Prev Page 3 of 33 1 2 3 4 5 Next » You cannot reply to this topic Go to first unread post 822 replies to this topic

[divinelight]

Morris, on 2009-09-11 11:23:33, said:

What's illegal about seeking employment? I thought only working with a tourist visa is illegal?
And I also thought that also a tourist 60 day visa can be applied for 3 times within a year only. No?

That means that you can never travel to Thailand to seek work unless you have been invited to do so, and have a letter that approves your non-B.
So a job in Thailand can only be found online or by connections with people that live in Thailand. Is that what it means ?
Then people have to provide you a non-b letter before your interview. And that is impossible! In some immigration offices they don't just ask you a letter, but all the information of the company. How will you ever get this when they haven't even hired you??

Yes I am aware of the huge amount of illegal workers in Thailand, people that will never get a pension, or maybe even drink so much that they cannot practically be alive at the time they cannot work anymore (and normally would receive a pension). What are they all doing here then....
All I can say is that Freedom does not exists in the world, and Thailand is a great country to learn this.

Thai Nationalism will make sure that you will always be and feel like an outsider, Thailand should favor you being here and the other way round, who cares!
What you favor about thailand is probably not the thing that Thailand is proud off, so everyone who will contribute to Thailand's bad reputation should go in the first place. Or you could do that job that illegal workers normally do, like the Burmese. Thai just want to make clear that Foreigners don't own this country, even if some think they do. Everything seems so easy, as if they can play gods. While this behavior is not possible anywhere in the world, why would anyone expect it from Thailand. Maybe they're not so fast, but they learn by mistake, that's all.

Please do not place all 'Farangs' in the same basket... Not everyone thinks that Thailand should favour us for being here. I love Thailand and the people, and appreciate being able to live and work (legally) in such a beautiful country, with such a wonderful culture and hsitory, and I have many friend who also think and feel this way. One thing that is the same for all countires all over the world... we all need tourists... they are what provides money for the country, I do agree that there should be laws around working illegally anywhere, not just in Thailand.

[PaulHamon]

BlackJack, on 2009-09-11 12:17:06, said:

"The expansion of the work and holiday arrangement will help to further enhance this important bilateral relationship," he added.

My gf is currently here in Australia on this visa, great for her (under 30) but I'm just over and it don't help me. stupid age limit.

[CockneyGit]

Quote

so how does one stay if he cant qualify for some visa's, like 200,000 baht or whatever it may take? i am moving to the philippines but rather live in Thailand. i dont want to travel every 30 days.

Going by previous "crackdowns", if you have necessary funds to show you can support yourself as a "tourist" then there should be no problem. If people are here just bumming around then they are of no use to the Thai economy anyway..!!

"Nail in the coffin", "they hate all farangs"... al the usual chestnuts come rolling out.

Pish & Tish..!!

If you play by the rules then there's no problem. Responsible and respectful people will always be welcomed here. Losers and bums can bugger off!

Personally I think that it would be a good idea to start screening people who are still in the country to check what they are doing, is their visa and/or work permit in place and where their funds are coming from.

[robblok]

This will be a problem for farang with internet business. The problem is that you cant just start a business in Thailand and get a work permit you need to employ 5 Thais. If they would get rid of that stupid rule a lot of people with internet businesses would pay tax and get a work permit. Many internet business are just not big enough to employ 5 Thais its completely crazy. They are not stealing jobs from Thai they are creating new jobs and spending money in the economy.

I fortunately am married so i dont have a problem, but they should really make it easier for internet businesses.

[loong]

Why all the posts about how difficult it is to get a visa to another country?
What does that have to do with this subject?
I just looked out of the window, and yes, I'm pretty sure that this is still Thailand.
The fact is that people are/were actively encouraged to get a tourist visa from neighbouring countries. So people know what to expect. Then without notice, the rug is pulled from under their feet!
You can be doing everything legally. It is not against the law to be a perpetual tourist. So getting back to back tourist visas has been no problem and LEGAL.
I have no problem with them changing regulations, but they change them so often and never give any notice.
If they issued a statement to the effect that there will be changes made in 6 months time or something like that, at least it would give people time to make adjustments/arrangements.

[henryalleman]

dude007, on 2009-09-11 07:02:39, said:

yabaaaa, on 2009-09-11 11:57:18, said:

punkrock192, on 2009-09-11 11:18:02, said:

finally ! was about time. i guess in your "civilized" country you welcome illegal workers with open arms...

