Edited by Jingthing, 2009-07-23 09:33:54.
0
Penang: Tourist Visa Rejected If Have 3 Tvisas Already...
Started by sedeflonga, 2009-07-22 19:58
#101
Jingthing
Member Schmember Posted 2009-07-23 09:33:19
Probably the most annoying thing about quirky Thai immigration changes over the years is that there is usually no grace period for people who have made plans under the old rules. Ideally rule changes should be formally announced and put into effect three months or more after the announcement. Anyone (like me) who has been caught in a trap of one of these changes where it would have been impossible to comply because there was no warning understands what I am talking about. It comes across very BANANA REPUBLIC.
#102
David006
Super Member Posted 2009-07-23 09:38:25
the idea is "if you got enough money to get your sorry ass out of thailand and back to farand land then you can come back and get a new visa. get new farang cash and come back and spend it." Anyone know if denial is based on the three visas being from Penang ? I have four already ( two from Canada) latest expiring early Aug. Should be interesting...... #103
likewise
Senior Member Posted 2009-07-23 09:40:08
After your 3 back to back TR visas you do 4 x 15 border runs and you start again
 Lets see if this flies?  They've made so many rules and always there's been away around it, I'm sure there is now.
#104
PoorSucker
Expat Member™ Posted 2009-07-23 09:54:04
I am on my 3rd marrage visa, no 400k in the bank. I get my wife to sponsor me. she declares that she earns more than 45k a month, pays the tax on it. we put money, 5k, in her bank, take it out, put it in, take it out, put it in and so on. no probs, just got my new visa a couple of weeks back New rules in Police order 777/2551 since November 2008. In case of marriage with a Thai lady, the husband who is an alien must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 baht per month or a money deposit in a local Thai bank of not less than 400,000 baht for the past 2 months for expenses within a year. #105
David006
Super Member Posted 2009-07-23 09:58:34
Mistake going to New Banana Guesthouse. The Chinese owner (Eddie Chia) is a real prick and has pissed off the Thai Consulate who works on Monday's. It wouldn't surprise me if he's now blacklisted with the Thai who works Tue-Friday. Don't be fooled by Banana's "service oriented facade". My friend left a pen camera going on his backpack and caught one of the office workers (longer haired, missing a bunch of teeth) coming into his room and rifling through this stuff. If you're in Penang now and have been told this by the Banana just try a few others, possibly down by the Indian guys on Chulia. good luck.  MMM yes I was thinking the same thing re a potential personality issue.. I always stay at the Cathay Hotel (old quaint and quite famous) in China town. ( easy access from Langkawi ferry). opposite Red Garden food court and a good pub on the other side. Friendly helpful and reasonable..I use them or their agent for same day service for my "tourist visa".
#106
DurianIslandKoThurian
Member Posted 2009-07-23 09:59:34
I would for a couple of years and then spend a year in Thailand doing nothing.... Just beacase i'm not a American with 2 weeks holiday a year don't mean i'm not on a holiday. I like riding my bicycle and sitting on the beach, living cheap and enjoying the best food in the world. I am the same cycling,long term tourist,unemployed,eating fresh fruit,staying at guesthouses for a weekly cost of +THB700/US$35,no sex-tourism,sober and in warm healthy sunny weather. Total annual expenses of THB130,000,including an annual airline 2 way/return ticket to farang land. Cycling is a very fast,safe and convenient way to move around/sightsee all thai cities and towns,that is, with a reassuring rear mirror . I like to go to a farang country,pick up a free,discarded bicycle from a pile of rubbish,pump up the tyres with air, and then take it to thailand/asia and cycle around on the bike.I put a back carrier on the back of the bike,to carry bags of fruit,and the occasional passenger. Fa-ráng ják-grá-yaan! Then just before I return to farang land,I donate the bicycle to a now happy and smiling thai/asian. FRIENDLINESS:Dictionary pocketbook called 'Thai-English-Thai' by Benjawan Poomsan Becker/Paiboon Publishers,is the way to learn to speak thai and so to impress the thais at the market/talaat etc. It is the best and only pocketbook dictionary, that gives english speakers,and thais, the sounds of the translated words,etc. Thailand has the same amount of daily hostility and police corruption etc as farang-land. But with added friendly,smiling thais...and daily overcharging and/or scams. And some thais are extremely helpful and friendly. It is too much to handle too,the daily hostility. Can you recommend a safer friendlier asian country?I've had enough. #107
Mario2008
Superb Member Posted 2009-07-23 10:04:33
I see a lot of protests directed to the Thai goverment about this subject, but this seems to be the policy of the consulate in Penang, not of the Thai government.
