Time Up For Some 30 Day Visa Runners

[Dupont]

Of late, in Thailand, there seems to have been an increase in the number of single foreign men who, previously, stuck to Pattaya etc spreading out into provincial cities.

That cannot be expected to be a welcome phenomenon to those Thais who liked their provincial city as it was, and care and have 'clout' to keep it so.

It will be interesting to see what reactive happenings occur in the future, either from national politicians reacting to the concerns of those who bring pressure to bear, or from provincial authorities checking up on exactly who is residing, properly or improperly, on their patches.

Very well posted. I agree entirely with your views.

I am ususally tongue in cheek, ranting or sarcastic in my posts but I do recognise good points.

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

There are many quite different groupings amongst the Thai people. Consequently, when we come across one group about whom we could say "They want XX, and not YY", it is equally possible to find another group about whom we could say "They want YY, and not XX".

So, it is misleading to describe any one attitude to foreigners that we have come across as the definitive attitude of Thais to foreigners.

There will be some Thais who regret this ending of unlimited back-to-back 'permission-to-stay-for-30-days'.

At the other end of the spectrum, there will be some who applaud its ending.

And, in between, there will be a lot who are not greatly concerned, one way or the other.

Over the coming years, though, I would expect to see a worldwide growing resistance to approving of one's government letting in lots of foreigners. There seems to be a growing feeling that there is more to fear from admitting foreigners than there is to hope to benefit from it.

Of late, in Thailand, there seems to have been an increase in the number of single foreign men who, previously, stuck to Pattaya etc spreading out into provincial cities.

That cannot be expected to be a welcome phenomenon to those Thais who liked their provincial city as it was, and care and have 'clout' to keep it so.

It will be interesting to see what reactive happenings occur in the future, either from national politicians reacting to the concerns of those who bring pressure to bear, or from provincial authorities checking up on exactly who is residing, properly or improperly, on their patches.

yes but nearly 100% of the said foreigners have no onward rights to stay here. Very little permanent residency or citizenship. If the government ever decides to clear out the visitors then absolutely no problem to restore their racial purity in homeland. All they have to do is stop issuing visa's and or raise the requirements a lot higher. In the meantime they are enjoying our money and those provincial authorities are probably not complaining about the extra tax revenues and economic boost they are getting from visitors choosing their locality over Pattaya etc.

[friend2]

I think the provincial politicians would be extremely happy, if more foreigners came to live there.

They are very well aware, of the success story of phuket etc.

Like a local politicians wet dream.

Contrary to popular belief, there is almost not an ounce of racism in Thai people.

They don't hate foreigners, just love our money.

Infact they love it so much, they don't care if you die in the process of extracting it.

Poor people here, get the same "racist treatment" as immigrants

in developed countries.

They don't judge you by your skin, but by your wallet.

I even think creatures from another planet would be welcome here, as long as they

have the cash.

They only call them "con plaek", charge e'm, and go on with their business as usual.

Edited January 7, 2007 by friend2

[LivinLOS]

Most of us that the Thais consider rich, are at best only a small step above being poor back home. We wear cheap flip flops, shirts and shorts as its bloody hot here and thats what Thailand specialise in... Cheap clothing!

The people with the real money never have and never will bother Thailand in large numbers.

I think thats really changing..

For example around Bang Tao and Surin (on Phuket not up north), a buddy of mine just sold his villa.. 120 million baht.. Theres many villas in the 2.5mil USD to 5 mil USD range..

Another buddy (consortium) has opened a members only wine bar.. Memberships start at 100k baht.. You cannot enter without being a member or accompanied by one.

Someone else was discussing of he should have his 3 mil USD motor yacht captained and crewed up here from its current location.

Look at the guest list of the Amanpuri.. Royals and media darhlings..

I dont know what your definition is 'real money' is but that fits mine.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

IMHO after all is said and done, those who really want to stay will find a way to do it even if it means a greater effort.

Others will opt for a simpler way to stay in what to me are less desirable countries to live.

Absolutetly

[redbicycle]

Stamps or days? Wait and see Lopburi, wait and see......

I went to maesai yesterday....... no one stop me from coming in, they told me they willstop those who work here ONLY.

[1Lucky]

I personally am somewhat confused by the motivations for the changes in the visa rules.

1. Yes some people 'abused' the visa exemption option to effectively reside and sometimes work in thailand. But that has been obvious for years and tolerated - it hasn't suddenly happened so why the change now? If the working side is the problem why not just be a bit more stringent in terms of enforcing the work permit regulations with companies, etc?

