Fee for visa on arrival to double from 1,000 baht to 2,000 baht

[OMGImInPattaya]

You would imagine that a country in the early stages of tourism decline and economic demise would scrap visa fees and visa tedium. Clearly that's not the case in LoS. It would seem that a hidden agenda is playing out. Every new procedure or announcement from immigration seems to add another layer of difficulties or costs to staying here. Is the real agenda to drive out everyone other than short stay tourists?

What does an increase in VISA ON ARRIVAL fees have to do with any supposed "difficulties or costs" of staying here long term? I would say Thailand is one of the most easy countries in the world to stay long term if one is retired or meets some basic requirements if not...try washing up in most countries with a a pension of a couple thousand dollars and attempt to live there.

Who mentioned long term ... Not me. This thread is about tourist (visa on arrival) visas. Let me explain in another way ......

Normally a country wishing (hoping) to encourage tourism scraps or reduces visa procedures and fees. Clearly, the powers that prevail (at the moment) in Thailand do not subscribe to that train of thought.

Maybe try re-reading your own post...something about driving out everyone except short stay tourists. ?

[happysanook]

My take on this is that they want people to apply for visas in their own country to enable proper checks to be done. Increasing the price may encourage that.

Or it may encourage people to look at alternative destinations which don't overcharge and scrutinise you.

So fine...who cares. If they don't want some scrutiny Thailand doesn't need them mucking about and if a $50 visa fee on a 2000-3000 vacation is a deciding factor disuades them from coming, well, Thailand doesn't need them either.

And my reading is the visa fees at embassis and consulates remains the same...and it's being raised for arrival visas to cut down on the horrendous lines and congestion at the airport.

With that reasoning, why not just make it 10k baht. Or 20k. That's not much compared to what one usually spends on a holiday.

[jspill]

You would imagine that a country in the early stages of tourism decline and economic demise would scrap visa fees and visa tedium. Clearly that's not the case in LoS. It would seem that a hidden agenda is playing out. Every new procedure or announcement from immigration seems to add another layer of difficulties or costs to staying here. Is the real agenda to drive out everyone other than short stay tourists?

What does an increase in VISA ON ARRIVAL fees have to do with any supposed "difficulties or costs" of staying here long term? I would say Thailand is one of the most easy countries in the world to stay long term if one is retired or meets some basic requirements if not...try washing up in most countries with a a pension of a couple thousand dollars and attempt to live there.

Ahem... maybe Bill was right about every new procedure or proposal adding a layer of costs...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/888637-maintenance-fee-for-all-foreign-tourists-proposed-by-tourism-governor/

[Sree777]

Increasing visa fees by 100% is criminal looting. In the name of security? Can Thai govt control security by increasing visa fees? Is the country very secure internally and drugs and killings taking place is sponsored by support from corrupt govt officials including police.why should we go to Thailand? Shopping is not that cheap compared to before.then their sex business.foreigners should stop visiting Thailand cos that will stop their greedy for money by this type of loot.what are they selling to tourists?their sex bars? Hell with Thai sex tourism and visa fee looting

[kannot]

a  much  bigger threat are the  officers themselves who will let you in no questions asked for a fee under the table but obviously we cant do anything about that

[kannot]

On 1/21/2016 at 6:40 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

VOA affects such a small proportion of tourists so it will minimal effect on general tourist numbers.

not  according to  immigration who are unable to deal with it and all the "delays" its causing

[IMA_FARANG]

As has been poinyed out before on this subject there is a big difference between a visa exempt arrival available to certain nationalities and a visa on arrival.

A visa exempt arrival is what many European and U.K. arrivals are familiar with.

It is free, and allows a free 30 day stay to those who qualify for it.

A visa on arrival is different and it is often what a indian national gets on arrival.

if as a European, U.K. or U.S. tourist if you had your eyes open to see while you were on the walkways to immigration, you probably wnt past a groip of indians queued up before you got to immigration where there was a sign that said "Visa on Arrival" at the airport.

Many people don't even notice it, but that is where those that need to pay for their visa on arrival.

 

[ubonjoe]

There is a newer topic about the VOA fees that stated the fee was raised to 2000 baht on September 27th.

Then new fee is shown on this VOA application form. http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/form_voa.pdf

No need for further discussion. Topic