zeusbheld Posted September 14, 2006 Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 Of course visitors with duo nationality and 2 passports get double the amount of trips :idea: Those with only 1 can get a spare from the Marshall islands.I heard they're a very sympathetic bunch of guys with nothing better to do but laze on the beach,drink beer and dosh out 2nd passports for 50 grand apiece. 2 or 3 passports would about double their population, too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankenburner2 Posted September 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2006 I've heard from two people....one of which works in visa providing business...that over the last few weeks, something like 60 univerisities, international schools etc have been raided and teachers witout work permits given 24 hours to leave the country. If this is accurate, there are going to be alot of "closed doors" real damn soon! Interestingly enough...can't find anything about it on-line....there is a front page story in the bangkok post website about Chulalongkorn University....but it's got nothing to do with immigration police knocking down classroom doors and carting away the teaher! Can any of you more experienced "news hounds" locate some info on-line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankenburner2 Posted September 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 also...I wonder...of the universities raided....how many had outspoken anti-thaksin thai professors on staff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeAussieGuy Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 I've heard from two people....one of which works in visa providing business...that over the last few weeks, something like 60 univerisities, international schools etc have been raided and teachers witout work permits given 24 hours to leave the country. If this is accurate, there are going to be alot of "closed doors" real damn soon! Interestingly enough...can't find anything about it on-line....there is a front page story in the bangkok post website about Chulalongkorn University....but it's got nothing to do with immigration police knocking down classroom doors and carting away the teaher! Can any of you more experienced "news hounds" locate some info on-line? Absolutely correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankenburner2 Posted September 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 also...I wonder...of the universities raided....how many had outspoken anti-thaksin thai professors on staff? It was more of a knee jerk reaction to the Karr situ. probably....do you have any links on the subject? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Of course visitors with duo nationality and 2 passports get double the amount of trips :idea: Those with only 1 can get a spare from the Marshall islands.I heard they're a very sympathetic bunch of guys with nothing better to do but laze on the beach,drink beer and dosh out 2nd passports for 50 grand apiece. Immigration databases can and do detect use of multiple passports. Not sure what the immigration dept do about it here, but in the US anything on one passport applies to the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutegirl1978 Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 also...I wonder...of the universities raided....how many had outspoken anti-thaksin thai professors on staff? It was more of a knee jerk reaction to the Karr situ. probably....do you have any links on the subject? Nope, was conversation with the owner of the school where Karr worked Do u know about a volunteer visa? How to get it? April Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Would make a lot of sence. However as for the prime reason 'getting rid of undesirables' it will be uneffective as they could easily get their extensions at their friendly immigration officer extended. Would make sence to have everyone make one trip to the border, getting rid of the crooks and then allow for extensions inside the country but definetely good news for most if it is true. We'll hear short enough. Today's the immigration chiefs' meeting in bkk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikee_Moose Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 It's election time... It will be hard for a couple of month but eventually it might get better again... Not really a problem for me but I hope there will be some solutions to some over here. As far as the BKKP article mentioned it was about VOA. Longer tourist visas are available if you can prove enough money to use during traveling.If you're under 50, not married to a thai citizen and don't have a wp then the only legal solution is to start your own company (2 mio capital, 4 thai employees) or get an investment visa (3 mio). You can also marry of course, ... then by depositing 400K in a Thai bank account you can stay. If not married here and over 50 you can retire by depositing 800K in a Thai bank. Wait a few more days for more info on this. One thing's for sure.. I wouldn't want to land in suvanabhumi early october. Amidst the opening of the airport and some of the things that will go wrong... there will be the whole imigration issue. Expect BIG queues getting back in. One recommendation on ThaiVisa was (if you're not working here) to do a timeshare in Cambodia :-D. 3mo here, 3 mo there... swap with a buddy. If you can get in and out before, I'd do that now if you can get another 3mo and don't wait till the end of the month. They might already start to 'test' the new procedures. I heard that the 3M investment visa is due to be axed at the end of October this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikee_Moose Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 I read somewhere that of 200,000 Indians that came into Thailand, only 60,000 left. I assume that it is the same situation for the Chinese. Of the Chinese and Indians, I can also safely assume that they left on a brand new fake passports to the 1st world. The issue here is not all the westerners that are overstaying visas, it is likely targetted more at Asians. For the long stay sex tourists though, I guess you will just have to get your "business" over a little quicker. There are a couple of solutions to the problem but they require good Thai or foreign friends with companies here in TH. I wont post those solutions here though. You can figure it out for yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfg_johnny Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 "Instead of indulging in cheap pseudo-nationalistic whims, Thaksin should consider first the benefits of the foreigners' contribution and facilitate and regulate their presence here. " Hence that fancy new airport that no one can pronounce, much less spell. That my friend, is the gift to foreign investment from the lovely Thai Taxpayers, a welcome mat to the world, with nice new electronic passport machines that will make sure lots of "black listed people" are pleasantly rejected of being a working tourist / a working teacher / a working bar owner / a working freelancer / self employed / working semi retired writer / etc., all at the same time...unless they get proper work permits / visa / pay fines / etc... and pay their taxes to those countries that collect them. You guys know who and what we are talking about. Sorry, it may be whimsical to you, but we are sure there are allot of smart people other than Taksin within the Government, who actually sit around and discuss the ramifications and consequences of these decisions and regulations that they make. They are paid to decide what is best for the Country at this given time, and there are allot of underlying political tactics and games that gets played here, mainly to gain favors of other countries due to the nature of the all of the programs as a whole. Please realize, that most decisions can be changed back if it does not work out well for example: the 3 million baht investment visa program. Get real gentlemen, 3 million baht is not an investment into the country. In Canada, you have to invest $250,000 up to $450,000 cdn for an investor visa...that?s closer to 9 million plus, given the current exchange rates. And you get the pleasure of paying up to 55% in income taxes...Weee!!!! But, there is a line up for International Investors looking to get into Canada... Think Thailand should not play the same global game? Think Thailand cannot improve and become better? It can... Look at all of the expressways, BTS, Subway, and routes to the new airport to see the changes Bangkok and Thailand have made over the past 5 to 10 years. Lots of foreign investment here. Look at Patong beach today, much nicer, after the tsunami and unfortunate shake up, some new foreign and lots of local investments here too. Anyone ever been to LeGuna? 33 Million baht for a really nice shack on the side of a golf course? Look at how much money is pouring into Pattaya and see all of those nice 10 million baht condos going up...If you think those guys who buy and stay there are going to have a problem with a minor issue of a visa...Get real! These retirees just take 2 million baht and buy a company, if they really want to stay and live in beautiful country. For those that live here as along term tourist and go out, feeling that you are contributing so much to the local economy by your support the occasional bar girl, buy more than a few beers a day and support the Pat Thai noodle stand at 30bht a plate, stay at KSR / Pattaya / or any of the other very affordable places for 300bht a night or rent a small apartment for 3000bht a month. You will be sorely missed. Thanks for your support. Thanks for spending a month or 2 or even 3 months here?You will not have to do a monthly visa run anymore! You are more than welcome to stay until your money runs out, which under normal conditions, should take you about 90 days. Afterwards, my dear guests, Time for you to go home! The party is done! Come back again next time! We say it nightly to all of the customers of the bars and night clubs at RCA, Cowboy, Nana, Walking Street, and Bangla Rd. We say it to locals as well as foreigners alike. For those that feel it is your god given right that just because you CAN speak English, you are qualify to be an English teacher and work at some ?unauthorized? or unethical or unfair working conditions English school for 30-50,000 tax free baht per month. Sorry, that your school will not go and learn how to apply for your work permit, apply for a change in status to hire more foreigners, or make some other concessions to pay you what you feel you are worth. Here is a hint for those that are considering becoming a qualified, quality English teacher in the near future. There will be a lot of vacancies in this position soon, so now is your chance to dictate your income and location. We call it market supply and demand?income will increase until the supply of legal teachers balance out. So, for those fortunate few that have the position of power, learn how to use it. For those that feel that there will be less and less English speaking Thai kids in the future and the long term economy of the country will suffer because if it. Get off of your high horse! It?s only your economy that will suffer, and in most cases we are talking micro-economics! We are sure those poor unfortunate little Thai students will suffer a lot by getting a qualified teacher to finally teach their class. We can only hope that the qualified teacher may not be YOU, but these students will survive and there will be no permanent brain damage suffered, just because you were not allowed to teach here without your work permit. For those that work for a company that is too small and this will affect them financially. Yes, it may for the short term. FYI?each and every Thai company is allowed to apply and obtain more foreign work permits. They just have to prove that they are also hiring enough local Thais too, thus reducing the local unemployment rate and hiring Thais. They also have to go througg the process that the persons they are hiring are actually the people who are needed to work for the company instead of just selling the work permits for a few dollars on the side. See how all this works and makes sense. Come on folks, we create a visa status that allows you to be a Monk for crying out loud ?