The End Of Border Runs From Oct 1, 2006

[Guess]

FRomm what I can see thgis is exactly the same restriction that they anouncxed that wiuld be out in place in December 31st last year. It v\never happend.

It makes great sense to Thailand for a number of reasons. The self funding farangs are getting the hassle of going every thirty days down to Ranong. I know one guy whi has bee dioing it fir three years. The only benefit the Thai authrities get is the overstay fines which apprently is what finances the Ranong Immigtaion office. That of course apllies to both visa holders and non visa holders alike and has recently been increased to 500 bajt per day from 200 baht per day. Whatv mnight have triggered it off this time is the fact that the BUrmes have increased the cost of visa on entry to 10 dollars from five which is still low compared with Laos and Cambodia.

I believe Thais ad Burmese pay much less so the lions share of the increased revenue will come from the farang who for some reason take the more expensiv option of doing the regular thirty day trips rather than get a tourist visa. The Thais so have to have an excuse to do something that does not make it look like they are selecting one particular group. The cost of going to Penang and gettting the six month three entry tourist visa and using the maximum extensions possible must still be cheaper than going to Myanmar every thirty days. I even know one guy who does the thirty days becasu he can not be bothered to get a retirement visa. I have been telling him for at least a year that one day he will go to Burma and will noy be allowed back into Thaikand form at least ninety days and he will be completely screwed.

I can ot relly blame the Thais here but I think they are going about it the wrong way. Why don't they just charge 200 baht in Hua Hin for a new thirty days and alow the person to do it for one year and then issue a non o visa for aboyt 8000 baht or whatever iot is now with a 200 baht stamp charge evert thirty days. That wayb they could let people have what they need, make money and keep an eye out for illegal workers by checking where ther funds originated every month. Trouble with that is it is too simple.
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G

[Rider]

Its a sign of the times at one level. The TRT are turning the screw little by little. Is it 'housekeeping' the old laws? More xenophobia from the TRT party?
Or possibly a move to try and show its becoming more westernized by tightening visa restrictions to 'look good' following the 'Karr' deportation.

Its debatable whether this ruling will be enforced or not. It matters little as long as non imm 'o' bypasses the 30 day VOA.

According to a poster on the other thai forum the TRT boys are looking into clamping down on non 'o' and non 'b' (he claims the TRT announced it at a conference! hmmm). he gives November 1 2006 as the date for that. But I'm far from convinced on that one.
On the same note another tall tale involves nana plaza closing down in 2007! Believe that when we see it!
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http://www.divinglore.com

[DawnHRD]

Rider,

Really hope that is a tall tale & no truth in it. That could be very bad news for a lot of us (and I truly believe, for Thailand).
Let's face it, there's a lot of us on here who would be posting from elsewhere if they crack down on non-o's and non-b's, too!
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"The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748-1832

Make a dog's life better, today!

[lomuamart]

I agree with Guess that this has been debated before, but never enforced. Maybe they're serious this time? It looks like it.
The only worry I have is the comment that it's going to be easy to go to Penang to get a Tourist visa (however many entries) or a Non O multi entry on the basis of marriage.
It's been years since I was in Penang, but even then they were questioning me about two back-to-back double entry TVs. They wouldn't have granted a third. I've heard this is still the case.
Again, I've heard that they're willing to issue multi non O's, but only to people who've had them from Penang before. "Newbies" only get a single entry and are told to apply for the year's extension later in Thailand. Loas, Cambodia etc have been very strict for years.
If all these new regulations are enforced, it seems as though the only way for a person to remain in Thailand for a long period of time on multi-entry non Os is to return to their home countries every 15 months or so and apply there.
I'm certainly getting mine from Hull whilst I'm here and will relook at the situation in 15 months.
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

[hogus]

Seems we all (include me) get too much panic!

Please, take a look to the official Thai Immigration Information Board.
It clears some misunderstandings!


http://www.thaiimmigration.com/inv/index.php?showtopic=53&st=0

[silverbird]

[Big Boy]

hogus,

You're right it is good stuff, and does seem to be relevant until you notice that the nice Admin 1 guy was talking 2 years ago. Is there a current string where he's talking about the situation now? Is he still being as helpful?
_________________
Green Army position 21
Burnley 0 - 0 Plymouth Argyle
Who said, "I've dumped PAFC for Eutopia at Liecester?"
Ian Holloway (job seeker extrordanair)

[Big Boy]

Obviously my last posting crossed with silverbird, who has very similar thoughts.

