All this talk of ways round the visa system just seems so pointless - what a waste of money. Leaving every 3 months (or 1 month even) just to get a short extension in this little tin-pot nation beggars belief. Why bother?
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All this talk of ways round the visa system just seems so pointless - what a waste of money. Leaving every 3 months (or 1 month even) just to get a short extension in this little tin-pot nation beggars belief. Why bother?
well when I came here I did the runs every 3 months, was a nice trip and a vacation kinda, maybe some strange stuff, coarse I had a few that came around my house in CM tho. but Lao was even stranger, but taste the same..
Then I got married so then it was not worth it with my wife having to take off work and go with me and it was a more structured trip, so now I just go once a year to CM.
once a year is not a problem but doing the 3 month tourist visa + extensions for 2000B routine is what I'm refering to really. Can't see Thailand as being so great to want to do that for more than a year or two.
In fact, I can't really see how any sensible person could think that Thailand is great for anything long term.
Me either really, but some marry and settle here, and as you know,,
Everybody gots to be somewhere..
Any chance of a translation into English? :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by blackgang
Actually it is a pointless system except for the moron who created it. I can take my wife and go home and she would not need to do a visa run, apply for a work permit own half her business or limited to which property she may buy.
The only people who bother are those who are here on a temporary bases or married to a local. Either way it is a waste in both human resources and money. Instead of offering foreigner's married to locals something to integrate them, they show them the door.
When your country lacks a skill, you open the doors to stem the shortfall. Thailand fails dismally at English compared to other Asian countries. Instead of getting more people in they try and push as many out. It is not my country so I don't have a vested interest in it hence it not my problem.
Enjoy the stay while you can and move on when the time is right.
OK for sTroller, who seems to like following me around and posting senseless shit
"Your Nose In My Ass, ya stupid prick, Hows that??
The visa runs might be hard to understand. But keep in mind that in countries like EU or USA you cannot stay longer then 180 days a year. So the Thai government does a great job and let us stay here longer.
^ Wrong. In the US, not too hard to change your immi status and stay as long as you like. Ask the hundreds of thousands of Thais living in the US, running their own businesses and owning their own homes.
But this isn't the compare Thailand to US thread.
The real reason visa runs are dumb (aside from the petty jobsworth attitude of hassling foreigners) is that Thai Immigration could simply sell 1 year visas for 30-50k and there'd be a line around the block to get one, thereby generating hundreds of millions of baht instant revenue. Given the emphasis on money money money that pervades Thai visa law, I wouldn't see this as contradictory.
But these rules are in place because nationalism trumps pragmatism, every time. This way they can say that they do allow foreigners to live here (thus forestalling retaliatory immi policies by western countries), as long you get the correct visa. In practice, they make it such a hassle, and allow so few Westerners to normalize their immi status by achieving residency, that most do piss off and leave after a couple years. That is exactly their objective.
I think that the answer for many is that despite the inconvenience and regular cost of visa runs, Thailand is still a comparatively cheap, easy and safe place to live. As soon as the cost benefit evaporates so will the popularity of Thailand for those fortunate enough to be able to choose an alternative, the same is true of any country.
By any stretch of the imagination, Thailand is a freewheeling sort of place where the rule of law counts for little, rather the whole system relies on patronage. Provided you have enough money you can do virtually anything but woe betide you if you upset anybody big. If you keep a low profile therefore and stay off the radar you’ll probably encounter few of the difficulties that you might encounter in North America or Western Europe, that alone is enough to make it still a very attractive place for many and helps keeps 'em coming back for more.
The visa practice in Thailand was very lax until recent years - seemingly endless borderruns for 30 day stamps and back-to-back tourist visas.
Actually quite a sensible system - minimum administrative costs, allowing people to stay without giving them any rights and keep an eye on them by making them show their face regularly at a border.
One of the major "flaws" is the absence of long-term visas for those too young to retire and not married.
