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Visa Runs Over


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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Crackdown-on-tourist-visas-sees-dozens-turned-away-30238510.html

 

 

 

PHUKET: Tourists unable to prove the legitimacy of their trip to Thailand are being turned away despite having tourist visas issued by Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed Lt Col Banphot Kittivira, deputy superintendent of the Immigration checkpoint at Sadao.

The Sadao checkpoint, the portal for Phuket visa runners bound for Malaysia, sees about 100 foreigners denied entry into the Kingdom per month, Col Banphot noted.

 

"If tourists can't provide us with details about their trip to Thailand, we will refuse them entry," said Col Banphot.

 

"We are being very strict about this because some foreigners are using a tourist visa to enter the country and work - this is the wrong type of visa for this.

 

"Foreigners who are using many tourist visas to enter Thailand multiple times for nearly a year or more are very suspicious."

 

Col Banphot explained that legitimate tourists need to clarify what activities they plan on participating in while in Thailand. Additionally, proof of hotel reservations will help them gain entry.

 

"I think between 60 and 90 days is enough for most people to travel in Thailand," Col Banphot said.

 

Phuket Gazette

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http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/No-more-visa-runs-30238504.html

 

 

No more visa runs

Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong,

Somchai Samart

The Nation July 15, 2014 1:00 am

Immigration authorities will not let visa runners return after August 12

FOREIGNERS WHO do regular visa runs in order to extend their stay in Thailand have less than a month before a crackdown by the authorities to enforce immigration laws more strictly.

 

From August 13, people will not be able to re-enter the country, regardless of their choice of transport.

 

The Immigration Bureau has already instructed officials to deny entry to foreigners doing visa runs as a measure to stop the exploitation of tourist visas and visa exemptions to live or work here.

 

Visa runs have been common among foreigners in Thailand recently, given that a simple search on the Net turns up several companies offering "visa trips" for expatriates staying or working here.

 

Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay. By exploiting 60-day tourist visas and 30-day visa exemptions, many foreigners can work illegally in language schools, or restaurants and other businesses. It is easier for some to get jobs this way, as some employers do not want to go through the complicated process of seeking work permits and like to avoid the expense if they can.

 

"I have done visa runs several times before, because my employers would not agree to seek a work permit until I passed their probation period. So, when you stop allowing visa runs, the lives of many foreigners in Thailand will be affected," a 46-year-old American said.

 

Meanwhile, the Immigration Bureau website says: "Leniency will be granted until August 12, but only for passengers arriving by air. Foreigners who come to Thailand must seek a proper visa in line with the purpose of their intended stay here."

 

Now, those on a visa run who are allowed back in will find an "O-I" (Out-In) mark next to their latest stamp marking entry. From August 13, nobody with an O-I sign on their passport will be allowed to re-enter Thailand if they cannot produce a proper visa.

 

The Immigration Bureau has instructed checkpoints on shared borders to stop visa runners from entering the Kingdom effective immediately.

 

Immigration Division 6 chief Pol Maj-General Tatchai Pitaneelabut, who oversees immigration affairs in the South, said visa runners come from several countries, including Vietnam, South Korea and Russia.

 

"They come here to work as tour guides, waiters, waitresses, etc," he said, pointing out that these visa-runners are often based in tourist centres such as Phuket and Songkhla.

 

However, he said the presence of the so-called "out-in" migrants in the South had been significantly reduced because immigration officials were already enforcing stricter laws.

 

Pol Lt-Colonel Weerawat Nilwat, an inspector at the Sungai Kolok border checkpoint in Narathiwat province, disclosed that immigration officials at his workplace had already barred more than 100 visa-runners from re-entering the Kingdom.

 

"We have to be strict because we have to uphold laws and properly control immigrants. Efficiency on this front will also reduce crime," he said.

 

Pol Colonel Thirachai Dedkhad, the superintendent at the Sa Kaew checkpoint, said officials under his supervision were not stopping visa runners from re-entering yet. "But we have been warning them to acquire a proper visa before they come to Thailand the next time."

 

He said immigration officials had also warned people departing that they must obtain a proper visa if they want to come back.

 

"We have made it clear that if they want to work in Thailand, they must seek a work permit and get the right type of visa," Thirachai said.

 

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Also what is not in the news yet, is that some borders refuse valid non-B visa holders and work permit holders to go over the border, even with a re0entry permit. The people are told they will be refused re-entry if they leave Thailand. No reason or specifics are given. They are told ... can only leave by air.

 

Also rumor has it they want to double marriage and child visa in the bank amount of money ..... again.

 

I have never ever in my 15 years here received phone calls if I want to teach English. Now I have received 3 in the last few days. Seems many people have left/are leaving. Also some restaurants where I used to go out from time to time on a side soi of Rama IX have closed temporarily because they have no more staff (were Vietnamese and Laotians).

 

This sudden very severe crackdown will be felt in many industries nationwide.

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...it has been said...the Thais can fark up corn flakes...now, they seem determined to do so again!

 

Out here in the country, Samut Sakhon, there are some places setup to get the Myanmar people registered

so that they can work. On the past few Sundays I have seen hundreds (thousands?) lined up waiting to

register.

 

For the movie industry, if it paid better it would be no problem...why should I take a day off work and lose

several thousand of Baht?

 

The Thais seem quite serious about this initiative :dunno:

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When I got my marriage visa in the late 1980s, I had to show 100,000 baht in the bank (but only the first time). In the late 1990s, it went up to 200,000. PM Thaksin immediately doubled that to 400,000 - at the same time increasing a retirement visa from 400,000 to 800,000 (and only allowing money to be used, not physical property as before). Plus you had to show it every time you renewed your visa.

 

If Immigration decides to double the amounts again, I can see people saying "Sod it, I'm leaving." Do you think many people are willing to keep 800,000 baht sitting idle in the bank just for a marriage visa or 1,600,000 baht for retirement? And don't blame this on the NCPO, since Immigration was talking about it before the coup.

 

p.s. If the problem is in the South, why apply the "solution" to the entire country?

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Hi Cavanami, for the pay rates. We have checked it with other countries and the industry in Thailand pays it extras (foreign extras) more than in many other countries in the world. In most countries the extras seem to come for cost (transport and food) even on big projects (like Star Wars VII now filming!). So I do not think they will start paying even more. They will say .... lets go elsewhere.

 

The only alternatives are going back to the Khao San extra's which was stopped in the 90ties because they are drunk.stoned/unreliable/no shows when continuity over multiple days is needed etc. And maybe spouses of people living here, but they would not agree to 12 hours which is what is really needed.

 

Many projects require 50 to 100 foreign extras a day easily. If they are not available it is the end of many foreign productions coming here. And 1 billion dollars is the 2012 figure for the turnover of foreign productions shot in Thailand. Can you imagine how many Thais are employed in that :p

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If enforced, I can see this causing an increase in the number of "vanishing teachers". This is why many schools don't like to hire younger Farangs. What happens is the qualified "world traveller" types accept a full time teaching job to get the visa and WP. Then at the end of the first term - or maybe before - they decide to move on to another country and just leave. Suddenly, the students are wondering where their archan is, since the teacher has gone AWOL. This is most common at secondary schools, but I've even seen it happen at a university. Twice, I saw teachers quit in mid term. Someone else had to take over their classes, which made more work for the rest of us. Almost as bad are the people who complete their one year contract, then leave. It's getting hard to keep foreign lecturers even at "name" universities. Not so many years ago, the average foreign lecturer stayed at his university for about 5 years. Nowadays, the unies are lucky to keep them for 2 years. Everybody seems to have the travel bug.

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