#108
bungy007
Senior Member Posted 2009-07-23 10:09:22
If you are a genuine tourist....it's not likely that you would need more than three back to back tourist visas. If you are not a genuine tourist...either get a proper visa or bugger off back home. The rules are not that complicated. Does your country allow people to just wander in and out pretending to be tourists? getting a "proper visa"as you say, mate, is so complex and full of red-tape, a real burden for simple people, like someone who works for six months in the West and spend six months holidays in the East, and there are scores of them around, think only about how many German, Swiss and Scandinavian construction workers who work only from april to september in their countries ( due to the weather) or people involved in the ski season (thousands) like rescuer and ski trainers who do six month in the Alps and six months in Phukhet or Pattaya. In the end , those people are GENUINE tourists, being a genuine tourist does not mean to stay in a place for a determined lenght of time. You are wrong. If you don't have a secure long term visa solution (and nobody does even though many think they do), you are a "tourist" in Thailand. Phrases like "proper visa," "border runners," "perpetual tourists" are all taken from Thailand's misguided social engineering program........a program that continues to be a disaster for tourism and local, micro-economies that depend on it. The person who said that "this is not Government policy and only applies to Penang" is off the mark. The government knows precisely what its embassies are doing. They entire system is xenophobic........it is anti-foreigner, anti-tourism, anti-foreign investment. It is broken! I can't understand why the system is allowed to function in a way that hurts Thailand. A certain department must have tremendous power to get away with this sort of thing at a time when Thailand needs foreign dollars and investment. Somebody needs to take out a big broom and...............clean house. Spot on yet again Tex. Perhaps all those who still support the square head, who initiated all of this xenophobia in Thailand while availing himself and his family of all that is good in the West, will finally accept that but giving him their support they were cutting their throats and those of their fellow 'tourists' - or as the 'Thaier than Thais' tv posters state, 'guests'. Maybe this policy is an extended form of revenge by the Pukett Immigration after the higly negative exposure they've been 'enjoying' in the interantional arena? Perhaps this is their version of regaining a huge loss of face or som nam na to the tourists of Thailand 
#109
sushi5734
Advanced Member Posted 2009-07-23 10:10:24
I don't understand why people wouldn't get a class 'O' Non immigrant visa from your home country before coming here, it means that you can stay here for 15 months, you just have to leave the country every 90 days. It costs £100 which is about 5600 Baht very quick and easy to apply for.
