30-day border runs now only 15 days

[Super Joe]

SJ, I'm well aware of the 'benefits' and will never agree with you on this issue. The Thai PR is just another version of Thaksin's elite card, designed for the rich retired that don't need to work

I know we won't agree, but I don't understand how 6,000 Baht per year (less 1,900 extension renewal fee), so 3,900 Baht per year is considered for the rich and elite!? No show money in the bank put in a high interest account elsewhere and you probably make money out of it

Many of the things farangs have issues with and complain about, it takes away, for example:
a) 90 day reporting, not required with PR
b) Hassle with WP renewals, PR gives automatic renewals
c) Yearly extensions not required with PR
d) No need for money in bank of 400k or 800k, released to spend on what you want
e) No need for proof of income of 40k
f) No bank borrowing for property, can with PR
g) No bank borrowing for vehicles, can with PR
h) Government Healthcare for over 60 year olds if they want it
i) Can purchase a condo without having to remitt funds from outside the country
j) Can apply for extensions of stay or PR for non-Thai family members

We can take it or leave it though, so up to the individual.

SJ

[crazy88]

Why doesn't everyone just flop their virtual manhoods out on the table to see which is the biggest ?

The hair splitting exchanges of information,including my own, on recent threads, have been, IMO, quite confusing for anyone trying to glean information regarding Thailand and related matters from this forum .

Implications obvious

Crazy 88

[richard]

So what do you need for a PR?

[Super Joe]

There's info about it here Richard: http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en ... =residence

It's 100k if married to a Thai, 200k if not.

SJ

[STEVE G]

As I understand it there is also a quota for PR, of 100 applicants a year from each nationality.

[buksida]

Yes there is a quota, its not the easiest thing to get and it appears to be aimed at the rich, not your average working guy trying to raise a family or simply stay here (else everyone would have one).

SJ, your six grand a year is for regular visa extensions, this is what I'm currently doing and have been for the last ten years or so. The cost is not the issue, its the ever increasing list of requirements - these things never get easier where as in other countries the longer you stay the better you're treated.

Anyway so in times of crisis what do the smart party do? Clampdown on entry stamps again, their elitist caps are on, we don't want backpackers just well heeled five star dwelling tourists. I'm sure they forget that this is Thailand and not Dubai sometimes.

[Super Joe]

The quota is 100, but not 100 applicants, 100 people that qualify and meet the criteria, they extend the quota's if over applied for.

The cost is not the issue, its the ever increasing list of requirements - these things never get easier where as in other countries the longer you stay the better you're treated.

Agree, I'm just letting people know there's an option that removes most of these hassles AND releases their bank show money.

Sorry, back to topic ......

SJ

[buksida]

Another quick final on this is that if you're applying on the back of non-B extensions for three consecutive years you need to have earnt, declared and paid tax on monthly salary of 80k (for those three years). Not many farangs fall into that category, hoteliers and those working for multinationals yes, not your average Joe running a small business, getting by, and supporting his family.

If PR was such a good deal as you say more people would have it, in my time here I've only met two that do.

Anyway, yes,

[Super Joe]

Another quick final on this is that if you're applying on the back of non-B extensions for three consecutive years you need to have earnt, declared and paid tax on monthly salary of 80k (for those three years)

No, even if you have 3 consecutive 'B' Business extensions but married to a Thai you can apply under the 'Patronage of a Thai Citizen' and just need to show 30k income between you.

The 'Working/Business' catagory is for people not married to Thais and usually working for big companies in Bangkok and do earn 80k. Also 80k is just one option for qualification, the other is based on a tax returns of a certain amount, which many businesses meet (if they are declaring their tax properly )

SJ

[buksida]

Let me know when you get it then and if its worth the hassle, I considered applying 3 years ago but was stumped by the 80k thing (info came from Sunbelt Asia) ... had better things to do with 100k then too!

[Name Taken]

Thais have massive hassles getting visas for most other countries.
Dwarf's our visa problems here imo, farangs here, not talking about you Buksi, become bitter and twisted about all things Thai and whinge about the most minor of issues imo. It goes as far as those that did not have a problem in immigration resort to complaining about the road leading to it, wtf??

Most have problems with visas here because they can not meet the qualifications required.

SJ

Unfortunately there are not that many visa options available to people younger than 50 years old in Thailand in my opinion and most people don't want to or can't afford to spend 1.5 million baht for a 5 year visa offered through the Thailand Elite Card.

[Spitfire]

Unfortunately there are not that many visa options available to people younger than 50 years old in Thailand in my opinion and most people don't want to or can't afford to spend 1.5 million baht for a 5 year visa offered through the Thailand Elite Card.

If you are under 50, married or not, this section/discussion is not applicable to you, they won't even entertain you. I've lived and worked here for close to ten years and I'm not even 40 yet, went and enquired at the immigration office about it and got laughed out of the place(OK, that was a couple of years ago and might have changed now, but I doubt it).

