Visa Rules Will Be Tightened To Stop Abuse

[jdinasia]

get the right visa and get legal not fair to those who comply with the system and take the time and expense to comply.....

Can I presume you do comply?

Don't you think having a monthly trip to the border is a reasonable price to pay?

Perhaps there needs to be a bigger shake-up of the visas than this. Eg. India do a 6 month tourist visa.

Don't forget that not all 1 month visa runners are not English teachers. If you want to come for an extended holiday why should you have to go through all the paperwork and expense?

By paperwork do you mean a one-sided form to fill in, with your name, passport number, reason for visit and previous visits entered? By expense do you mean £25 for a 60 day tourist visa? I was just wondering whether I found an unknown loophole in the system when I bought my two tourist visa's last week.

Cool! When you get here with your 2 tourist visas you can tell us all about life here!

[Sunbelt Asia]

"remember many of the types on the BOI promotion list only need ONE million baht of invested capital per foreigner"

BOI is authorized to grant qualifying projects special rights concerning the issuance of work permits and visas for the foreign employees working on those projects.

One of these special rights is an increase in the number of work permits and visas that the company would normally qualify for as well as an increase in the normal time of those work permits and visas and access to BOI’s One-Stop Center (which processes work permits and long-term visas in just three hours or even less.

We have one BOI client who has over 30 work permits and they have registered capital of 3 million Baht.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[madmitch]

Well, if you are wealthy and under 50 you could try for the 3 million baht investment visa.

Does a property costing over 3 million count? If it's in joint names and worth say 6 million does that mean your partner can also benefit? Sooo many questions!!

Condo in your name costing (not valued at) >3mill or invested into specific gov bonds / savings account..

My condo cost a bit under 3m baht. Can I use a combination of the two investments to qualify for an investment visa?

[Sunbelt Asia]

Where to find some correct information about the 3 million baht investment visa as mentioned in earlier posts.I am not married and stay now on a multiple entry non-b visa for which I still have to do the 3 month border runs.But since I invested that 3 million bath already it would be offcourse more convenient for me if I could have a 1 year visa for which i not have to do border runs.Can anyone give me the right information or give me a link where i can find it.

Evidence of transfer of at least 3 million Baht from abroad into Thailand. The applicant must be either the sender abroad or the recipient in Thailand of the investment.

Evidence of investing the transferred money after the transfer is completed in one or several of the following cases:

Deposit the money in a fixed account of a state bank (Krung Thai Bank, Government Savings Bank, Bank for Agriculture and Cooperative, Ratanasin Bank, Srinakhorn Bank, Nakhornluang Thai Bank, Housing Bank)

Buy bonds issued by a state agency or government enterprise. The bonds must be purchased directly from a state agency or government enterprise or an authorised dealer.

Buy an apartment or condominium at the price set and registered by the Land Department. ( Must be from a Thai developer and brand new.

Any kind of investment deemed beneficial to the country by the Immigration Bureau.

My condo cost a bit under 3m baht. Can I use a combination of the two investments to qualify for an investment visa?

Yes. The main criteria is it was bought from a developer and not second hand. If the condo is 2.5 million and you have one million Baht in a fixed deposit, this has worked in the past.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[dob310870]

get the right visa and get legal not fair to those who comply with the system and take the time and expense to comply.....

Can I presume you do comply?

Don't you think having a monthly trip to the border is a reasonable price to pay?

Perhaps there needs to be a bigger shake-up of the visas than this. Eg. India do a 6 month tourist visa.

Don't forget that not all 1 month visa runners are not English teachers. If you want to come for an extended holiday why should you have to go through all the paperwork and expense?

By paperwork do you mean a one-sided form to fill in, with your name, passport number, reason for visit and previous visits entered? By expense do you mean £25 for a 60 day tourist visa? I was just wondering whether I found an unknown loophole in the system when I bought my two tourist visa's last week.

Cool! When you get here with your 2 tourist visas you can tell us all about life here!

I didn't attempt to preach to you about life in Thailand. I was just making the point that getting a visa is neither expensive nor does it require a mass of paperwork. Shall I make my posts a little clearer for you next time? I am happy to dumb down my posts if I see your name in the string, it's the last that I could do. It is only fair that all members of society have the opportunity to join in, even the mentally challenged and delusional. Are you also assuming that, in my 36 years on this planet, Earth, that I have never previously been to Thailand? You got all that information from what I posted???? That's probably why it states that you are an advanced member...of what though?

