Visa Rules Will Be Tightened To Stop Abuse

[Remo]

While everyones speculating .... What's the likely effect on the condo rental market in long term tourist areas like Pattaya? ...

The law will be ammended to read that a "Pattaya Suicide History" will follow on to the new buyer each time the condo is sold.

Potential buyer to his wife: "Hey Marge, this one's had only 2; that's not so bad, whaddya think?"

And Marges Response: Well if we can update the kitchen and get that nasty red stain out of the bathroom, works for me

[PREM-R]

(Remo) Seeing as I have been in Thailand for the last 4 months its a little late for me to do any shopping around, thats why I am trying to see if I am able to do 3 VOA's

I would suggest that as the (very muddled) rules seem to state that you can have "90 Days and Out" using the permision to enter for 30 days stamp, then you would have no problem as long as you leave Thailand for at least 90 days afterwards. BTW if you have a multi-entry tourist visa which allows you 60 days on each entry why do you not go to immigration at the end of each 60 day period in Thailand, pay 1,900 baht and extend for a further 30 days? then you will have no problem at all.

From Thai Visa - Applying for an extension of a tourist visa

Duration of first permit :

Upon entering the country, as warranted by a tourist visa, permission will be granted for 60 days.

Duration of extension :

Normally, if the applicant wants to continue touring the country, an extension may be granted for not more than 30 days unless there are extenuating circumstances that would entitle the alien to a one year extension. Fee 1,900 baht.

Additional extension:

Normally, the Immigration will extend your Tourist visa once again for an additional 10 days. Fee 1,900 baht.

[sriracha john]

300 replies on here now?

practically a virgin thread... Immigration Confirms has 750 with 56,000 views...

[N47HAN]

Guys , As posted in the Job Forum for some time now.

We are a company based in Phuket looking for a foreigner with experience in P.V.C installation to start asap.

The position is availiable with a work permit . Please see post in the job offer section and reply there.

This is only meant as a helpfull post to anyone that may fit the position on offer, so 1 more guy need not worry anymore...

Maybe ALL other companies may post similar so that those who are caught up in this mess and are willing or looking for active employment may be helped ?

Be so kind to see this offer in the way intended and not in any way to antaganise.

My thoughts are with you all that are caught up in this.

[FrankRizzo]

Does anybody have a list of these 41 countries ?

Is this a case of regulations "will" be changed or have they already taken effect ?

If so what date do they take effect from ?

Regards

FrankRizzo

Visa rules will be tightened to stop abuse

Maximum stay of 90 days for foreigners

Visa-on-arrival (VOA) regulations will be tightened for nationals of 41 countries to prevent abuse of the privilege and curb the rising number of illegal entries, according to the Immigration Police Bureau (IPB). Foreign nationals from those countries, including the US, China and India, will be able to stay longer but with fewer chances of renewing the VOA.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/10Sep2006_news04.php

Current list of Thailand's VOA nationalities:

http://www.thaivisa.com/479.0.html

[Axel]

Does anybody have a list of these 41 countries ?

Is this a case of regulations "will" be changed or have they already taken effect ?

If so what date do they take effect from ?

Regards

FrankRizzo

Here we go:

TOURIST VISA EXEMPTION

- According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements dated 1 October B.E. 2545 (2002), 20 December B.E. 2545 (2002) ,18 October B.E. 2547 (2004) and 6 May B.E. 2548 (2005) , passport holders from 40 countries and Hong Kong SAR do not require a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for 30 days.

- Please note that Tourist Visa Exemption does not apply to foreigners holding Travel Document for Aliens issued by these 40 countries.

- Foreigners entering Thailand under Tourist Visa Exemption must possess means of living expenses at the amount of 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly.

