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[dsfbrit]

Foodie, on 2009-07-23 03:11:02, said:

ross163103, on 2009-07-23 00:08:35, said:

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!

This is the typical attitude I often see on this site. Nothing is being done to stop genuine tourists from coming to Thailand for holidays. These regulations are to stop the farangs that have no, or very little money, from abusing the system and using consecutive tourist visas, to live and often work,illegally, in Thailand.

As an earlier post said about going to Singapore for visa ( no money)

Why should the Thai government allow farang with little or no money abuse the system and break the law?

Genuine tourist who came here for their holiday ae always welcomed and the Government has done many things to make it easier for them including waving the visa fees for tourists for the rest of the year.

I agree in principle with what you say. The majority of the people on back to back 'tourist' visas and on 'visa runs' are not 'real' tourists as such. However I disagree that the tourists consider they are 'welcomed', if they want to vist Thailand too often. Friends of mine travelling around the world came here for 2 weeks, then went to China, then came back for 2 weeks. They were going to come back again for 2 weeks, but could not understand the 'confusing' rules about the visa requirements. I tried to explain the difference between border entry via land entry and entry via the airport, 'Visa On Arrival (VOA) versus Visa Exempt... etc... They said they thought when they had come before that they could stay 30 days even they they had entered via a land border - they had to do this as their Ais Asia ticket was useless - Suwanaboom Airport was shut because of the protests!

I said I thought since then the rules had changed... from 30 to 15 days.

Even though I was talking to them over the phone I could 'feel' they were losing the will to live about the rules!!! They went to South Africa instead.

Edited by dsfbrit, 2009-07-23 07:14:42.

[bigbadbobbolton]

PoorSucker, on 2009-07-22 22:46:34, said:

Every consulate makes own rules.
In Penang three years ago you got the Tourist visa stamp but also "never apply in Penang again".
There's to many "tourists" working in south of Thailand illegally.
They make problems for genuine tourist.

LOS will now be known as LOC, "Land Of Cannot".

But given the restrictions imposed in most of our "home" countries towards foreigners maybe we shouldn't complain too much? For example a young woman applying from Eastern Europe or Asia to visit Canada? They are told to forget it don't even bother applying. We should be thankful that we are not faced with the same attitudes as back home?

[thaibkk]

a riddle ...

what is bang bang bang bang bang ?


thai people keeping shooting in their own foot to kill their economy over and over again


world wide crisis but thailand keeps up their promise to destroy the big tourist economy

way to go, LOS

[DurianIslandKoThurian]

markg, on 2009-07-23 09:35:37, said:

Tourism being killed? ...
But by enlarge, they are few in number. I feel sorry for them, but the vast majority of visa runners are not in that group. They are working. Illegally.

The correct english is : But by and large.
Not "But by enlarge".

-WordWhiz

[GeeBee3]

gonzobrains, on 2009-07-23 00:38:05, said:

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."

If you check the official Thai immigration site you will see that what is happening in Penang with regard to tourist visas is simply following the stated immigration policy. This policy limits the number of days you may stay within a 180 day period. It is no different to most other countries. TF

//Edit: The information in this post is wrong. -- Maestro

Edited by Maestro, 2009-07-24 22:59:37.
Added edit note - Maestro

[TaoNow]

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.

[Absingjul]

Let's hope they never find out about the visa pricing in Bhutan... 7,000 baht/day visas would ensure only quality tourists apply.

[mrbp]

Most of the English teachers out here do not have degrees so they are unable to get work permits. They are living and working illegally on Thai wages so no healthy Western bank balance to smooth the way.

Without the illegal teachers the government schools would have hardly any native speaking English teachers. Most people with degrees work in private language schools or they go to Japan or Korea. Thai government school pay is small and the kids unruly so it's rare that the highly qualified end up working in them. The system needs budget farang teachers and plenty of them.

Are they bad apples who should be weeded out and admonished by you wealthy business owners and loaded VIP retirement visa crew?

I understand Thailand's policies and disagree with those that bang on as if Thailand was being draconian when they know that a Thai can't visit most farang countries without jumping through firey hoops and proving they are rich.

It's you wealthy expats who talk about those who can't win the day with bundles of cash as if they where scrounging scum who are truly out of order. It's such pomposity.