Yes we do then after a few years we give them an amnesty and let them stay(Uk)

Yabaaa. even worse in Belgium: we regularise their illegal stay (by 20,000 units at a time) and give them a Belgian passport so that they can re-unite with their Marokkan or Turkish family in Belgium (NOT in Marokko or in Turkey) and that their family also can obtain the Belgian Nationality after 9 months... After that they all vote for the socialist or Christian Democrat party as compensation for their Belgian passport...


So really we ARE civilized....

Correctomundo; I did wish the belgian government had only halve sensibility the of the Thai government. That's why I don't understand the whining and complaining about Thai Visa rules. Or you can apply to them and then you can stay without any hassles, or you don't and than you bugger of. Simply as that.

BTW I don't know any genuine tourist who can stay longer than 3 months in a country, don't they have a job back home waiting for them. Any sensible government in the wrld is doing the same

Edited by henryalleman, 2009-09-11 12:37:21.

[Grey11]

alaninkarachi, on 2009-09-11 11:33:33, said:

NHJ, on 2009-09-11 11:24:32, said:

i'm glad to have a three years non-B!

Exactly. We read here time and time again about how hard it is to get a tourist visa to UK if you are a Thai. They, the Thai Government are more than reasonable here. If you are here on 'business' well just do it right, get the right visa.

And you all have a good weekend!

A few years ago I tried to help my brothers-in-law and their wives get a tourist visa to visit us in Texas. My wife had been a U.S. citizen for almost 20 years. Whether dealing with the INS in Texas or the U.S. Consulate in Bangkok, we could never get them a visitation visa. Finally we were informed by the U.S. that my wife's brother's wives could visit but not her brothers. Her dad, retired from the Royal Thai Navy & also a retired Bangkok policeman could never get a visitation visa. One of her brothers was an attorney and the other a government school superintendent. Tens of millions of illegals come into Texas from Mexico and the rest of Central America. Few, very few, are ever caught once in the U.S. They are usually charged and let go with a promise to appear at court on a certain date. Needless to say they don't show up. So getting into the U.S. illegally is quite easy. Getting into the U.S. from Thailand to even visit relatives is very difficult. None of my wife's relatives ever were allowed to visit us. Now, we are retired in Thailand.

[twister]

robblok, on 2009-09-11 12:28:55, said:

This will be a problem for farang with internet business. The problem is that you cant just start a business in Thailand and get a work permit you need to employ 5 Thais. If they would get rid of that stupid rule a lot of people with internet businesses would pay tax and get a work permit. Many internet business are just not big enough to employ 5 Thais its completely crazy. They are not stealing jobs from Thai they are creating new jobs and spending money in the economy.

I fortunately am married so i dont have a problem, but they should really make it easier for internet businesses.

My problem. Internet marketer and translator.

Am looking at my options now. My dad has a company here so might be able to get it sorted through his company.
But only have one month to get this done.

Aargh.

[CockneyGit]

Quote

The problem is that you cant just start a business in Thailand and get a work permit you need to employ 5 Thais.

Nonsense! To have a Thai Limited Partnership you just need one Thai person.

[NHJ]

CosmicSurfer, on 2009-09-11 11:37:22, said:

NHJ, on 2009-09-11 11:24:32, said:

i'm glad to have a three years non-B!

Is this something new???
CS

nope it's not new, see the mfa.go.th but this visa is impossible to get now, the only consulate that delivers it doesn't do it anymore, this finished in early september.

[wintermute]

CockneyGit, on 2009-09-11 12:25:56, said:

Personally I think that it would be a good idea to start screening people who are still in the country to check what they are doing, is their visa and/or work permit in place and where their funds are coming from.

I know several people who are either independently well off and own a place in Thailand and just happen to live here or earn income through outside sources such as the internet or stock market. This means these people have to leave Thailand or get married in order to stay.

Oh well.

[truthfulfox]

dude007, on 2009-09-11 13:02:39, said:

yabaaaa, on 2009-09-11 11:57:18, said:

punkrock192, on 2009-09-11 11:18:02, said:

finally ! was about time. i guess in your "civilized" country you welcome illegal workers with open arms...

Yes we do then after a few years we give them an amnesty and let them stay(Uk)

Yabaaa. even worse in Belgium: we regularise their illegal stay (by 20,000 units at a time) and give them a Belgian passport so that they can re-unite with their Marokkan or Turkish family in Belgium (NOT in Marokko or in Turkey) and that their family also can obtain the Belgian Nationality after 9 months... After that they all vote for the socialist or Christian Democrat party as compensation for their Belgian passport...