I've tried to look a bit further to find something more upto date, but the immigration board closed on 5 Dec 04 until further notice.
_________________
Green Army position 21
Burnley 0 - 0 Plymouth Argyle
Who said, "I've dumped PAFC for Eutopia at Liecester?"
Ian Holloway (job seeker extrordanair)

[appleman_thai]

Sorry but thaiimmigration.com is not the official thai immigration website. there is a whole history to this but the official website is immigration.go.th.

I was at immigration in Suan Plu yesterday. 3rd time in 1 month and I was trying to get my investment visa sorted.

Basically, no chance! and from 1st Oct the investment visa will no longer be available.

Also, as I applied for the visa the officer told me my name was NOT on the back of the Chanote of the COndo and instead it was a company name. But I can read thai and can certainly read my own name and it IS there! He was blatantly trying to pull one over on me!

Of course, he lost face and there was no chance of me getting my visa.

SO there is obviously a concerted effort to get rid of all foreigners.....

Now I cant stay here and live in my Condo? WTF?
_________________
www.geroreilly.com
Former Expat in Cha-am - now back in Ireland!

[Big Boy]

Well done appleman_thai, that address is up to date. I notice that they do have a board through which Immigration Officers make announcements - unfortunately, although current, its all in Thai. I was wondering if one of you clever guys who can read Thai can glean any useful information from it http://www.immigration.go.th/forum/index.php
_________________
Green Army position 21
Burnley 0 - 0 Plymouth Argyle
Who said, "I've dumped PAFC for Eutopia at Liecester?"
Ian Holloway (job seeker extrordanair)

[hogus]

Yeah, Big Boy, you're true...I didn't noticed that this topic was from 2004.
I apologize it was my false!
But, there you can see how actual this theme is till now.
What the friendly Admin1 said in former times?

"To our best knowledge the rule mentioning “3 consecutive entries = 6 months out”, formerly posted on the Royal Thai Police Force's web site, was never and are never going to be enforced. That’s NOT what we are saying. (It’s very unlikely it will ever be, because why should we limit tourists from coming to and spending money in Thailand?)"

Not 29 months later they want to enforce the law, and limit tourists from coming to and spending money in Thailand!

As appleman_thai said, now you can't stay here and live in your Condo!
It's unbelievable how they want to treat foreigners, tourists and investors from now.
Freely after the motto: Give us your money and piss off!

I couldn't see any update yet on the (now really) official Immigration website.
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2381.php#longstay

Hope clear information will be published soon.
Who wants to invest or give out even one cent in country, which doesn’t allow you to stay?

[silverbird]

According to the Pattaya Expat Club some good news from an unofficial meeting they had today with Jomtien Immigration Office:

"The 3 million baht investment visa will no longer be available in October...
... but a 10 million baht investment visa will substitute it."

"The renewal will be possible by investing 7 million baht more..."

"Most visa financial requirement will be "updated" before the end of 2006"

"The 2 border runs limitation will not concern people arriving to Thailand by plane"

Let us hope the above is correct.

Some other news that gives the Chief o Immigration as the source:

Retirement Visa extension. If you have a foreign married spouse who is a dependent they will be able to get this dependent visa now. ( change of what has been happing the last couple weeks)

Investment visa extension. For existing extension of stay holders of 3 million Baht, we are now being told this will now be grandfathered in and they will be able to get the extension forever as long as they renew. (Yes I know reversal from several hours ago but the government is aware that people bought condos before on this scheme and now will allow it.

If you have a visa on arrival more than three times in six months, you cannot come into Thailand without a visa from an Embassy/Consulate. When you enter Thailand, even if you are here just 1 hour, this counts as 30 days. If you come back 6 weeks later for 2 days, this again is 30 days. If you arrive a month later for 4 days, still counts as 30 days. When you leave, you cannot enter Thailand for 3.5 months without coming back with a visa. The reason is to force people who are supposed to have work permits to do so and pay tax. Another example; you arrive for a week, this counts as 30 days, One month later 3 days and its 30 days, two months later and its for a two week period, still another 30 days. You can reenter Thailand in 6 weeks without having a visa.

On extension of stay based support of a Thai national (Marriage visa), before if you applied for this extension of stay, you would get a 30 day consideration stamp. Once you return in 30 days you would get the one year extension. Now it will be the same as an extension of stay based on business with the norm of three 30 day consideration stamps. Immigration will go out and check to see if it’s a real marriage or a sham before issuing the one year.

[prcscct]

[prcscct]

Hmmm, maybe I should think more inside the envelop. "Arriving by plane" probably can also be interpreted to mean that after 2 border runs and 2 x 30 day VOA extensions...any subsequent arrival has to be by plane to start the total exercise all over again.

If correct, it will be good for the new airport and the local airlines. Now, maybe I'm thinking like a Thai bureaucrat? Pete

[prcscct]