(to study as a foreign Buddhist monk (Category "ED"))?all you need is a letter from the temple stating you willing to study to become a monk?in some remote village here there or wherever for the duration of xx to xx time ?Oh wait, category CD visa?s are the same Category for a teacher too?.better not get into this one? Its not that we the Thai government and Thai People don?t love you, we do, very much? If you want to come back after a month of winning the lottery in your home country or you made enough income that you can afford to return to your Thai darling, we simply ask for you to walk into any of the many immigration offices, consulate?s office, embassy, and apply for a 90 day visitor?s visa for your next trip. We will not ask for you to stay away for a full 90 days, just go through the proper process. These changes are for the betterment of the country?s economics, the benefit of the people, and for the majority of the 60 plus million of people who has to live here, work here, and vacation here in this beautiful country that we call Thailand. Have a good day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattayaDaz Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 Yes there was an artile in the paper recently saying that a percentage of both Chinese and Indian tourists had failed to return home and were at large somewhere in Thailand.. This plus the recent arrest of Chinese citizens working illegally in the North East.... They were sellng cheap Chinese electronic goods in a Thai market.... Its not aimed specifically at white anglo saxon type farangs.. There are plenty of Arab, Italian, South American and former Soviets here all trying to make a living and stay in LOS.. Must admit I could see some sort of crackdown coming....Despite some Thai's liking us buying condo's,bars etc and spending money....When you look around Carrefour in Pattaya somedays its hard to spot a Thai.....Only thing I'd like is could all the farangs that are leaving please take your car/truck wiht you.......then I might be able to find a place to park mine :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlinho Posted September 15, 2006 Report Share Posted September 15, 2006 according to the nation there has been a press conference of the immigration police in which the original statement has been confirmed, i.e. 3*30 and you are out. anyone got other information than that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted September 17, 2006 Report Share Posted September 17, 2006 well said, kfg_johnny. yeah if taking 3,000 words of smug, pompous hot air to say what can be said in about 35 words is 'well said' then i agree. (not that i have anything against smug, pompous hot air, mind you.) whether it works or not, it's pure TRT nationalism and xenophobia, playing to the cheap seats. but enjoy waxing poetic about the nobility and wisdom of the public servants who rushed to implement this plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLOS4me Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 well said, kfg_johnny. yeah if taking 3,000 words of smug, pompous hot air to say what can be said in about 35 words is 'well said' then i agree. (not that i have anything against smug, pompous hot air, mind you.) whether it works or not, it's pure TRT nationalism and xenophobia, playing to the cheap seats. but enjoy waxing poetic about the nobility and wisdom of the public servants who rushed to implement this plan. "Capitol goes to where it is welcome, and stays where it is well treated" 14 words... Capitol = money or people... Saw it on a recent interview with Steve Forbes... Enough said??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marky12345 Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Kfg you state many correct points, every country wants wealthy people to invest in their country. So can you fight the government case against the small border hoping sex tourist owned companies such as Big C, Tesco and Carefour not being overly welcome in Thailand, could you state the case for this without contradicting your last statement. I am aware of the need to help the small shop owner and the alleged tactics these companies use to squeeze the supply chain, however surely the Thai customer has the right to a better choice of goods at a lower price. I have plenty of cash to invest, i love Thailand but like fcuk would i even invest 1 baht in Thailand at the present time or in the future, im sure the majority of wealthy Farangs who you claim Thailand is looking to attract think this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 I don't know if this has already been posted in this thread, but I just read on thai visa that the 90 days in, is a day count, not a visa stamp count. i.e. You could theoretically cross the border 1 time every day for 90 days but then would need to leave for 90 days. This is in regards to the visa on arrival.I am hearing for longer stays the 60 day tourist visa is best. Of course the story seems to evolve a little more everyday. this is all up in the air and that has also been contradicted. some are saying that it's days, others saying it's 3 stamps in 6 months, and both sides have sources in immigration. some even say they'll be slack about enforcing the 3 entries at the new airport. it is also unclear whether they will issue back to back tourist visas, but there most likely won't be an official announcement about that. regional consulates like penang have already stopped issuing multiple entry tourist visas. it is unclear how long they will be available in europe, the US and australia, but my understanding is they're still available now. immigration have made a big fuss over flattening the org chart, and the individual officers have more discretion. when they turn people away they aren't pushing them back onto airplanes, they're putting a RED STAMP that says they can't come back NEXT TIME. that sums up everything i've read or heard so far about the actual policy. oh, ps, the 3MM baht investment visa has been upped to 10MM, but if you've already got a 3MM it will apparently be grandfathered. SHORT VERSION: no one knows yet how strictly they're gonna enforce it, or even what the policy specifically means. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macca_tirana Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 Sorry for the lengthy post folks but this subject is of great interest for me No need for the apology, your definately not alone on this one. It seems so many are effected by this so the sooner some guide lines are established the better. I am aslo very surprised to read about the "anti farang" feelings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfg_johnny Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 It is possible to continue to stay for years and years on end as long as you limit your exemption stamps (the 30 day "visa on arrival" and border runs), to three, and then go to the consulate in any other country and obtain a two-month tourist visa and return to Thailand. (They said that the consuls are all being instructed to issue these 60 day Tourist visas -- with the blacklist check. Not sure about 60-Day Multiple Entry Tourist Visa.) This can be extended at the immigration office for an extra 30 days, then you can either go home after the extension. Or if you still wanted to stay longer, you can apply for another 30 days extension! Yes, back to back? Or do three more border runs and then another tourist visa? This being the case, Long Stay ?Guests? will only have to do a maximum of 8 departures a year, but as few as four(4), if they opt for four back-to-back tourist visas. So if anything, it is more convenient for the long stayer / visitor / non-working semi-retiree and the authorities get to reduce the amount of scum...so to speak. The reality is they, the Gov?t, makes it sound like they are doing something to prevent illegal workers and undesirables, but they now get to collect the money from your renewals at the immigration office?(it?s a Thai thing?) The solution is there, it just takes a little more creativity on how to count and who to pay... :roll: :roll: Guys and Gals?Don?t get me wrong...this discussion and many like it is not some Anti-Farang issue. For those that are doing your part in helping the Country and Economy and enjoy staying here, thank you? Some of you, are those fortunate few, less than .02% of the 65 million some odd people who live in this tiny country and not work. You have the money to leave every 30-days and visit other nice locals throughout the world then return. I am sure those countries and ladies welcome you with open arms every time you visit. The only question I have for you is: How do I find a trustworthy ?friend? to run my business abroad, while I sit in Bkk, Phuket, or some other beach and have him slave away at my home country and they still end money to me to burn? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 here's a link to a transcipt of an interview with the #2 guy at immigration clarifying the new rules. most notably, they will count days not stamps. how they do that is anyone's guess. also bear in mind that the pattern of information leaked to the press seems to indicate a work in progress--there may be more meetings and more changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 The reality is they, the Gov?t, makes it sound like they are doing something to prevent illegal workers and undesirables, but they now get to collect the money from your renewals at the immigration office?(it?s a Thai thing?) spot on. if they continue to let tourists stay indefinitely, it will do nothing to prevent illegal workers--but they will probably collect more revenue from visas and extensions than they would have in income tax anyway. Guys and Gals?Don?t get me wrong...this discussion and many like it is not some Anti-Farang issue. For those that are doing your part in helping the Country and Economy and enjoy staying here, thank you? not anti-farrang as such, but TRT are quick to politically exploit any anti-farrang sentiment. i'll bet they spin it to death when they're out stumping at election time. many people in the hinterlands will come away with the impression that trt did something about 'bad farrangs'--and they did--collect money from 'em. The only question I have for you is: How do I find a trustworthy ?friend? to run my business abroad, while I sit in Bkk, Phuket, or some other beach and have him slave away at my home country and they still end money to me to burn? considering that one can live quite comfortably on about 80,000 baht a month (provided one doesn't indulge in luxuries and/or bargirls), there are significant numbers of people who could live here indefinitely skimming earnings from their investments. there will still be lots of people working illegally. if the gov't really want to cut into illegal workers rather than just look pretty at election time they'd need to raid businesses, such as language schools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfg_johnny Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 zeusbheld: what is the point of staying in Thailand if I "cannot indulge in luxuries and/or bargirls"? :shock: Why live like a popper and be so tight? I can do that in Canada. But, this goes into another Forum Topic... 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seashark Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 Yes there was an artile in the paper recently saying that a percentage of both Chinese and Indian tourists had failed to return home and were at large somewhere in Thailand.. This plus the recent arrest of Chinese citizens working illegally in the North East.... They were sellng cheap Chinese electronic goods in a Thai market.... Its not aimed specifically at white anglo saxon type farangs.. There are plenty of Arab, Italian, South American and former Soviets here all trying to make a living and stay in LOS..Must admit I could see some sort of crackdown coming....Despite some Thai's liking us buying condo's,bars etc and spending money....When you look around Carrefour in Pattaya somedays its hard to spot a Thai.....Only thing I'd like is could all the farangs that are leaving please take your car/truck wiht you.......then I might be able to find a place to park mine :wink: I agree with you Thailand is full with crappy and stupid people.. Pattaya especially... :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankenburner2 Posted September 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 just now got off the phone with Jim in Penang...confirmed...only single entry tourist visa...but, I believe that can be extended for 30 days....have the extension rules been changed at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeusbheld Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 i just got a 30 day extension yesterday, and my understanding is that there are NO plans in the near future to change the rules for tourist visas (as opposed to 30 day stamps). a few immo officials have been quoted in interviews (which have been posted or linked on www.thaivisa.com) as saying their intent is NOT to eliminate long-staying tourists at present, but to force them to go through consulates if they want to stay (get visas) where they can better track them against their blacklists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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