So really we ARE civilized....

lies are so bad ,you can lie in europe not in here . It's is not easy as you are telling , anyway thailand is right to kick usless people from it's land .

[robblok]

CockneyGit, on 2009-09-11 12:38:14, said:

Quote

The problem is that you cant just start a business in Thailand and get a work permit you need to employ 5 Thais.

Nonsense! To have a Thai Limited Partnership you just need one Thai person.

I had a thai limited

to get a workpermit for me to work in my own company i needed to employ 5 thais

[marsteele]

Guderian, on 2009-09-11 11:20:21, said:

Who, me ?, on 2009-09-11 11:13:51, said:

Another nail in the coff.........
This one will come soon too

And don't forget the perennial, "They hate us farangs, they really, really hate us...".

Maybe they're regretting giving the tourist visas for free now?

umm yes I am confused they give free in one hand and clamp down in the other hand. What is really true and real in Thailand? They try to encourage tourists but block them at the same time.

[SM7WGP]

The point is get a real visa before you come Thailand if you like to stay longer then 60 days.
I said it before and I say it again, who in his right mind would like to work in this country and for a sallary around 10 K Baht a month that some do.
If you dont have the money to stay, go home again and work and come back when you have it !

[Garret]

Cockney is spot on.....Show where your money is coming from....Have the right visa and funds and you should be able to stay.......Work here under the law....shoot over on the Jack Golf Bus....and be open to even more corruption and Thai tranparencey...........The system is flawed no doubt....But on a whole the 'Good' That labor,immigration and tax violators due for the ecoomy minimal.


What a lot of people think is that they have a right to stay here even if they can't meet the demands of the Law. This can't be allowed.

Stay home if you are coming here to break the law. If you have come here has a tourist and want to stay then meet the requirments.

And Yes. you should be able to come here and apply for a job, no doubt . But then you will need to leave and return to your home country to get the proper Visa in order to return....

Loong.....They are everywhere....I had to go over the border a year ago with a budd of mine that was activating his next 60 day visa i went along for the ride and hung out all day with these people..used Jacks Golf and they made up the most of the people crossing the border.

[moskito]

I think thats a great idea and hope they really go for it. I know some guys which are work here on a tourist visa and there will be many more working here as cheap so called diving instructors in high season......KICK THEM OUT....I dont wanna have foreigners in europe working on tourist visas, why they should work here?

But TiT.....for sure they forgot the 30day hoppings at airports if up to me, three times 30days on airport without staying away for at least 30days in another country and I dont let them in again without a proper Visa

[Robbie Dye]

Jingthing, on 2009-09-11 11:09:05, said:

Well people can still fly in and out every 30 days to use 30 day stamps.

Would we like to bet how long for ??!!

[JIP]

Philippines: Pretty much unlimited trips to the local Bureau of Immigration for 2-month visa extensions are allowed, 2000 baht, 40 minutes to an hour for total time spent, never a hassle. (Thailand: 20,000 baht, and 2-3 days' time required, hassles, and uncertainty.)

In addition, where I'm at, my wife just takes the paperwork and my passport with her to the Bureau of Immigration while she's out shopping, and does it all in my stead... I don't have to even leave the house to renew/extend.

Maybe I'll see some of you here soon.

Jungle Jil

[mysticpaki]

ERICPHUKET, on 2009-09-11 09:35:47, said:

It is easy follow the law and you have no problems.Try to get a visa for europe as Thai people and you will see were it is the most difficult.
If you work get a workpermit like in every decent country in the world and you get a 1 year renewable visa.If you are retired put 800.000 baht in a thai account and you get also the same visa.The people who complain are those who are doing monkey business and think that as foreigner all is allowed.Dont forget we are guest here no local people.

I totally agree with ERICPHUKET. The amount of humiliation arrogance and attituse which the visa issuing officers use of European, Usa,is unbeleivable. You really have to be there to see how the third world country citizens are treated and spoken to. Sometines the tourist visa is rejected without any realistic reason.They act like God.

One question what visa can you get by showing 200 thousand baht???
How does one qualify for the non immigrant O visa?? Is it valid for 1 year or 3 years?
I donot want to work in Thailand so whats my best option? My age is 48
Would appreciate any advise on this
Thanks All.

[pattaya_girl]

Well this does not affect me, as I go back to the UK to renew my Non Immigrant class O Multiple Entry Visa every Year.

