Q & A from the TAT about reports that some tourists were refused entry to Thailand

[jimster]

1 hour ago, jeab1980 said:

The immigration arent bothered about average joe tourist who have a couple of exempt or s/m visa's over a few years. They are looking for mr stay in thailand on mixtures of exempt S/M Visa's spending very little time out of Thailand.

This thread  has motphed into a every tourist is at risk thread. Which is absolutley rubish ans scaremongering at its best. One look at a passport or the computer screen once passport is scanned will tell immigration all they need to know.

I'm aware of this but what I am suggesting is that some Thai immigration officers seem to be making a mockery of the visa application process. Why not let the embassies and consulates handle all the vetting and then immigration only needs to suspect something is up if they have a good reason to believe (or proof) that the applicant submitted a fraudulent application to receive a visa? Other countries vet quite considerably at the visa application stage and thus have little reason to waste time and resources at airport immigration - it's mainly when tourist visa holders are found to be coming for work that they get caught at immigration, which rarely seems to be the case in Thailand.

[williamgeorgeallen]

17 minutes ago, orchis said:

That's incorrect. If you meet the requirements there are many more.

there are others but not as good as elite.

[williamgeorgeallen]

28 minutes ago, jeab1980 said:

Well thats not available at present. For those under 50 who want to spend money? Please explain who these people are please. 

ones i have met are early retirees, which is the situation i am in. also there are the sporadic off shore workers and those with a trust funds. there are more but these are the main ones such as gap year students.

[coppywriter]

I thought that some time ago they set the amount at 10,000 thb per person and 20,000 thb for a family, did I miss something?

[JackThompson]

38 minutes ago, jeab1980 said:

Well thats not available at present. For those under 50 who want to spend money? Please explain who these people are please. 

First group - fastest growing workforce in the world - those working remotely - "79 percent of knowledge workers in a global survey by PGI said they work from home..."

https://remote.co/10-stats-about-remote-work/

Second group - those that own businesses or retired early.  In either case, they may not have ~50M Baht in liquid assets, instead living on residual income with a smaller savings - so cannot drop 500K or 1M Baht on an Elite (this group would include me).  People who start in the 1st group may become members of the 2nd (as I did).

 

Both are ideal visitors - self-funded, self-disciplined - as they must be to survive as the directors of their own lives.  Therefore, they are less-likely to have drug/alcohol problems, leading to social/conflict problems, than either "tourists" (party-time!!) or the general population.

 

 

Edited July 21, 2017 by JackThompson

[oldgent]

34 minutes ago, jeab1980 said:

How many of those are there then i presume you have the facts and figures readily at hand awaiting the question to be asked. I have seen inly a handfull of cases over the last few years reported.  Some of which had insurance but as usual tbe Policy suddenly didnt cover xy and z.

 

one person is to many. your reference to policy cover .. that is up to you to read the policy

and make sure you are covered in whatever activity you are going to be involved in.

[bamukloy]

This is a bunch of poppycock.

 

Thailand have no problem giving people a visa over and over many years.

This 20k thing probably been used as a way to bust some illegal worker who is the wrong shade of brown and doing many visa runs.

 

1000s of tourist a day thru Swampy and how many asked for 20k?

 

Of course if your coming from English speaking country,wearing a gold chain,rings, rolex watch, nike shoes and designer clothes..

 

You really think they gonna ask this guy to see 20k?

[jeab1980]

18 minutes ago, jimster said:

I'm aware of this but what I am suggesting is that some Thai immigration officers seem to be making a mockery of the visa application process. Why not let the embassies and consulates handle all the vetting and then immigration only needs to suspect something is up if they have a good reason to believe (or proof) that the applicant submitted a fraudulent application to receive a visa? Other countries vet quite considerably at the visa application stage and thus have little reason to waste time and resources at airport immigration - it's mainly when tourist visa holders are found to be coming for work that they get caught at immigration, which rarely seems to be the case in Thailand.

