The End Of Border Runs From Oct 1, 2006

silverbird · Member Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 51

Immigration confirms the end of border runs from October 1, 2006
Thailand tightens visa rules for tourists to cut illegal workers

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will tighten entry regulations for tourists in a bid to crack down on illegal foreign workers, the Immigration Bureau said.

The move, which takes effect October 1, would affect tourists from 41 countries including Australia, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the US, said Suwat Thamrongsrisakul, the head of the bureau.

Currently, tourists from 41 countries can enter Thailand without visas and stay in the kingdom for up to 30 days.

They can extend their stay by checking out of the country, mainly by crossing the borders of neighboring Cambodia and Laos, and returning with new entry stamps.

'Under the current rules, people from those countries can stay in Thailand as long as they want. Some even stay here for one year,' another bureau official said.

The bureau had learned that a growing number of foreigners from the 41 countries worked illegally in Thailand, Suwat said, adding many were employed in bars and restaurants in the popular seaside resort of Pattaya, east of Bangkok.

'Tourists are taking advantage of the visa exemption law. Instead of sightseeing, they are doing business here,' Suwat said.

From October, tourists from the designated countries can still enter Thailand without visas and stay for up to 30 days, but their entry stamps will be renewable twice at most for a maximum stay of 90 days.

Tourists who stayed for 90 days must leave the kingdom for at least 90 days before being permitted to re-enter Thailand, Suwat said.

--forbes.com 2006-09-10

Winkie · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 8:36 am Post subject:

Looks like this is going to bugger a few people up!
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fremdulo · Amateur Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 28 Location: Hua Hin

Siverbird, do you know how much of this is retropective? If you have already renewed on Oct 1 will you be denied entry or does the 2 free passes start from Oct 1 even if you have several already?

H2ODunc · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:44 am Post subject: Visas

I suppose there are going to be a lot of vacancies on Koh Tao for divemasters and instructors with work permits very soon. If this is carried out it is going to have a big impact on the diving and tourism in general. I suppose the best people can hope for is it calms down after the election. I'm surprised it hasnt happened sooner. I know some people who have been here for years doing the visa run every month. Looks like a trip to Hull for me before Dec. Cheers Dunc Cheers

DawnHRD · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 1:19 pm Post subject:

I have a non- immigrant B visa from Hull. I need to do a visa run every 90 days. Does this bugger me up, too - or only those without visas doing the 30 day renewal?
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silverbird · Member Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 51

hogus · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 4:50 pm Post subject:

Seems to be a case of "Amazing Thailand" again!

If I see it correctly, the 30 days visa-runner just have to rethink and apply for a 60 days-visa from now on, if they aren't qualified for any non-immigrant-visa.
That means for them just a little bit more expenses (couple of days-stay for application, flight-ticket out of TH)…!

Aim recognized, but missed again!

It's the same nonsense as with the age-limitation for pensioners and the retirement-visa.
If someone is i.e. 49 years old he has to prove 3 mio Baht, but at the age of 50 years 800,000 Baht qualify him already.

With this kind of "smart" regulations they won't stop any illegal workers.
The only result will be that many normal people will think about leaving Thailand, i.e. to Malaysia (renewable 3 month visa without any fees), Cambodia (1-year-visa for about US$ 250, without any proofs of property or age) etc.
The standard in these neighbor countries is similar to TH, and you seem to be welcomer there.

Could be very bad for people, who made private investments in TH, but aren't qualified for a long-term-visa.
(May be those should make some nice pics of their investment now, to enjoy it in this manner at least? … Sorry for being cynical)

It’s another sad event again, but like silverbird I think there isn’t any reason to panic yet…. in the end it’s election campaign time!
But affected people should keep their eyes open!

.

buksida · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 5:04 pm Post subject:

Looks like another blind sweeping regulation as they can't be bothered to judge on a case basis. Trying to clamp down on illegal work by Chinese and Indian immigrants on 30 day stamps by restricting 40 odd other countries also.

