Visa Rules Will Be Tightened To Stop Abuse

[h90]

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

the link does not work anymore

[terry57]

Completely agree....busines visas, retirement visas, marriage visas are all easily available.

What is so difficult with simply complying with the law.

Certain situation make it hard or impossible to get the right visa. Me for instance, I do not work in Thailand but I have income from my investments and business abroad. I am 24 years old and I do not qualify for the retirement visa.

Even for a Tourist Visa, the embassy abroad wrote on my visa that they will not give issue me another one (probably because I'm too young). I tried showing some sort of proof of funds that I have... but doesn't work.

So it's impossible for me to have a visa, unless I form some kind of BS company and pay 2M baht or I give some extraordinary in the government coffer by buying bonds. So it's not practical, or easy as you say, for me to obtain a visa.

Dude, same boat. I can more than adequately look after myself, my girlfriend, all our friends and their buffaloes and raise our son in Thailand, based on the income from my UK-based clients, but I'm not prepared to set up another BS company like I did for the last 3 yrs to do it. The biggest waste of time and insults to my intelligence in my entire life so far. I'm looking into the other ways, such as investment visas etc, but so far think we might well not get to raise our son in Thailand at this rate.

Me too. And many, many others i think. Have a relatively small investment at home, but enough to support myself and a potential family as well. To take 3 mill. baht out, and invest them in Thailand, will reduce the yield more than I will accept. That cost is simply not worth it.

Of course Thailand can do what it wants, I don't complain. And if they don't want me and all the other decent visa runners here, fine, I just leave then. It's their problem, not mine. However, I can feel a bit sorry for those, who have started a family life here, but don't want or need to marry. They cannot just leave like that.

Thailand have many fine aspects to offer foreigners, but so do many, many other countries!

i understand what you are saying,

but there's a <deleted> load of punters that are very happy living in thailand, love this place and never want to leave .

the thai goverment wont give a toss if a few thousand punters do a runner , so its the poor punter that will lose out.

especially the young guys.

[dsfbrit]

This is a bit off the topic of this thread -sorry, but perhaps necessary in light of the previous reply. A different perspective maybe.

I too went to the British Embassy in BKK with my Thai wife about 4 years ago and got the visa for her to live in the UK.

We planned to come back to live in Thailand after a year anyway, but that's another story.

Sadly, I found the staff (interviewer) at the Embassy quite rude, mainly because he had too much work I think.

Being 48 years old at the time and having quite a lot of money in the UK, I was eventually given the visa.

I would point out that I was very well dressed - wore a suit and tie even and I was fortunate enough to actually get into the room with my wife when she was interviewed. When the interviewer was rude I used my years of practice 'biting my tongue' in meetings, smiled sweetly and all was OK.

Had I said what I was thinking - well who knows!

My wife was an x-bar girl who also dressed very smartly and had paperwork showing she worked in restaurant.

The couple who were in front of us were refused an entry visa, she had her bar girl outfit on and he was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. I only saw her crying outside, so I dont know why they were refused - but as the Americans say 'go figure'.

Good luck if you apply - you should have no real problems if you use a bit of savvy. There are also lots of places you can go to get help filling out any forms!

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 ?

[mouse]

In fact thinking, I have dual nationality so can actually carry 4 passports

Congratulations!! Your problems are solved. 4 x 90 days = 360 meaning you only have to take a 5 day vacation once a year to somewhere outside Thailand.

Yes, it does seem that many Embassies will be working overtime in issuing lost or stolen Passports and that will be a solve for many unless that unique superduper Computer system catches them.

But seriously folks, we have all seen this coming for years now and have had plenty of time to prepare in one way or another.

[Scott]

It's overdue and not completely unexpected. Unfortunately, I doubt that it is well thought out as to the consequences for a lot of businesses in Thailand.

[h90]

In fact thinking, I have dual nationality so can actually carry 4 passports

Congratulations!! Your problems are solved. 4 x 90 days = 360 meaning you only have to take a 5 day vacation once a year to somewhere outside Thailand.

Yes, it does seem that many Embassies will be working overtime in issuing lost or stolen Passports and that will be a solve for many unless that unique superduper Computer system catches them.

But seriously folks, we have all seen this coming for years now and have had plenty of time to prepare in one way or another.

Sorry wrong you can make on 1 passport 180 days.

90 days thailand 90 days brake 90 days.......

so he has 720 days per year in thailand......

May I borrow a few days?

[LivinLOS]

I am actually on a non O anyway..

But just emphasizing the impossibility of effectively emforcing this..

[visarunner]

This will have a lot of consequences for schools/education as many of their teachers do monthly runs.

Other businesses will suffer as well.

Sad , but this came not entirely unexpected.