Consulates as im aware i will stand corrected if wrong make money by issuing visa's so heres the rub they will issue visa's even seeing a string of exempt or S/M Visa's in someones passport.

[perthperson]

3 minutes ago, jeab1980 said:

I have looked into health unsurabce here in thailand, and can safley say i wont be bothering. Far to expensive i will self fund and if needed go back to my home country

Tell us that when confined to an Intensive care bed and the only means of returning home is via a VERY expensive Medivac. 

[mikeymike100]

18 minutes ago, coppywriter said:

I thought that some time ago they set the amount at 10,000 thb per person and 20,000 thb for a family, did I miss something?

I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong. The 10,000 thb per person or 20,000 per family is if you are entering on the visa exempt category. The maximum stay is 30 days for certain passports, although that can be extended one time for a further 30 days.

If you are entering on a SETV it is 20,000 thb person or 40,000 per family. You get 60 days stay, which can be extended for a further 30 days.

[jeab1980]

14 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

First group - fastest growing workforce in the world - those working remotely - "79 percent of knowledge workers in a global survey by PGI said they work from home..."

https://remote.co/10-stats-about-remote-work/

Second group - those that own businesses or retired early.  In either case, they may not have ~50M Baht in liquid assets, instead living on residual income with a smaller savings - so cannot drop 500K or 1M Baht on an Elite (this group would include me).  People who start in the 1st group may become members of the 2nd (as I did).

 

Both are ideal visitors - self-funded, self-disciplined - as they must be to survive as the directors of their own lives.  Therefore, they are less-likely to have drug/alcohol problems, leading to social/conflict problems, than either "tourists" (party-time!!) or the general population.

 

 

Then if you are in the second group you would be able to stay here legally for a period of time then return home for a period of time. Or stay here for 6 months and another country close by for 6 months. I wouldnt agree with your  statement in group 1 they are still working therefore if staying and working here on line or not should pay tax here.

I agree that maybe a Digital nomad's visa may be a way forward the price of which could include a %of tax given to the goverment tax office. A visa valid for say 9months with 3 months having to be spent out of country or something along those lines.

I know many so called director's/buisness owners who are drug and alcohol dependent.  So that argument doesnt really hold water.

[jeab1980]

7 minutes ago, perthperson said:

Tell us that when confined to an Intensive care bed and the only means of returning home is via a VERY expensive Medivac. 

Well obviously i wouldnt be able to as i would be very ill i expect. I have sufficient funds for any as you call it Very expensive Medivac. But if that ill i would self fund here Simple really 

Edited July 21, 2017 by jeab1980

[perthperson]

3 minutes ago, jeab1980 said:

Well obviously i wouldnt be able to as i would be very ill i expect. I have sufficient funds for any as you call it Very expensive Medivac. But if that ill i would self fund here Simple really 

 

So glad your liquid assets are counted in the 10's of millions -- Even treatment for a "simple" heart attack in a Thai Government hospital could easily run into the Bht(Millions) bracket.

 

Are you really aware of Medivac costs? (Specialist dedicated plane, specialist equipment + at least one doctor/nurse) 

[HerbalEd]

5 hours ago, chuang said:

Stop whinny and cry baby..just follow the rules...

There is no rule/regulation/law that says foreigners can't come into Thailand with a valid Thai tourist visa if they have other expired Thai tourist visas in their passport. So stop whinning.

[ubonjoe]

A post flamming a member has been removed.

[jeab1980]

49 minutes ago, perthperson said:

 

So glad your liquid assets are counted in the 10's of millions -- Even treatment for a "simple" heart attack in a Thai Government hospital could easily run into the Bht(Millions) bracket.

 

Are you really aware of Medivac costs? (Specialist dedicated plane, specialist equipment + at least one doctor/nurse) 

I know my finances which i have no reason to discuss with you or any one else for that matter suffice to say i am well aware of costs here. Which by the way you have very much inflated but thats by the by.

