New Visa Rules Confirmed

[jdinasia]

My problem is up here in Chiang Mai it’s a bit far to go to any of the places mentioned for 3 months visa.

I might as well just shoot off to Cambodia for 90 days, then back

here for 90 days.

I don’t really want to live in Cambodia, I’ve been there many times for trips, but I

love Thailand, that’s why I pack’t up and moved here.

I did go to the immigration office near the Chiang Mai airport, I tried to find out

what’s the story with the visa situ, “we wait for letter from Bangkok, but don’t worry now”

So if this really doz come into full effect, then that means I’ve got 4 weeks to make a plan,

(last visa run 27th sept)

Has anybody got any great suggestions out there for me.

But not ‘get a job’, or ‘go home’.

Is marrage the only real loophole worth going for?

I don't really want to pop down to 7/11 to find a bride to go!

Hopping a TigerAirways flight ... or airasia just isn't that hard OR expensive .... Singapore KL Penang for a tourist visa shouldn't be rough

[astral]

Singapore KL Penang for a tourist visa shouldn't be rough

That remains to be seen.

Penang seems to be taking a harder line now on people who have a string of Tourist visas in their passports.

[Estrada]

OK..

Have stated many times why I believe effective enforcement of this will not be possible and must be selective enforcement only but..

“[Foreigners from countries qualifying for visas on arrival] can come in and out of the country as many times as they like with a visa on arrival, but can stay for a maximum of 90 days in any six month period. If they stay 90 days then they must leave for 90 days before they are entitled to another visa on arrival. They can, however, go and request a tourist visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad and come back into the country,” he said.

So a person arriving in the country on day 85.. Does he get another 30 day stamp ?? Does he get a 5 day stamp..

Answer is yes!

If you observe the immigration officer when you hand your passport over for stamping, he/she calculates the days you are entitled to according to your Nationality before stamping the "permitted to stay until" date stamp on to the entry stamp. In this case, if you have five days remaining, they will stamp it for five days hence the day you enter.

Also if he/she makes a mistake and gives you a 30 day visa, the same rule holds true for all entry stamps, if they calculate your exit day wrong and it is in excess of your 30 day or 90 day entitlement, you will be in trouble when you exit. In this case, get yourself down to Suanplu, they have a special section that deals with wrong entry stamps, so don't think you have won the lottery if the stamp you with 90 days by mistake. Conversely, as has happened to me, if they stamp you with less than your entitlement, or the wrong year, get down there quick. Best to always check the dates on the passport when they put the stamp in.

Edited September 22, 2006 by Estrada

[astral]

So a person arriving in the country on day 85.. Does he get another 30 day stamp ?? Does he get a 5 day stamp..

That is the way it looks at present.

All entries are in the computer, so it is a simple matter to calculate what you are entitled to when you arrive.

If you are worried by this, then go and get a Tourist Visa.

[mjhamps]

I have a 1 year non immigrant 'o' visa where i have to leave the country every 90 days. Do the new visa rules affect me or is it only tourist visas?

[bendejo]

A lot of fuss for no reason.

Everyone can stay permanently.

Good to know.

The first time I applied for a Brasil visa I told then I'd be there 60 days, and they said "don't you work? how can you arrange a 60 day vacation?" I managed to talk my way through it (I had my own biz, xmas was coming and no biz that time of year, etc). So something like a one-year visa would raise an eyebrow anywhere, and require jumping through all sorts of hoops.

I'm glad to hear that getting the consulate-issued tourist visa is a plausible workaround.

BTW, I ws at the Penang consulate two weeks ago, before this visa stuff was announced, and even then they said only single-entry tourist visas.

[bendejo]

So you don't have to stay OUT of Thailand for 90 days after your "90 days in six months" are up then? There is a work around?

What are the "priveliged" countries cos my girlfriend is from Brazil and I cant find a list of countries this applies too. I have a visa and work permit but she doesn't and it would be an expensive visa run if she had to return to Brasil to apply for a visa!!

