The Burma/Myanmar Thread

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buksida
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Re: The Burma/Myanmar Thread

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Immigration Ministry outlines new visa regulations
Burma’s immigration ministry has announced new visa regulations effective from Jan. 11, clarifying visa options for short and long-term visitors.

The Wednesday announcement outlines 12 types of single-entry visas and three multiple entry visas, detailing how and when each document can be obtained.

The regulations do not indicate any major change of policy, but rather clearer procedural resources to bring Burma’s visa policies more in line with Asean standards.

As of Jan. 11 there will be 12 types of single-entry visa on offer: diplomatic; official travel; tourist; social; journalist; crew; workshop; business; employment; religious; educational; and 24-hour transit visa. Business, workshop, crew and transit visas will be available upon arrival.

Three types of multiple-entry visas will be offered: special government approved re-entry; special re-entry; and 6-month stay re-entry visa.

Industry experts welcomed the announcement, predicting it will ease facilitation of travel for tourists, business people and nationals living abroad.

Sabei Aung, managing director of Nature Dream Tourism said that her firm had struggled in the past with fluctuating and unclear travel procedures.

“Actually, before there were no clear regulations for visa application; we didn’t know how to do it,” she told The Irrawaddy. “But now our clients can ask us how to do it.”

“Now it’s clear, but what we want is to see the tourist visas extended to 45 days, instead of 28.”

The Asean community is expected to eventually implement a single travel visa allowing residents to move freely throughout the region, but it is still unclear when such a program could take effect.

http://burmaboard.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3032
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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buksida
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Re: The Burma/Myanmar Thread

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Myanmar races ahead as Thailand back-pedals
All eyes have been on Myanmar this week as it finally voted a new president, Htin Kyaw, into office, in so doing becoming the latest debutante into the democratic club. A close aide (for many he is a proxy) of democracy icon Aug San Suu Kyi, who is blocked from taking up the role due to constitutional hurdles, Htin Kyaw is the first civilian leader of the country since 1962.

The new Myanmar government faces high expectations. We know the multi-ethnic country of 60 million, with chronic problems of ethnic tensions, will not turn into a fully fledged democratic society overnight.

Yet, I would like to personally congratulate Myanmar citizens. I wish the country peace, sustainable prosperity, with economic and social equality, not just to be a new investment hot spot for foreign investors. Myanmar needs to deal with investors scrambling to make use of its abundant natural resources.

China, Japan, Singapore and Thailand have invested in numerous infrastructure projects, many of them dams, industrial estates and mines. These projects pose threats to the environment and livelihoods of local indigenous people. How the National League for Democracy and the Lady, Mrs Suu Kyi, respond to these challenges remains to be seen.

More: http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... back-pedal
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Re: The Burma/Myanmar Thread

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I have just returned from Myanmar and hope that the new government improve the lot of the people. Our guide was hopeful of beneficial change but it seems that the military will continue to have control of key departments. It was a surprise to see local village people washing themselves and their clothes in the Irrawaddy as their homes had no running water.Despite that they were amongst the friendliest people I have encountered. Another pleasant surprise was the number of motor cyclists wearing helmets in Mandaly, I estimate at least 95%! Our trip was provided by Pandaw.com . We visited the old stomping grounds of George Orwell and have since read his novel Burmah Days, hopefully I'll post a review in the book section later.
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Re: The Burma/Myanmar Thread

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Overland borders to Myanmar open to e-visa travellers
Burma’s Ministry of Immigration yesterday announced that three border checkpoints are now open to foreigners entering from Thailand with e-visas.

“We are pleased to announce that starting from 1 September 2016, e-visas can be used to enter Myanmar [Burma] from the following three land border checkpoints, between Myanmar and Thailand — Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung,” said the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population on its website.

Previously, visitors to Burma could only enter the country with e-visas via international airports at Rangoon, Mandalay and Naypyidaw.

Fees for the overland visa are the same as before: US$50 for a tourist visa (28 days); and $70 for a business visa (70 days), payable online by Visa, MasterCard, Amex or JCB. Applicants can simply go online and fill in a form. The only addition requirement is a digital image of a passport photo. The waiting period, if accepted, is three days.

News of the new routes is sure to well received by intrepid travellers from any of the 100 countries listed as eligible for an e-visa, who no longer have to queue up at a Burmese embassy for consecutive days to get a stamp to enter the country.

“It’s certainly going to facilitate and increase arrivals,” said Mark Ord of UK-based tour operator All Points East, which specialises in off-the-beaten-track tours to Burma. “It’s a great initiative, though they seem to have omitted the Dawei crossing, which is the easiest from Bangkok.”

The Dawei highway is still under construction, and several armed groups are active in the area – so security is the most likely reason that this route is not yet available. However, tourists can now weigh up any of three options – from northern, central or southern Thailand – if they are looking to make an overland trip to Burma:

More: http://burmaboard.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3689
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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