Thread: Final crackdown on tourist visas ???

Originally Posted by Orroz

Originally Posted by Dug

I don't think genuine tourists need a back to back 60 day tourist visa.

But they immediately think that those who get back to back visas are working illegally and I think that's presumtious. There are many who aren't married, working or retired who just want to hang out in Thailand and they have little choice other than to apply as a tourist

Yeap, I totally agree, and I generally stay away from this topic b/c it seems to incite so much unnecessary hostility in my opinion. I left LOS back at the end of 2007, after living a few years on the 30-day visa run. I read so much crap about it, but being well under 50 myself, and just wanting to to enjoy life, and relax in LOS without going the married route, I did not see any other option and I had no problem making that run each month.

I fully expect to hear the same old same old lines about how I was not really a tourist and if I was legitimate I would have got a long term visa.

How do you classify a tourist? For all intents and purposes I considered myself to be a long-term tourist, as I had no ambition to work in LOS at the time, and from my own good fortune elsewhere I had earned enough money to live on comfortably without working at that time.

I know, many people will make the arguement that most western countries will not allow someone to just set up camp and hang out as a tourist for longer than six months at a time. However, most of those countries also have different rules for allowing people, with good intentions, to immigrate and become a genuine part of that society if they so wish, with a little, ok maybe a lot of hard work. But it is still possible. Something which is not very possible in LOS if I am correct. I know there is a program to allow foreigners become permanent residents, but honestly how easy is it to do?

So in my opinion calling up this argument is really comparing apples to oranges.

However, I do understand there must be enough people working illegally while on tourist visas that LOS has had to do something about it. I just do not understand why there is so much hostility to people who genuinely want to just kick back and relax for a year or two or three if they wish f they have genuine tourist intentions.

Oh well let the hate-posts towards long-term tourists with genuine intentions begin, or should I say continue :P

tt

^Spot on, great av to, KR is the man!

Originally Posted by thaitang

How do you classify a tourist? For all intents and purposes I considered myself to be a long-term tourist, as I had no ambition to work in LOS at the time, and from my own good fortune elsewhere I had earned enough money to live on comfortably without working at that time.

My circumstances are similar to that. I stay by route of multi entry non O visa. I have gotten a new one each year for the last five years by stating on the application form as reason for visit "extended visit with girlfriends parents" Simple.

I really cant understand what the fuss is over this, you wanna stay here and hang out for a few years its simple enough, but you can't do it on tourist visa's.

Just how many times do people have to read this before it sinks into their heads?

^So what should someone put down as the reason if they don't have a Thai girlfriend - Tourism? Oh no thats what tourist visas are for, non imm 'O' is for 'Other'.

^ aren't you on you 2nd double entry tourist visa after your Non-O expired? (Vientiane Free Tourist Double Entry Visa Run)

So 12 months now on tourist visas. What do you consider yourself then? A born again tourist?

^No, I call myself too lazy to go to Oz to get a non 'O'. I will next time though.

Don't Chevron issue their thai staff with visas to work in umm, thailand then?

^^ I just got the same visa; the 60 day LZ.

The answer is easy...

Have a baby - get a visa.... That's what I did.

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

Don't Chevron issue their thai staff with visas to work in umm, thailand then?

I'm working (well not because I'm on a tourist visa) for myself.

*edit: Alright there Rawlins?

Off to Penang on Wed
doesn't sound hopeful for a tourist visa
any hope?

Have been sick
unable to fly long distance
if I only get 30 days I'll try the sick route

Originally Posted by English Noodles

*edit: Alright there Rawlins?

Ayup Noodles... Apart from festering away on a boat again, not doing too bad here...

Thought you wouldn't need any visa, being half Thai?...

Regarding the apparent stricter visa rules...
My non 'O' runs out in December so I'll be trying to wangle some work in the North Sea for next trip offshore and send a passport to Hull for another one... Don't see any problems but I might send a copy of my babies birth cert to support the application anyway.

A friend has just been up to Vientiene in the last few days and got a back-to-back double entry tourist visa no problem... Did it from Pattaya with a visa company for about 7000 baht all in.

Originally Posted by good2bhappy

Have been sick unable to fly long distance if I only get 30 days I'll try the sick route

Sorry to hear that your still not 100% mate.

Still a problem with the old ticker and I hope you get well soon as I am looking forward to that beer in Pattaya?

^sadly have quit
but thanks would like to meet up

Originally Posted by English Noodles

So what should someone put down as the reason if they don't have a Thai girlfriend

I reckon "visiting friends" is just as good, you do have some friends here don't you?

Suppose folks who want to "hang out" in Thailand and don't meet requirements for other visas could apply for residency as they would if they wanted to "hang out" in just about any country in the world.

There's a simple rule regarding the procurement of a Non-Imm visa. Use a consulate, not an Embassy. Embassies want reams of paperwork, consulates want your money.

^This is correct, and I guess now with the tourist visa being free they want to churn out as many non imm visas as they can, this is what pays for their wages and keeps them in a job, no visas being sold equals no job.

Originally Posted by rawlins

Thought you wouldn't need any visa, being half Thai?...

As blackgang will be happy to point out, I travel on a Brit passport.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

There's a simple rule regarding the procurement of a Non-Imm visa. Use a consulate, not an Embassy. Embassies want reams of paperwork, consulates want your money.

As I mentioned before in this thread, the consulate in Vancouver doesn't give them out. Maybe now with the tourist visas being free, it may have changed.