Sporty Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 http://www.thai360.com/fbb/newpost.php?fid/19/tid/515265/pid/529204/type/reply/ Big impact expected from tougher visa-free entry rules The days of foreign visitors doing endless "border runs" in order to live - and often work - in Thailand are over, the Immigration Police announced yesterday. The Kingdom will tighten its immigration rules for tourists who exploit visa-free regulations, starting from the end of the month. The move will affect tens of thousands of visitors from 41 countries who have been allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days without a visa - often for many months or years. The 41 visa-exempt countries include Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. Tourists have been able to extend their stay by travelling to neighbouring countries - Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Burma - and returning with a further 30-day entry stamp. But new rules have been issued because an increasing number of tourists have stayed for extended periods - without paying proper amounts of tax. This has also helped them avoid close scrutiny by authorities here and in their homeland. "We are trying to make it more difficult for bad people to get in," Immigration Police chief Lt General Suwat Thamrongsrisakul said at a press conference yesterday. "I don't think it's going to hurt good people because they can apply for a tourist visa [in their homeland]," he said. The move is expected to have a big impact on the foreign community and some sectors such as teaching and diving, plus places where there are many bars run by foreigners, such as Pattaya and Chiang Mai. From October 1, tourists from the 41 visa-exempt countries may still enter Thailand without visas and stay for up to 30 days, but they will only be able to extend their stay here two times - that is, for a maximum of 90 days. And tourists who stay for 90 days must leave the Kingdom for at least 90 days before being permitted to re-enter Thailand. Suwat denied the crackdown was related to the arrest in Bangkok last month of John Mark Karr, the American teacher who was thought to have been involved in the high-profile JonBenet Ramsey murder case. He said there were many reasons that extended back for a long period. Suwat conceded the move may cause some problems, but said "maybe we have to do something to make it better [later]". However, if foreigners wanted to work here they should get a work visa, he said. A source added: "Under the current rules, people from these countries can stay in Thailand for as long as they want. Some even stay here for one year. Many work illegally in Thailand." Instead of sightseeing, these tourists have taken advantage of the visa exemption by getting married to Thai women "for reasons other than love", and have conducted business here. Many of them have not paid tax. The immigration move is a hot topic among foreign residents, and comes at a time when many are fearful about possible changes in regard to firms with local nominees. Hundreds of comments were logged on local Web boards within hours of the Immigration Department press conference. Some said foreigners should abandon Thailand for neighbouring countries, while others predicted it might force school bosses to pay foreign teachers a proper wage or cause a boom in men wanting to marry Thai women. Most believed the move could cost Thailand a small fortune. Meanwhile, plans are under way to simplify the process for foreign teachers to work here as the current system requires 13 separate steps, which take many months to complete. Heads of international schools have been meeting with the Immigration Department to try to simplify the process. Thailand recently simplified the process for foreigners who want to become permanent residents. The amount of paperwork required has been slashed and the time involved reportedly cut from more than a year to about four months. Last year Thailand tightened its immigration rules for South Asian tourists, who were allowed to apply for visas on arrival that permitted them to stay for 30 days. Many of them took advantage by travelling to neighbouring countries and returning to get a new visa on arrival at the airport. Under the new rules, they are allowed to obtain a visa on arrival only twice from neighbouring countries. They are then required to return to their country of origin to obtain an entry visa to Thailand. Jim Pollard The Nation The Nation invites readers to register their thoughts about the new immigration rules at nationmultimedia.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_numbers Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 No OH. I honestly don't think it will effect regional travelers here for a few days and moving around. The law is to target IMHO people maxing out those VISA's and renewing them to spend more than 90 days consecutively in Thailand more or less. This is based on the articles and my understanding from actually talking to someone in Immigration two days ago. Cheers, theNumbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 When you come crawling in to Thailand, at 1 AM, after your plane was delayed for a few hours...and the Thai immi folks have been waiting around for the arrivals...do you think they will be prone to cut any slack??? Unless the rules are very clearly stated, it will be a fluster cuck with the "tourist" throwing the dice every time they do a visa run. I will be looking into the one year, multi-entry visa and just pay the $$$ that they want and be done with all this sh%t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samak Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 one year, multi entry visa for tourists? does something like that exist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sporty Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 NO... A One Year Tourist Visa, does not exist. From the THAI Immigration Page. within six months period, Each permitted time shall not be exceeding 30 days period, and the total period shall not be exceeding 90 days from the first day that the passport holder arrived in Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 Non-Immigrant Visa From the Thai LA website. Thai Visa Validity of visa The validity of visa is 3 months for a single-entry and 1 year for a multiple-entry. Period of stay Travelers with this type of visa will be permitted to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 90 days per entry. Extension of stay may be granted to the Thai Immigration Bureau, please visit www.imm.police.go.th for additional information. Fee $50 for a single-entry , $125 for a multiple-entry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_numbers Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 That is a multiple entry VISA that is non immigrant, which is not available to tourists. How did this get confused?? Are you a tourist masquerading as a businessman or some sort of odd impresario cavanami? Cheers, the_numbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 NO... A One Year Tourist Visa, does not exist. From the THAI Immigration Page. within six months period, Each permitted time shall not be exceeding 30 days period, and the total period shall not be exceeding 90 days from the first day that the passport holder arrived in Thailand. So say I arrive, styay 3 weeks, leave...come back in a month. Does the 90 day clock start when I return, or did it start when I came the first time? See, it gets clearly confusing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 That is a multiple entry VISA that is non immigrant, which is not available to tourists. How did this get confused?? Are you a tourist masquerading as a businessman or some sort of odd impresario cavanami? Cheers, the_numbers From the reference above... *** Non-immigrant visas will not be issued for such purposes as tourism, seeking employment opportunities, looking for a school for teaching or studying purposes, etc. *** The Consulate will consider the application on a case-by-case basis and may ask for additional documents. Validity of visa The validity of visa is 3 months for a single-entry and 1 year for a multiple-entry. Period of stay Travelers with this type of visa will be permitted to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 90 days per entry. Extension of stay may be granted to the Thai Immigration Bureau, please visit www.imm.police.go.th for additional information. Fee $50 for a single-entry , $125 for a multiple-entry. The fee must be paid in the form of MONEY ORDER or CASHIERâ??S CHECK only payable to â??ROYAL THAI CONSULATE GENERAL LOS ANGELESâ?Â. Cash, Credit Card, Personal or company checks are NOT acceptable. Notice it does say "...for purposes such as tourism..." But it also says "...case to case bases..." which could get nasty... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sporty Posted September 16, 2006 Report Share Posted September 16, 2006 OH said: "So say I arrive, styay 3 weeks, leave...come back in a month. Does the 90 day clock start when I return, or did it start when I came the first time? See, it gets clearly confusing... " In your example, as I understand it, it started on your first entry. As, I read it, its elastic no more than than, 90 days VOA. in a 6 month period. So, Its a moving target, gotta look at the last 6 month period, in your passport. Confusing, is an understatement. As far as the USA, LA or NYC consulates, are concern, both pages, are different, in requirements, also, neither has been updated, recently. With no recent updates makes the Tourist Visa, 60 days, a question mark, as well, in my mind. Saying nothing, of the ability to buy multiple entries. Not open today, will call on Monday, and post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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