[george]

Where can you get the latest offical rules?

in particular visa exempt countries?

is it kept up o date or do you get suprises at the border...

I am Canadian.

This list is up to date:

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

No it isn't up to date, Brazil Korea chile and peru are listed as 30 days entry, but they do in fact get 90 days. Laos is not listed at all, still Lao ordinary passport holders get 30 days on entry.

Source:

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2381.php#thailand

Anyway very strange that people here are claiming that people on visa runs are cheating. That is clearly not the case. The law states that someone gets a certain amount of days upon entry based upon his nationality.

I have added Laos as 30 days VOA.

Re: Brazil, Korea and Chile, I have conflicting info, so I keep it as 30 days on the site for now, it was changed some times back.

[bendix]

Get real, get legal, or get yourself home.

do you really give away a WORK PERMIT ??

your joboffer here

Of course. Because, it's the law to do so.

[Couthy]

Well,

Four and a half years ago I went through the visa process with my Thai fiancee for a settlement visa in U.K. - we had lived together in BKK for 2 years and I had been back in the U.K. for over a year with no visits here ; (establishing the that end of the business).

It was a simple process of reading the forms and presenting the information that is required by the Home Office to satisfy the financial and, even more importantly, that you do have a stable relationship that is liable to last.

After the initial 6 months whilst she was not allowed to work, she then obtained the two years to stay and the following day went and found herself a job that she loves doing and has made lots of pals in a fairly upmarket store.

She now has permanent leave to stay - accepts that tax in the U.k. is high but the benefits of medical treatment and future education far outweigh the tax costs.

One serious car crash...........think about it.

She is delighted that she can have further education (She has a Thai Degree already) in the future if she so decides.

The embassy staff at that time were polite - efficient and as they are civil servants, they look for discrepancies in paperwork.

I am back here for a couple of years and she will vist during her hloidays. Why?.

She doesn't need a re-entry stamp for the U.K. - she can come and go as she pleases, within reason of course.

Over the years the Britlag embassy did get a lot of bad press and a lot of it was justly deserved, but I do feel that there has been a sea change in the attitudes of the Embassy these past few years and this in itself could be as a result of actually having a U.K. Ambassador to Thailand who is not living in the age of Kipling.

Cheers,

Couthy.

I would love to be in my wife's postion for coming to the UK!

Okay, £300 for the visa - but after that she get's to stay for a year. Then applies for Indefinite Leave to Remain - she can then apply for a NI number and then has the same rights as I do in the UK. Free health-service, eligible for credit, can own property. She doesn't have to bring in an amount of money every month that is almost 10 times more than minimum wage.

After 3 years she can then apply for UK citizenship and can carry a UK passpost and all the benfits that are afforded from that.

Then i read in other Forums , how rude the UK embassy staff are towards Thai wives and how its almost impossible to get a UK visa ! .......Just who is telling the truth here, or perhaps the UK Embassy are realising just how difficult the Thai govt are making life for british nationals and just reciprocating.............Whats good for the Goose is good for the Gander ?

[Felt 35]

Why the new directive?

Making some calls this morning and I'm getting two opinions:

1. Election year.

2.John Mark Karr

When they are looking at foreign teachers, a number of them are working illegally with a 30 day stamp. This will help force them to get a proper visa in order to stay and teach. Immigration then can keep tougher tabs. This opinion will be more valid if the directive turns out to be for the 41 countries that are now visa exempt for 30 days.

My guess, Election coming up.

BTW, Let us avoid speculation in why stricter visa rules for foreigners can appeal to the voters.

[jdinasia]

get the right visa and get legal not fair to those who comply with the system and take the time and expense to comply.....

Can I presume you do comply?

Don't you think having a monthly trip to the border is a reasonable price to pay?

Perhaps there needs to be a bigger shake-up of the visas than this. Eg. India do a 6 month tourist visa.

Don't forget that not all 1 month visa runners are not English teachers. If you want to come for an extended holiday why should you have to go through all the paperwork and expense?