"well I've got the cash to do what I want, if you haven't then your a loser who deserves to be got rid of"

Having no money doesn't automatically make you a scrounger milking the system and having bundles of cash to fly home to get your visa doesn't automatically make you a desirable and respectful farang.

[frenchFARANGbkk]

dmax, on 2009-07-23 01:40:21, said:

simple answer to al ur problems,,,go live in cambodia

Better overstay in Thailand until they catch me!

The problem with Cambodia is that it's full of Cambodian, same problem as France, that would be nice without all these French !


:-)

[dasy]

I can confirm Penang makes up rules by the minute was denied Non B for a reason only in Penang. Got my money back though.

David

[thaibkk]

what most people forget... when thai are complaining they cannot visit US / EUROPE / AUSTRALIA...


the minimun full time wage in an average European country = +- 50.000 baht...

so one farang, when working, earns 50.000 baht


the minimum wage in Thailand is 0 - 6000 baht.... go to MK restaurant, I was shocked :

looking for waitress at : 34 baht per hour salary !!!

x 8 hours = 272 baht per day x 22 working days = 5984 baht !


so Thai people who complain they cannot get visa, because they either do not have money and want to go to 1st world country to work illegal or some pattaya hooker that wants to go overthere for a nicer life, get divorced when the time is right (get papers to stay indefinetly) and get half of what the love sick puppy had before...


so any farang tourist, per definition will have at least 8x more income from his farang country...


if they like to stay here a few months, legal or illegal, spend all their money or lose it in their 49% owned OWN company that went bankrupt, why not ?


i remember a saying : don't bite the hand that feeds you....


apparently, this does not apply in this Land of ...

[animatic]

Don't know where home is,
but Brisbane is easy as pie last I used it.
20 minutes flat, no issues.

[animatic]

frenchFARANGbkk, on 2009-07-23 08:17:43, said:

dmax, on 2009-07-23 01:40:21, said:

simple answer to al ur problems,,,go live in cambodia

Better overstay in Thailand until they catch me!

The problem with Cambodia is that it's full of Cambodian, same problem as France, that would be nice without all these French !


:-)

I have found that you only need to TRY and speak french and the French will warm up quick.
It also helps to be a foodie.

[Mario2008]

billsykes, on 2009-07-22 23:51:06, said:

looking through reports, I belive to understand that a "consulat" is not actually working for that government, but, inderpendant. Is this correct?

You have to make a distinction bewteen a consul and a honorary consul. A consul is a goverment official and gets his normal civil servants pay. A honorary consul doesn't even have to be a national of the country he represents, he is not a civil servant and doesn't recieve a salary. Instead a honorary consul recieves an income from the visas he issues. That is why a honorary consul is normaly more flexible than a consul or embassy.

[barry]

ITS HARD TO IMAGINE ANY OTHER COUNTRY
THAT NEEDS TOURISTS SO MUCH
BEHAVING IN SUCH A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE MANNER

[billsykes]

moskito, on 2009-07-23 02:35:38, said:

WAKE UP guys and be honest. Most of us are not Tourist in the way Thailand want them. We are living here, some for a long time, means we know how things working, where to get cheap food and safe money....THATS what THEY dont like...another thing is we make Thaipeople ask questions and thats the worst you can do to the government in THailand.

I am also here on a tourist Visa atm. I am married but dont have the 400k on my bankaccount anymore....AM I STUPID?? how many Thaipeople do you know with more than 100k on a Bank, specially in times like that.

What do they care that we build houses here, bought cars, opened small businesses for our wifes and support the family in Isaan? The only thing they want is money.

Best solution: come to LOS give your money to the immigrationofficer at BKK Airport, turn around and p11s off They will love you for that!!

Penang Embassy is the last place I ever go again. Staff there is rude and unfriendly. If you are lucky you see a Thai around, most of them are locals, guess they make the decisions too. who gets a visa and who dont.


400k or 800k (unmarried)on a bank, 65k income a month?? ....do you see what the government want?

btw. I heard of offices which take care of all the visastuff incl. money for 20 to 25k ONLY .....good Taxfree income for the immi-officers AND you still save 25k for leaving the country every three month.

