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buriramboy · 03-10-2007, 03:10 PM

(This article from Siam expat, or something like that, can't remember)

Visa changes at Thai Penang consulate

News for visa runners & married men

The Royal Thai consulate general in Penang, Malaysia, has indicated that officers there will now limit applications from foreigners applying to visit Thailand as tourists to just three 60 day visas. A travel agent in Penang, who handles applications on a daily basis, said “The consulate is now counting the number of times they have issued a single entry 60 day visa to an individual. The new limit is three and there will likely be a note in the applicant’s passport from now on.”
This is not the first time there has been such a crackdown on repeat applications for tourist visas. The logic seems to be that visit visas are not designed for foreigners seeking residency. It is argued that bona fide retirees with money in the bank or pension income, foreigners working legally in the kingdom and those with Thai wives and dependants can apply for one year visas at Thai immigration offices provided they have the requisite documentation and cash back-up.
The current squeeze seems to be aimed at long stay foreigners in Thailand who don’t otherwise qualify for long stay visas, typically men on limited incomes who rely on renewing their visa time and again at Cambodian border posts or Thai consulates in nearby countries.
Penang has recently grown in popularity as a visa “haven” and the town has a growing number of bars catering for visa runners. This trend is now under threat after the recent ruling. Other Thai consulates and embassies in the region are unlikely to offer more generous visa extensions than Penang. Those in Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos and Singapore – to name but four – are known to be just as restrictive if not more so.
An official source said, “There seems to be a progressive squeeze against foreign men with very limited resources trying to live in Thailand. If they don’t qualify for one year visas in Thailand, their options of going repeatedly to a Cambodian border post (30 days on arrival) or getting numerous prior visas in Penang (60 days) are disappearing.”
He added that he advised people in this situation to return to their home countries, usually in Europe, to obtain multiple entry non immigrant visas which are valid for a year at a time. “But we all know,” he explained, “that many can’t afford the trip or are reluctant to fly home in case they come to official attention at the airport.”
Another consequence of visa squeezes is that some foreigners go into overstay in Thailand as they can’t find a way to renew cheaply. The number of arrests for visa overstayers in Pattaya is rising, but there are no published figures.
But there is better news from Penang for foreign men married to a Thai woman. They can now obtain a multiple entry non immigrant “O” visa, valid for a year, provided they take 1. Their original passport (copy of ID page) and two passport photos; 2. Signed copy of wife’s Thai ID card; 3. Signed copy of marriage certificate signed by both parties (original needs to be shown too); 4. Copy of personal Thai bank book showing at least 400,000 baht (original also needs to be produced); 5. Confirmatory letter from bank, not more than one week old.

03-10-2007, 03:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
buriramboy Elite Member Last Online: Yesterday 11:38 PM Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nern Plub Waan Posts: 2,000	(This article from Siam expat, or something like that, can't remember) Visa changes at Thai Penang consulate News for visa runners & married men The Royal Thai consulate general in Penang, Malaysia, has indicated that officers there will now limit applications from foreigners applying to visit Thailand as tourists to just three 60 day visas. A travel agent in Penang, who handles applications on a daily basis, said “The consulate is now counting the number of times they have issued a single entry 60 day visa to an individual. The new limit is three and there will likely be a note in the applicant’s passport from now on.” This is not the first time there has been such a crackdown on repeat applications for tourist visas. The logic seems to be that visit visas are not designed for foreigners seeking residency. It is argued that bona fide retirees with money in the bank or pension income, foreigners working legally in the kingdom and those with Thai wives and dependants can apply for one year visas at Thai immigration offices provided they have the requisite documentation and cash back-up. The current squeeze seems to be aimed at long stay foreigners in Thailand who don’t otherwise qualify for long stay visas, typically men on limited incomes who rely on renewing their visa time and again at Cambodian border posts or Thai consulates in nearby countries. Penang has recently grown in popularity as a visa “haven” and the town has a growing number of bars catering for visa runners. This trend is now under threat after the recent ruling. Other Thai consulates and embassies in the region are unlikely to offer more generous visa extensions than Penang. Those in Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos and Singapore – to name but four – are known to be just as restrictive if not more so. An official source said, “There seems to be a progressive squeeze against foreign men with very limited resources trying to live in Thailand. If they don’t qualify for one year visas in Thailand, their options of going repeatedly to a Cambodian border post (30 days on arrival) or getting numerous prior visas in Penang (60 days) are disappearing.” He added that he advised people in this situation to return to their home countries, usually in Europe, to obtain multiple entry non immigrant visas which are valid for a year at a time. “But we all know,” he explained, “that many can’t afford the trip or are reluctant to fly home in case they come to official attention at the airport.” Another consequence of visa squeezes is that some foreigners go into overstay in Thailand as they can’t find a way to renew cheaply. The number of arrests for visa overstayers in Pattaya is rising, but there are no published figures. But there is better news from Penang for foreign men married to a Thai woman. They can now obtain a multiple entry non immigrant “O” visa, valid for a year, provided they take 1. Their original passport (copy of ID page) and two passport photos; 2. Signed copy of wife’s Thai ID card; 3. Signed copy of marriage certificate signed by both parties (original needs to be shown too); 4. Copy of personal Thai bank book showing at least 400,000 baht (original also needs to be produced); 5. Confirmatory letter from bank, not more than one week old. __________________ If mothers Celebrate mothers day, fathers celebrate fathers day, lovers celebrate valentines day, do wankers celebrate palm sunday? Last edited by buriramboy : 03-10-2007 at 04:21 PM.