Suggestions for new Visa categories

[PeteC]

If we do a good job with this one, perhaps we can get it published in the Bangkok Post, or submit it to the government. Below are suggestions to start off.

A. Keep retirement visa the same.
B. Keep the so called marriage visa the same.
C. Keep work permit procedures the same.

D. New Visa types.

1. Property Owner Visa - For a foreigner who owns a condo in his own name. 1 year multiple entry visa, renewable each year with proof the condo is still owned. No bank balance or proof of income required. No 90 day reporting.

2. Leasehold Visa - For the foreigner who has a land leasehold in his own name and has constructed or bought a dwelling on the land. Same as #1.

3. Head of Household Visa #1 - For the foreigner who has funded his spouse to purchase a condo, land and house, house on leasehold land. 90 day visa renewable each 90 days without leaving the country. 1,900 Baht fee each 90 days.

4. Head of Household Visa #2 - For the foreigner who rents his house, with spouse and children. Children must be Thai citizens from birth, and biological from either Father or Mother. Same as #3.

That's all I have for the moment. Pete

[buksida]

Good suggestions, a cross between 3 and 4 would suit me, providing you don't need to bring a wad in from farangland every month.

The one I have been waiting for is:

5) Automatic permanent residents visa : For the foreigner that has completed 5 consecutive annual extensions of a non-immigrant visa on the basis of work, retirement, or family support and has resided in the country permanently for 5 consecutive years. Able to work, no huge fees, no overseas income or money showing, no reporting, cannot vote, cannot own more than 1 rai of land. In many other countries this is the norm for immigrants that have proven themselves to be a steady contributor to society over a number of years and have a clean track record.

[tuktukmike]

Oh yeah the Bangkok will for sure print this,

1. Property Owner Visa - For a foreigner who owns a condo in his own name. 1 year multiple entry visa, renewable each year with proof the condo is still owned. No bank balance or proof of income required. No 90 day reporting.

2. Leasehold Visa - For the foreigner who has a land leasehold in his own name and has constructed or bought a dwelling on the land. Same as #1.

3. Head of Household Visa #1 - For the foreigner who has funded his spouse to purchase a condo, land and house, house on leasehold land. 90 day visa renewable each 90 days without leaving the country. 1,900 Baht fee each 90 days.

4. Head of Household Visa #2 - For the foreigner who rents his house, with spouse and children. Children must be Thai citizens from birth, and biological from either Father or Mother. Same as #3.

Or maybe even this,

5) Automatic permanent residents visa : For the foreigner that has completed 5 consecutive annual extensions of a non-immigrant visa on the basis of work, retirement, or family support and has resided in the country permanently for 5 consecutive years. Able to work, no huge fees, no overseas income or money showing, no reporting - in many other countries this is the norm for immigrants that have proven themselves to be a steady contributor to society and have a clean track record.



Hell will freeze over first, but a nice dream! Thought you knew better Buksida or was it in jest.

[buksida]

Hell will freeze over first, but a nice dream! Thought you knew better Buksida or was it in jest.

Welcome back TTM - a blast from the past for sure!

A nice dream it is, but you live and learn never to give up hope when you live here, maybe one day my grand kids will see it ... or maybe not.

[splitlid]

[quote="buksida"]

Welcome back TTM - a blast from the past for sure!
quote]

arrrr yes, super joe is polishing his gloves as we speak

[hhfarang]

How about a visa for criminal real estate developers from the west...

Oh, wait, they already have that one!

[Spitfire]

How about a CNC Residents Permit.

Certified Not a Criminal Residents permit for those of any age. This could allow access to land ownership of a ria or so and allow his wife to act and purchase as any other local, from a legal stand point, without any pre-conceived discrimination solely based on the fact that she chose to marry a foreign national. This visa would also entitle you to work, or start a business, on par with the locals, wherever you chose to as you are not a criminal.

There could also be other concessions to holders of this visa as it would encourage contributors, rather than scammers/fraudsters/mafia etc, to come to this country.

This visa could stipulate that you, if under 50, must either work and pay tax in Thailand or have a certain level of income from abroad, alternatively, a mix of both, if over 50 then there would be no requirement to work. The aforementioned visa could give the right people access to an existance that is benefitial to Thailand and their family environment which is what should be being forwarded.

OK, might be idealistic, but in the perfect world. All it would take is to require the applicant to get cleared, in the form of an official document, by their embassies as "not a person of interest" to the individual's home law enforcement authorities. A copy of the police search could be attached with the embassy's seal, signed by a pen-pusher aswell and that would be that. The immigration department here would have the clearence to check with the embassy to verify if the document was authentic, maybe even make it manditory for the Thais authorities to check.

It would be interesting to see how many could apply and get issued a visa of this nature, most revealing it would be. However, for those that qualify, a better deal could be got as you would contributing as opposed to anything else.