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

[khunjake]

astral, on 2009-07-23 00:45:02, said:

I fear this has little to do with tourism, or big spenders....................

It is another attempt to weed out the illegal workers and long stay
people who do not meet the retirement or marriage criteria.

That's exactly what the purpose is. 3 continuous "tourist" visas says shows that one is not staying here as a tourist but rather as a longer term visitor and needs to have the appropriate visa. This is not just a Thai issue but it prevalent in many other countries.

[Mario2008]

Several off topic comments have been deleted as they disrupt the discussion.

[BlueSmurf]

Back on topic!lol
I think you will find this is a trend to stop border runs completely and only offer tourist visas in your own country. The next step will be announced in approx. 3 months. Whats behind it we can all only guess as it makes no sense.
I will make no more comment as common sense with the people in power does not seem to exist.

[Jingthing]

Quote

That's exactly what the purpose is. 3 continuous "tourist" visas says shows that one is not staying here as a tourist but rather as a longer term visitor and needs to have the appropriate visa. This is not just a Thai issue but it prevalent in many other countries.

Agreed, it is a common policy point for many countries. Some countries allow perpetual tourists (sometime with tourist visas, sometimes with simple border crossings) and some countries do not. Such policies are always subject to change. That doesn't mean people living in Thailand that way are not very concerned parties in any change.

[Mario2008]

JR Texas, on 2009-07-23 07:06:41, said:

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.

Your statement dosn't have any merrit in it, as it is not the policy of all Thai embassies and consulates to limit the number of tourist visas one can have.

[Exnavy]

[quote name='WISteve' date='2009-07-23 03:36:49' post='2889437']
Very true.
The guys with page after page of tourist visas are for the most part not tourists, but illegal workers IMO.
Get the proper visa for working/retiring in the country and you won't have these issues.

~WISteve


Regarding all Thai visa issues, the inconsistancies at all Thai Immigration Offices and Thai Consulates is the main cause for complaints from expats. At the end of the day, though it is usually after days/weeks sometimes months of frustration, expence and worry, visa issues for the individual get sorted one way or another.

Though tourism is Thailands main source of income, Farangs have to accept that the policy here is and always has been, 'Thailand for the Thais'. Yes, they want your money but they really do not want you, long term. If you want to stay, then you can and even though the 'goal posts' are moved regularly, most expats succeed in obtaining their visa. Thai Immigration will always make it difficult for you and if you do not accept that then you should not be here. It is not going to change.

I'm a Brit, born English from English parents and I wish the same policy was in place there. I feel that England is no longer my country, it now belongs to every other national in the world who arrives legally or illegally and I as a born Englishman, I just do not count any more. That for sure will never happen in Thailand so have Thai Immigration got it wrong?

[Jingthing]

Perhaps Penang just cannot handle the volume of visas they would have to process if they didn't impose restrictions. Do they make more money per application or a flat rate from the Thai government? $$$$$

Edited by Jingthing, 2009-07-23 09:13:11.

[bkkjames]

TaoNow, on 2009-07-23 08:02:04, said:

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.

nobody is saying there isn't alot of thought going into these decisions.

we just get the feeling that these decisions are based only on short term analysis. band-aid solutions if you will. eg, Financial Crisis, wave visa fees: if you drive your mercedez over the boarder from malaysia and stay at the orientel, only 15 days, but if you fly on Air asia and stay at XYZ guesthouse, you get 30.....

all people really want is a policy that doesn't change from quarter to quarter. Think of a company that is considering investing in a hi-tech start-up in the country. The constant FBA, visa, taxation changes are a massive barrier. Just make the rules, take a year to do it, study everything and decide, then let it be the way.

back to the tourist visa issue at hand, no doubt there are a few abusers, but should be careful to not throw the baby out with the bathwater IMO.

Edited by bkkjames, 2009-07-23 09:15:55.

[khunjake]

"Tourism makes up 6.7% of Thailand's economy and 7% of its work force"

http://www.economywa...to_Political_Vi
olence.html

More restrictions on "tourists" wouldn't even put a dent in the Thai economy

Another reason why more restrictions have been occurring is because of the higher amount of criminals making their way into the country. Many of which are coming in from China, Taiwan, Eastern Europe and Middle Eastern countries.