Rolling Eyes

Yet again Thailand sticks the proverbial finger up at tells everyone to bugger off because it is the boss. As said above with neigbouring countries opening up to foreigners Thailand seems to be going backwards.
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fremdulo · Amateur Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 28 Location: Hua Hin

The problem with staying cool and waiting is that if it is retrospective, you go to raynong say, and you are refused re-entry, then you are stumped, stuck in malaysia for 90 days or having to fly home from there. The immigration office in HH don't even know about it. If they don't know then how the hell are we supposed to know.

hogus · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:10 pm Post subject:

As it's written above already, TH doesn't make any difference between illegal working Burmese, Indian, Nepalese etc. and Immigrants from western countries, which are doing private investments perhaps, or living here without making any problems, but aren't qualified for any official long-term visa.

This kind of regulations just seems to prove again a mixing of ignorance and blindness, but may be also arrogance and megalomania.

But whatever your private opinion is, you can't fight against this nonsense.
I know many people already, which moved to Cambodia or Malaysia, because they had enough about the "quarterly" changing immigration-, and business-law of TH.

Try to get any kind of visa from now, if you're affected, or use the 90 days outside TH to explore how welcome you are in neighbor-countries under similar life-conditions, but more friendly regulations.

They'll love your money...I'm sure about this!

Jockey · Ace Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 1676

I know some people who live here but rely on renewing their visa's every month. Is this a threat to them living here or am I reading this wrong?

DawnHRD · Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:18 pm Post subject:

From what I can see, Jockey, that's exactly who it's a threat to! And until this February, when I actually managed to scrape the time to go back "home" & get my visa, I was one of them. For 18 months I did the 29 day renewal, simply because with the dog center, my little boy & my mum's illness, I couldn't get a whole week to go back & get my visa. Thank God I finally made the time. As said before, it's a blind, sweeping gesture with no regard to individual cases! Shoot em up

By the way, Silverbird, thanks for the reassurance - I was getting seriously worried about my little boy then, as I can't take him out of Thailand. Shocked

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"The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?" - Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748-1832

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Jockey · Ace Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 1676

Panicking is wasted energy, however, if I was living here and was relying on monthly visa runs I would find it hard not to! When I first came to Thailand, it seemed to me a large percentage of Ferangs had found ways to to circumvent the spirit of the laws. At first, it all seemed a bit precarious to me. Why would you want to live in a country where you had to leave, cross the border every month then about turn, come back and 'pretend' you were 'just visiting'? Why would you want to do this every month? The more and more you met 'Ferangs' who had been living this way for years, the more I got used to the idea and the strange set up, apparently sanctioned by the authorities This bizarre practice has become the norm. I had similar thoughts regarding the setting up of non trading companies to invest in real estate, but as we all know, that subject is well documented elsewhere! These ways of getting round the spirit of the laws has become a way of living for many of us Ferangs out here, and the fact it was so obviously happening, made it look as if it was acceptable. Its announcements like this one that brings it home to us how unstable life really is out here. Ah well, life is an adventure! I still can not believe it! No doubt someone will come up with some new ingenious plan to obtain work permits without having to actually work or obtaining a retirement visa without reaching 50! (I'm making light of this but in reality I am stunned).
I'm starting to think these 'undesirable ferangs' who seem to be growing in number year after year are the reason the rules are tightening up. If so, they are spoiling it all for us decent living folks! I can't really blame the Thai authorities for wanting rid of this type, but the consequences for a lot of people living here could be horrendous. I really hope this is just another of the many false alarms that crop up from time to time and are just as quickly forgotten about.

richard · Ace Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Posts: 1495 Location: Hua Hin

Jockey,

could'nt agree more. For those of us who have decided to settle here without taking advantage of the system it may become hard as a result of the crack down

Anyone have any feedback about life in Nam or Cam in comparison????
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richard · Ace Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Posts: 1495 Location: Hua Hin

Ps Been through this before in Africa!!!
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Syd--------Shine on you crazy diamond
Freddie--- Love kills
If you've a problem don't moan. Find a solution!!

Khun Richard of Yorkshire (Halifax) and Hua Hin