[visarunner]

I forgot to mention that it might be a good time to buy shares in Air Asia , their flights to Penang will be full soon.

Taksin knows how to earn money.

[Simmo]

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

Edited September 11, 2006 by Simmo

[ramirez]

From October, tourists from the designated countries can still enter Thailand without visas and stay for up to 30 days, but their entry stamps will be renewable twice at most for a maximum stay of 90 days.

Some friends from Europe wanted to visit me in January 2007 and they planned short trips to Singapore, Saigon and Hong Kong from here. Does that mean now that they are refused entry when they come back from Hong Kong (since this would be the fourth entry stamp and there aren't 90 days between the returns)?

[george]

From October, tourists from the designated countries can still enter Thailand without visas and stay for up to 30 days, but their entry stamps will be renewable twice at most for a maximum stay of 90 days.

Some friends from Europe wanted to visit me in January 2007 and they planned short trips to Singapore, Saigon and Hong Kong from here. Does that mean now that they are refused entry when they come back from Hong Kong (since this would be the fourth entry stamp and there aren't 90 days between the returns)?

Ask your friends to apply for a double or triple entry tourist visa showing ticket evidence to the consulate/embassy.

[Raymond125]

Ask your friends to apply for a double or triple entry tourist visa showing ticket evidence to the consulate/embassy.

That's strange, i've never had to provide airline ticket evidence to the Thai consulate. Normanly I just take 2 fotos, fifty quid, sign there forms and a double entry tourist visa is ready within 20 minutes.

[LaoPo]

From October, tourists from the designated countries can still enter Thailand without visas and stay for up to 30 days, but their entry stamps will be renewable twice at most for a maximum stay of 90 days.

Some friends from Europe wanted to visit me in January 2007 and they planned short trips to Singapore, Saigon and Hong Kong from here. Does that mean now that they are refused entry when they come back from Hong Kong (since this would be the fourth entry stamp and there aren't 90 days between the returns)?

Ask your friends to apply for a double or triple entry tourist visa showing ticket evidence to the consulate/embassy.

Yes, George, but there is a trick here since many people (including me) do not know yet their travel-schedules and how does one arrange the re-entry problem than?

We (wife and me) asked/got a 60-day Visa issued in China, but the Thai embassy refused to give a multiple entry-visa...

The question is: WHY NOT? It limited our travel-plans.

Also: isn't it a bit 'ELECTION TIME' thing here in order to satisfy those Thai people who aren't that fond of 'Farang' in their country...?

LaoPo

[BlueSmurf]

ITS THE SAME OLD STORY!!! NO THOUGHT GIVEN TO PRESS RELEASE..NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION..NO REAL EXPLAINATION TO WHY....DO PEOPLE IN HIGH PLACES SUCH AS IMMERGRATION SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS THINGS AS A COMMITTEE IF SO THEN WHY DO WE PAY COUNTRYS SUCH AS BURMA 500 BART TO CROSS THERE BORDER AND THE THAI AURTORITIES RECIEVE NOTHING!!! SURELY IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE IMMERGRATION (THAI) TO SAY GIVE US 500 BART AND YOU CAN STAY A EXTRA 30 DAYS..THE MONEY THEN COULD BE USED TO SUPPORT LOCAL SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS..YOU WOULD NOT NEED TO CROSS THE BORDER..AS FOR UNDISIRABLES STAYING THIS IS NOW CHECKED ON THE COMPUTERS THEY USE AND SHOULD BE LEFT UOP TO THE LOCAL POLICE..IE IF YOU HAVE BECOME A PAIN IN THE ARSE FARANG BEING ARRESTED FOR FIGHTING, WORKING WITHOUT A VISA STC THEN THEY CAN INFORM THE IMMERGRATION AUTHORITES AND ITS BYE BYE TO YOU.....

I LIVE IN THAILAND WITH MY THAI WIFE AND CHILD ..I DO THE BORDER RUN BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE 450,000 BART IN THE BANK TO GET THE VISA....I SPEND APPROX 70,000 A MONTH.....MAYBE THIS RETRICTION WILL NOT EFFECT ME OR MAYBE IT WILL BUT ALL TOURISTS PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR THE THAI ECONOMY AND WITH THE PROBLEMS HERE ALREADY IE THE LACK OF OR NO GOVERNMENT AND THE PROBLEMS IN THE SOUTH I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT BEST GIVE THIS NEW PROPOSAL SO MORE THOUGHT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT FARANGS TOURISTS WILL SWITCH DESTINATIONS MORE THAN THEY ARE NOW UNLESS THE IMAGE OF THAILAND DOES NOT CHANGE..I MEAN I HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WOULD NOT HOLIDAY HERE ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THAILANDS BAD IMAGE........