[perthperson]

Just now, jeab1980 said:

I know my finances which i have no reason to discuss with you or any one else for that matter suffice to say i am well aware of costs here. Which by the way you have very much inflated but thats by the by.

No inflation !  

 

Check the cost of an angiogram and balloon angioplasty stenting -- not small change stuff! 

[orchis]

2 hours ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

there are others but not as good as elite.

that's highly subjective.

[JayBird]

3 hours ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

the only correct visa for under 50 is the elite visa which is too expensive for most. thailand is missing out not letting those stay who just want to spend money. a simple visa available to those who can show funds or show income would be a win for everyone.

They may be missing out, but probably not enough to Care about.

[jeab1980]

1 hour ago, perthperson said:

No inflation !  

 

Check the cost of an angiogram and balloon angioplasty stenting -- not small change stuff! 

Whatever goodbye go play elsewhere

[seancbk]

9 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

10,000 a night, wow!

Is that the cost of the women, the condoms, or the Viagra?

 

I understand the 'claps' are offered for free though.

 

You can easily spend that in Bangkok if you go to decent clubs.  

423.72 THB for two small bottles of Asahi in 'Ce La Vi' in Bangkok.

Shots even more.

A few rounds of beers and shooters and you'll easily go through 10,000 baht.

 

 

[ubonjoe]

It is time to get back on topic. Not sure what medical insurance has to do with this topic or what it would be the cost for a night out has to do with it.

[oldgent]

7 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

It is time to get back on topic. Not sure what medical insurance has to do with this topic or what it would be the cost for a night out has to do with it.

yes agree but this is normal on TV . what is your view on the subject

is this 20,000 within the rules

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, oldgent said:

what is your view on the subject is this 20,000 within the rules

Yes it is within the rules.  But the enforcement of it is  arbitrary a lot of the time.

Not sure that insisting upon cash is though.

[whaleboneman]

8 hours ago, oldgent said:

should be looking for Travel/ Health Insurance Documents instead

Why? - travel/health insurance is not a requirement.

[whaleboneman]

7 hours ago, jeab1980 said:

Consulates as im aware i will stand corrected if wrong make money by issuing visa's so heres the rub they will issue visa's even seeing a string of exempt or S/M Visa's in someones passport.

I doubt that consulates make money.

[perthperson]

34 minutes ago, whaleboneman said:

I doubt that consulates make money.

There is a little truth in there!  

Honorary Consulates are normal self supporting and need to generate income which may lead to inappropriate visas being issued. It is now common for Hon. Consulates to be restricted in terms of the type of visa they can issue,

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

15 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Asking the state entity that is NOT IN ANY WAY responsible for denying tourist visa holders entry to Thailand why this is happening.

 

Yes. That's what insightful, incisive and cutting-edge investigative journalism is all about.

Not a journalist, a "blogger"....

A wannabe journo that hasn't got a clue.

[Chou Anou]

14 hours ago, jeab1980 said:

Lets face it we all or should all take this blogger with a pinch of salt and a laxative.

Indeed...Barrow is a total hack, and has been for years.

[Chou Anou]

15 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

Pandemic enough that the UK tabloid have been running stories of refusals at border crossing and airports and advising everyone to ensure they have the sufficient funds at hand, to avoid disappointment.

As already reported there are no ATM's before Immigration.

It would be interesting if it were indeed true that all of this panic could be traced back to exactly two highly suspect ThaiVisa threads last week, made by members with very low post counts (always a potential red flag), and one more post that seems like it may be more valid and believable (the Muy Thai fighter guy).  I wouldn't be surprised at all if that were the case.  "Pandemic," indeed.  And even if all three reports are credible, let's not forget that each of them ADMITTED to having done multiple visa-free entries in a row...so, this is NOT tourists we're talking about here, it's people trying to game the system.