Any pointers?

For some odd reason Belo Horizonte has a lot of foreign consulates (go figure).

Not sure if they have one for Thailand, but it may be worth her while to check it out and make inquiries if so.

[jdinasia]

Let's clear it up a bit ......

http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=5246

No change in visa policy

PHUKET CITY: Tuesday night’s bloodless military coup in Bangkok will have no immediate effect on Thai Immigration policy as far as tourists are concerned, the Gazette has learned.

Pol Capt Krissarat Nusen of the Phuket Provincial Immigration Office this morning confirmed to the Gazette that Thai Immigration still intends to put into effect its new policy of limiting tourist-on-arrival stays to just 90 days over any six-month period, effective from October 1, 2006.

Meanwhile, an Immigration officer based in Ranong confirmed by telephone this morning that it is still impossible to make “visa runs” to the Burmese port town of Kaw Thaung, across the bay from Ranong.

The officer, who said he had no idea when the border would reopen, suggested visa runners whose permits-to-stay are set to expire consider using crossings along the borders with Malaysia, Cambodia or Laos instead.

He recommended first checking with the foreign affairs ministries of those countries before starting out, however.

“It is beyond our authority whether Immigration officials in neighboring countries choose to close border checkpoints,” he warned.

A few hundred foreign tourists remain stuck on the Myanmar side of the border since the checkpoint closure, he added.

Myint Than, operator at the Andaman Club resort and casino complex on Thahtay Kyun Island in Myanmar, also opposite Ranong, this afternoon confirmed that the border checkpoint there remains closed.

“We don’t know when it will re-open,” she told the Gazette.

[astral]

I have a 1 year non immigrant 'o' visa where i have to leave the country every 90 days. Do the new visa rules affect me or is it only tourist visas?

Non Imm O visas and Tourist Visas obtained overseas are not affected.

The new rules only affect the 30 day Tourist Visa exemption stamp holders.

[Maizefarmer]

Well said - you have a point there - I cant think of many countries (any - besides Thailand) who hand out a) such a variety of visas and such long term stay visas.

None of the other Asian countries do - and and no Thai can get a visa to stay in any EC country for that long (except students).

Tim

A lot of fuss for no reason.

Everyone can stay permanently.

Good to know.

The first time I applied for a Brasil visa I told then I'd be there 60 days, and they said "don't you work? how can you arrange a 60 day vacation?" I managed to talk my way through it (I had my own biz, xmas was coming and no biz that time of year, etc). So something like a one-year visa would raise an eyebrow anywhere, and require jumping through all sorts of hoops.

I'm glad to hear that getting the consulate-issued tourist visa is a plausible workaround.

BTW, I ws at the Penang consulate two weeks ago, before this visa stuff was announced, and even then they said only single-entry tourist visas.

[VBF]

Well said - you have a point there - I cant think of many countries (any - besides Thailand) who hand out a) such a variety of visas and such long term stay visas.

None of the other Asian countries do - and and no Thai can get a visa to stay in any EC country for that long (except students).

Tim

A lot of fuss for no reason.

Everyone can stay permanently.

Good to know.

The first time I applied for a Brasil visa I told then I'd be there 60 days, and they said "don't you work? how can you arrange a 60 day vacation?" I managed to talk my way through it (I had my own biz, xmas was coming and no biz that time of year, etc). So something like a one-year visa would raise an eyebrow anywhere, and require jumping through all sorts of hoops.

I'm glad to hear that getting the consulate-issued tourist visa is a plausible workaround.

BTW, I ws at the Penang consulate two weeks ago, before this visa stuff was announced, and even then they said only single-entry tourist visas.

FWIW a friend of mine who lives in Phuket did a run to Penang in February and was told single-entry tourist visa then. Apparently it then changed to double-entry and then back to single! It would appear that Penang has often applied stricter restrictions than other places long before the latest application of the rules. I guess we'll never know exactly why but, as has been stated here before, each Consulate is at liberty to do just that.

