Visa runs banned after Aug 12

[STEVE G]

No more visa runs

Immigration authorities will not let visa runners return after August 12

FOREIGNERS WHO do regular visa runs in order to extend their stay in Thailand have less than a month before a crackdown by the authorities to enforce immigration laws more strictly.

From August 13, people will not be able to re-enter the country, regardless of their choice of transport.

The Immigration Bureau has already instructed officials to deny entry to foreigners doing visa runs as a measure to stop the exploitation of tourist visas and visa exemptions to live or work here.

Visa runs have been common among foreigners in Thailand recently, given that a simple search on the Net turns up several companies offering "visa trips" for expatriates staying or working here.

Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay. By exploiting 60-day tourist visas and 30-day visa exemptions, many foreigners can work illegally in language schools, or restaurants and other businesses. It is easier for some to get jobs this way, as some employers do not want to go through the complicated process of seeking work permits and like to avoid the expense if they can.

"I have done visa runs several times before, because my employers would not agree to seek a work permit until I passed their probation period. So, when you stop allowing visa runs, the lives of many foreigners in Thailand will be affected," a 46-year-old American said.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Bureau website says: "Leniency will be granted until August 12, but only for passengers arriving by air. Foreigners who come to Thailand must seek a proper visa in line with the purpose of their intended stay here."

Now, those on a visa run who are allowed back in will find an "O-I" (Out-In) mark next to their latest stamp marking entry. From August 13, nobody with an O-I sign on their passport will be allowed to re-enter Thailand if they cannot produce a proper visa.

The Immigration Bureau has instructed checkpoints on shared borders to stop visa runners from entering the Kingdom effective immediately.

Immigration Division 6 chief Pol Maj-General Tatchai Pitaneelabut, who oversees immigration affairs in the South, said visa runners come from several countries, including Vietnam, South Korea and Russia.

"They come here to work as tour guides, waiters, waitresses, etc," he said, pointing out that these visa-runners are often based in tourist centres such as Phuket and Songkhla.

However, he said the presence of the so-called "out-in" migrants in the South had been significantly reduced because immigration officials were already enforcing stricter laws.

Pol Lt-Colonel Weerawat Nilwat, an inspector at the Sungai Kolok border checkpoint in Narathiwat province, disclosed that immigration officials at his workplace had already barred more than 100 visa-runners from re-entering the Kingdom.

"We have to be strict because we have to uphold laws and properly control immigrants. Efficiency on this front will also reduce crime," he said.

Pol Colonel Thirachai Dedkhad, the superintendent at the Sa Kaew checkpoint, said officials under his supervision were not stopping visa runners from re-entering yet. "But we have been warning them to acquire a proper visa before they come to Thailand the next time."

He said immigration officials had also warned people departing that they must obtain a proper visa if they want to come back.

"We have made it clear that if they want to work in Thailand, they must seek a work permit and get the right type of visa," Thirachai said.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 38504.html

[Matlot]

So a 6 month tourist visa with 3 entries is no longer valid as a proper visa?

[Thriftydrifter]

I'm confused - I knew they were stopping border runs (ie successive entries under the visa waiver rules), but are they stopping visa runs too (ie successive visas issued by a Thai embassy)? If so, any idea how long they expect people to stay outside Thailand before another visa is issued?

[buksida]

According to the visa website they're already turning people back from the Malay border:

Tourist visa holders denied entry to Thailand and left stranded in Malaysia
At least 20 foreign nationals were denied entry into Thailand on Sunday using their 60-days Tourist visas, after attempting to enter via the Sungai Kolok border checkpoint in Narathiwat province.

Narathiwat is a popular destination for visa runners and border runners to exit and re-enter the country in order to extend their stay in Thailand.

All of the foreigners who were denied entry had a previous history of multiple visa exempt entries or back to back tourist visas.

Eight of the foreigners in question held visas issued abroad, as well as from Malaysia, namely from the Royal Thai Consulates in Penang and Kota Bahru. The countries of origin of the 8 refused foreigners include the UK, Italy, USA, Russia, Ukraine, Romania and New Zealand.

Immigration officials at Sungai Kolok, as well as at several other border checkpoints in the south, have been ordered by the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok to deny entry to foreigners holding 60-days Tourist visas.

A reporter from Thaivisa was present when the foreigners attempted to cross the border and can confirm that Sungai Kolok Immigration officials were refusing entry on Sunday to all holders of Tourist visas.