Yes this is really short sighted and overall detrimental to Thailand. The retirement visas are designed to encourage people to come and stay for an indefinite period so their money adds to the local economy. Age has nothing to do with ones ability to meet the financial requirement and therefore similar visas should be granted to any that meet the financial requirement.Quote:
Originally Posted by stroller
Pisses me off.Why can't I show my face at CM Im, instead I have to go to MaiSai every three months.All the info goes on to a central system right? All I'm doing is giving 500 B to Burma.:(
I don't think 'showing your face' at the border serves to keep an eye on anybody. In any event, it could just as well be done downtown.
The real purpose is to make the white monkey jump through a ridiculous hoop, and remind you that you have no status here.
The fact that there are no visas for under 50, unmarried (to a Thai), not working in the few permitted occupations types is nonsense.
The Elite Card .... not a visa, it's a vague promise in exchange for 1.5 million baht.
I think this is quite a recent development. Hopefully visa requirements will reflect this eventually.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooter
Of course what is also daft is the fact that the overstay charge is only 20K - surely for those willing to take the risk this is way way cheaper than doing a visa run. A recent trip by me to Singapore for a visa was getting on for this price once taking into account lost earnings.
I wonder when this 20K fee will be bumped up considerably.
Shortly after the TD Thai immigration mole reads this post. Wonder who it is?:)Quote:
Originally Posted by colourful-era
Did the visa runs for many years. Just got 50 and so I could apply for a retirement visa. Somehow I miss those visa runs - not kidding.
But anyhow - it gets a severe problem to stay here very long with all this new visa regulations if you are younger. I do not understand the 50 years requirement. Could be 30, 40, 50, 60, 70... Does not make sense to me. More and more they even ask for tickets out of Thailand. So it gets harder and harder.
Even the retirement visa could be changed/canceled at any time. Brave people who invest here in the believe everything will be the same in the future. I always look that I have enough money to live in my home country - just in case. This is the only place where I can live without visa.
There's no flaw. If you don't qualify for one then they don't want you long term in Thailand.Quote:
Originally Posted by stroller
I'm 33 and have never had a problem getting a Non-Immigrant 'B' one year multiple entry.
I still have to leave every 90 days as I don't want to report to Immigration, obtain work permit etc but it gives me a chance to head down to Singapore, Phnom Penh, Australia etc. It's never a hassle, more like a welcome break!
Let's be honest it is so easy to obtain a Non-Immigrant visa one year multiple at certain Thai Consulates there shouldn't be anybody complaining!
There are plenty visas for under 50's, including tourist visas, Non-Imm 'B' visas if you are doing business or gaining employment, Non-Imm R if you are here on religious purposes. Non-Imm E if you are here for an education, etc, etc, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by johnbkk
If you don't qualify for any of these than what are you doing in Thailand? Hanging around? It's been made abundantly clear the days of foreigners (even long term tourists) just hanging around for as long as they please under dubious circumstances are over.
If you don't have a specific reason for being here then you won't get a long term visa and I don't see anything wrong with that!
If you are not smart enough or don't have enough money to work around the rules (and it is incredibly easy to do so) then that's not the Thais' fault - it's yours!
In some circumstances, you still need to leave every 90days with a work permit. I.e., when you're not married or don't employ enough staff.Quote:
Originally Posted by EmperorTud
^ I think if you don't earn enough you still have to leave even if you have a work permit.
I don't want to be on the radar so to speak so I don't bother with work permits or reporting and the extra scrutiny that accompanies them. The day may come when they move the goalposts and I'll need one and I don't anticipate that being a problem.
Try reading it again.Quote:
Originally Posted by EmperorTud
^ yes, I was just giving another reason.
And what is your "specific reason" for being here? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by EmperorTud
Just hanging around or earning a living under dubious circumstances, with that easy-to-get-at-certain-consulates visa and not-wanting-to-be-on-the-radar, matey? :rolleyes:
Okay-dokay.Quote:
Originally Posted by EmperorTud
Tell me about it. I retired two years ago and still have another six before I'm eligible to retire. Go figure. The first time I visited my friends in Nong Khai Immigration, the guy asked me what work I do. I said, none. I'm retired.Quote:
Originally Posted by John
No you're not, he replied -- very seriously. What a cnut.