By paperwork do you mean a one-sided form to fill in, with your name, passport number, reason for visit and previous visits entered? By expense do you mean £25 for a 60 day tourist visa? I was just wondering whether I found an unknown loophole in the system when I bought my two tourist visa's last week.

Cool! When you get here with your 2 tourist visas you can tell us all about life here!

I didn't attempt to preach to you about life in Thailand. I was just making the point that getting a visa is neither expensive nor does it require a mass of paperwork. Shall I make my posts a little clearer for you next time? I am happy to dumb down my posts if I see your name in the string, it's the last that I could do. It is only fair that all members of society have the opportunity to join in, even the mentally challenged and delusional. Are you also assuming that, in my 36 years on this planet, Earth, that I have never previously been to Thailand? You got all that information from what I posted???? That's probably why it states that you are an advanced member...of what though?

again .... when you get here ! .... but no I am assuming that you haven't lived here That your knowledge about actually living here might be limited ! and that your view is simplistic from lack of experience of actually living here

Like how will this new rule <if it is actually ever enforced and not just more silliness ... and if that enforcement includes native English speakers that teach ....> affect the goal of 10,000 more English teachers in Thailand this year ....

Take for example a guy working for less than 50-60k a month in Thailand and not the owner of the Biz (a teacher getting 25k/mo?) not married ... comes on a non-imm-b multi ... works WITH a work-permit <not likely> and has a life they enjoy. All legal but then changes jobs and there is no permission to stay etc etc etc ....

Yes a trip home is doable .... for about 2 months salary ... to get the new non-imm multi ....

But please Tell us more about your 2 tourist visas

<< and know I do not teach English and no I am not worried about this myself ... but I have friends thatare!>>

)

)

[Big Dogster]

This is a huge problem for people who are a bit dodgy. People who spend there lives ducking and diving.

Most normal people would go to a site like thaiVisa .com read the rules. Work-out how those rules effect there lifestyle then work within the thai immigration rules and get on with there lives.

What is the problem?

I have a friend who can’t work out why they won’t give him a “1 year non B” in panang. Wants to write a letter of complaint to some government office or other. Its worked ok for 3 years but now it won’t. went into loads of details. Bores the pants off me...

My situation is that I make a trip the UK now once a year. The main reason is get my Non-B visa (but I tie other things in as well, visit the family etc.). Its so easy in your home country. The service in the UK is fantastic. I send my passport on a Monday its back by Wednesday. How do they do that? Its simply wonderful.

Write a letting saying you are going to Thailand to research Issan music, or tuk-tuk fuel consumtion, traditional basket weaving. Any bloody thing in other words.

The Thai government doesn’t consider how many thai’s you are supporting. They are not a nanny state. There are rules. Play by them and don’t listen to bar stool philosophers.

Are the people the make such a song and dance about the visa laws people that can’t go home because of fear of arrest? I just cannot work-out what the problem is.

Oh I get it, you figured out a way to get dodgy visas from your home country's embassy. I understand. Hmmm, do you think this will last? Those basket weaving research visas will be coming to a halt to soon enough, then what you gonna do smart guy?

[bendix]

get the right visa and get legal not fair to those who comply with the system and take the time and expense to comply.....

Take for example a guy working for less than 50-60k a month in Thailand and not the owner of the Biz (a teacher getting 25k/mo?) not married ... comes on a non-imm-b multi ... works WITH a work-permit <not likely> and has a life they enjoy. All legal but then changes jobs and there is no permission to stay etc etc etc ....

Yes a trip home is doable .... for about 2 months salary ... to get the new non-imm multi ....

jdinasia . . i'd feel some empathy for your argument, but it comes from a premise that such a farang - indeed, any farang - has a god-given right to be here. We don't. Being here is a privilege accorded to us by Thai hosts. We might have a life we enjoy, but so what? It is completely in a sovereign government's rights to change the immigration laws as they see fit.

We, in turn, have a right to go home if we dont like the new rules our hosts make for us.

The Thai Government seems to be doing what any responsible government should do; enforce both the letter and the essence of its immigration laws and, at the same time, clamping down on people they see as essentially undesirable. It's a fair cop. Our home governments do it; our host government can do it too.