Edited September 22, 2006 by VBF

[poorfarang]

Its not even possible to get stuck in Burma at the ranong border. Just hop on a boat and come back, how are people STUCK?

[jdinasia]

Its not even possible to get stuck in Burma at the ranong border. Just hop on a boat and come back, how are people STUCK?

You need your passport stamped ..... and I doubt your average boat guy is gonna be facing down the Myanmar Military to give you a lift.

[zeusbheld]

FWIW a friend of mine who lives in Phuket did a run to Penang in February and was told single-entry tourist visa then. Apparently it then changed to double-entry and then back to single! It would appear that Penang has often applied stricter restrictions than other places long before the latest application of the rules. I guess we'll never know exactly why but, as has been stated here before, each Consulate is at liberty to do just that.

penang seem to go back and forth a bit dont they.

i got a triple entry there april 27, then there was a big tightening up, then back to normal, according to posts on tv.

'single only' may have come down from on high (speculating) but it may be unrelated to the new policy, and just higher-ups' frustrated with penang's generosity with multi-entry visas.

[krislarter]

This what i have come up with from all the information i have read on official sites

about thai visa changes on oct 1st 2006.If anyone can help with the red text it would be very helpful.

Waiver visa on arrival.

1.Entry 30 day waiver on arrival>proof of finances and outward flight.

2.Visa run.30 day on arrival>proof of finances and outward flight.

3.Visa run.30 day on arrival>proof of finances and outward flight.

4.Visa run.Purchase tourist visa for 60 days with possible extension for an extra 30 days.

All this is 6 months worth.

You can repeat step 4 as much as you like.

It is still unclear to me if after step 4 you can go back to step 1 as a 6 month period will have passed.

Tourist visa and repaet entries.

1.Arrival>60 day tourist visa stamped 1st entry>Possible extend for 30 days more.

2.If repeat entries tourist visa do visa run and get 2nd 60 day entry stamped>Possible extend for 30 days more.

(This will be 6 months.If you get a 3 or 4 entry visa you still have to use these in a 6 month period.

So if you get a 3 entry visa you will not need to get 30 day extensions but will have to do another

border run to get the 3rd entry stamped.

It is still unclear to me if after your second or third multiple entry stamp if you can then do 3 visa runs to use the three 30 day waiver stamps allowed.)

3.after tourist visa or multiple visa is used do another visa run to Purchase tourist visa for 60 days with possible extension for an extra 30 days.

All this is just so they have some control of the borders.You may have to show proof of funds at any border crossing in either ATM reciepts or cash.

This is from:

http://www.thaianxiety.com/news06c.asp

i felt it would clear up any visa confusion.(Especially the red sentence)

It is obvious that the present border runners will change into visa runners to other countries. What are the Department of Immigration's thoughts on this? From October 1st you can travel to the border and re-enter 3 times using the system of waiver of a visa. After that, if you get a single entry tourist visa from abroad you can stay here for 60 days, after that you can get a visa extension for 30 days, so it is already 6 months. Each time you leave the country you can come back with the visa extension again, so the tourist visa intervenes.

Question: So if we buy a tourist visa and extend it for 1 month can we leave buy another tourist visa and back, can we continue to do that?

Police Major Suppachai: Yes, you can do that. We don't want some people staying on visa extensions for ever. Some people stay for 10 years. The main thing at the moment is that now people that come to Thailand for 10 years are not getting screened. With the tourist visa the police now have a chance to check the people that are not on the blacklist. That is the main thing of this new law.

Question: When does the new rule effecting 90-day maximum wavered visas come into affect?

Police Major Suppachai: It means that the person who has been staying on visa extensions for years, you can depart. If your visa ends on the 30 September, you leave the country and come back on the 30th September, you still can use that 3 times. There was misinformation on the Internet, it doesn't count by stamps, it counts by days. This is very important, it counts by days not stamps. Yeah counts by days. Question: This is going to effect the airlines. How is Immigration going to handle this? How does an airline know when a passenger comes to their stamp quota? The airline is responsible for their passenger?

