semi-illegal.

Couldn't agree more, however, the problem is the current requirements prevent good teachers from being employed legally. A degree in Psychology doesn't make someone a good teacher.

Someone who is passionate about teaching, does preparation, knows how to get the best out of their students, has done a teaching course, how to correct and make their students better and knows how to teach is what makes a good teacher.

I wish for the day they scrap the degree requirement and do a teaching observation and screening instead. Then, everyone wins, bar the bad teachers.

Unfortunately, it's the MOE I believe that needs to wake up to this.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

I think teachers should be "qualified teachers" not a regular person who likes thailand and wants to stay here forever......and picks the easiest job in the world to cover their cost of living. Half of these supposed English Teachers and Thai Language Students from overseas have no interest at all in either teaching .......or learning.

Get a visa like all the genuine working folk, or get out and find somewhere else to hang out like sub-sahara africa......no issues with visas down there.