As for those who were refused entry, many of them were shocked, concerned and left in utter disbelief at the situation they now found themselves in.

Immigration officials then told the individuals that they would need to take a bus to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, and fly in to Thailand instead.

According to Immigration border officials, the official rule is max one 30-days exemption stamp or Tourist visa and no previous tourist visa extensions.


More on Phuketwan:
Visa runners face the risk of becoming stranded outside Thailand with what appears to be the official announcement of a potentially broader border crackdown from August 12.

In a letter dated June 23 from Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to all embassies and consulates and international organisations in Thailand, officials warn that ''as of August 12 2014 onwards, Thai Immigration Bureau will commence prohibiting visa runners from entering into Thailand.''

The letter, in English and employing elaborate prose, says ''with reference to the recent news about Thai Immigration bureau clamping down on visa runners, [the ministry] has the honor to inform the latter [international organisations in Thailand] that the above measure, which has been strictly implemented, is aimed to prevent visa runners who abuse the visa exemption scheme from working illegally in Thailand.''

http://phuketwan.com/tourism/expat-conf ... ust-20535/

[dtaai-maai]

I'm not sure I understand how they can turn away someone with a correctly issued 60-day tourist visa unless they can prove that the person intends to work illegally. Surely it would be easier just to stop issuing successive tourist visas in neighbouring countries, although that might be counter-productive.

Or is this just another example of the terms visa run and border run being confused? This quote suggests that is the case:
"But we have been warning them to acquire a proper visa before they come to Thailand the next time."

EDIT: Apparently not:

Immigration officials at Sungai Kolok, as well as at several other border checkpoints in the south, have been ordered by the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok to deny entry to foreigners holding 60-days Tourist visas.

So the Thai Embassy issues a visa, then the Thai immigration authorities revoke it? Bizarre.

[Korkenzieher]

2 points: I have an 'O' visa for which Immigration tells me I cannot do internal reporting. I must exit and return. No issue with that, and it is a correctly issues 'O' - not a tourist visa. But since back to back in/out visa runs will effectively be banned does that not directly contradict the terms of the visa?

Last time I made a land exit (Ranong, January), it cost 1800 baht at the border. On the boat to the Andaman Club there were approx. 40 people and there's about 10 boats a day. That is 40*10*1800, or 720,000 Baht a day, at a single, poxy border crossing. Or 5M a week. Or roughly 250M Baht a year - not correcting for bad weather, holidays - or taxis or hotels or meals and so on. It is big, big business. And someone is going to get upset *real* soon!

[lomuamart]

From what I can gather, everything's nebulous and entry refusals at the border will be down to the individual crossing/officer. There's nothing written down (yet) that specifies how many bank-to-back border runs (30 day entries) or tourist visa runs a person can make before they get refused entry.
What is clear though is that back-to-back tourist visas are going to be affected as well.
In the above article, those refused entry already had a passport history of 30 day runs and TVs and the supposition must be that they're working illegally.
Unfortunately, a visa never guarantees entry into a country - anywhere. Entry is always at the discretion of the Imm officer at the border/airport although I agree with d-m that it would be easier just to not to issue the visa or for a runner to be told that they won't be allowed back in as they attempt to leave.
There do not appear to be any restrictions on Non O visas (as yet), so I can't see any problem with out/in (O/I) to activate different stages of a multi-entry. (For the future, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that the multi-entry O has all but disappeared. They're getting more and more difficult to get as it is now. Single entries should be OK but people will be pushed towards getting annual extensions).
It further appears that, especially with TVs, it's OK to arrive at the airport with a history of them - at least for now. After Aug 12th, that might well change.
I'm afraid that the days of people staying here for long periods of time on anything other than a Non Imm visa of some description seem to be well and truly over.

[Korkenzieher]

I also feel that there is a suspicion in the farang community that this is targeting them / us. It seems from what I have read, that the main target is peripheral nations (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia) and perhaps to a lesser extent India and Gulf nations. Unfortunately, and as usual, the Thai 'blunt object' approach is being used. The economic effect of Cambodians leaving the country is already being felt, and you can be pretty sure that this is just going to multiply the effect. From the European perspective, I have not really understood why people wouldn't just get an appropriate visa in the first place - fortnightly / monthly exits must add up to a lot more than the annual cost of a multiple re-entry visa (£125 last year) which covers you, ultimately, for 15 months.