Wise words from the emperor... although probably not true for all nationalitiesQuote:
Originally Posted by EmperorTud
Yeah, you still have to dance to the border every three months. :(
Guess you are not 50 - SO Y O U CANNOT BE RETIRED BY THAI LAW even if you sit in the sun the whole day. It is a problem in the meantime below 50. Tried to avoid to send money here (the 800.000) but finally gave up and did. Now I will get my retirement visa. But this is not more than a visa for 1 year - nothing else. And the visa rules might change EVERY DAY.Quote:
Originally Posted by Texpat
Lived in many countries. My experience - if you live in a foreign country you do not have many rights. The most important right and perhaps the only one is to leave at any time - as long as you can. Has nothing to do with Thailand. Is pretty much the same everywhere. Never forget my friends who had to leave Hong Kong after many good years there. A nightmare for them. But at least they had very good years there. This is what some told me afterwards - now without maids and driver.
I think it is hard to change the world - it might be easier to change your ideas. There is only one world but there are many countries with sun, beach and fun. So don't waste to much time with visa regulations for a specific country. Look across the border. Here is no island feeling anymore. Cities, traffic, pollution. All the things I tried to leave behind me... Even with the retirement visa I start to think about the coming years...
By the way - I retired with 40 and it was not easy all the years for me too.
I'm really feeling for them John...Quote:
Originally Posted by John
My specific reason is that I am running two businesses. I don't bother reporting and I haven't bothered to get a work permit. I will and can do both if necessary.Quote:
Originally Posted by stroller
I've had a fully legit Non-Immigrant 'B' for the last six years now and as I am just 'conducting business' and not specifically working there is nothing dubious about it.
I bring a lot of money into Thailand and if anyone asks I can show a minimum of a six figure sum in Baht being withdrawn into Thailand from foreign accounts every month.
I still do visa runs which I enjoy and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. I make it pleasurable by flying somewhere for a few days and relaxing. Haven't done a border run for a very long time and don't anticipate doing one either!
Even if I wasn't running a business and therefore qualified to receive a Non-Immigrant 'B' I could easily work around the visa rules as could anyone with half a brain and a few hundred quid in their bank account which was my point.
It's not rocket science.
Right :)Quote:
Originally Posted by colourful-era
https://teakdoor.com/living-in-thaila...-thailand.html
The whole visa system is crap. You are treated like a criminal in many ways here. It has nothign to do with the 90-day visa. All visas here give you hassles. Then you have 90-day reporting to do even if you have a one year visa.
Thailand and the Thai elites don't want to improve anything here. It's not worth arguing about fairness or hoping that change will come because it won't. You've just got to deal with it if you want to or have to be here. But you do have the right to criticise 'the Thai devils' in your own country once you get back home. I don't want to write anymore about this topic because hatred for the Thais starts coming out of me. Honest people suffer here.
If you want to live better here try lying, using corruption to your advantage, starting an illegal business, etc. The Thai government officials like these types of people.
Had a lot of education in my life. Studied and studied and finished a degree at university. But I never learned one thing - how to survive... They tried to teach me how to be a good slave - for the church (they even forced me to kneel down and tell them my ?wrong? ideas), be good for the government, be good for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rattanaburi
Perhaps I am too good for this world. Or perhaps I am only too stupid :)
They like money and the easiest way to make it...Quote:
Originally Posted by Rattanaburi
^yep.
I liked visa runs. Good to get away for a few days, see friends and take a vakay. Once every three months was not bad, IMO. I knew folks who worked illegally doing voodoo "medical" treatments. They were on monthly visas. I think it was folks like that who got Immigration to crack down on multiple tourist stamps.
Anybody working here illegally is what they're after.
The usual suspects: Chinese, Laos, Burmese, Brits.
That's why they're so suspicious of everyone. There are a lot of people breaking their laws and they've had a gutful. Never mind the laws are a stodgy and only allow foreigners to teach and fly airplanes ... :(
been reading lonely planet books have ya? sadly out of date about 25years....!Quote:
Originally Posted by rtwo