Is The Writing Really On The Wall?

[thaigene2]

When they doubled the marriage visa requirements overnight a few years ago I decided that it could happen again and leave me out in the cold. I decided that I had to cover my own families ass and do something. It took me 10 months, away from my wife, to get her permanent resident visa for Canada. She will get her Canadian Citizenship next summer and then we are free to move back to Thailand knowing that we can depart as a family if the need arises.

Probably the smartest thing to do. We'll probably do the same. Our kids will come back 15 years from now with their Thai passports and blow away the local competition. Too bad they don't want us to stay here..but TIT.

[opothai]

we know thailand as being an elitism type nation and a nationalistic type nation.

all they are doing is taking it one step forward, and i for one think for the good of the average thai this is nothing but bad news.

basically if you are a thai on the bottom rungs of the ladder that is where you will stay,

as for falangs if you are not above halve way on the ladder of life then your welcome is a short one.

long term this is not good for thailand as imho, they do not have that much to offer as to think they are one of the most desirable countries to live or invest in.

arrogance may come to mind.

[Casanundra]

I happened to mention all of these changes to my influential Thai boss the other day and she was straight on the phone giving them what for and citing all sorts of laws at them (she has a Doctorate in law) and part of her explanation was how under the new rules where companies likely to continue to employ a foreigner if they had to pay a minimum of 40k per month. I am not sure she will make a difference but she is well known for writing newspaper articles to all of the national newspapers and I believe she is about to do it on our behalf saying what nonsense this all is, especially for those of us who are married to a Thai.

The other thing that happened was I explained it in detail to the wife and finally after the light bulb went on in her head, she too took a trip down to immigration (no Wok in her hand though) to have a dig at some immigration officer and to see what can be done using the logic of a Thai working with another Thai to try and find a solution to the silly problem that the they have created for themselves.

In the mean time, I have just pulled up a big comfy chair along with a big box of popcorn and I am watching the movie as it develops and won't worry about it now until next year when its time for renewel again and by then who knows the rules may have changed position yet AGAIN.

Edited October 11, 2006 by Casanundra

[thaigene2]

Your Hi-So Thai boss with the Law PhD is one of the best advocates we could have (no pun intended). Let's hope she has an impact. On the other hand I know, from experience, my wife with Wok-in-hand could also have quite an impact - and leave quite an 'impression' too!

[lukamar]

It really is time that Thailand looked at what the rest of the countries are doing for people families moving back and retirees because they are at the bottom of a lot of countries. In Malaysia you can retire at any age and they give you a renewable 5 year as long as you have about 1.3 million Bt in any account even a foreign one as long as there is a single branch in Malaysia and they will waive all taxes on a new car to get you started . In Mexico they require 1500USD a month or equivalent in local currencies but they also will take into account bank deposits in foreign countries and then for $200 a year they will give you complete medical, dental and eye care as a perk for retiring there. My wife found a nice Mexican 4 bed 3 bath with pool right on the beach near Cancun for under 4 million Bt and Spanish is not nearly as hard for me to get along in as Thai.

Maybe Thailand will get on the train sometime instead of standing on the station platform watching it leave and just waving goodbye to a group of people who could offer a lot to the country if they were allowed to do anything, like volunteer, without a lot of problems and paperwork. I'd love to teach little kids, once or twice a week, how to use a computer or spend some time helping kids with English language learning disabilities but I'll be dambed if I'll bother to do it when i have to go through all the crap to get a work permit to help for free.

[Steph1012]

You have to remember that the forsight of the avearge Thai is about 1 minute (obviously this is much less when they are driving) and they will not forsee any problems with any of their schemes until it is far too late.

They will not feel any effects from this for years to come and by then, it will be too late to alter course and the smug posters like Thaihome and Thaible will see their lofty status eroded even more (if indeed they are Thai).

They are rich, but not as rich as the average bar girl once she has her man!!! and it hurts them beleive me, if they have to sell cars and houses to people that they feel should be planting rice.... it hurts. Protectionism never never works and if you look to Zimbabwe where they kicked out the foreigners physically, stole their houses, farms and cattle, you will note they totally ruined the country.

