The End Of Border Runs From Oct 1, 2006

[buksida]

Before this turns into a flamefest I'll throw in my two bahts worth.

While I agree that the 30 day stamp is purely for tourists and shouldn't be "abused" as the almighty TRT suggest it is still a bad sign.

It is one of several clampdowns this year that do not spell good things for foreigners in Thailand. It is not going to get better and the next restrictions will be on non-immigrant visas, mark my words.

As said above, they want the high rollers only and the likes of mr average who does his work with his blue book and pays his taxes or supports a Thai or retires here are slowly being pushed out to make way for those "Elite Card Members", the "ultimate farang" that is so sought after by the government.

Thing is those high rollers are smart enough not to pour all their cash into this plastic economy so it really is our taxes, wages and money going back into the country that they're slowly squeezing out.

Who are the stupid ones?

[hogus]

Burger, I understand your statements and not all is bad.

But, as I post already in another thread, not everybody is willing to marry a Thai-citizen, make business in TH or is older than 50 years to be qualified for a proper long-term-visa.
I know many people (myself included), which have more money than an average foreigner pensioner, who's legally retired in TH.
If you're in the <50+not married+not want to work-boat, you’ll be more and more forced to search for “differentâ€

[PeteC]

Before this turns into a flamefest I'll throw in my two bahts worth.

While I agree that the 30 day stamp is purely for tourists and shouldn't be "abused" as the almighty TRT suggest it is still a bad sign.

It is one of several clampdowns this year that do not spell good things for foreigners in Thailand. It is not going to get better and the next restrictions will be on non-immigrant visas, mark my words.

As said above, they want the high rollers only and the likes of mr average who does his work with his blue book and pays his taxes or supports a Thai or retires here are slowly being pushed out to make way for those "Elite Card Members", the "ultimate farang" that is so sought after by the government.

Thing is those high rollers are smart enough not to pour all their cash into this plastic economy so it really is our taxes, wages and money going back into the country that they're slowly squeezing out.

Who are the stupid ones?

If, and it's a BIG if, the casual once a year tourist showed solidarity with the expat situation here, and boycott this place, you would see things change in a nano second back to the way they were. One can only hope these type tourists have some concern about these issues.

WE WANT YOU!...say's TAT, and then TRT says... BUT DON'T STAY, GO HOME, JUST LEAVE YOUR MONEY AND TAKE ONLY GOOD MEMORIES HOME. COME BACK AGAIN PLEASE!

I hope high season potential guests are reading this. Pete

[silverbird]

There are more news regarding this matter. But it seems it does not make any sense to post anything for the time being.

Speaking about arrogance – regret it can be seen too often from some people talking about it themselves.

Why is it so difficult to discuss certain things without putting personal opinions as the top priority?

[Wanderlust]

To me it's obvious that the permission to stay for upto 30 days for purposes of tourism, is quite different to nipping over the border for half an hour and living here for 10 years etc. Also the regulations state that if you wish to stay longer than the 30 days you should apply for an extension of stay, doesn't mention leaving the country for half hour at a time.

It may be obvious but it was never stated or even frowned upon before as far as I can tell. In my eyes that made it acceptable.

Yes our responsibilities in life cost us money. Countries we want to emigrate to, houses we live in, children we bring up, cars we run. Tough life ain't it.

I was just pointing out the inaccuracy of your statement - you said only 90 pounds and I corrected you. You are beginning to sound like TTM with your glib selective quoting Burger!

Is this serious ? Can i present my car finance company wit h a very good financial reason why I can't pay next months finance installment ?

In fact your car finance company would very likely restructure your payments if you got into financial difficulties, but the whole point is that someone makes decisions on prevailing conditions; and the prevailing condition was that someone, like Dawn, was able to do the monthly visa runs or (before) go to a neighbouring country to get the necessary visa, whereas now she can't. You asked for valid reasons why someone couldn't do what you suggested, and I gave you several.

medical conditions and certain other extreme conditions permit you to receive extensions of stay anyways.

What, even on a 30 day VOA? I find that almost impossible to believe, but lets hope that is true. I have met someone who applied for an extension because of necessary hospital treatment, which was denied, so he had to just overstay considerably and pay the fine when he eventually did leave. He had doctors letters and the Embassy's backing but they wouldn't give the extension.

I do not do the 30 day visa run and have never done more than 2 VOAs consecutively (when I first came to Thailand on a backpacking trip) but I could quite imagine anyone getting into a position where they had to. I think you are showing an extreme lack of understanding, and that surprises me after the land registration debate. If anything you should be worried about the knock on effects this could have, or the possible future changes this might indicate for all of us expats who have gone by the book.

[Jockey]

We should find one of these Ferang guy's in Hua Hin who gets peed most nights, never reads the internet and are never up on current affairs. Hell, they probably haven't even heard of the latest pool league rule changes! Why don't we experiment with one of these donuts. Find out when he's going to Burma and wait to see if he comes back? How many will "go missing" before someone notices? How to survive in Burma for 90 days dressed in shorts / sandals / T-shirt, 20 fags, a fake viagra and 400 baht? I can sense a new book coming on to the Asia Books stall! (You gotta laugh sometimes)

[PeteC]

We should find one of these Ferang guy's in Hua Hin who gets peed most nights, never reads the internet and are never up on current affairs. Hell, they probably haven't even heard of the latest pool league rule changes! Why don't we experiment with one of these donuts. Find out when he's going to Burma and wait to see if he comes back? How many will "go missing" before someone notices? How to survive in Burma for 90 days dressed in shorts / sandals / T-shirt, 20 fags, a fake viagra and 400 baht? I can sense a new book coming on to the Asia Books stall! (You gotta laugh sometimes)