[naturalpoints]

How about multiple entry tourist visas? No change there I hope.

Its funny how Thailand wants to bite those who love their country too much. To those that say Western countries are much more restrictive, get real, Thailand is not a Western country and overall does benefit from all kinds of tourists, even perpetual ones.

True! I agree with you on this point. 90 days is more than enuff as a tourist. Those doing the visa runs are all up to no good. I have seen a string of Eastern European Prostitutes heading to Penang just to get a new visa to re-enter. Also those involved in illegal money-laundering and other illicit business. Hence, it'll be good to start tightening up! The world is no longer a safe place.......

[jdinasia]

get the right visa and get legal not fair to those who comply with the system and take the time and expense to comply.....

Take for example a guy working for less than 50-60k a month in Thailand and not the owner of the Biz (a teacher getting 25k/mo?) not married ... comes on a non-imm-b multi ... works WITH a work-permit <not likely> and has a life they enjoy. All legal but then changes jobs and there is no permission to stay etc etc etc ....

Yes a trip home is doable .... for about 2 months salary ... to get the new non-imm multi ....

jdinasia . . i'd feel some empathy for your argument, but it comes from a premise that such a farang - indeed, any farang - has a god-given right to be here. We don't. Being here is a privilege accorded to us by Thai hosts. We might have a life we enjoy, but so what? It is completely in a sovereign government's rights to change the immigration laws as they see fit.

We, in turn, have a right to go home if we dont like the new rules our hosts make for us.

The Thai Government seems to be doing what any responsible government should do; enforce both the letter and the essence of its immigration laws and, at the same time, clamping down on people they see as essentially undesirable. It's a fair cop. Our home governments do it; our host government can do it too.

Strange ... but with your 2 tourist visas I have a hard time seeing a "We" in your post. I think you meant "you people that live there"

[PeaceBlondie]

My personal thanks to jdinasia for sticking up for some of the farang who probably teach some of the children of folks like the 261 users currently reading this thread, and some of the other 30,000 members of ThaiVisa.

A real crackdown on visa runs, non-holders of work permits, and non-holders of teacher's licenses, without a change in the rest of the framework for farang teachers, would ruin the business. And, unlike some other ideas about teaching EFL in Thailand, this would affect Filipinos, Indians, Burmese, and Eritreans who teach English, too. In other words, little if any chance that even a pretender-native speaker could staff the English programmmes here.

So, it's unlikely that the crackdowns will be universal. However, reliable rumours are saying that teachers (real honest-to-God certified teachers at international schools) are being fined 30,000 baht because they started teaching without their highly valued employer getting the paperwork done first.

Maybe Thailand doesn't need working foreigners like English teachers. Maybe they just want retirees and tourists and guys earning 200,000 baht per month. And, maybe only rich foreigners can send their kids to a truly English-speaking school next year.

[Neeranam]

QUOTE(Neeranam @ 2006-09-10 16:05:08) *

QUOTE

As someone statet already...if U R young + rich, U'll hv trouble getting a visa.

Nonsense, do you know how immigration officials work?

10,000 baht will get you a 1 year visa - simple.

HOW,

or are you just a rebel without a clue?

Many people I know, who have been here a while know how to get one. Sounds like you who hasn't a clue There are at least 3 'companies' doing it. I don't need one as I have a 'Thai dependant' visa, pay taxes and have a WP.

All a storm in a teacup - there have been such threats and new rules in the past - if you have bit of money there are always ways round them.

[Big Dogster]

I must be missing something.....I am not working or running a business, I am not married to a Thai, I am not over 50, I do not want to deposit 3 million Baht in a Thai bank account, I am also not on the run from anyone or in hiding, I spend over 100,000 Baht per month in Thailand......I am 36 and financially stable, to my knowledge the only non-tourist visa available to me is an Elite card which I have to pay $25,000 up front to get a 5-year visa....even if I don't want to stay 5 years.....whats that all about?

Don’t worry, whatever, if any, changes will be implemented it will not affect you. A rich man like you will always be welcome in Thailand. If you are doing perennial 30-day border runs now, things may even get easier for you.

As for me, if I were 36 and rich enough not to have to work for the rest of my life, I doubt I would chose to live permanently in Thailand. I would soon get bored. But to everyone his own.