[A_Traveller]

Its the same old story!!! No thought given to press release..not enough information..No real explanation to why....Do people in high places such as immigration sit down and discuss things as a committee if so then why do we pay country's such as Burma 500 THB to cross there border and the Thai authorities receive nothing!!! Surely it would be better for the immigration (Thai) to say give us 500 THBt and you can stay a extra 30 days..the money then could be used to support local schools and hospitals.. You would not need to cross the border..as for undesirables staying this is now checked on the computers they use and should be left up to the local police.. i.e. if you have become a pain in the arse farang being arrested for fighting, working without a visa etc. then they can inform the immigration authorities and its bye bye to you.....

I live in Thailand with my Thai wife and child .. I do the border run because I do not have the 450,000 THB in the bank to get the visa....I spend approx 70,000 a month.....Maybe this restriction will not effect me or maybe it will but all tourists provide much needed funds for the Thai economy and with the problems here already i.e. the lack of or no government and the problems in the south i would have thought it best give this new proposal so more thought. it seems to me that farangs tourists will switch destinations more than they are now unless the image of Thailand does not change..I mean I have friends and family members who would not holiday here any more because of Thailand bad image........

Welcome David, if you could find the CapsLock key that would help us all.

Regards

[cyborgx]

Nonsense, do you know how immigration officials work?

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

Would love to hear a little deeper explanation of this comment.

[cyborgx]

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.

If you live in or near Bangkok, Pattaya, Chang Mai or Phuket, just go along to the immigration office, they are very helpful and will give you all the correct documentation. If you have already deposited the money, ask your bank for a statement of account letter and take this plus your passbook, passport and accomodation details, they may process it there and then....but you need to have a valid non-imm visa in your passport. They cannot do it on a tourist visa.....Good Luck.

Good info, but just a little advice. Some of the staff behind the desks at immigration do not really know the rules well, and I have was told in the past that the 3M investment (which was on their handout) was not an option anymore. Luckily I was pretty sure of my information, and when I spoke to someone more senior I was given the correct information.

Still looking for some good advice on how to purchase government/state industry bonds.

[Mobi]

Nonsense, do you know how immigration officials work?

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

Would love to hear a little deeper explanation of this comment.

It is my good understanding that retirees without sufficient funds in the bank, can be assisted by certyain immigration officials to have the requisite funds deposited, upon payment of a fee of 25,000 Baht. There are also independant "brokers" who perform similar services for similar fees.

[LivinLOS]

Nonsense, do you know how immigration officials work?

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

Would love to hear a little deeper explanation of this comment.

It is my good understanding that retirees without sufficient funds in the bank, can be assisted by certyain immigration officials to have the requisite funds deposited, upon payment of a fee of 25,000 Baht. There are also independant "brokers" who perform similar services for similar fees.

Yes but they have a visa class that could work for them.. Basically thats T money to fail to properly enforce one part of the conditions.

I havent seen anyone who has bought a valid visa that didnt fit one like an under 50, unmarried, not working, person.

[ramidin]

Completely agree....busines visas, retirement visas, marriage visas are all easily available.

What is so difficult with simply complying with the law.

Certain situation make it hard or impossible to get the right visa. Me for instance, I do not work in Thailand but I have income from my investments and business abroad. I am 24 years old and I do not qualify for the retirement visa.

Even for a Tourist Visa, the embassy abroad wrote on my visa that they will not give issue me another one (probably because I'm too young). I tried showing some sort of proof of funds that I have... but doesn't work.

So it's impossible for me to have a visa, unless I form some kind of BS company and pay 2M baht or I give some extraordinary in the government coffer by buying bonds. So it's not practical, or easy as you say, for me to obtain a visa.

I am assuming you are UK/US, if not this info may not be relevant.

Try a Non-Immigrant 'O' visa, twelve month multiple entry, available in home country, show your Proof of Funds at home consulate, maybe get a Thai to give you a letter of invitation, and have a member of family/friend provide a guarantee of repatriation. Bingo, 12 months, Non 'O' multiple entry, gives you 15 months in LOS.

Since you already have a business abroad, (not clear if company or not) but a foreign company can sponsor you to conduct 'investment research' in LOS, provide a guarantee of repatriation, Bingo, 12 months, Non 'B' multiple entry, gives you 15 months in LOS.

This is by far the easiest way, and is entirely practical, involving 2/3 days every 15 months in home country.

Before I got my work permit, the foreign company sponsorship worked for me for 5 years, and it still works as I recently got two colleagues issued 12 month multiple entry non-B's issued in the UK by providing guarantee of repatriation.

So, sorry for the long post, but their is a way/visa for every category.

