Thread: Why is Thailand going the wrong way with visitor visas?

Originally Posted by toddaniels

WHY don't these foreigners (who work outside the country), yet as you allege "spend a bunch of cash-often supporting their thai family" get a year long extension of stay

I believe its simply a matter of not really needing to. In and out every 30 or longer rotations, return under the 30 day rule and back offshore. Why bother with Immigration at all. I did this for years.

When I finally became a resident here on a more permanent basis then I took the necessary steps in acquiring a more substantial 1 year retirement visa.

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

My son has both an American passport and a Thai passport. This gives him the ability of visiting many countries in the world without having to jump thru so many hoops.

One thing to look into for your sons future Rick is the dual nationality inheritance laws ,, I have no idea mate , but possibly the US will not allow him to inherit there , mabe worth a look for peace of mind

Thanks Nige. Had not really thought about inheritance much sice my son is now considered a US citizen and would be subject to their laws for any US assets I have. As for also being a Thai citizen, I would think all the Thai assets would go to him per Thai law.

The question would come when he reaches 18 and would have to declare being either a US or Thai citizen. I do need to do some research on the topic.

Originally Posted by Lancelot

Thailand is over visited and the locals feel that foreign fools will return no matter how shabbily they are treated.

Actually 24 million visitors to Thailand a year are some very impressive figures right there.

Jesus, that's the population of poxy Australia.

It really does not matter what happens in Thailand or what the Naysayers sprout Thailand's tourists population will only ever increase or remain very healthy at the least.

The newbies simply love the place warts and all, the chaos and uncertainty of this friggin mad house is what draws the Westerners here.

Smokin hot lookin bitches and Somtam helps too.

I was just reading a report from a foreign dive shop owner on Koh Tao, its high season now and the place is nearly back in full swing with the murders mostly forgotten, people to busy getting on with having a blinding time to dwell on such an isolated incident.

Hence my point that it don't friggin matters what happens in Thailand, its all short time stuff and relegated down the shitter soon after.

Cannot keep the tourists away and the whining crying wanker Expats refuse to go.

Wish those coonts would fook off home to their little shit holes.

The happy ones can stay though, I like them.

I was just reading a report from a foreign dive shop owner on Koh Tao,

link please

^

You are a member of " Thaishitter ", it was a report on their Mail out today or within one of the subjects.

Further more, the guy was saying " regards tourist numbers ", after the murders he only noticed a slight drop in the English punters down there.

All other nations not much difference. Low season anyway, no big deal.

Anyway, go read it.

Hey Tax, It also has posts in the " introduce yourself section."

Thegent is in it saying that this forum is shit and he's flouncing and not coming back.

You then come on board echoing his views but here you guys are still bolliking on.

What gives with that EH ?

Truth is, its fukin shit over there , boring as dog shit.

Anyway, welcome back Tex.

Originally Posted by toddaniels

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

The question would come when he reaches 18 and would have to declare being either a US or Thai citizen. I do need to do some research on the topic.

"rickschopper" - that is an oft repeated urban myth about a thai holding dual citizenship having to declare which one they want to be at 18.

The law is written where it says; "if asked".. However I have never ever met a half-thai holding citizenship (as in passports) both of thailand and sometimes several other countries too, who has ever been asked to "pick one". Don't sweat it!

Although your son will, if he lives here, still have to participate in the mandatory "red/black" lottery for thai military service when he comes of age.

None issue citizenship, looked into it, 2 kids born in OZ, Thai birth certificates issued by the Thai embassy.
Harder to give up citizenship than lose it in most countries, only decision is which passport you travel under, good to have a few, think mine can hold 4. Jim

Thanks for the input above. It is encouraging news and my hope is that both of you are right when it comes to immigration regulations in the US. I believe it was the US Embassy who told me about the declaring at age 18, but I really need to search the US regs to make sure.

It would be great if he could hold the two passports and reap the benefits of both countries.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Thanks for the input above. It is encouraging news and my hope is that both of you are right when it comes to immigration regulations in the US. I believe it was the US Embassy who told me about the declaring at age 18, but I really need to search the US regs to make sure.

It would be great if he could hold the two passports and reap the benefits of both countries.

Dual Nationality

Thanks james, that does sound good to me. Abiding by both countrys laws make sense and I will be sure to educate my son on this when he becomes old enough to understand.

Thanks Again

Originally Posted by terry57

Originally Posted by Lancelot

Thailand is over visited and the locals feel that foreign fools will return no matter how shabbily they are treated.

Actually 24 million visitors to Thailand a year are some very impressive figures right there.

Jesus, that's the population of poxy Australia.

It's not particularly high. France had 85 million visitors last year, and Hong Kong had 54 million and is 2% of the size of Thailand.

Originally Posted by runner

Originally Posted by terry57

Originally Posted by Lancelot

Thailand is over visited and the locals feel that foreign fools will return no matter how shabbily they are treated.

Actually 24 million visitors to Thailand a year are some very impressive figures right there.

Jesus, that's the population of poxy Australia.

It's not particularly high. France had 85 million visitors last year, and Hong Kong had 54 million and is 2% of the size of Thailand.

You compare France to Thailand, France being the Worlds most visited Country and you compare their tourists numbers to Thailand .
Thats like saying that Wayne Rooney isnt very good because Messi and Ronaldo are much better

You have answered your own question

Originally Posted by runner

For example

Embassy of Japan in the UK

General sightseeing, visiting relatives or friends, recreation, convalescence, attending a conference, participation in unpaid lectures, meetings, amateur athletic meetings or other contests, short business trips (e.g. market surveys, business talks, after sales service for machinery imported into Japan)

UK and Irish passport holders are NOT required to obtain a visa if they wish to enter Japan for the purpose of journey described above for a period of 6 months or less

Originally Posted by runner

There is no point comparing the price of Thais visa services and UK visa services, or somtam in Thailand or somtam in the UK. Different prices, different costs, different circumstances, different expectations.