1. Australia : Commonwealth of Australia

2. Austria : Republic of Austria

3. Belgium : Kingdom of Belgium

4. Brazil : Federative Republic of Brazil (****)

5. Bahrain : State of Bahrain

6. Brunei Darussalam : Negara Brunei Darussalam

7. Canada

8. Denmark : Kingdom of Denmark

9. Finland : Republic of Finland

10. France : French Republic

11. Germany : Federal Republic of Germany

12. Greece : Hellenic Republic

13. Hong Kong : Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

14. Iceland : Republic of Iceland

15. Indonesia : Republic of Indonesia

16. Ireland : Republic of Ireland

17. Israel : State of Israel

18. Italy : Republic of Italy

19. Japan

20. Korea : Republic of Korea (****)

21. Kuwait : State of Kuwait

22. Luxembourg : Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

23. Malaysia

24. Netherlands : Kingdom of the Netherlands

25. New Zealand

26. Norway : Kingdom of Norway

27. Oman : Sultanate of Oman

28. Peru : Republic of Peru (****)

29. Philippines : Republic of the Philippines

30. Portugal : Republic of Portugal

31. Qatar : State of Qatar

32. Singapore : Republic of Singapore

33. Spain : Kingdom of Spain

34. South Africa : Republic of South Africa

35. Sweden : Kingdom of Sweden

36. Switzerland : Swiss Confederation

37. Turkey : Republic of Turkey

38. United Arab Emirates

39. United Kingdom : United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

40. United States of America

41. Vietnam : Socialist Republic of Vietnam

[kozi]

On reading the views in this forum it appears that the imposed immigration visa ACTS are having the desired affect and clearing out lots of the dross.

They can try dregging off to Thailand’s neighbouring countries, but will discover they don’t want them either.

My advice is, if anyone is considering residing long term in Thailand, survey first prior to coming over or even better, stay here for a short time to see if Thailand is for you.

Ensure that you can comply with all the imposed immigration requirements and consider what your financial situation may be in the long-term future. Can’t live up to the immigration requirements, you’re history, it’s that simple.

Don’t think about living here if you have serious health problems, no NHS here and medical care can be expensive.

Thailand is by no means a multi racial society, a Farang is viewed as a glorified tourist by the authorities and the Thai general public, whether married to a Thai, supporting her 14 children, 2 mothers and 6 uncles makes no differrence.

Laws and policies are becoming more severe for foreigners, mostly because Thailand is facing pressure from the West to stiffen up it’s relaxed immigration polices as anti terrorist measures.

Before coming to Thailand, study the facts about living here.

No point in griping afterwards when it all goes arse about face.

For those honest long term residents on non-immigrant visas who can fulfil Thai immigration requirements and abide Thailand’s laws, will succeed here, receive courteous help from the immigration department and win the respect of the Thai people and their Farang peers living here.

[melonf]

Even the mighty US can suffer from a bad attitude to foreign visitors...from the British Sunday Times, www.timesonline.co.uk:

The US share of international travel has been falling since 1992, but the decline has accelerated since September 11, 2001. Since then America has lost an estimated $286 billion (£152 billion) in revenue from foreign tourists.

While global travel has grown by a fifth, the the US travel industry’s share of the world tourism market has shrunk by a third, from 9% to 6%.

“Tourism is booming around the world, and we’re not participating in it,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and a leading figure in the Discover America Partnership.

Last year 49m people visited America, 1.5m fewer than five years earlier. But these figures disguise a u-shaped trend in which visitor numbers slumped for two years after the attacks in 2001 but have been climbing again since 2003.

Ground Zero has proved a potent international magnet. New York expects an extra 500,000 international arrivals this year compared with 2005, when the 6.8m foreign visitors exactly matched the figure for 2000.

But the West Coast, which has suffered no terrorist attacks, has had a drop in tourism. Last year Los Angeles had 2.5m foreign tourists, 1m fewer than in 2000.

The question is why America is missing out. The immediate obstacle is the stricter security introduced since September 2001. Airline and hotel executives groaned last month at the new limits imposed on hand luggage after the bomb plot scare at Heathrow.

The American tourist industry is painfully aware that many travellers are put off by the tough visa requirements and the hostile reception that can greet them at the country’s airports.

“We’re not a welcoming country,” said Geoff Freeman, executive director of the Discover America Partnership. “Most countries ask people to come visit them. We have more of a fortress appearance.”

[LaoPo]

The question is why America is missing out.

The American tourist industry is painfully aware that many travellers are put off by the tough visa requirements and the hostile reception that can greet them at the country’s airports.