They are not only getting rid of some low life which is obviously a good thing and couldn't be allowed to continue, but have thrown the baby out with the bathwater. THROWN, not throwing as they are also driving off future potential retirees and investors, people more timid than the average expat and with no stomach for a lifetime of hassle from inadequate little nationalists. The only thing that any foreigners are talking about at the moment is that Thailand is not the place to invest here. This only affects Thailand and Thais.

Most people I know keep their money out of Thailand so them ruining or slowing up the econmoy affects none of us as it drives the Baht down and we all sit and watch and get richer!!

This will take some turning around, as when they realise and come offering deals and schemes for us to stay here, we will either be long gone, or not interesed (Thailand Elite Card anybody? http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=18670. Falang foresight and hindsight is much longer than Thai.

This week's Phuket Gazette says only 303 cards have been sole for 1 million baht each.

It also says that the Thailand Privilege Card Co. owes CNN 140 billion baht for an advertising campaign.

So, I make it they have a negative cash flow of (140,000,000,000 minus 303,000,000=?) ...

Unfortunately Lukemar, Thailand is always destined to be on the platform and never on the train, economy wise. They have shot themselves in more feet than a centipede has over the years.

Edited October 11, 2006 by Steph1012

[llothar]

The only number I doubt is the your so called underestimated 500,000 long term tourist. Some how I have trouble visualzing that one. And maybe your calculation of this causing a drop in baht. What is that formula?

On second thought, don't bother, it is probably better for you to go thinking Thailand needs you...

The german embassy is assuming that 40000 people are staying here and will be effect by the new rules. Everybody i know here in CNX and Mae Hong Son is affect by it, because none of them make the required money with there businesses or don't have 7000 Euro savings (not everybody is a rich upper class stock exchange playing guy).

Maybe more important then the people that are leaving now is that new people - replacing the previous ones - are not coming any more in that numbers. This will hurt the real-estate bubble even more.

Yes i believe a that the new laws will have an influence to economy, a minimal one but maybe still visible.

And have a look at the Nation or Bangkok Post, you see articles that tell people in Chiang Mai are worried because a few hundert farangs couldn't go by train to the north because of the flodding. Farang money is so low here that even this scares the people. And then think about the essan, where whole villages profit from a few farangs (and they aren't happy with the Coup already).

Then Thailand is already getting competition from Vietnam and Malaysia. Now lets assume that people and not going back to here home countries but moving there, writing lots of books about living there, telling in the internet how beautiful this country is, how easy it is to get a visa, how friendly the people, how exciting the travel - this will hurt. In times where everybody can be heard on the internet mouth-to-word marketing is everything.

So they are shooting themselves in the foot.

[llothar]

This week's Phuket Gazette says only 303 cards have been sole for 1 million baht each.

It also says that the Thailand Privilege Card Co. owes CNN 140 billion baht for an advertising campaign.

So, I make it they have a negative cash flow of (140,000,000,000 minus 303,000,000=?) ...

Well i never heared that they really paided for it.

[thaigene2]

Most people I know keep their money out of Thailand so them ruining or slowing up the econmoy affects none of us as it drives the Baht down and we all sit and watch and get richer!!

I just sent out $ 100,000 today. It shall stay outside of Thailand until:

1. The visa issue is resolved AND

2. The issue of freehold ownership and access to loans for foreigners resident in Thailand and married to Thais is settled (in our favor obviously, or the money shall stay out of Thailand for evermore)

TG2

[Steph1012]

This week's Phuket Gazette says only 303 cards have been sole for 1 million baht each.

It also says that the Thailand Privilege Card Co. owes CNN 140 billion baht for an advertising campaign.

So, I make it they have a negative cash flow of (140,000,000,000 minus 303,000,000=?) ...

Well i never heared that they really paided for it.

Apparantly some did. The old post I found (raining again!) said 606 had been issued but 300 odd were given away.

There was also talk of 300 million in corruption as well. so if they sold 300 for 1,000,000 each sombody nicked the lot!!! Nice one