Going home every year and a quarter is no huge problem, maybe going back every now and then is actually a good idea as it will make you grateful for the life you have here. however I'm sure there are one or two people out there who are running from various things at home 
#110
David006
Super Member Posted 2009-07-23 10:10:52
I would for a couple of years and then spend a year in Thailand doing nothing.... Just beacase i'm not a American with 2 weeks holiday a year don't mean i'm not on a holiday. I like riding my bicycle and sitting on the beach, living cheap and enjoying the best food in the world. I am the same cycling,long term tourist,unemployed,eating fresh fruit,staying at guesthouses for a weekly cost of +THB700/US$35,no sex-tourism,sober and in warm healthy sunny weather. Total annual expenses of THB130,000,including an annual airline 2 way/return ticket to farang land. Cycling is a very fast,safe and convenient way to move around/sightsee all thai cities and towns,that is, with a reassuring rear mirror . I like to go to a farang country,pick up a free,discarded bicycle from a pile of rubbish,pump up the tyres with air, and then take it to thailand/asia and cycle around on the bike.I put a back carrier on the back of the bike,to carry bags of fruit,and the occasional passenger. Fa-ráng ják-grá-yaan! Then just before I return to farang land,I donate the bicycle to a now happy and smiling thai/asian. FRIENDLINESS:Dictionary pocketbook called 'Thai-English-Thai' by Benjawan Poomsan Becker/Paiboon Publishers,is the way to learn to speak thai and so to impress the thais at the market/talaat etc. It is the best and only pocketbook dictionary, that gives english speakers,and thais, the sounds of the translated words,etc. Thailand has the same amount of daily hostility and police corruption etc as farang-land. But with added friendly,smiling thais...and daily overcharging and/or scams. And some thais are extremely helpful and friendly. It is too much to handle too,the daily hostility. Can you recommend a safer friendlier asian country?I've had enough. Try Vancouver Canada its mostly Asian..lol ....now has alias Vankong 
#111
Killroy
Member Posted 2009-07-23 10:15:18
So does this mean 3 visas total from all time periods/embassies in your passport? Or three in a row from Penang. I think they already cut you off in Penang after three in a row from them. Does anyone know? And not everyone on consecutive tourist visas is working or being illegal. I am considering marrying a Thai man... but knowing what you know about all of the horror stories, would you fast-track a marriage in this situation? Or would you rather stick around a while and be sure before making that step? I make my money at home, and am renting an apartment in the meantime until we marry (maybe this fall). Yes there are divers and whatnot working illegally on 3,456 back to back tourist visas, but everyone has their own reason for being here longer than typical tourism. Not all of us are here stealing Thai jobs, money, being losers, or effing off the system for kicks. what if get marry with a thai citizen as farang ? how long visa do you get and how? If you apply in your home country you don't have to show any bank statement for 400,000 bath (I didn't anyway) If you apply here in Thailand thay request a bankstatment.... #112
TimeBandit2
Senior Member Posted 2009-07-23 10:16:48
My Thai girlfriend has a 10 year multiple entry tourist visa for the United States, good for six months at time. Only 3,500 baht for it too.
As an American in Thailand I get...3 months double entry? Good thing nobody wants to go to the U.S... #113
mark03
Newbie Posted 2009-07-23 10:17:17
Hi,
I was on July 16th n Penang making my 4th Tourist Visa run in a row in Penang. It worked smooth. I gave my passport to the Hotel reception and they handled it at the same day. No hint that there are any problems. I was charged 20 MR. I saw later that Banana Guesthouse offers now 5 RM for handling Tourist Visa. I had heard before that Penang offers only 3 runs in a row. So I asked at Banana Guesthouse and my hotel to be sure if there were any problems and both confirmed there are no problems making many visa runs in row. Now I'm confused. 
Edited by mark03, 2009-07-23 10:30:26. #114
CRUNCHER
Senior Member Posted 2009-07-23 10:33:10
I see a lot of protests directed to the Thai goverment about this subject, but this seems to be the policy of the consulate in Penang, not of the Thai government. You are right Mario. There are too many people who see anti farang conspiracies everywhere directed from on high. It was the same with King Power. #115
Jingthing
Member Schmember Posted 2009-07-23 10:50:04 Quote I don't understand why people wouldn't get a class 'O' Non immigrant visa from your home country before coming here Edited by Jingthing, 2009-07-23 10:51:12. #116
ParadiseLost
Senior Member Posted 2009-07-23 10:56:12
My Thai girlfriend has a 10 year multiple entry tourist visa for the United States, good for six months at time. Only 3,500 baht for it too. As an American in Thailand I get...3 months double entry? Good thing nobody wants to go to the U.S...  Most people complaining here are EU/UK/US/CAN passport holders and as such have not experienced the nightmare it is trying to get into your own, or another 1st world country. I am not such a passport holder and as such have jumped through many hoops for the wonderful privilege of working or touring in many of your countries. While working (legally) in UK for 3 years I was unable to visit EU countries without letters of invite, hotel bookings etc. etc. I was treated like garbage in several London embassies and felt humiliated every time. I recently investigated obtaining an Australian tourist visa (for Thai wife and I) for a 3 week visit: I have given up before even starting...  No internet application available - instead a 10 page visa application requiring more info than my Thai 1 year extension, an interview to prove our 3 year marriage is "real" and lastly proof of lots of... money. Fee AUD 105 each for the privilege. We live in the South, so a 5 day trip to BKK is of course required and just adds to the cost. In fact I decided screw this when the airfare and visa cost reached parity...  