2. If it is to reduce the sleeze element in thailand - it seems a bit of a hamfisted way to try and do it. Why not just shut down the girly-bars instead?? And would this really stop the rich german businessmen types, etc. from visiting the sex district areas.

3. If it is to try and move the thai tourist industry upmarket it seems a strange time to try and do this. With military coups being staged and bombs going off in bangkok one would think it would be a time to welcome any tourists that will come rather than try to concentrate on those sections of the tourist industry most likely to be put off by the coups and bombs.

4. There are people who made regular 'visa' runs to ensure their stay in thailand was legal using the 30 day visa exemption method who were not working but were wealthy and were contributing plenty to the Thai economy by their spending. Why effectively remove these people from the country - in whose interests is that?

5. I know visa regulations in some countries are much more stringent (eg uk, usa) but just because they have terrible visa restrictions (with which I disagree) is not a good reason for thailand to adopt badly thought through visa restrictions.

6. If one really can simply get a multiple entry tourist visa from your own country, use that to stay for 9 months, then return to your home country immediately get another and return with it for another 9 months, ad infinitum as apparently the rules permit - what is the point of the rule change. If it is simply to raise more money by getting more people to buy tourists visas why not simply make a small charge for the visa free access but otherwise leave the rules as they were.

i don't understand what am I missing??

Lucky

[lopburi3]

I understand everyone discounts the stated reason as conspiracy theories are always more fun but perhaps it really is to make people enter using proper visa where background checks can be made every so often if they intend to stay her long term without a non immigrant visa. That all teachers now have to have background checks might lend credence to the desire to know who is living here long term.

[keenok]

I understand everyone discounts the stated reason as conspiracy theories are always more fun but perhaps it really is to make people enter using proper visa where background checks can be made every so often if they intend to stay her long term without a non immigrant visa. That all teachers now have to have background checks might lend credence to the desire to know who is living here long term.

This has to be the reason the authorities are doing this.everybody keeps banging on about why they would shoot the golden goose,and i dont think they want to. neither do they want peadophiles teaching kids or the russian mafia running businesses to launder money. by requiring real visas they have the opportunity to check people out,and hopefully get rid of them.of course some dodgy people will probably slip through ,but no system is foolproof.we are living in a shrinking world and the ease of moving around the world and the numbers of people doing so are now such that things have obviously got to be tightened up.i think the vast majority of people who were not breaking any laws will manage to work something out.

[1Lucky]

I understand everyone discounts the stated reason as conspiracy theories are always more fun but perhaps it really is to make people enter using proper visa where background checks can be made every so often if they intend to stay her long term without a non immigrant visa. That all teachers now have to have background checks might lend credence to the desire to know who is living here long term.

This has to be the reason the authorities are doing this.everybody keeps banging on about why they would shoot the golden goose,and i dont think they want to. neither do they want peadophiles teaching kids or the russian mafia running businesses to launder money. by requiring real visas they have the opportunity to check people out,and hopefully get rid of them.of course some dodgy people will probably slip through ,but no system is foolproof.we are living in a shrinking world and the ease of moving around the world and the numbers of people doing so are now such that things have obviously got to be tightened up.i think the vast majority of people who were not breaking any laws will manage to work something out.

Lopburi - could you let us know what background checks are actually carried out when one applies for a thai tourist visa? And can these background checks only be done in your home country (ie is that the reason multiple entry tourist visas, etc. are becoming more difficult to get around asia?)? You need to get a tourist visa to go to Cambodia and Vietnam for instance but that didn't stop Garry Glitter from going there - I'm not clear exactly what protection requiring them gives?

Lucky

[Dupont]

Bit off topic, but there was a thread here before along the lines of Mass Exodus, has it started?

I was viewing and posting on it but its gone this evening, as has the post from my list of posts.

Didn't look contentious enough to be removed!

[jumbo2]

Stamps or days? Wait and see Lopburi, wait and see......

I hear ya Lopburi - however for someone (not me by the way) who has stayed here for years by doing 30 day visa runs, there clearly will be no difference between the number of stamps and the number of days.

Of course, there are going to be some great arguments between imm and business men who (say) come here 6 or 7 times within a 6 month period, each visit being for only a week.......

I think counting the days is gonna be a lot harder than imm imagined. Then again, TiT.

Folks, I currently have 4 marker pen entries in my passport. I was not refused entry on the fourth. The Immigration officer glanced quickly at my other entry stamps and issued a new one without comment.

From this I conclude that it is "number of days", as was clearly stated by some official about 2 1/2 months ago.