If you can't get this from your embassy, then WHY?

If you choose not to get this document then you would simply be dumped in the same situation are most are under todays rules.

Sorry to 'stir it up' a bit.

Caught the cannons last time I was on this subject so, better get my

[Super Joe]

Automatic permanent residents visa : For the foreigner that has completed 5 consecutive annual extensions of a non-immigrant visa on the basis of work, retirement, or family support and has resided in the country permanently for 5 consecutive years. Able to work, no huge fees, no overseas income or money showing, no reporting, cannot vote, cannot own more than 1 rai of land.

Agree that some kind of visa for those who have made a contribution to the country over a long period of time. Personally wouldn't look at land ownership though (I've posted before I actually agree with their no foreign ownership law, even though it would make my life easier, plus it'll never happen period) but they could issue longer lease periods, particularly for this catagory. The 'overseas income' and/or 'show money in bank' is a tricky one for Governments as one of their main concerns is foreigners not burdening them financially, maybe more flexibility in a combination of all incomes, foreigners overseas and here, spouses and bank show money.

In many other countries this is the norm for immigrants that have proven themselves to be a steady contributor to society over a number of years and have a clean track record.

Maybe in some parts of the world but not in any of the neighbouring countries or those a bit beyond like Hong Kong & Philippines.

SJ

[hhfarang]

OK, might be idealistic, but in the perfect world. All it would take is to require the applicant to get cleared, in the form of an official document, by their embassies as "not a person of interest" to the individual's home law enforcement authorities. A copy of the police search could be attached...

Spitfire,

You already have to do this with the authorities in your home country when you apply for an O-A (retirement) visa (and I think for any long term stay visa). I had to go to my local police station and they ran a search of the U.S. national criminal data base to make sure I hadn't committed any felonies or was not wanted for any crimes. They provided a stamped, signed and sealed document proving I was on the up and up. This was part of the paperwork required to get the original visa.

That's why I'm so surprised that such criminal types seem to turn up here so often... guess they have tourist visas and run the border...

[Roel]

Most top criminals do not have criminal records. That is part of the job.

And if they have then most likely money is not an issue so maybe there is a way around this Non-Criminal Certificate? Just a thought.

[Wanderlust]

hhf,
Your point about the undesirables made me think that if they actually did provide more or at least better options for upstanding citizens, they could tighten up on the 'easy' visas and the border running and would largely get rid of the criminal element, or at least make it easier to catch them. As it stands they are starting to make it harder for border runners but not providing other options for those who are genuine and fall outside their categorisations (mainly under 50 single people with adequate incomes). SJ's point about any farang becoming a burden on the state here is not possible, as there is no welfare system to speak of and farangs don't qualify anyway, unless I am missing something or misinterpreting.. Foreigners only bring money into Thailand as far as I can see.

[Super Joe]

SJ's point about any farang becoming a burden on the state here is not possible, as there is no welfare system to speak of and farangs don't qualify anyway, unless I am missing something or misinterpreting.. Foreigners only bring money into Thailand as far as I can see.

I believe what Government's, not just Thailand, are concerned about is that people then work illegally, don't pay taxes, undertake illegal activities, take jobs away from locals, have to pay for emergency hospital bills, costs associated with foriegners deaths etc.

SJ

[buksida]

I believe what Government's, not just Thailand, are concerned about is that people then work illegally, don't pay taxes, undertake illegal activities, take jobs away from locals, have to pay for emergency hospital bills, costs associated with foriegners deaths etc.

SJ

Oh this government is very concerned, which is why it treats all foreigners like thieves, liars, tax dodgers, and junkies - no discrimination there.

[Super Joe]

What's this, drama class

SJ

[Wanderlust]

SJ,
Genuine question - how successful do you think the Thai government's immigration rules and policy have been at preventing that list of things you posted (work illegally, don't pay taxes, undertake illegal activities, take jobs away from locals, have to pay for emergency hospital bills, costs associated with foriegners deaths etc. )?

My perception is that it has been dramatically unsuccessful, although whether it has those aims I don't really know, but as you say that seems to be what most governments aim to control. I would imagine the Thai laws are an attempt to either mimic Western ones or are part of a wider agreement between governments. In my time in Thailand I think I have met far more foreigners either working illegally, bending and breaking immigration or other laws, involved in some sort of illegal activity or not paying taxes than I have doing everything by the Thai rule book. In many cases it may only be a small transgression of the rules but still not doing it by the book. In addition I have never heard of emergency hospital bills or costs associated with foreigner deaths being footed by anyone other than the unfortunate's family or own government, so it could be said that in that instance they have been successful but I don't think that can be attributable to immigration policy can it? Now maybe my perceptions are wrong, but some of the suggestions in this thread would go further to deal with the problems outlined than the current policy.