Thread: Thailand Imposes Deadline 'Prohibiting Visa Runners' from August 12

PHUKET: Visa runners face the risk of becoming stranded outside Thailand with what appears to be the official announcement of a potentially broader border crackdown from August 12.

In a letter dated June 23 from Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to all embassies and consulates and international organisations in Thailand, officials warn that ''as of August 12 2014 onwards, Thai Immigration Bureau will commence prohibiting visa runners from entering into Thailand.''

The letter, in English and employing elaborate prose, says ''with reference to the recent news about Thai Immigration bureau clamping down on visa runners, [the ministry] has the honor to inform the latter [international organisations in Thailand] that the above measure, which has been strictly implemented, is aimed to prevent visa runners who abuse the visa exemption scheme from working illegally in Thailand.''

The letter appears to be implementing a blanket ban on all visa runs, but that could be an oversimplification.

It goes on to say: ''The purpose of the scheme is for tourism only. At present, once a visa runner case has been found, Thai Immigration Bureau would take measures of warning and giving (sic) advice for proper visas.

''However, as of August 12 2014 onwards, Thai Immigration Bureau will commence prohibiting visa runners from entering into Thailand.

Read more here: Expat Confusion as Thailand Imposes Deadline 'Prohibiting Visa Runners' from August 12 - Phuket Wan

Best to take a packed lunch, just in case. (or a crisp thousand baht note)

This threat has been on the table for years and I wonder if those affected have made plans.

I suppose we will see in the very near future.

Originally Posted by Thormaturge

This will undoubtedly lead to a much larger overstay problem with people who have lived here for years on tourist visas being unwilling to leave. Others will go for ED visas, I am sure.

Now watch for the purge on overstays. My money is on the maximum fine increasing to ThB 30,000 or more and then a roundup.

For sure the Overstay will be reformed along with the Visa runner Issue.

They are not going to tolerate people abusing the Overstay when they have made a decision to stop Visa runners.

At the end of the day the Visa runners have had a real good deal .

Time for people to get proper Visa's innit.

Going to be a heap of Diving instructors on Koh Tao that are going to need to review how they will Operate.

^
It is surprising how many schools don't bother with proper visas. Send poor unsuspecting Ajarn along to Poi Pet for a tourist visa, no work permit, and Bob's your mum's brother. A few language schools are going find it tough. Gonna be a lot less Farangs around when the next elections take place.

^

Many instructors employed on a short term basis. For a season or so.

They just put up with doing the in out gig.

Gota be easier to get a proper visa though EH. Those visa runs must be maddening after a few.

You would think the junta have far more pressing needs to deal with than prohibiting a few foreign miscreants from working illegally and abusing the far from easy to understand visa system.

Surely it would be easier to round them up where they work. The authorities know exactly where to find them.

Bang a few up in well publicised cases, (photo calls, finger pointing, summary court hearings and heavy sentencing) and the problem will soon disappear as other offenders run scared.

Originally Posted by taxexile

the problem will soon disappear

So would the money.

This method traps thousands of people here on overstay. Wait forty days and round the lot up. Why not increase the fine to ThB 30,000, or even ThB 50,000? They aren't going anywhere.

Looks like the junta or whoever is in charge now is bit by bit gonna make Thailand a place for foreigners to only come and visit on holiday .

TBH the way its shaping up they're welcome to it

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Looks like the junta or whoever is in charge now is bit by bit gonna make Thailand a place for foreigners to only come and visit on holiday .

There are several types of Visa for people to stay and live and work in Thailand. I have had a visa that allows me to work here continually for 15 years with no problems. Thousands (if not tens of thousands) of others are in the same boat. They are saying that a tourist visa is for, well tourists ,not people living here full time. Not that difficult to understand really.

Originally Posted by Kurgen

Best to take a packed lunch, just in case. (or a crisp thousand baht note)

I doubt any number of crisp notes will circumvent such well considered decrees handed down by our glorious leaders. Note also that immigration at some land borders do not have the full range of visa features that are available at airports and main immigration offices.

Could result in a lot of inconvenience, and Thai tourist services may well end up scratching their heads in wonder as to where their customer base has gone during high season.

And I was thinking only the other day, how well our glorious leaders were doing this time around.

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Looks like the junta or whoever is in charge now is bit by bit gonna make Thailand a place for foreigners to only come and visit on holiday .

I thought Suthep made that pretty clear during his ranting.

NO WAY am I buying any form of property here now.

Many new languages school opening soon <3

Maybe the ones who had a visa run service will change it in Thai language school ?

Just get legal and then no more worry's

^yup sure until the wind changes and they change the rules yet again

I've always seen visa running as pointless - why not just pay at a 7/11?

However, it spreads the money about to far flung districts and most people who run enjoy a trip every few months anyway.

I run mostly because actually talking to immigration/extending is long-winded, boring and a huge waste of time.

VOA is in out and doesn't waste a page in your passport.

I have a family here, but after getting all the paperwork and going to Vientienne 6 years ago and them saying that Chaeng Wattana (Immigration head office) was wrong and they call the shots I decided not to waste my time.

Now I ride to Aranya and back once every 3 months (6 hour round trip) and extend for 2 months at Chaeng Wattana once in the same period. The queue for extending a VOA is 20 times shorter than extending a tourist visa and you're in and out in an hour.

Whichever way you look at it - cost's about 2-3k a month to live here as a foreigner - whichever visa you have.

So they move the hoops - you just jump through different ones. No biggie.

Originally Posted by Albert Shagnastier

Whichever way you look at it - cost's about 2-3k a month to live here as a foreigner - whichever visa you have.

The retirement visa annual renewal has been 1,900 baht per year. Along with that there may be incidental costs incurred, such as transport to and from immigration to renew and for the 90 day reporting. There also may be costs associated with carrying an 800k baht bank balance or obtaining proof of monthly income. For me the total is well bellow 2-3k per month and closer to ~500 baht when all the above is taken in account.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

They are saying that a tourist visa is for, well tourists ,not people living here full time. Not that difficult to understand really.

Exactly mate, it only affects the tossers who are abusing the system, getting a proper Visa is no big deal.

I think the situation is kind of comical.....

They'll go after the farangs that are supposedly working illegally, but don't see fit to go after the Thais that employ the people working illegally.

When was the last time anyone heard of immi visiting a school or place 'o business checking the paperwork of the establishment's foriegn employees? The last I heard was about 10 years ago.

Originally Posted by Albert Shagnastier

So they move the hoops - you just jump through different ones. No biggie.

Funny how we can work that out Albert but some people just cant seem to get their head around that they do not own a Thai Passport and are after all only Expats.

This means one must play by the Thai rules.

Jesus, its not that fuking hard is it.

As some have already observed, this has been coming for several years. And about time too. The place is a veritable hodge podge of low end itinerants who have abused the immigration system for years. However, folk do get a bit Eurocentric and tend to forget the Koreans, Vietnamese, Japanese et al who end up here as bogus tourists preying off their nationals and running scams. Add into the mix the gangster dross from just about everywhere else and eventually even the Thai will lose patience.

Nevertheless, interviewing would - be tourists who are in truth visa running chancers will require some skills I do not see the average Thai immigration officer possessing.

Should be fun seeing the fall out.

Originally Posted by Sumocakewalk

Originally Posted by Albert Shagnastier

Whichever way you look at it - cost's about 2-3k a month to live here as a foreigner - whichever visa you have.

The retirement visa annual renewal has been 1,900 baht per year. Along with that there may be incidental costs incurred, such as transport to and from immigration to renew and for the 90 day reporting. There also may be costs associated with carrying an 800k baht bank balance or obtaining proof of monthly income. For me the total is well bellow 2-3k per month and closer to ~500 baht when all the above is taken in account.

Fair point. I wasn't talking about the retirement, 800k in the bank scenario. That one seems to be safe and easy.

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

^yup sure until the wind changes and they change the rules yet again

Yep.....