Police Major Suppachai: Your question is a very good question. OK we know that from the first of October it counts from 90 days and the problems will come back. Many people will be stopped at the border, right. So within 90 days we will try to do something. Because we are thinking about the electronic visas. We will use that kind of visa where the airline will have to submit the name of the person to our office before to issue the ticket, similar system to the US. It needs at least 1 year.

We don't want people using that kind of system (visa waiver) to stay in our country forever, we have to use the tourist visa to intervene in that system to screen them, to screen the people who are staying in our country.

Question: We have heard that there will be a 3 month visa you can buy here in Bangkok. Is this a new rule, if so when is it in place, is it already in existence, can you explain?

Police Major Suppachai: It is not a new visa, it is a new regulation for foreigners who don't have a visa, but visa extension, it means you can apply for a non immigration type B and O at the Immigration Bureau.

Question: In Thailand right?

Police Major Suppachai: Yes. But it means that you have to have at least 3 weeks, I mean visa. It means when you come in right, you have 4 weeks. In the first week you have to contact immigration, in Bangkok in Suan Phlu and submit the papers that you want to change your visa. You have to have a visa. Before we could change the category of visa from tourist to non-immigrant, but this time we can issue the visa as well.

[Maizefarmer]

Well said - you have a point there - I cant think of many countries (any - besides Thailand) who hand out a) such a variety of visas and such long term stay visas.

None of the other Asian countries do - and and no Thai can get a visa to stay in any EC country for that long (except students).

Tim

A lot of fuss for no reason.

Everyone can stay permanently.

Good to know.

Another valid point - I think there have been cases/examples where the Thai consulates/embassies have themselves confused the issue by issuing visas & stamps much on the whim of the embassy staff member depending on his or her mood or what they think is appropriate.

The forum carries a few postings in which applicants having been denied one or other type of visa or been told one or other thing at one embassy, have then gone onto another embassy only to be given a visa or told something very different to what they understood to be the case from the first embassy.

But this all said, if you are determined to stay here for the long run, getting a work permitt is actually not hard to do off your own back with min capital investment - so long (if I am understanding what I have been told in PM's from various persons) you can stuppm up the funds for setting up a company (of which, like visas again, there are half a dozen different legal types - some incurring significant invetsment to formalise, and others requiring something in the region of a few hundred $'s).

Stick out a work permitt for long enough - now around 3 or 4 years (used to be longer) and - its no garuntee, but along with been able to satisfy a number of other requirements (Thai language skills, no criminal record, communicable diesese and a few other non-finance related points) you are well on your way to getting PR (permanent residency). I got mine donkys years ago (early 90's) and it was then a circus act the amount of hoops one had to jump through (to include bizarrely enough photographs of the layout of the inside of my house and the clothing in the cupboard - and photos of the bathroom!!), but Camerata (check spelling), who got his PR more recently describes it as a procedure that is a) now a lot quicker and a lot smoother - and there are even more changes on the way apparenly - to make the procedure even more striaghtforward and quicker (it took me from start to finish 19 months!).

However - if you are going to pursue PR on the basis of having held a work permitt for what ever the period of time is - make absolutely sure your financial obligations to the Thai tax man are 100% up to date and in order. I think I had 2 months missing (and there were some other minor tax points that were missing - I couldn't show a end of year return for one year) - the complication that added was something I won't forget. How valiud it still is I dont know.

PS - Permanent residancy is as far as I know and can remember a quota based procedure - there are set numbers for the amounts of foreign nationals from different countries that can apply each year, and even if you satify all the requirements, if you are not within the quota limit you will not be successful. Does that mean you are defffered to the next year or not - I don't know, I have sneeky feeling not, meaning you have to reapply, but could be wrong. Does anyother PR know what the current situation is as far as quota/reapplication goes.

Tim

The first time I applied for a Brasil visa I told then I'd be there 60 days, and they said "don't you work? how can you arrange a 60 day vacation?" I managed to talk my way through it (I had my own biz, xmas was coming and no biz that time of year, etc). So something like a one-year visa would raise an eyebrow anywhere, and require jumping through all sorts of hoops.

