Is this true? New visa rules for foreign fathers of Thai children

**alwarner** · 21-02-2012, 06:33 PM

^Me too, I've missed a lot of my son growing up to provide for them, and now (albeit potentially) I'm in a position to stay here I won't be able to unless I get married. Like DrAndy says lets hope it's just sabre rattling from the consulate in Hull. Otherwise I guess there will be lots of people being forced to get married, which surely makes a mockery of marriage.

**Rural Surin** · 21-02-2012, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by Jon Snow

I was talking to a Thai the other day about this kind of thing.
I told him I was in Cambodia the other week talking to a guy who
had been there 20 years, and who had said how easy the visa process
was there compared to Thailand.
I added that the process in the Philippines was pretty painless also.

He said, (and I'm paraphrasing here) -
"You Farangs think that the immigration issues are all about you.
Cambodia and the Philippines, don’t have Nigerians selling drugs on
their streets, Russian hookers, mad Iranian bombers, hordes of foreigners
waiting to buy up all of Thailand
We can’t make special rules just for you guys.
Everybody wants to come to Thailand".

I couldn’t be bothered debating it with him, I could see he felt like
he and his beloved Thailand where under siege.

Perhaps some Thai circles feel they are [being besieged].
Different reasoning can often be perplexing if we don't view all sides.

Sure, Thailand has a recent history of illogical frustrating immigration and visa practices. These allowances are set into place as protection. Just as regulations are looked upon throughout numerous countries. Some immigration policies are draconian in comparison to Thailand.....it could be worse.

Naturally, we'll interpret all the unmitigated suppressive policies negitavely, because all affects us personally and familiarly.

**harrybarracuda** · 21-02-2012, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by Jon Snow

I was talking to a Thai the other day about this kind of thing.
I told him I was in Cambodia the other week talking to a guy who
had been there 20 years, and who had said how easy the visa process
was there compared to Thailand.
I added that the process in the Philippines was pretty painless also.

He said, (and I'm paraphrasing here) -
"You Farangs think that the immigration issues are all about you.
Cambodia and the Philippines, don’t have Nigerians selling drugs on
their streets, Russian hookers, mad Iranian bombers, hordes of foreigners
waiting to buy up all of Thailand
We can’t make special rules just for you guys.
Everybody wants to come to Thailand".

I couldn’t be bothered debating it with him, I could see he felt like
he and his beloved Thailand where under siege.

You forgot about the Indians selling watches and shit.

But seriously, how many of the c**ts above are legal?

**nostromo** · 21-02-2012, 07:10 PM

Good points made here, but some a bit off the track while meaning is good, I presume. The sad truth is that while many good people are coming to live in Thailand, many bad ones are coming as well – already mentioned Nigerians, Russians and the lot (including criminals of every other country as well). So what is Thailand to do? They(or some of us as well) fear that their culture and way of life is eroded by Russian mafia, etc, which in my eyes is natural reaction. So they make limits. Unfortunately these limits limit everyone, even the good people.

If someone found a way to differentiate between scum and real typical good farang who takes care of his family, and make a presentation of that to Thai government I would nominate him for Nobel right away.

I understand current extremist hardline approach to Non Imm visas (which I find... extreme) was put into motion during military government, and as foreign office takes time, became real in early 2011. Hopefully it has been reversed with the new government, but any changes will take time this way as well.

**Orroz** · 21-02-2012, 07:30 PM

So, as I see it, you can get a non-imm visa if you can prove that the child is legitimately yours. Your name on the child's birth cert is not enough so it has to be done through the courts as Dr Bob experienced. But none of this is written in the Hull consulate letter. It's just saying no visa unless you are married to the mother. So I'm confused...

**Happy As Larry** · 21-02-2012, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Not true under Thai law. Wedlock is only one way way of legitimizing a child in Thailand. A child can also be legitimized at the Amphur office once he/she is over the age of seven. A child under the age of 7 can be legitimized by a court order or by the marriage of the parents. This is all covered in Section 1555 and below of the Thai Civil and Criminal code.

