Time up for some 30 day visa runners

[khunsanuk]

Hi,

 

"The European crack did bring out the expected reflexive anti-American response from our dear admin, as I intended it to."

 

Please explain why it is acceptable for you to insult Europeans, yet when I (or any other European) makes a similar comment about Americans, I am anti-American?

 

Sanuk!

 

[Julian2]

What fun!

I live a comfortable existence in Northern Thailand that I wouldn't have in Australia, the two house maids would be out of my income range to begin with. I made the visa runs because it was easy! I got abused by a friend for 'rorting' the system and he blamed me and people like me for the recent increases in visa costs. We're not paying our way he said.

He sits on his bum in England and when he's ready to come here for his six months he posts his passport off to the consulate and gets it back in a week complete with visa. Don't you think I would do that if I could?

But now I have to leave the country every three months which I will do uncomplainingly. But then I never complained about the visa run either.

When I get around to it I'll get one of these non-Im O bizzos.

By the way, off topic, the most basic definition of socialism is a system where the Government owns stuff, like army barracks, national parks, schools etc. So that covers most countries I think.

[carew66]

I'm at work now but I can expand on this later...but:

 

Did anyone see the visa run chap on Pattaya Mail TV? I think it's run from a pub on or near Bukhao.

 

Anyway, the farang owner sounded supremely confident that there was a get around - particularly if you used this visa service. It cost over 18000 every 6 months but included flights to and from Malaysia (and accom). It all still sounded hideously complicated.

 

Now, I spotted what I thought were flaws in his logic but then he would know better, wouldn't he?

 

Go to dash.

[simie]

Whilst i agree cheap and available sex is the main motivation for many farangs to come and live "on the cheap" in Thailand, it is only partly the reason for many others and a very small motivation for some other farangs. Whilst you obviously need money to live on it is'nt the be all and end all to many people. Many farangs are prepared to live on a relative shoe string in Thailand as they feel their quality of life is better than a supposedly more affluent existance in their home country. My elder brother is an example of this, he lives very modestly in rural Thailand on a small pension (and retirement visa in his case) he is not a bar fly and is in fact is teetotal. (unlike myself!) He retired at 52 as opposed too having to work in the UK untill he was 65 and feels his overall quality of life is far better.

Simie.

[ThaiHome]

And he is not even a topic on this thread is he.

TH

[ThaiHome]

Not much complicated or logic to it. Come on visa, there are no restrictions. There may be restrictions. on getting the visa at certain consulates, but that seems to up individual consulates and is not proven yet.

TH.

 

[ThaiHome]

What fun!

I live a comfortable existence in Northern Thailand that I wouldn't have in Australia, the two house maids would be out of my income range to begin with. I made the visa runs because it was easy! I got abused by a friend for 'rorting' the system and he blamed me and people like me for the recent increases in visa costs. We're not paying our way he said.

He sits on his bum in England and when he's ready to come here for his six months he posts his passport off to the consulate and gets it back in a week complete with visa. Don't you think I would do that if I could?

But now I have to leave the country every three months which I will do uncomplainingly. But then I never complained about the visa run either.

When I get around to it I'll get one of these non-Im O bizzos.

By the way, off topic, the most basic definition of socialism is a system where the Government owns stuff, like army barracks, national parks, schools etc. So that covers most countries I think.

 

So you don't intend to go "spend your money elsewhere" as has been so much threatened about this?

 

My socialism remark was more directed about wealth and the resentment that the disparity in its distribution attempts to correct. For the proper context, see KS question on if I was born to it or worked for it. Actually a meaningless distinction that still seems to make a difference to some people, depending on their political persuasion :grin:

TH

 

[torrenova]

The reality is that they should have thought out the process first rather than just another knee jerk over reaction.

 

Make it easier for people to work here legally and they will comply. I know no-one who would not comply but cannot because the process is too onerous.

 

Let people pay taxes, make social security payments and solve the problem that way, not drive it further underground in some crazy belief that if the westerners leave the Thais can do the jobs. They cannot and that is why the westerners are here in the first place.

[lembeh]

 

>Make it easier for people to work here legally and they will comply.

 

Well said, and that, for me is a large part of the crux of the problem - and one that (apparently) seems to escape the Thai's.

 

However, I do get a niggly feeling that the shit is definately going to hit the fan. In their own crazy, half arsed way, they do seem to have put a lot of pieces of the jigsaw in place, and I think one day all those are going to come together and a lot of people will be hurt.

 

As I understand it (and its only passing interest to me) - the current situation is that you can have up to three consecutive "no visa" entrys, good for 30 days each. After that you are required to enter on a visa - theoretically obtained from your home country. The niggly feeling is that I have not seen *anywhere* an assurance that people will be granted the Visa when they apply....

 

The other piece of the puzzle that is in place, but does not seem to be *fully* activated yet is the "minimum wage" required for a work permit. With the exception of one or two occupations (e.g teacher) you need to have a minimum salary (60K for Americans) or you cannot get a work permit. Couple that with the restricted occupation list, and there will be a definate "squeeze" on farangs trying to live "in the margins" so to speak who think to go the "legitimate" route.

 

There are also tightenings of all the other routes (retirement, marriage etc) that require significant moneys at some point. From what I see, even certain classes of buisness visa's have been tightened.

 

The "potential" for a great deal of pain for foreigners is definately in place. Whether thats a good thing or a bad thing for Thailand remains to be seen. All those teachers, for example, working in places that do not give work permits are gonna be squeezed. Still, that might have the knock on effect (after a disastrous period) of forcing the schools to legitimize their teachers (which may not be a bad thing).

 

Anyway, I think that in a couple more months, when those 3 non visa arrivals have worked thier way through, and people are forced to apply for Visa's, we may well see what this is all about....

-j-

 

 

[kangaroobar]

Me think: they want the farangs out of the country

except big multinationals or companies.

 

- Trying to enforce new rules on via runners so they can not stay anymore.

 

- Changing the rules for the non immi visas.

 

-> My personal case:

I am young, have a decent background, brought some money to thailande -> invested it -> pay some thai staff etc.... all legally.

-> I am asked 1 million bht if I want to get a one year extension for my non immi B.

 

what if I did not have this million??

(in addition in creating, investing etc... in your business you have to show 1 million in equities)

 

Maybe they really want to get rid of farangs and only want "quality tourists"......

Try to figure

 

This is Thailand: They do what they want with their country, laws etc... but I think that the next business I open will be in another SE asia country.