I'm glad to hear that getting the consulate-issued tourist visa is a plausible workaround.

BTW, I ws at the Penang consulate two weeks ago, before this visa stuff was announced, and even then they said only single-entry tourist visas.

FWIW a friend of mine who lives in Phuket did a run to Penang in February and was told single-entry tourist visa then. Apparently it then changed to double-entry and then back to single! It would appear that Penang has often applied stricter restrictions than other places long before the latest application of the rules. I guess we'll never know exactly why but, as has been stated here before, each Consulate is at liberty to do just that.

[Captain_Bob]

I am still not clear on a couple things. Ok in the meeting Immigration Police Major Suppachai Paladech answered key questions. It's all quite clear that after Oct-1 any tourist or otherwise farang without an existing VISA will be allowed to do border runs totalling 90 days maximum. Then they have to get a visa, and this can be done by visiting a Thai embassy in another country (e.g. Vientiane). Most would be seeking a tourist visa, as opposed to a non-Immigrant visa. The tourist visa would be valid for two months and then could be extended another month at an Immigration office in Thailand. So far so good.

But then he goes on to say that "you can [now] apply for a non immigration type B and O at the Immigration Bureau" [in Bangkok]. Hey great! but true or not?

Then here's the confusing part:

"...you have to have at least 3 weeks, I mean visa. It means when you come in right, you have 4 weeks. In the first week you have to contact immigration, in Bangkok in Suan Phlu and submit the papers that you want to change your visa. You have to have a visa. Before we could change the category of visa from tourist to non-immigrant, but this time we can issue the visa as well."

So in the same breath he says to apply for the Non-Imm visa in Bangkok you can do so with just an entry stamp ("4 weeks") but then says "You have to have a visa".

***My big questions, then, would be "Do I have to leave Thailand at all? Do I need to get a tourist visa before I can apply for a Non-Imm-B in Bangkok? Can I actually get a tourist visa in Bangkok? What exactly do I need first before I can go for the Non-Imm-B? I've been here 2.5 years and intend to stay indefinitely and eventually obtain an annual work visa.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

So you don't have to stay OUT of Thailand for 90 days after your "90 days in six months" are up then? There is a work around?

What are the "priveliged" countries cos my girlfriend is from Brazil and I cant find a list of countries this applies too. I have a visa and work permit but she doesn't and it would be an expensive visa run if she had to return to Brasil to apply for a visa!!

Any pointers?

For some odd reason Belo Horizonte has a lot of foreign consulates (go figure).

Not sure if they have one for Thailand, but it may be worth her while to check it out and make inquiries if so.

Brazil citizens are permitted a touristic stay of up to 90 days without a visa.

[wpcoe]

But then he goes on to say that "you can [now] apply for a non immigration type B and O at the Immigration Bureau" [in Bangkok]. Hey great! but true or not?

Then here's the confusing part:

"...you have to have at least 3 weeks, I mean visa. It means when you come in right, you have 4 weeks. In the first week you have to contact immigration, in Bangkok in Suan Phlu and submit the papers that you want to change your visa. You have to have a visa. Before we could change the category of visa from tourist to non-immigrant, but this time we can issue the visa as well."

This is slightly different than what Police Major Suppachai said, since he was referring to people "who don't have a visa, but visa extension". But FWIW, on Thursday (Sept 21) I converted a 30-day passport stamp (NOT a visa) which I received on Sept 3 to a Non-Immigrant O visa at Pattaya Immigrations. (I guess technically speaking I did not "convert" ... I "applied for" a Non-Immigrant O visa and was issued one.) I did not do it with 21 days remaining.

You can convert to a B or O visa within Thailand, but of course you must qualify for, and prove via documentation, that category of visa. The reason for issuance of my Non-Immigrant O visa was for retirement.

[kurtgruen]

New visa rules confirmed

PHUKET: -- New rules limiting stays in Thailand on “visas on arrival” to 90 days over any six month period were confirmed at a September 15 meeting of Immigration Department Chiefs in Bangkok. The new policy will go into effect on October 1.

Well, I wouldn't loose any sleep over it. Thaskin is gone and hopefully the new government will be smarter than the old one. Us farangs spend a lot of money in this country and most of us, except for a few idiots, live peacefully and polite within Thai society. There are a lot of farang under the age of 50, who have money to spend, but can't get a retirement visa or other type "O" visas. Maybe the new government will be smart enough to provide an opening for such people, if they have enough money coming in to look after themselves.

I've seen too many dead beat farangs living of their Thai spouses and Thai families already in this country and I am in agreement with tightening things up a bit.

I would say, that a smart move for the new government would be to

1. Lower the money in the bank/income requirement to $400.000 (about $10,000 US)

2. Remove the age requirement or marriage requirement to take advantage of it.

The above would accompish the following:

a, It will attract more foreigners to come here for the long term and spend their money in Thailand

b, $400000 Baht is enough money to cover emergency medical expenses and such, so the state will not be stuck with a bunch of dead beat farangs

c, It will put money into the Thai governments pocket (for yearly visa fees), instead of other countries border stations pockets.

d, It will create more stability and peace...foreigners will be more willing to invest in this beautiful country, if they don't have to deal with the added insecurity of monthly border crossings.

I have faith that this new government will do things better than the old one.

Regardless of what happens...how often have you seen rules come and go without being inforced? So why loose sleep over it until it actually happens?

I agree that there will be a mass exodus of foreigners if things get too complicated for them here, which would be a shame, because we want to live here and the money we spend here is good for the Thai economy. Then there is the added benefit of exchanging cultural information, technical knowledge, etc.

In my own situation for example, my Thai wife went from utter poverty and depression to being a successful business woman, who is well liked and respected by foreigners and Thai People alike. She now creates her own income, which helps support her Thai family. I have my income from my country of origin, which I spend generously in the country I love, Thailand.

I love this country and will do whatever it takes to stay here. Yet, if the government would make it too difficult to remain here, I wouldn't hesitate to move to another tropical country, where I feel welcomed and would spend my money there instead of here.

Lets give this new government a chance to do things better.

Kurt

[Pakboong]

It seems to me that the simple fact that foreigners can not live/work in Thailand on a tourist visa whether the 30 day kind or the 80 day kind with all its add-ons and whatever. Invidual immigration personnel and other officials who will be considering your particular request will likely have the latitude to make judgements using that criteria regardless of all other considerations and will be well within their authority do deny anyone who appears to be violate the spirit of trying to live/work in thailand as a tourist.

[astral]

Well said - you have a point there - I cant think of many countries (any - besides Thailand) who hand out a) such a variety of visas and such long term stay visas.

None of the other Asian countries do - and and no Thai can get a visa to stay in any EC country for that long (except students).

Tim

Both Malaysia and Indonesia have long stay visas for retirees and wealth people.

Another place that comes to mind is Dubai, and that is still Asia.

It is not an uncommon idea.

They want our money.

[drummer]

Good news! converting to a 'B' or an 'O' in BKK is very helpful - it can be a real pain to go down to Penang for days. A real help for my own situation. I am glad some things are becoming easier... I know that I have been critical of the new changes before - but if Thailand really does make it easier to be on a proper visa then it makes a lot of sense for everyone concerned.

Just to clear up - if I get the paperwork for a 'B' I can get it done in BKK. Then I have a new visa for 90 days, right? and I don't have to go out again for 3 moths? Can I also apply for a multiple entry in BKK after that (with WP in hand?) or do I have to go all the way to Penang or another embassy/consulate for that?

[egeefay]

Foreigners from countries qualifying for visas on arrival can come in and out of the country as many times as they like with a visa on arrival, but can stay for a maximum of 90 days in any six month period.