I know this from direct experience. I have very recently been through the expensive and lengthy court procedure (one reason for my dearth of posts over the last few months) and now possess a certificate of paternity which gives me the legal status and the duties and responsibilities of a father and which makes the child my legitimate child.

The reason for my question is that the OP specifically mentions marriage and not legitimacy.

Bob I would be interested in the "expensive and lengthy court procedure". I am considering such an action at the moment and was under the impression that there were 2 possibilities other than marriage.
One would be to go to the amphur with a willing mother and have the child given a certain age 7 + state that the father was his indeed his/her father. That this could be done without recourse to the courts and was inexpensive.
The alternative for a child under the age of 7 was to go to the family court with dna evidence. Again I was under the impression that this was neither too complex or expensive provided that the mother was a willing partner and that only if the mother was resistant to the idea would it prove difficult and expensive.

**dirtydog** · 21-02-2012, 07:38 PM

It's all quite obvious to me, all these half chats/half breeds are cutting into the purity of Thai blood, time to get them out of the country with their fathers and make Thailand more pure and more THAILAND......

**sunsetter** · 21-02-2012, 07:40 PM

anyone actually checked the hull website?

**superman** · 21-02-2012, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

It's all quite obvious to me, all these half chats/half breeds are cutting into the purity of Thai blood, time to get them out of the country with their fathers and make Thailand more pure and more THAILAND......

Does that include the higher levels of Thai society ?

**dirtydog** · 21-02-2012, 07:44 PM

^Nothing that they can do about the Issanites, so they have learnt to live with them

**Rural Surin** · 21-02-2012, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

It's all quite obvious to me, all these half chats/half breeds are cutting into the purity of Thai blood, time to get them out of the country with their fathers and make Thailand more pure and more THAILAND......

Indeed. Since the Thai bloodline is clearly a minority.

This would include all Khmer, Lao, Chinese, Burman, Malay, Vietnamese, Mon, Indian, Persian, and assorted hilltribe types. All....born and bred "Thai".

And what of those luk kreung generations....???
What do we do with them?

**Jon Snow** · 21-02-2012, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

You forgot about the Indians selling watches and shit.

But seriously, how many of the c**ts above are legal?

Legal or not Harry, this guy was in real ‘Enemy at the gates, Wolf at the door’ type mode.
Which took me aback a little because I’ve known him for years and he never gave me the impression that he was anti-foreigner at all.
His last statement, “Everybody wants to come to Thailand” was said with a roll of the eyes and with a, ‘why don’t they all just fcuk off back to where they came from tone’.
He’s an old guy, who probably thought of foreigners as a novelty and now thinks we’re just a fuckin aggravation.
He qualified that last statement by saying, “I’m not talking about you Khun Jon, and gave me a big false Thai smile.
Maybe he’s right, maybe there’s too many scum bags coming to Thailand or maybe he feels his culture is being eroded or changed or maybe he’s just getting old and grumpy.
(He did have a point about Farangs thinking immigration grief was only directed at them).
Anyway, made me sad.
I have see a lot of changes since 92 when I first came here and not all for the better, but that’s life I guess, nothing stays the same.

**Orroz** · 21-02-2012, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by sunsetter

anyone actually checked the hull website?

Yes and I can't find anything about this new rule there. Not been updated maybe

**alwarner** · 21-02-2012, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by sunsetter

anyone actually checked the hull website?

Nothing under news, but, I'm having trouble opening the .pdf file for Additional Information for Visas Visas & Downloads :: The Royal Thai Consulate Third one down if anyone can have a look.

**Aussie Tigger** · 21-02-2012, 09:17 PM

The reason most Countries put these rules in place is because leniency is exploited by many.To easy to get your name on a birth certificate as many ladies for a few baht would be happy to have you on the certificate if the actual sperm donor does not even know he has planted this or simply could not care less.
If you want to live here why not put your 800,000 baht in the bank and apply.
The reason Australia has become so tight and restrictive is because so many falsify documents which makes it hard of course for the legitimate applicant.
What is the problem in marrying your lady if you have a child with her and do your best to give the kid a chance in life?