#117
stevenl
Platinum Member Posted 2009-07-23 10:57:44 Quote In the US, you need a legit reason and legit reasons are very limited and many many people don't have one. #118
Jingthing
Member Schmember Posted 2009-07-23 11:01:40
Quote In the US, you need a legit reason and legit reasons are very limited and many many people don't have one. #119
Junglejumbo
Senior Member Posted 2009-07-23 11:10:02
Might have something to do with the visa being free. Perhaps they think people are staying here because the visa is free!
I have no more pages left in my passport so I'll get a new one. Maybe that will help. #120
amarka
Senior Member Posted 2009-07-23 11:10:53
most of these people are not "tourists" - real tourists dont stay that long!
these are people who are working black, not paying taxes and so on. if you have a job get a work permit - where is the problem.. amarka 
Go Thailand Go, drive more tourists away! Tourism only accounts for 6% of GDP (323.5 billion baht)......hmmmmm, guess they don't need us! #121
Hanimal
Advanced Member Posted 2009-07-23 11:14:03
I suppose one consul does not a diplomatic service make. The Penang consulate is notorious, but not all should be tarred with the same brush. We cannot say it is government policy to get rid of tourists if it is just the Penang consulate doing the dirty. I am sure the TAT would be horrified to learn of what goes on there.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not seem to have a firm grip on economics. The elite at the Ministry do not see their role as encouraging tourism but rather trade. While some have written here that not all people who get multimple tourist visas are working illegally, I suspect a fair number are. Not that even working in a legitimate business (i.e. not drugs or sexual slavery) should be small potatoes to the Thai Government if they look at it on a cost/benefit basis. Thai Air Asia and Tiger are very economic airlines, especially if you book up well in advance, e.g. when you get the first visa and you know the expiry date, then make your booking straight away. While Singapore and Hong Kong are relatively expensive places to stay, there are cheap places available if you can stand the horror of the accommodation for a few days. Laos and Cambodia are fine, but note that I have been ripped off at the Lao embassy in the past, not by the Thai staff but the Lao people who hang around it pretending to be legitimate. Things may have changed. #122
Jingthing
Member Schmember Posted 2009-07-23 11:15:26 Quote these are people who are working black, not paying taxes and so on. #123
mommysboy
Platinum Member Posted 2009-07-23 11:28:45
I really don't care how people stay here legal or illegal but don't whine how unfair Thailand is when you have been gaming the system for months or years and get caught out. It's like the kid with chocolate all over his face and says I didn't eat the cake when his mom comes home early. You sound like a fool and look like a fool. These post are typical of what starts out as informational and turns into a joke. Uh! you mean get caught doing something you are encouraged to do,ie, get a tourist visa instead of the VOA. freakwit #124
Viper
Senior Member Posted 2009-07-23 11:36:20
Why stay in Thailand so long on a back to back tourist visa? You guys have to blame yourself for this. Just get yourself a non-imm B if you plan on staying long terms. Its a very simple procedure and not expensive.
#125
sunray69
Advanced Member Posted 2009-07-23 11:37:47
You posters who criticize Thai visa policies because you say it will hurt tourism: why do you care so much? Do you love Thailand so much that you cannot bear to see the government make (what you think is) a mistake? I worked inside a Thai government ministry in Bangkok for over a decade, and I saw first-hand how policies and high-level decisions were made. Let me say this: there was always - ALWAYS -- a rational basis for the policy decision (even though one might not like it). So relax and accept that fact that you don't understand the basis for the policy, and the authorities don't care if you do or not. Well I think this is a normal policy which is applied here. I dont see how a Thai people could renew a tourist visa every 3 months in Europe, that would not be possible. Thai people are doing the same here and we cant blame them for that. Anyway this does not affect my friends who are coming every years for a 3 weeks holiday time  ...
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