Maybe The Changes Will Go Away

[JonnieB]

With the coup and all and the current government being swept away, maybe all the visa changes will be put on hold or canned altogether (at least for some while)

[jdinasia]

not a chance ....

[JonnieB]

not a chance ....

and your authority (or is this only an opinion)? there is no civilian government at the moment so possibly major changes in policy will be put on hold (assuming they even have the authority to make any changes/decisions at the current time). i have no knowledge one way or the other...just speculating

[blade63]

not a chance ....

and your authority (or is this only an opinion)? there is no civilian government at the moment so possibly major changes in policy will be put on hold (assuming they even have the authority to make any changes/decisions at the current time). i have no knowledge one way or the other...just speculating

we're still in a crisis and nobody can really speculate on how things will unfold for the next few days or so. better to anticpate the worse while hoping for the best..

[JonnieB]

we're still in a crisis and nobody can really speculate on how things will unfold for the next few days or so. better to anticipate the worse while hoping for the best..

my understanding of the thai gov't (i am no expert) is that there are "permanent" ministers/officials (i.e., professional civil servants) and then also "political" appointees (i.e., the ones appointed by the current government in power and who set the policies that the permanent officials/staff carry out). if the current visa rule changes are more a pet project of the political appointees (i.e. TRT types) well, they have been swept away by the coup. all ministries are currently likely being run by their permanent ministers (until things get sorted out or new elections take place or something). If the changes are more coming from the permanent ministers and are proposed solutions to long-standing percieved problems, then likely they will proceed (but maybe some more delay).

agree though, that best to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best

Edited September 20, 2006 by JonnieB

[Firefan]

Well; speculate we can, but that is all it will be.

Personally I think that the changes will go ahead, but maybe the extra confusion/staff changes Etc. will mean that the enforcement will be more lax initially.

It could of course also work the OTHER way; due to the uncertainty/new staff Etc. the rules are being enforced STRICTER than the original intention. E.g. 3 stamps rather than counting 90 days, looking further back than 1st Oct., not issuing back to back tourist visas or whatever. I.e. the same confusion we see now at many borders and embassies.

Cheers!