If you are under 50 then the best option you have, unless you are unusually rich, is to get a work permit and do some legal work if you want to stay and have a wife and kids you would rather not leave on their own, otherwise it can be a bit tricky.

If you are under 50 and not working here or in another/your own country and are just continually staying here then it set of their alarm bells. Think that's why they make it like that now, they only want retirees with a disposable pension or you have legally work and contribute. There are exceptions ofcourse, but it's becoming more and more risky these days, not like a while back.

That's what I think, but may be wrong and invite the visa gurus(Lomu/SJ/Buksi etc) to correct me if I'm wrong and don't mind at all.

The above is often the impression I get from my dealings with said officialdom.

[lomuamart]

Actually, spitfire, this thread is totally applicable for Name Taken, assuming he/she is not 50+ or married to a Thai. It's about the visa exempt stamps and their duration now. (I know the thread has meandered off into PR etc).
Everything I've read recently suggests that there is again no limit to the number of visa exempt runs you can make now, but you're limited to 15 days if you cross into Thailand by land or sea. You get 30 days if you come in at the airport. You can do this for life, if you so wish. Personally, I felt that the previous 90 days in 6 months was more stringent. Others may well disagree and I did 30 day runs for years and they became a bind, let alone going to Ranong every 15 days now.
Name Taken. There's no Imm limit to the number of Tourist visas you can get back-to-back, although individual, neighbouring Thai Embassies and consulates make up their own rules. Ask again if you want more information on the best places to go right now.
Also, if you're under 50 and are married to a Thai, then you can get annual extensions based on 40k overseas income or 400k in a Thai bank.
I agree with you that if you're under 50 and not married to a Thai, then your options are limited, but if you fancy a bit of regular traveling, you can still stay here forever under the current set of regulations.

[PeteC]

Phuket Immigration clarifies new visa rules

PHUKET CITY: At a press conference held late yesterday, Phuket Immigration confirmed that foreigners arriving without visas at any of Thailand's non-airport immigration checkpoints will be granted permits-to-stay of only 15 days, half the former number.

The conference was led by Phuket Immigration Superintendent Chanatpol Yongbunjerd, who also confirmed that the former rule limiting foreigners entering on "visa exemptions" from staying more than 90 days over a 180-day period was no longer in effect.

As a result, foreigners from any of the 40 countries eligible for "visa exemptions" can now legally reside in Thailand year-round, provided they don't mind making a "visa run" every 15 days (30 days if by air) and abide by all other laws and regulations.

The new 15-day rule is now in effect at all 54 land border checkpoints, including the seaport checkpoint at Ranong, popular with Phuket-based foreigners doing visa runs to Burma.

The new order, issued on November 25, is intended as a way of stopping foreigners from working illegally in the country in industries such as real estate, Col Chanatpol said.

Col Chadpol said he was working closely with Thai Dive Association (TDA) President Ronnachai Chindapol to find ways to improve the diving industry's compliance with Thai immigration and labor laws, recognizing the role that foreign dive instructors play in the industry.

On the issue of migrant workers from neighboring countries such as Burma, Col Chanatpol said he personally thought their number might be in the range of 70,000 to 80,000. Of these, as many as 50,000 might be unregistered, he estimated.

Col Chanatpol said he was in favor of raising the quota on such workers, as doing so would have many advantages. These would include stemming the spread of dangerous diseases such as dengue fever through mandatory health checks, and increasing government revenue through collection of work permit fees.

However, the previous Cabinet's plan to raise quotas early in 2009 will now have to be put on hold until a new Cabinet is formed and decides on the issue, he said.

Col Chanatpol also used the meeting to introduce two new Immigration Inspectors recently assigned to his office: Lt Col Kanya "Taen" Petchpairoj, who will be in charge of visa issues and administrative matters, and Lt Col Suparerk Pankosol, who recently transferred from Samut Prakan and will be in charge of investigations.

During the press conference, Pol Capt Napat Noosen released figures for permit-to-stay extension applications received by Phuket Immigration in 2007. The list revealed the United Kingdom as the single greatest source of applicants, with 2,560 (1,207 on tourist visas, 1,353 for non-immigrant visas).

Rounding out the top ten were: 2. Sweden (total 1,411); 3. Germany (1,196); 4. France (1,174); 5. US (1,136); 6. Italy (1,135); 7. Switzerland (745); 8. Philippines (715); 9. Australia (671) and Burma (609).

Capt Napat implored people with non-immigrant visas planning to apply for permit-to-stay extensions to submit their applications no fewer than two weeks before their current permit is set to expire.

[Spitfire]

Yeah Lomu, quite right! Suppose I was wandering off into the PR part aswell there rather than the OP subject.