PS My opinion (confirmed by contacts), is the visa tightening is going to continue, as their is external pressure on LOS to sort out the various worthies from other countries who cannot return to home countries lest their holidays be extended...................... and, the other category which is the crew who cannot satisfy financial rules/income/cannot afford a return trip every fifteen months, bacially the Thai government does not want you here in LOS, as they are looking for incoming foreign cash, not illegal workers or retirees that cannot pass the retirement rules.

Summary, folks get legal - get a proper visa, (speaking as a UK citizen,it is hypocritical to come to LOS and refuse to comply when Thai's going to visit the UK are grilled mercilessly to get a visa for even a few weeks, never mind months/years on end.

Soap box sent for maintenance

[ramidin]

Its the same old story!!! No thought given to press release..not enough information..No real explanation to why....Do people in high places such as immigration sit down and discuss things as a committee if so then why do we pay country's such as Burma 500 THB to cross there border and the Thai authorities receive nothing!!! Surely it would be better for the immigration (Thai) to say give us 500 THBt and you can stay a extra 30 days..the money then could be used to support local schools and hospitals.. You would not need to cross the border..as for undesirables staying this is now checked on the computers they use and should be left up to the local police.. i.e. if you have become a pain in the arse farang being arrested for fighting, working without a visa etc. then they can inform the immigration authorities and its bye bye to you.....

I live in Thailand with my Thai wife and child .. I do the border run because I do not have the 450,000 THB in the bank to get the visa....I spend approx 70,000 a month.....Maybe this restriction will not effect me or maybe it will but all tourists provide much needed funds for the Thai economy and with the problems here already i.e. the lack of or no government and the problems in the south i would have thought it best give this new proposal so more thought. it seems to me that farangs tourists will switch destinations more than they are now unless the image of Thailand does not change..I mean I have friends and family members who would not holiday here any more because of Thailand bad image........

Welcome David, if you could find the CapsLock key that would help us all.

Regards

David

You can check, but there is an income assessment criteria also, where if you can show 60k per month plus, that will qualify.

Anyone with more info on that?

[lucky2103]

Back in 1997 I used the services of some "brokers" in front of the foreign ministry. Within half a day my marriage was properly registered at the Amphoe. The fee was abt 10,000 Baht.

Does anybody know, if these "brokers" still are around ?

[globez]

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

Huuummmmmnnnnn....I wonder what Thailand will do about all their "English teacher" who are doing the borderrun every month?

Well, I guess it won't be hard for those who have a real degree and love those +50k jobs!!!

I think it's pretty sweet! But I bet a lot of people don't think the same way!!!

TIT! No other words for it! Well... i bet money under the table will do the trick!

Thank Carr for this!

[Meerkat]

Back in 1997 I used the services of some "brokers" in front of the foreign ministry. Within half a day my marriage was properly registered at the Amphoe. The fee was abt 10,000 Baht.

Does anybody know, if these "brokers" still are around ?

I don't understand. The fee for an Amphoe marriage is 25 baht and it takes about 2 hours. Why would you want to pay 10,000?

[LivinLOS]

Back in 1997 I used the services of some "brokers" in front of the foreign ministry. Within half a day my marriage was properly registered at the Amphoe. The fee was abt 10,000 Baht.

Does anybody know, if these "brokers" still are around ?

I don't understand. The fee for an Amphoe marriage is 25 baht and it takes about 2 hours. Why would you want to pay 10,000?

Erm.. Has no one explained the concept of bribery to you yet ??

[Maestro]

I forgot to mention that it might be a good time to buy shares in Air Asia , their flights to Penang will be full soon.

Taksin knows how to earn money.

Hasn’t Air Asia been sold already, to Temasak?

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

Maestro

[rainman]

would also be interested to know if this applies to only visa-on-arrival or also 2(3) month visas issued in penang. my thought is only to visa-on-arrival (30 day)....

myself, i hold a one-year marriage visa since 6 months, good timing

[thaical]

RE: visa debate: One can purchase up to a Triple Entry Tourist visa in Canada (3 60-day visits); however, a visa run MUST be done at the end of the 60 days or extension thereof, as the Thai Government looks at each visa as an entity unto itself. You must show at the end of this timeframe that you have exited Thailand and entered another country. In regards to "Visa upon arrival" as opposed to "entry without visa": Canadians are allowed to enter Thailand for up to 30 days without a visa (we call it the "30-day rule); however, the caveat is that they MUST have a confirmed, prepaid flight out of Thailand within that 30-day timeframe and, when entering Thailand under the 30-day rule, the next time they leave the country MUST be on their flight.

There are other countries that allow 15 days upon arrival, and some countries that allow their citizens to purchase a "Visa upon arrival".

The above is for Canada only - hope this clears up the situation for some of you.

Cheers!

"Thaical"

Royal Thai Consulate-General, Calgary, Canada

[baboon]

Anyone want to buy a bar??????