“We’re not a welcoming country,” said Geoff Freeman, executive director of the Discover America Partnership. “Most countries ask people to come visit them. We have more of a fortress appearance.”

Well, the answers (amongst others) are given here already

For decades I enjoyed going to the USA and even built business; not anymore so

The US administration doesn't understand that a lot of people in the rest of the world oppose to their role they are 'granting' themselves; the US is building an enormous wall around their borders and in the end it's the great (majority of) people of the USA who will finally come to the conclusion WHAT their government has done......and will suffer from the effects.

The USA...once a great nation....is losing ground fast; very fast.

I feel sorry for the people though!

PS: I apologize if this is off-topic but one can ask the same about Thailand.....

Thailand...once a great nation.....is losing ground fast; very fast!

LaoPo

Edited September 17, 2006 by LaoPo

[Tony Clifton]

The question is why America is missing out.

The American tourist industry is painfully aware that many travellers are put off by the tough visa requirements and the hostile reception that can greet them at the country’s airports.

“We’re not a welcoming country,” said Geoff Freeman, executive director of the Discover America Partnership. “Most countries ask people to come visit them. We have more of a fortress appearance.”

Well, the answers (amongst others) are given here already

For decades I enjoyed going to the USA and even built business; not anymore so

The US administration doesn't understand that a lot of people in the rest of the world oppose to their role they are 'granting' themselves; the US is building an enormous wall around their borders and in the end it's the great (majority of) people of the USA who will finally come to the conclusion WHAT their government has done......and will suffer from the effects.

The USA...once a great nation....is losing ground fast; very fast.

I feel sorry for the people though!

PS: I apologize if this is off-topic but one can ask the same about Thailand.....

Thailand...once a great nation.....is losing ground fast; very fast!

LaoPo

Let them go on with that project of walls around borders, same with Israel. Once completed all we need to do is figure out how to drop a giant lid on top of them.

[suiging]

I honestly believe the one thing forgotten by the authorites in this whole issue, is the resilience of the type of farang they wish to remove. Be it a chinese shop owner or a european criminal, these guys will find a way to stay. They will not be put off with any legislation that has a findable loophole ( just read the threads on here ) and will happily use their ill gotten gains to carry on, situation normal. The poor farang who has tried to support a family for years, has learned the language, or if not, respects the culture and by extention the local laws, will not be in the same position. Very sad indeed.

[bino]

I honestly believe the one thing forgotten by the authorites in this whole issue, is the resilience of the type of farang they wish to remove. Be it a chinese shop owner or a european criminal, these guys will find a way to stay.

Yup.

When you think about it, it is rather easy. Arrive in Phuket on an international flight that stops in Bangkok before proceeding to Phuket, and it is as simple as removing your CIQ sticker and turning right instead of left when you de-plane. You can walk straight out through the domestic arrivals area with the domestic passengers who boarded in Bangkok and bypass immigrations completely.

No immigration check-in, no visa runs, no overstay......

Getting out of Thailand would be a b#tch though. Have to take a boat to Malaysia or something.

[MarkBKK]

... a long term tourist resident ...

I rest my case, m'lud.

I wonder how many of the people moaning about this are the same people who complained about ''illegal immigrants'' in their home countries?

[dogeater]

I,ve always maintained that it's easier just to overstay for how many years you like and just pay the 20,000 when you finally leave...

[trajan]

I,ve always maintained that it's easier just to overstay for how many years you like and just pay the 20,000 when you finally leave...

a bit risky in light of ThaiVisa.com advice (click here)

[dogeater]

I,ve always maintained that it's easier just to overstay for how many years you like and just pay the 20,000 when you finally leave...

a bit risky in light of ThaiVisa.com advice (click here)

You can easy clear an heavy overstay at the Airport, but if you are caught by Immigration before you reach the airport, you will be jailed and deported until you can pay your fine and show a one way ticket back to your home country.

I've been here for 15yrs and have never had a problem w/ the coppers...probably because I can speak Thai and Lao and hang out w/ some of them. But, I've never ever been asked by any official to show my passport....

[SoloFlyer]

Just returned from consulate in HCM ... no longer issuing multiple re-entries; 90 days max as of last week.