However next time its due for renewal, I am going for an Education Visa for a Year, it will cost about the same as going back home, but I will also be learning to speak, read and write Thai as well, so I will actually be getting something back for my money.

Feel sorry for the Back to Backers though, just go back to your home Country and get the propper Visa required, its simple.......

I use to have the Tourist Visa's a few years back, but got sick and tired of doing Visa Runs and back and forth to Immigration ect...

It really is worth getting the correct Visa if you want to stay here a long time, and its also good to get a nice worry free nights sleep.

[Garret]

My little brother decided to early retire here two years ago. He came here on a tourist visa , not a visa on arrival. Hired a lawyer to help him with an early retirment visa......He was able to prove that he did indeed have the required 100,000$......he uses HSBC and they furnished him with a letter....He got his retirment visa in less than an hour......he is 36 years old so did not meet the 800,000b requirment when you hit 50.......They could have asked the money to be in Thai baht but they did not......


Guys come here and want to stay...pretty much for one reason.........I said pretty much, not all cases.

[sunnymarky]

Well not sure if this will work or not will be interesting but I agree with the objective . The backpacking dimwits who come to Thailand and think . "Oh I can be a teacher here easily" is widespread. I have met them , airheads and wasters, but the real fools are the establisments who employ them.

[rexall]

There is NOTHING written in stone or "grandfathered in" about the various Non-Imm visa policies or the amount of funds required for marriage, biz or retirement. To the "I've got mine, Jack!" voices; try not to be so smug. There is no telling when someone will get a wild hair up his arse and come after you! Every expat ought to be concerned about the creeping restrictions.

[ersl]

ERICPHUKET, on 2009-09-11 11:35:47, said:

It is easy follow the law and you have no problems.Try to get a visa for europe as Thai people and you will see were it is the most difficult.
If you work get a workpermit like in every decent country in the world and you get a 1 year renewable visa.If you are retired put 800.000 baht in a thai account and you get also the same visa.The people who complain are those who are doing monkey business and think that as foreigner all is allowed.Dont forget we are guest here no local people.

OK. The situation is grim for teachers and the majority of schools. Most private language schools will not provide "Work Visas" as it means that they will have to show their earnings in order to be able to sponsor teachers. Moe than 50% of schools will lose teachers.

Teachers want to work here legally but the schools will not do the accreditation steps. The schools that have the best pay, or reasonable pay, and conditions fall into this area.

Given the effect this move will have it won't last long and it will be back to business as normal. Visa Runs are forced on so called "illegals" by the Thais themselves, not by the "illegals". All this latest move is going to do is send shivers and panic into the schools industry, especially the teachers, but if they cannot get the Back to Back Tourist Visas then the students will drop out of the private school system, schools will lose their income and shut down.

In Western countries the process is much easier. You just apply for a Temporary Work Visa that lasts for three months or six, and if you find a job then your employer will apply to Immigration. The company or school need not be accredited to sponsor. This is where the stupidity of Asia is most evident. But this avenue is only for people 35 and under, down to 18. Older people are up against it but can get in on Tourist Visas and transfer to Temp Residence without much difficulty. Business Visas are easy to get which is why so many Asians emigrate.

What this latest move will do is push thousands of teachers into neighbouring contries' job markets.

As there are thousands upon thousands of teachers in Thailand on Tourist Visas a forced mass exodus will have a major negative impact on the Thai economy. Teachers recycle Thai money which economically creates productivity and fiscal growth. That's why illegals are in any country. Smart countries convert "ïllegals" into legals to bolster their domestic economies, to turn the money over, to pay the taxes that wealthier residents avoid though systems created by the system.

This latest move is just a rerun of such moves in Thailand over the last 20 or so years. It will go down very fast and last a mere breath of existence. But, we teachers live in hope that they will come to their senses and force the schools to come clean with their earnings and give us all a "Work Permit" which we all qualify for in any case. Unqualified teachers who work in government schools just do a short course to qualify and then they can get a "work visa". But even government schools play the "screw the teachers game" too. Government schools may employ teachers for up to 2 years on Tourist Visas, and they will make the necessary arrangements for the Visas too, and reimburse the teachers as well.

Therefore this move is aimed not at "illegals" but at Thais not paying their taxes, billions upon billions of Baht. But rather than Thais confronting the Thais because it is cultural suicide, they are doing it by proxy.

Casualties will be minimal. Then back to the way it always was.