MUSIC TO MY EARS :-D

It looks like RIGHT NOW the only folks who can get a 90 day visa on arrival are from

1. BRAZIL

2. CHILE

3. KOREA (Rep. of)

4. PERU

Everyone else gets only 30 or 15 day visa

So on October 1, do all the other countries get the 90 day visa on arrival??

Edited September 23, 2006 by egeefay

[sbk]

Foreigners from countries qualifying for visas on arrival can come in and out of the country as many times as they like with a visa on arrival, but can stay for a maximum of 90 days in any six month period.

MUSIC TO MY EARS :-D

It looks like RIGHT NOW the only folks who can get a 90 day visa on arrival are from

1. BRAZIL

2. CHILE

3. KOREA (Rep. of)

4. PERU

Everyone else gets only 30 or 15 day visa

So on October 1, do all the other countries get the 90 day visa on arrival??

Those with 30 day arrival stamps will be allowed a total of 90 days in the country in one 6 month period. Not 90 days on arrival.

**edited by sbk***thanks jdinasia -- hadn't had my coffee yet

[PuaSai]

On what should be a less complicated question.

I am a US citizen going to Thailand in November for a 20 day vacation.

I have never needed a visa for short vacations in the past, including last year, do I need tourist visa now?

Thank you,

John R.

No. I think...

You just get the one at the airport as usual... I am leaving Iraq for Thailand next weekend, same same.. :-) I can't wait to get back "home".

Edited September 24, 2006 by PuaSai

[keekwai]

If I hear one more person refer to the free 30 day visa waiver as a "Visa On Arrival (V.O.A) I'm going to scream. The VOA is only for citizens of 15 or so countries who don't have access to a Thai Consulate or Embassy in thier home country. They apply for a visa when they "arrive" .. and it costs.

It may sound pedantic .. but seeing as how confused people are already .. getting the terminology incorrect does'nt help.

[wanton]

Loas Visa Run......

Have been staying in chiang mai fo 2 years on 30 day visa's from mae sai. Now just done a visa run to laos vientiane, managed to get a 60 day tourist ok but my passport was stamped with

" may not recieve a visa next time" asked the the embassy what it mean't , they said if i come back in 60 days they won't issue a new visa. But i could get just a 30 day entry visa.

So looks like it's going to be 3 months in 3 months out wherever you go ....

Thinking about cambodia now and forgeting greedy thailand... any suggestion to wheres good?

[Jersey_UK]

Getting a headacjhe reading all this stuff!

I am glad (for many reasons) that my days of sitting on my backside in Thailand for 6 months at a time are over.

Whilst I have no problem with the Thai's doing what they want in their own country, I suspect that the "Powers that be" don't quite understand that their ARE plenty of Farang who are not "rich" (by western terms), but who can afford to retire in Thailand but are well below the "traditional" retirement ages (or those of who only want to take an extended holiday for a couple of years) and who choose the place cos it is a CHEAP 3rd world country, with a few western conveniances thrown in, everything else (freindly people ete etc) is largely secondary.

This is not meant to be rude about Thailand, just that if the Thais want the money that these people have available to spend then they must realise that you have to let them stay more than half a year and make the VISA process easy to understand.

I appreciate the "concerns" about folk working on Tourist Visa's, but I do not see how this is addressed by the new rules - it was already illegal and just required enforcement. The same with "dodgy geezers".

I would favour a 1 year Tourist / Non working residents visa - with low / minimal requirements (not for free, but nothing exorbitant!), I don't see that Thailand has a great problem with "down and out" Farang, the place already deals with most Farang with no money quite adequately by just being a sh#tty place to live for the average westerner who is broke. Anyone else can just get swept up and deported when caught with no Visa (by then the usually have long since stopped getting visas).

The Thais should just view the VISA stuff as a Business Transaction, not personal - work out the pros and cons for them, but bear in mind the effects they have on their marketplace.

Edited September 24, 2006 by Jersey_UK

[John K]

Question:

The new government has removed the constitution and any organic laws after 1997. Does this effect this law in anyway?