[bsdk1960]

I also feel that there is a suspicion in the farang community that this is targeting them / us. It seems from what I have read, that the main target is peripheral nations (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia) and perhaps to a lesser extent India and Gulf nations. Unfortunately, and as usual, the Thai 'blunt object' approach is being used. The economic effect of Cambodians leaving the country is already being felt, and you can be pretty sure that this is just going to multiply the effect. From the European perspective, I have not really understood why people wouldn't just get an appropriate visa in the first place - fortnightly / monthly exits must add up to a lot more than the annual cost of a multiple re-entry visa (£125 last year) which covers you, ultimately, for 15 months.

Since I still work I can not just get a appropriate visa in DK,if I been on a pension I could, so I have to apply for 2x60 days tourist visa and then 30 days in Immigration office here in HH.

Just been married to my thai wife I hope it will be easier next time but I don't have to high hopes.

[heartofmidlothian]

Difficult to get a 1 year visa if you are not 50 or if you are not married to a Thai. I just got my marriage visa done while in the UK. It was no problem as long as you have the required paperwork.
A few of my friends have done education visas in the past. Are they still available? They had been able to pay a fee which gave them Thai language classes plus a visa which was all arranged by the company. Does sound like doing visa runs now is too risky.

[Korkenzieher]

^ I am over 50 now, but I don't bother with retiree for the simple fact that I do not want to keep that amount of cash in baht. So far it hasn't been a problem. Maybe this year they will make me change - who can say. I started out with ED's when I was 47. The only problem is that I cannot do internal reporting (though I understand that is now possible on ED's). ED Visas are still available but the story from different schools varies somewhat. Some will tell you that you can only get a 90 day visa, and they can renew it for you based on attendance -for up to a year. Others will promise renewals for up to 'x' years. I've had a couple of those, but I have never had a problem getting 1 year 'O' visas. I keep money in a Thai account - but not enough for the retiree visa. I show them a current account statement from a GBP account with more than the requirement. It has always passed so far (3 years). Last year, when Hull started having to refer to the Embassy in London, I was a little worried, I admit - but it came back with no problem. 1 year multiple entry visa basically for paying the money and being a good boy. I guess I will find out this year if the goal-posts have moved, but there doesn't seem to be any reason at face value with the recent changes, to suggest it has changed.

[Henry 14th]

For those of you who have kids with a Thai there is always the option of a Child Support Visa.

It's basically an extension to stay for 12 months on top of non-O visa.

There are requirements that need to be be met in order to approve the extension but I found it to be a hassle free process that will be easier 2nd/3rd etc time round.


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[hhfarang]

PHUKET: Out-in visa hoppers now being barred from entry to Thailand

PHUKET: Pol Col Sanchai Chokkayaikij, Superintendent of the Phuket Immigration Office, this afternoon confirmed to The Phuket News that the multiple “Out-In” visa hop is now officially dead.

Tanyaluk Sakoot
Tuesday 15 July 2014, 06:26PM

“Every immigration post on land borders and at airports now has the same rules.

“If they are genuine tourists that's fine. But if we believe they are not tourists, they will not be readmitted into Thailand.

“We can see [from their passport stamps] if a foreigner has stayed in Thailand too long [on tourist visas]. We will not let them in.”

The impending clampdown has been a while coming, and has been applied in stages, with some Immigration posts ahead of others.

On May 13, the then-national head of Immigration, Lt Gen Pharnu Kerdlarpphon explained to The Phuket News, “Lots of nationalities come to Thailand on tourist visas but they come to work. I really want them to do the right thing, not to try to dodge around the law and evade taxes.”

Immigration has also begun to apply blacklisting to people who overstay their permits to stay in Thailand.

http://www.thephuketnews.com/out-in-vis ... -47360.php

[Spitfire]

I'm afraid that the days of people staying here for long periods of time on anything other than a Non Imm visa of some description seem to be well and truly over.

That looks to be about the size of it and it's been coming for a while.

I also think the education visa is 'on the list' too as it has been totally abused.

[Siani]

I suppose there will be a lot of business people who have set up bars, estate agency's etc. I wonder if this will apply to business visa. There must be a lot of people who put the business in their girlfriends name and have been doing visa runs in order to stay in the country.
Even at retirement age it's not so easy. The problem is, unless you can show your monthly income and or capital, you won't get a visa.