Why speculate when there is proof by existence ??

The Dweeb

I just arrived back to Hong Kong from Bangkok,this was my 3rd trip in and out over the last 5 weeks or so 1st trip 3 days 2nd 20 days 3rd 3 days.Each entry was yellow markered and on leaving tonight the immigration officer wrote underneath the exit stamp 3 days.Would it be to early to think the the officals ARE counting the days as is stated in the new rules??? As a frequent weekend visitor whose wife and kids are living thailand I am worried about the stamp counting procedure that has been talked about.The officals on arrival on friday and leaving this evening had a good long look at the stamps.Anyone any furthers thoughts on the weekend travellers potentional problems with these new rules?

Jumbo

[old wanderer]

I just arrived back to Hong Kong from Bangkok,this was my 3rd trip in and out over the last 5 weeks or so 1st trip 3 days 2nd 20 days 3rd 3 days.Each entry was yellow markered and on leaving tonight the immigration officer wrote underneath the exit stamp 3 days.Would it be to early to think the the officals ARE counting the days as is stated in the new rules??? As a frequent weekend visitor whose wife and kids are living thailand I am worried about the stamp counting procedure that has been talked about.The officals on arrival on friday and leaving this evening had a good long look at the stamps.Anyone any furthers thoughts on the weekend travellers potentional problems with these new rules?

Jumbo

Sure, as I am looking at the same thing working in Singapore and wife in Thailand.

Easy answer, get a Non-im O multi-entry visa....should be no problem for you.

You have all the requirements:

Married to Thai

Marriage Cert

Her ID

You Passport and about $125 US currency.

no ploblem..me thinks

[sriracha john]

Stamps or days? Wait and see Lopburi, wait and see......

I went to maesai yesterday....... no one stop me from coming in, they told me they willstop those who work here ONLY.

I'm wondering how that determination will be made? By just asking the person?

[sriracha john]

Stamps or days? Wait and see Lopburi, wait and see......

I hear ya Lopburi - however for someone (not me by the way) who has stayed here for years by doing 30 day visa runs, there clearly will be no difference between the number of stamps and the number of days.

Of course, there are going to be some great arguments between imm and business men who (say) come here 6 or 7 times within a 6 month period, each visit being for only a week.......

I think counting the days is gonna be a lot harder than imm imagined. Then again, TiT.

Folks, I currently have 4 marker pen entries in my passport. I was not refused entry on the fourth. The Immigration officer glanced quickly at my other entry stamps and issued a new one without comment.

From this I conclude that it is "number of days", as was clearly stated by some official about 2 1/2 months ago.

Why speculate when there is proof by existence ??

The Dweeb

I just arrived back to Hong Kong from Bangkok,this was my 3rd trip in and out over the last 5 weeks or so 1st trip 3 days 2nd 20 days 3rd 3 days.Each entry was yellow markered and on leaving tonight the immigration officer wrote underneath the exit stamp 3 days.Would it be to early to think the the officals ARE counting the days as is stated in the new rules??? As a frequent weekend visitor whose wife and kids are living thailand I am worried about the stamp counting procedure that has been talked about.The officals on arrival on friday and leaving this evening had a good long look at the stamps.Anyone any furthers thoughts on the weekend travellers potentional problems with these new rules?

Jumbo

From recent postings on the "Enormous Shakeup" thread, it does appear they are counting days and not stamps and so in keeping under the 90 days, you should be ok.

[bwana1952]

Q for those more knowledgeable than l.

l left Thailand on a tourist visa, on December 16, after being on a tourist visa for 75 days. l have begun a new job in China, but have been told l must take annual leave in February as the company will be closed for Chinese New Year. l want to return to Thailand for 28 days, only. Can l get a visa on arrival to cover my 30 days, since l have not been out of the country for the requisite 90 days ?

l was on a tourist visa for most of last year, as it was easier to do it that way, between trips to Australia and Korea. The above dates are relevant because of the law that was enacted / activated on October 1. l will check with the Thai consulate in Hong Kong, but thought l would try here first, to see if l can get some idea of what is going on, before then. Cheers all.

I don't believe your are from a country that has visa on arrival privilege (15 day visa) but probably from a country allowed 30 day entry without visa. You should not have any problem doing that. Tourist visa entries are not limited to the 90 day limit in any case - only the visa free entry are being counted toward that limit.

lpoburi 3- many thanx for the reply, l appreciate that. l think l might still give the local Thai consulate a call first before l book my ticket, just in case. Cheers.