Anyone know anything about this

[Hublet]

Hey there,
There has been dome discussion around about changes in the B Visa and what is entailed now. The following is just a snippet and the link to the article is underneath.

There has been a lot of debate about the new visa requirements for foreign nationals that came into effect on October 1, although mainly with regard to tourist visas, with quite a few letters from disgruntled "visa runners" and with some pretty smug responses from, for want of a better description, "legal tourists".

One of the new requirements for an extension of a business visa is that the sponsoring company must have Bt1 million positive equity in the audited accounts.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/10 ... 17405.html


Does anyone else know any more? If this is true then there will be quite a few people leaving Thailand rather soon.

[lomuamart]

I can't be bothered to read that.
All of us who aren't over 50 yrs and aren't married to a Thai person and most especially don't have a business. Well you can go home.
Forget the country, forget the spouse, forget the child.

[DawnHRD]

I can't be bothered to read that.
All of us who aren't over 50 yrs and aren't married to a Thai person and most especially don't have a business. Well you can go home.
Forget the country, forget the spouse, forget the child.

Lomu, Please don't think this is aimed at you - it isn't. You just (very succinctly) put into words what seems to be the general Thai govt consensus at this time.

I'm heartily sick of this. If I didn't have a child and responsibilities towards the dogs that we've taken in, I bloody well would move on. I love this country, I love "my" child and I love "our" dogs, but it seems I , and others like me aren't wanted here. I'm on a B visa at the moment, on the strength of the dog center, but a million? That is a bloody joke, isn't it? I'd be thrilled if we could ever make that much, but for 5 months (pretty much) Mum & I have been funding the dog center out of our own pockets.
The money has run out, on Monday Mum moves to Hong Kong to earn to support us. She's in her 50's & she's starting out again to support me, "my" son & the dogs I'm 37 tomorrow & what do I have in store for the next year? Possible separation from my son & destruction of all I've worked for (& Mum) for the last 3 years. And the sick thing is we're actually doing this to help. Funny, huh? Yes, I'm aware this isn't my country, I know visa requirements in other countries are more prohibitive, but, really, that's not the point. Who do the Thai govt want here? Only the rich? Or are even they dispensable after they've given all they can?

[buksida]

Who do the Thai govt want here? Only the rich?

Exactamundo.

[PJG]

Looking at the problem from another point of view would a Thai Lady in your situation have permanent right of abode in UK. The Financial requirements to get a business (investment) visa in UK are a lot higher than 1 million Baht.

[DawnHRD]

As I said "I know visa requirements in other countries are more prohibitive, but really, that's not the point"

To clarify, if I were in the situation you posed, I'd never have got into the UK. I've been here 5 years, I have my life (not important), my son (supremely important) & the dog center (very important) & now the goalposts are being moved...

[hogus]

Looking at the problem from another point of view would a Thai Lady in your situation have permanent right of abode in UK. The Financial requirements to get a business (investment) visa in UK are a lot higher than 1 million Baht.

Sorry, but the UK and other countries in the EU are so-called "welfare-countries".
Means, if you get a Visa you're "in", include all chances to use the welfare-programs.
May be I missed something, but it would be new for me, that TH has any of these programs for foreigners or expats, which could justify their actual visa-regulations.

[Big Boy]

PJG Wrote:

Looking at the problem from another point of view would a Thai Lady in your situation have permanent right of abode in UK.

Firstly I must admit, my knowledge of Dawn only comes from what I have read on this forum.

From what I know, if Dawn had been a Thai lady living in very similar circumstances in the UK, she would have been able to remain in the UK forever, not having to worry about renewing visas etc. She would also probably be well supported by the UK welfare system.

I actually know several Thai ladies who are in a very similar situation to Dawn. They don't have to work, they have housing provided by the state, and they have at least one holiday in Thailand each year on the proceeds of the welfare state.

Unfortunately, such benefits do not seem so readily available to the UK's own citizens.

[Onlyme]

Do they really want us?

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I read this article.

Marriage Visa. (Updated 5th Oct)

This allows the foreign, legal spouse of a Thai national to extend a non-immigrant visa for up to 12 months from the date of the last entry into Thailand. All new applications for this visa type now need to demonstrate a 40,000 Baht monthly income.
Previously there was also an option to show cash in a Thai bank to the tune of 400,000 baht. This option will now only be available to those who used this option before the October 1st 2006 changes. As with the retirement variant, checks will be made in future to ensure that the cash is not simply put in a bank and then removed. This visa is issued in Bangkok only and, during the waiting period, checks can be made by immigration police at your bank to see if there has been a big cash withdrawal! If the funds have disappeared, you may be ordered to leave Thailand in 7 days. Local immigration officers will also visit your home to verify that you really do live together as man and wife.

OK. A lot of us will get "Grandad rights" as long as we don't lose the original permission to stay.

I just can't get my head around Thai logic.
Do they never stop for one minute to think about....The average "Joe" that has family and friends visit the country each year?
In the last 4 years I've had at least 30 people visit me, spending on average 1,000 pounds each. That's not including the airfare.

For some reason, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia appear to be beckoning!

Disgruntled farang

[Jaime]

PJG Wrote:

Looking at the problem from another point of view would a Thai Lady in your situation have permanent right of abode in UK.

Firstly I must admit, my knowledge of Dawn only comes from what I have read on this forum.

From what I know, if Dawn had been a Thai lady living in very similar circumstances in the UK, she would have been able to remain in the UK forever, not having to worry about renewing visas etc. She would also probably be well supported by the UK welfare system.

I actually know several Thai ladies who are in a very similar situation to Dawn. They don't have to work, they have housing provided by the state, and they have at least one holiday in Thailand each year on the proceeds of the welfare state.

Unfortunately, such benefits do not seem so readily available to the UK's own citizens.

Big Boy, you are also forgetting the many Thai people living in the UK who are legally working as employees or running businesses and thereby contributing to the economy without the need for additional work permits.

Hogus is right - once you're in, you're in!

[Hublet]

I'm sorry I did not mean to upset anyone. The new regulations about marriage visa and families and the impact this is going to have is enormous and entirley unfair I agree however I was refering to the farang owned businesses (particularly the ones we all know).

Are they aware of these new laws. This is not being discussed here in HHAD and I wanted to know why? Do they know and are just keeping quiet hoping it is all a mistake and they wont be discovered or what? There have been a couple of times now that farangs, who own businesses in Thailand have gone home for a holiday only to be faced with refusal of entry back into Thailand because they didn't meet the criteria. One such couple has owned and worked a business for seven years.

These visa changes and the criteria that goes along with them is starting the ripple effect, which can be felt even outside of Thailand.

[Mack111]

Isn’t there any forum that a group of well meaning expats can voice there concerns through an official government channel, I know its Thailand and this would appear a bit to much to ask for but you never no, I’m sure loads of the Thailand government policy changes are to get rid of the dead beats / conmen etc but all you guys seem to be genuine honest good people.

Having been an expat in Asia for years in various different countries there always seemed to be expat groups that had some connection through to the embassies sure I doubt any of them have been very influential but its at least a voice and doubt it that the Thai goverment wants to get rid of people like you

Has anyone tried this?

Just a thought!!

Cheers

[Rider]

Do they really want us?

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I read this article.

Marriage Visa. (Updated 5th Oct)

This allows the foreign, legal spouse of a Thai national to extend a non-immigrant visa for up to 12 months from the date of the last entry into Thailand. All new applications for this visa type now need to demonstrate a 40,000 Baht monthly income.
Previously there was also an option to show cash in a Thai bank to the tune of 400,000 baht. This option will now only be available to those who used this option before the October 1st 2006 changes. As with the retirement variant, checks will be made in future to ensure that the cash is not simply put in a bank and then removed. This visa is issued in Bangkok only and, during the waiting period, checks can be made by immigration police at your bank to see if there has been a big cash withdrawal! If the funds have disappeared, you may be ordered to leave Thailand in 7 days. Local immigration officers will also visit your home to verify that you really do live together as man and wife.

OK. A lot of us will get "Grandad rights" as long as we don't lose the original permission to stay.

I just can't get my head around Thai logic.
Do they never stop for one minute to think about....The average "Joe" that has family and friends visit the country each year?
In the last 4 years I've had at least 30 people visit me, spending on average 1,000 pounds each. That's not including the airfare.

For some reason, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia appear to be beckoning!

Disgruntled farang

I can honestly say on reading the thai statement just above I really felt like the ruling was more akin to a tyrannical government policy. Big Brother walks the corridors of power....

[Onlyme]

The thing that really bugs me in Thaialand is....You appear to be judged on the amount of money you can produce!

So. Mister A has 40,000 baht per month. Mr B (the nicer chappie) has 50,000 baht per month. Mr C ( drug baron) has 200,000 baht per month and it goes on and on...........
It's really sad when you live in a third world country with third world thoughts.

[Norseman]

Well said Onlyme!!!
My thoughts too.
And worst of all, you're right!