**alwarner** · 21-02-2012, 09:54 PM

I wonder how many farangs would put their name on a birth certificate to get a 12month visa? My guess is virtually none. However I bet there are plenty more that would get married for the same reason. Wouldn't it make more sense to make it tougher for people without kids to reside here? But then you'd lose out on "the grey baht" I suppose. I'm very much live and let live but why should I be forced to get married to be able to live with my son in the country of his birth AT?

**thehighlander959** · 21-02-2012, 10:28 PM

Its a bit of a pisser really. I have nearly 18 month old twins and I am the natural father we have the DNA documentaion which we requested from the hospital, we also have their Thai Birth Certificates (also in English) and their Thai and UK Passports.
I spoke to my girlfriend about getting married and she said she did not fancy it. Something about when her last marriage went pear-shaped, and she likes this arrangement as it is.
I work in Qatar on a 28/28 basis, so at present this is not going to have any real effect on me. When I decide to rap this offshore game, its going to put a completely different slant on our relationship.
In Thailand you know how it feels to be like a circus animal with all the hoops you have to jump through. Maybe time to move somewhere else in the Orient....

**rawlins** · 21-02-2012, 11:05 PM

Hong King Kong is nice.

**Rural Surin** · 21-02-2012, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by rawlins

Hong King Kong is nice.

Cambodia is better......
If it comes to that.

**Bangyai** · 21-02-2012, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by alwarner

Originally Posted by sunsetter

anyone actually checked the hull website?

Nothing under news, but, I'm having trouble opening the .pdf file for Additional Information for Visas Visas & Downloads :: The Royal Thai Consulate Third one down if anyone can have a look.

Nothing in there yet. So what can you infer ? That the Royal Thai Consulate Hull now prefers TV as its news outlet over its own website ?

A bit tough on TZ SZ and all the rest.

**Bangyai** · 21-02-2012, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by alwarner

Wouldn't it make more sense to make it tougher for people without kids to reside here?

If it was a question of sense , most Thais wouldn't be allowed to live here !

**Troy** · 21-02-2012, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by Bangyai

Can you also please inform your readers that they must never post their passport from Thailand to any other country for any reason because there will not be any evidence in their passport to show that they exited Thailand.

WTF??...UK no longer renews passports in Thailand...thought they needed to be sent to Hong Kong now for renewal...and how do you exit Thailand without your passport? Something lost in the translation?

**alwarner** · 21-02-2012, 11:33 PM

^ha ha, hopefully its all a load of bollocks or if not there will be a reasonable work around for the problem. I've got 9 or so months to wait and see so it's not too pressing. It's definitely be a kick in the teeth if it is true though. I really don't want to get married.

**klong toey** · 21-02-2012, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by Troy

Originally Posted by Bangyai

Can you also please inform your readers that they must never post their passport from Thailand to any other country for any reason because there will not be any evidence in their passport to show that they exited Thailand.

WTF??...UK no longer renews passports in Thailand...thought they needed to be sent to Hong Kong now for renewal...and how do you exit Thailand without your passport? Something lost in the translation?

Specific requirements from Thailand

ORIGINAL PASSPORT: Thailand is an exception to the main guidance given on our primary website. It is not advised to be without your original passport in Thailand and we recognise this. You may therefore submit a clear photocopy of your passport (just the page with your personal details and photograph). Please note that the passport being renewed will be electronically cancelled and is therefore not valid for use as a travel document from the moment you submit your application. On receipt of your new passport, you must physically cancel your old passport by cutting the corners of the photo page and the front and back covers. Failure to do so may leave your replaced passport open to abuse. Alternatively, you should visit the British Embassy in Bangkok to have your replaced passport physically cancelled.

**nigelandjan** · 22-02-2012, 01:11 AM

Originally Posted by robuzo

What if most of my work was not in my mother country? Is there a requirement that a person on retirement actually be physically in Thailand a certain number of days?

It was my understanding if you were granted a retirement visa and subsequent renewals that was granted / renewed wholly on the understanding you were retired and not working anywhere .

Thread: Is this true? New visa rules for foreign fathers of Thai children

Thread Tools

Display

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions