The Thailand expat forum for Travel, Lifestyle and Fun.

Thetyim

778/2551 ?

So there have been two police orders 777 & 778
Got a link to the English translation ?

gjbkk

it is odd that it has not been on Thailand's English Language Law Resource

gjbkk

I cant find any English translation

lom

No official English translations available.
777 is about annual extensions and has been translated by Isaan Lawyers.
It was posted here on TD yesterday.

778 is about visa exemtions and has not been translated.

EmperorTud

Can't do that in Cambodia so further inconvenience for overland travellers.

lom

Do you know that for sure ET?
All the reports so far about consulates/embassies not issuing certain kinds of visa
comes from visa-runners.
It would be interesting to know how they treat a real backpacker who can show
from passport stamps that he is traveling the region.
His stamps will then not be pages and pages of Thai visa stamps..


Anyway, it ain't that difficult for backpackers to show a bit of foresight and get
a tourist visa in their home country.
Most will be able to get a double tourist visa there instead of a single during the
travel.

EmperorTud

100% sure.

To my current knowledge all non-Khmers are refused tourist visas in the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh.

I was at the Embassy personally about 9 months ago and in Phnom Penh most recently last week. Nothing has changed, genuine tourist or not, no tourist visa will be issued.
I witnessed many nationalities being refused, including Czech, Indian, German and Japanese. All genuine tourists.

__________________
Mortals you defy the Gods, I sentence you to travel among unknown stars, until you find the Kingdom of Hades, your bodies will stay as lifeless as stone.

Thetyim

Beggars the question - why ?
It is hindering tourism
Are they waiting for tea money ?

thegent

Perhaps it is a question of resourcing?

If they were to issue visas then it would become a magnet for the visa runners who currently traipse elsewhere and the consulate would inevitably have to staff it accordingly. The fragility of Thai/Khmer relations is such that the Thai may not wish to raise their profile unnecessarily.

The tinkering of the land border visa issue, reducing the 30 days to 15, is quite logical and clearly aimed at the residual visa running class who are not inclined to seek clearance more in keeping with their closet de facto residence, whether that has been by choice or by necessity. One couldn't criticise them for that and I can't see how the bona fide tourist will be inconvenienced as a consequence.

Apologies if I offended you GJBkk but you were being a bit of an arse.

EmperorTud

The bona fide tourist that is spending several months in the region backpacking or just travelling overland will just need to plan ahead and possibly spend more time in Cambodia, Viet Nam and other surrounding countries.

Thailand's loss will be the others' gain, and as the central and most popular backpacking country in the region it has the most to lose.

It will still be the region's jumping off point, which is unfortunate with the current political climate and the risk of more protests closing the airports again.

Thailand seems to be forgetting it was the backpackers that sustained tourism and opened it up for everyone else.

Where all of these rich tourists who stay in spas and spend money with gay abandon are going to come from I certainly don't know. The global economic crisis has put the kibosh on that market.

Thailand's problem is it thinks its shit doesn't stink and is arrogant enough to assume tourists will come regardless of what is happening internationally and domestically.

I believe they are wrong and they will come to regret marginalising what used to be their bread and butter longer term travellers.

MeMock

So what countries still get 30 days?

Richard from the wrong way cafe here in Ubon told me two nights ago that he drove back from Laos and they gave him 30 days but warned him that next time it would be 15.

Mid

wrong thread ,

now that aside the 30/15 day thing is dependent on whether you arrive at the airport V's land border crossing

Thetyim

^
Correct with the possible exception of Malaysia
Won't know for sure until we get a full translation

sunderlandstephen

Am visiting Thailand 15th dec - 14th jan
I`ve got flight to Luang Prabang booked on the 19th,intend to travel to Vientiane via Vang Vienand cross back to Thailand there.
My problem is where do i stand if i`ve got more than 15 days left , intend to spend some time in Issan and maybe a beach somewhere else,if time permits, will have a 30 day visa from the 15th but the visa from the land crossing will be the valid one as far as i know.
Grateful if anybody can clear this up

lom

^ Get a 60 day tourist visa while you are in Vientiane

Thetyim

The new rules have just ruined your plans.

lom's suggestion will work
or as you plan to be travelling in Issan will you be near a border crossing on 1/1/2009 ?
Nip over the border (need another visa for that) and then get another 15 day stay when you re-enter Thailand

Sparky

At the end of the day what is the point of all the visa changes ??? Its not difficult the question is fairly simple Do they or do they not want tourists and people who want to retire or stay on a longer term basis ?? If the answer is no its simple just cash in and go somwhere else .

spiff

Plan ahead yes, they'd have to get a visa in advance.

But if someone chooses to stay longer elsewhere if 1.000bt for a visa is too large an expense for them, one might rightly say "good riddance".
Let them fill the 2$ dormitory accomodation in Cambodia and haggle over the price of a plate of fried rice there.

Mid

some are short-sighted and others simply blind .

watterinja

That's about the strength of it...