---------------

Maestro

That's funny, I feel just the opposite. If I was a poor man, I would not choose to live permanrntly in Thailand. I'd want to live somewhere that I could make something of myself and become rich. At that point I would come to Thailand permanently

[Big Dogster]

I have my doubts about this new "law".

I arrived in Thailand on July 22 and got my first 30 days, left Thailand at Nong Khai going to Laos, then re-entered Thailand three days later at Nakhon Phanom. After a tour in the norht, went back to Bangkok and left for Singapore on the 2nd of August, re-entering Thailand 3 days later. Now, let's just say I want to go to Cambodia and return to Thailand to catch my flight back to Europe, this wouldn't be possible anymore since I already had my three entries. So I would say that this not only affects non tourist, but it will also limit tourist in going from one country to another in the region, and use Thailand as a travel hub.

Solid point, Molfraire

[Neeranam]

That's funny, I feel just the opposite. If I was a poor man, I would not choose to live permanrntly in Thailand. I'd want to live somewhere that I could make something of myself and become rich. At that point I would come to Thailand permanently

And maybe die in a couple of months after a miserable money chasing life.

[Morty]

My guess is that it's the visarunners/visarun companies they're afther by this. (so watch out kerryd!)

The way I read it, it would make and end to 30 day stamps, going on forever. So I guess the medicine, so to speak, would get yourself a proper visa (easy for me to say, with a pension, and a thai wife)

Seriously though, a tripple entry touristvisa shouldn't be to hard to get your hands on if you're willing to spend some dosh travelling to somewere else then Penang (or they might do them again, down there), what do I know.

Morty

Edited September 10, 2006 by Morty

[lingyai]

What I wish is that some of hateful zealots in this forum were in charge of immigration rules!

They make ol’ Purachai look like a pussy (why did he retire anyway?).

There would be mandatory strip searches at the border and a couple more Bang Kwangs opened up to keep all those scofflaws farang under 50 who only spend 100,000 baht or less a month but don’t(or can’t) want to invest 3mil.

How much better Thailand would be with out those ###### border runners. Clearly they deserve to be called enemy #1.

[realthaideal]

......people wanting to stay longer, ask a non immigrant visa.

If you support someone get a 1 year visa. If you work get a business visa and a work permit. No excuses.

Khun Jean, I'm sure I am not alone here, but many of us are up to many things while in your country, trying to do good for both ourselves and for Thailand. I am young and can't start a company legally yet. But I am on my way doing business here. I help bring dollars to your country and then spend them here. I do alot of good for the people of Thailand, and when I do it on my own, there is no one to sponsor me with a visa. I know of many other people in the same boat.

I can easily get a teahcer's visa, but that is not the way I wish to contribute here. I am happy that so far there are some loose laws that allow those of us who wish to get things started here can do so without too much scrutiny.

And frankly, being Thai, you have no idea the hassles and paperwork they put us through. Even the monthly border runs are a hassle and getting expensive. It's a silly use of my time. But so far I keep doing it because I love it here.

[Nam Kao]

Real estate will tank this happens, Thai economy too

[dog412]

My guess is that it's the visarunners/visarun companies they're afther by this. (so watch out kerryd!)

The way I read it, it would make and end to 30 day stamps, going on forever. So I guess the medicine, so to speak, would get yourself a proper visa (easy for me to say, with a pension, and a thai wife)

Seriously though, a tripple entry touristvisa shouldn't be to hard to get your hands on if you're willing to spend some dosh travelling to somewere else then Penang (or they might do them again, down there), what do I know.

Morty

los angeles this year denied the triple entry. they did however grant a double entry.

[Paraglider]

Are there any recent news,when this law will be valid?We intend to stay another 6 months and get back to Austria next spring,if necessary.Another solution as the 30 day visa run is not possible for us,because we don't travel 10 hours from Chumphon down to Malaysia to apply for another kind visa with our 3 year old son-what a torture for him!

I'm really surprised about the lack of smartness in this government.Seems the racism in some not so well educated and smallminded heads of the officals gets bigger and bigger here.What are their aspectations of such sensefree changes in the visalaw-sorry,but can't comprehend that?Is this still a buddhist country?

We dont abuse anything here.We just want to stay in the "land of smile" and spend our money,we made previously in our native country.But we don't have to,if they start to hassle us.

[Sunbelt Asia]

One mans opinion which is Stickman... he just posted his thoughts which if nothing else will get some controversy going. Like we need that on www.thaivisa.com

Stickman Weekly

Is This The Great Thai Immigration Crackdown?

This morning we woke up to news that the Immigration Department looks to be doing what they should have done many, many years ago – tighten up the visa rules and regulations for people entering Thailand.

For many years now foreigners have flaunted the lackadaisical rules and been able to live in the Kingdom indefinitely on tourist visas. I’ve even heard stories of people filling up an entire 10 year passport with continuous, back to back, tourist visas. Just as your visa was about to expire you could exit the country at any of the overland checkpoints and then re-enter immediately whereupon you would get a new visa, and another 30 or 90 days. Thai immigration officers didn't even blink at people who came and went on tourist visas for years, even though it was plainly obvious that they were not bona fide tourists. The system was exploited so guys could stay in the country easily.

But according to the article in today's Bangkok Post this all looks set to change. The article outlines what looks to be a new policy that will affect anyone who intends to stay in Thailand for more than 90 days on tourist visas or entry on arrival stamps. While it is all a little unclear at this point in time, it would seem that the new policy will effectively allow one to get three 30 day stamps in their passport - meaning one could stay for 90 days in the Kingdom, exiting and returning every 30 days. But once one had had three such visas issues then further such visas would not be allowed and that person would not be allowed back into Thailand at that point in time.

As I say, exactly what the policy will be is unclear. From the way the article is written, the best conclusion I can reach is that after effectively renewing your stamp on arrival for the second time (meaning the third consecutive issuing of a 30 day visa), you will not be able to do it again. I can only presume something will be stamped in your passport to the effect that no more consecutive visas will be issued and that you must leave Thailand for a period of time before returning again.

This new policy is going to affect a large number of people and more than a few are going to be seriously upset. Teachers, early retirees, entrepreneurs, offshore oil workers who have their month or more off here, lovelorn farangs who may or may not be supporting a Thai woman and family are just the tip of the iceberg who will be affected. Many of these people will be long term Thailand residents. Some may have family or a wife or girlfriend they are supporting. Some may be volunteer teachers in rural areas. Some may have made, or be about to make, a significant investment in Thailand. Basically, some of the affected are going to have every reason to feel aggrieved.

The difficulty for some is that there are only so many options by which one can stay on in Thailand, and if you do not meet any of the criteria, then you might find yourself out in the cold.

Call them what you will, long-stayers, perpetual tourists or early retirees, the vast majority of this group provides significant benefits to Thailand. While some may be working illegally (usually the only thing keeping them from being legal is a work permit), most spend a good deal of money in Thailand, money which often comes in from abroad. If it becomes more difficult for these people to stay in Thailand, there will be a (small) economic price paid to Thailand, but possibly a large price paid to anyone who benefits at an individual level.

I cannot even begin to think how many 30-somethings I know who live in Thailand, either retired, or working, often without a work permit – in many cases because going down that road is a bureaucratic nightmare. With internet banking so popular these days there really is no reason why one cannot live and work in one country while getting paid in another.

What about the legion of young to middle-aged guys who you see in the likes of The Dubliner, The Irish Xchange and The Londoner running their businesses online via the free wireless internet connections most days? With perfectly adequate internet access as well as a very low cost of living, more and more guys are relocating to Thailand while maintaining their businesses abroad which can be run from here. These guys invariably live on tourist visas and make visa runs every 30 or 90 days. While most will admit that the visa run is a hassle, they feel that it is a small price to pay for being able to live in Thailand and enjoy all of the benefits they reap.

So, if you are one of the effected - and there are going to be thousands and thousands, what can you do to avoid being denied entry due to an excessive number of entry stamps? Just what are your options?

The first and possibly the easiest way to get legal is to get a job. Every job in Thailand should come with a work permit and with that the accompanying one year visa. This is all very good and well if you wish to work - but many people don't want to, don't need to, or have their own business which would simply be a big hassle to get a work permit for.

If you are one of the many running a one man business in Thailand under the radar, it has to be said that it would be a major hassle to get legal. In addition to registering the business, employing a number of Thais so you yourself can actually qualify for a work permit, you then have to look at all of the accounting procedures, the compulsory twice year auditing and the one that most people want to avoid altogether, the tax situation. For some guys running a one man show, this would all be too much of a headache, so getting legal is simply not worth their while.

The next option is to get a retirement visa. For this you must be 50 years of age or older and either show proof that you have a deposit of 800,000 baht or more in a local bank account OR show a monthly income of 65,000 baht or more from abroad. The hard part with this type of visa seems to be the age. Many people have the money, or the income, but are not even close to 50. Sorry, they’re not flexible on that minor detail!

The next option is an investment visa. I am surprised that more people do not use this one. All you need to do is buy a property here for 3,000,000 baht or more, or have 3,000,000 baht on deposit in a Thai bank account. This seems to be the least popular of the options currently being used by Westerners in Thailand. I do have a funny feeling though that if you go the bank account route then the money may need to have been brought in from abroad, though I am not sure of that. Details about just what is required to qualify for an investment visa in Thailand will become clear as more and more guys look at this option. And remember, fixed interest term investments at the local banks now get around 5%, which is much more than it has been at any time since the '97 crash.

One could always apply for a multiple entry Non-Immigrant "B" or "O" visa. These are effectively a one year visa that allow you to exit and immediately re-enter the country every 90 days for the purposes of business, or to support a Thai spouse / national. These visas are quite difficult to get from Thai embassies and consulates in surrounding countries, but can be easily sought from the Thai embassy in your own country, or very easily from the Thai missions in a handful of countries. The Thai embassies in Brisbane, Australia, Fort Worth in the US, Savannakhet in Laos and Hull in the UK have all been traditionally known as a soft touch. However, if Immigration prevent people from coming and going on 30 day arrival stamps then it is likely they will do the same for people trying to do so on Non-Immigrant visas too.

The last option and the one that I cannot feel help but feel will be the easiest for many, is simply to get married at which point you can apply for a marriage visa. All that is required is that you marry a Thai national and deposit 400,000 baht into a local account and wham, bam, thank you ‘mam, you get your one year visa. If this new policy is enforced strictly – and we can only wait and see how that pans out – then this could well be the easiest option. I would not be surprised to see websites pop up with ladies willing and ready to marry Western guys for a small amount of money purely for the purpose of assisting a guy to meet the visa requirements.

So what exactly will the new regulation be and exactly how will it be enforced? In my native New Zealand, most nationalities can get a 3 month tourist visa and that can be extended in country twice, another three months a pop, meaning they can stay in New Zealand for up to 9 months. At the end of 9 months the “tourist” must leave New Zealand and cannot return for a period of 9 months. I believe that in Europe they have something similar with the Schengen visa countries where one must exit for a period equal to or exceeding the period they were there for, before they can return.

Now of course it could be that something was mis-reported and that the article in the Post only refers to certain countries like India and China, but the mention of the US, and the 41 countries, is ominous. The same visa requirements apply to pretty much all Western countries so if we assume that they apply to the US then we may as well assume they will also apply to Europe, Canada and Australia and New Zealand too. I assume that the 41 countries are these here and I think it is safe to assume that this crackdown really is for real. Frankly, it is many years overdue.

There is no doubt in my mind that some people who have had a good life in Thailand, who have been good citizens, and have made Thailand that little bit better by their presence, may find themselves in a very awkward situation, unable to qualify for any visa! Just what these people will choose to do remains to be seen.

Of course the whole reason for the new policy is to make it more difficult for undesirables and to get people who stay long-term "into the system", so to speak. That has got to be a good thing. I mean, I doubt if any of us would like it if any old person could enter our corner of Farangland and come and go on a tourist visa indefinitely.

There are of course other options in the region. Malaysia actually promotes long stay for Westerners and you can get certain privileges such as being able to buy property and a car, one of which I believe you even get tax breaks on. I also have a funny feeling that they issue these really long-term visas, like 5 years – though don’t quote me on that.

Then of course there is Cambodia which is most definitely Westerner friendly. You can pretty much just buy a one year visa at, I believe, around $US250 for a year. And it can be renewed ad infinitum. Malaysia and Cambodia both have plenty going for them, but they're not Thailand.

One also has to wonder about all of the visa run firms out there. Down in Pattaya this weekend I noticed more visa run firms than ever before, though whether they were just booking agents using the same companies and buses, I do not know. But one thing’s for sure, visa run services have been a growth area in Bangkok and Pattaya over the last few years and if this regulation really does come in, a few people’s businesses are going to die overnight. A lot of these businesses are foreign owned too.

It has to be said that visa runs are a pain in the backside and anyone who has been doing them perpetually for years has more patience than I could ever muster. From Bangkok or Pattaya, a visa run takes the best part of one day, irrespective of how you do it. You can fly out of the country and fly back with Singapore being a favourite destination using this approach with the excellent Changi Airport providing a great spot to pick up some duty free. But most guys do it on the cheap and overland it to the nearest border point meaning Aranya Prathet province and into Cambodia. It is a long day on a big bus and you're not back until late afternoon. How do people do this sort of thing over and over and over again?! I guess it beats the old days when most folks ventured all the way down to Penang in Malaysia, a train ride in excess of 20 hours. Forget that!

If these regulations really do come into effect then there is no time like the present to completely overhaul the visa system. A policy should be put in place allowing visas to be extended at any Immigration office nationwide WITHOUT the need to exit the country. Allow people to simply extend by paying a fee – the standard visa extension fee is 1,900 baht irrespective of how long you extend for. This would be good for Immigration as they would make more money AND it would be clear that people had actually extended, and they wouldn’t have this crazy situation where people have to exit the country every 30 day visas.

Whatever system Immigration end up with, and whatever the new policy is, I hope they don’t simply end up making visa runs more cumbersome and expensive while not actually protecting the integrity of tourist visas. I just can’t help but feel that they will introduce some regulation whereby one has to exit the country for a period of at least 72 hours or more, before returning, effectively sending many on an enforced holiday in a neighbouring country before being allowed to return.

There is little doubt however that a number of foreigners, many of whom may have already resided in Thailand for many years, are going to find it more difficult to stay in the Kingdom long-term. A lot of people are going to have to look at what options are available to them to allow them to stay in Thailand.

[John K]

Like I said early on sit and wait a few days. Many of us have all commented that the article is poorly written. Seeing is how it was published Sunday morning, it was probably written Saturday night with the help if a beer or two. Wait for it to be clarified to avoid a whole bunch of unnecessary anxiety. Commons sense is if it costs Thailand income the plan will be trashed faster than it was though of. We all know how important money is to Thais, and it does not take a PhD in economics to see that will be the case here. We also know how well thought out many Thai plans are so again relax a few days. I feel the 60-20-20 applies here.

[enuff said]

What is the deffinition of a tourist?

I think it's up to the country involved to define it. Just to be reasonable, a tourist visits somewhere for a few days, weeks, or even a month or two.

BUT after that, you are no longer a tourist. You are a part time resident. You can't stay in a country for 4, 5, 6 MONTHS and claim to be a tourist. You are LIVING here.

I see no problem with the Thai gov't trying to sort out who is who.

They don't care about the money. They just want some control over who is in their country.

Surely they are generous and hospitable to guests but too many people are running roughshod over the rules.

Thailand is for Thai people. People who have lived here for generations and are a part of the culture.

It has nothing to do with racism. Just proper control of their borders like every other country tries to do.

'nuff said

[ThailandTony]

OK....I just looked up human detritus in the dictionary and it had a picture of a self made man, minding his own business, not hurting anyone, in fact often known to be philanthropic, in a minibus with 5 other detriti (?) at the Laos border, paying their way, contributing to society, still paying taxes back home and stopping to smell the flowers.....hmmmmm....nope sorry wrong page.....its actually a fat old balding git with crooked teeth tuppence-ha'penny in their pocket doing the balloon bar crawl getting free chicken wings and cold french fries whilst raising the free beer they just got from the birthday boy before making a sheepish exit onto their next bar, all the time coveting that retirement visa....my goodness there are some funny people in this forum.

[joka]

thanks thaitony....i feel a little refreshed now...i looked up "detritus" in another dictionary but the picture was different..looked something like a 100 kilo "retiree" with his 30 kilo "girlfriend"