Not really. The Thai system was for years to allow people to enter for 30 days then another 30 days immediately afterwards ad infinitum, whereas other countries allowed longer periods to begin with. So my original question relates to Thailand cracking down on this instead of lengthening the period of stay. I think they are going the wrong way about it.

Originally Posted by Fluke

Originally Posted by runner

Originally Posted by terry57

Originally Posted by Lancelot

Thailand is over visited and the locals feel that foreign fools will return no matter how shabbily they are treated.

Actually 24 million visitors to Thailand a year are some very impressive figures right there.

Jesus, that's the population of poxy Australia.

It's not particularly high. France had 85 million visitors last year, and Hong Kong had 54 million and is 2% of the size of Thailand.

You compare France to Thailand, France being the Worlds most visited Country and you compare their tourists numbers to Thailand .
Thats like saying that Wayne Rooney isnt very good because Messi and Ronaldo are much better

Rooney is in the top 0.001% of footballer players in the world. Thailand just scrapes into the top 5% of visited countries in the world and has twice the population of the average country in the world. Oranges and apples.

Originally Posted by runner

Not really. The Thai system was for years to allow people to enter for 30 days then another 30 days immediately afterwards ad infinitum, whereas other countries allowed longer periods to begin with. So my original question relates to Thailand cracking down on this instead of lengthening the period of stay. I think they are going the wrong way about it.

The problem that that caused was that you had many people living full time in Thailand , for years, for ever, just living on the renewable visa and doing regular visa runs . People were working, opening up businesses and all kinds of things, all on tourist visas .
The Thai Gov wanted them all to get the correct Visa , because it made a mockery of the visa system .
The Thai Gov didnt want to long termers to stay here, the Thai Gov wants rich holiday makers to come to Thailand for a few weeks, rather than back packers .
Being a Brit, you can go to the Thai Embassy and get a visa, which is good for six months, if you get extensions and leave the Country once .
If you dont want to do that, then go to another Country, simple

I think that is the crux of it. They think that anyone staying for longer than 30 days won't be spending much per day so needs to hand over some visa fee readies up front.

Originally Posted by runner

Originally Posted by Fluke

Originally Posted by runner

Originally Posted by terry57

Originally Posted by Lancelot

Thailand is over visited and the locals feel that foreign fools will return no matter how shabbily they are treated.

Actually 24 million visitors to Thailand a year are some very impressive figures right there.

Jesus, that's the population of poxy Australia.

It's not particularly high. France had 85 million visitors last year, and Hong Kong had 54 million and is 2% of the size of Thailand.

You compare France to Thailand, France being the Worlds most visited Country and you compare their tourists numbers to Thailand .
Thats like saying that Wayne Rooney isnt very good because Messi and Ronaldo are much better

Rooney is in the top 0.001% of footballer players in the world. Thailand just scrapes into the top 5% of visited countries in the world and has twice the population of the average country in the world. Oranges and apples.

You missed the point.
To get an accurate representation of Thailands tourist figures, you need to compare the figures to every other countries figures, not just the top two other tourist destinations .
BTW , Rooney is just quite a good player, but nowhere near world class.

Originally Posted by runner

The Thai system was for years to allow people to enter for 30 days then another 30 days immediately afterwards ad infinitum

Incorrect. The Thai system wasn't that at all - still isn't. Enforcement was lacking, is lacking and now they're starting to enforce their laws.

Originally Posted by runner

The Thai system was for years to allow people to enter for 30 days then another 30 days immediately afterwards ad infinitum

That is correct. It changed in November/December 2006, whereby you could only do it two times in succession before have to exit for a set number of days.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Originally Posted by runner

The Thai system was for years to allow people to enter for 30 days then another 30 days immediately afterwards ad infinitum

That is correct. It changed in November/December 2006, whereby you could only do it two times in succession before have to exit for a set number of days.

If this is correct you will have no trouble finding the documentation to support this 'ad infinitum' provision.
I shall offer my apologies if I am wrong

Originally Posted by OckerRocker

Originally Posted by runner

The Thai system was for years to allow people to enter for 30 days then another 30 days immediately afterwards ad infinitum

Incorrect. The Thai system wasn't that at all - still isn't. Enforcement was lacking, is lacking and now they're starting to enforce their laws.

You beat me to it Ocker. That is exactly right. What has changed is the enforcement of already existing regulations. Foreigners have abused the system in Thailand for years.

Now if they could only enforce the driving regulations that already exist.

Originally Posted by runner

I think that is the crux of it. They think that anyone staying for longer than 30 days won't be spending much per day so needs to hand over some visa fee readies up front.

It seems despite lamenting the fact that thailand ain't any place else. Sayin' they'll give a pass to the country on their whirl-wind S/E Asian tour, it appears "runner" has indeed put the glorious "Land 'O Thaiz" on their itinerary.

They've got a couple threads goin' now askin' for bangkok serviced apartments, car rental places. Guess it wasn't the terrible inconvenience they cried about after all..

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Foreigners have abused the system in Thailand for years.

They cannot "abuse," a system if that system allows itself to be circumvented by its enforcers, right? Kick backs etc. self ordained corruption...just saying.