One of very few "great posts" awards I hand out....LMAO. Pete

[lomuamart]

WL,
You say it all. Some people didn't even understand imm laws until a couple of days ago. Now they reckon that all and sundry who were doing 30 day runs were somehow "breaking the law", or more nebulously "ducking and diving/bending the rules".
Rubbish. What a lot of people were doing was perfectly legitimate.
As WL said, show me anywhere a regulation that stated that back-to-back 30 day runs were "illegal".
You can't, cause it didn't exist.
Times change, just like the property market. We all have to adjust to live in los. I thought some people might have been a little more "understanding" of the visa situation, bearing in mind the ruckus that has happened over property.
We're all in the same boat and if some can't see the overall writing on the wall, then more fool them.

[Jaime]

Are those implementing these regulations arrogant, delusional or have I just got it wrong?

Speaking about arrogance – regret it can be seen too often from some people talking about it themselves.

Moi!? If so, would you care to elaborate?

[DawnHRD]

Burger & WL,

Just FYI, as far as extensions due to medical reasons - when I applied for an extension (to my non-b) in BKK, it was directly associated with Mum's cancer. I had letters from doctors & a member of Bumrungrad staff with me to support my application. They kept me for 4 hours, on the afternoon of my Mum's first chemo treatment, despite me pleading to go back & be with her, charged me for the extension (I believe more than 1,000 bt, though I can't be certain) and gave me only 2 weeks.
Of course, I can't say that others' situations would be the same as mine; maybe "my" officer was having a bad day, but it certainly wouldn't inspire me with confidence to try the same thing again, under the same circumstances.

[silverbird]

Are those implementing these regulations arrogant, delusional or have I just got it wrong?

Speaking about arrogance – regret it can be seen too often from some people talking about it themselves.

Moi!? If so, would you care to elaborate?

Regret if you think it had to do with you - it does not!

[Burger]

It may be obvious but it was never stated or even frowned upon before as far as I can tell. In my eyes that made it acceptable.

So we agree on this one that it is obvious.

I was just pointing out the inaccuracy of your statement - you said only 90 pounds and I corrected you.

There is no inaccuracy, the visa costs 90 pounds, I think most on here are smart enough to know that does not include airfares and lodging

You asked for valid reasons why someone couldn't do what you suggested, and I gave you several.

I have seen no 'valid' reasons why people can't return to UK to obtain these visas. I've heard people say that they were too lazy or can't afford too. Not sure these are valid as far as immigration are concerned
Medical reasons are an exception as I've already said.
Not liking the UK or being scared of terrorists were some of the more humorous ones.

Regarding the lack of understanding thing, I do understand and have sympathy, some mates are affected by it. I only object to the need to try and blame others. We all bend the rules where we can, but when these things get stopped we need to face up to it like men and not whinge and play the blame game.
The visa regulations say that if you want to stay longer than your 30 or 60 days, you should apply to some office in Bangkok for an extension of stay or change of visa type. People have been trying another option and now they are cracking down on it.

Burger

[Jaime]

Regret if you think it had to do with you - it does not!

Thanks - much obliged.

[chelsea]

Here is some sort of clarification on what is going to happen.

Royal Thai Police
Order No. 608 / 2549
Subject: An authorization for permission to foreigners that are exempted from the Visa requirements to stay temporarily in the Kingdom of Thailand.
----------------------------------


As the Interior Ministerial Regulation has stipulated the criterions, practices and conditions regarding the verification, exception and the changes in the Visa requirements B.E. 2545 (2002) dated on 16th August B.E. 2545 (2002) and the Ministerial Regulation (Volume 2) B.E. 2546 (2003) dated on 28th March B.E. 2546 (2003) prescribed the criterions, practices and conditions regarding the exception in the Visa requirements pursuant to the Article 12 (1) of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979).

For supporting the approval permission to the foreign nationals who are exempted from Visa requirements when entering to temporarily stay in the Kingdom of Thailand to be in order pursuant to the intention of the Thai Government, under the virtue of the Article 35 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and the Article 11 (4) of Royal Thai Police Act B.E. 2547 (2004), the authorized Immigration Officer shall be lawfully appointed and authorized to permit the foreign nationals who get the exemption of Visa requirements for entering to temporarily stay in the Kingdom of Thailand in accordance with the following types of exemption:

1. Passport holder of the country that has made an agreement with the Thai government, according to the Interior Ministerial Regulation which stipulated the criterions, practices and conditions regarding the verification, exception and the changes in the Visa requirements B.E. 2545 (2002) dated on 16th August B.E. 2545 (2002), Article 13 (1), shall be permitted to have the right to stay in Thailand according to the period which is mutually agreed between the government of Thailand and the government of the passport holder.

2. Passport holder from the country which has no Royal Thai Embassy or the Royal Thai Consulate located in that country as the Minister of the Interior has stipulated under the consent of the Cabinet, according to the Interior Ministerial Regulation which stipulated the criterions, practices and conditions regarding the verification, exception and the changes in the visa requirements B.E. 2545 (2002) dated on 16th August B.E. 2545 (2002), Article 13 (2), shall be permitted to stay in Thailand not exceeding to 30 days from the arrival date.

3. According the Article 13 (3) of the Ministerial Regulation which stipulated the criterions, practices and conditions regarding the verification, exception and the changes in the visa requirements B.E. 2545 (2002) dated on 16th August B.E. 2545 (2002), within six months period, the holder of passport or substitutive documents which issued by any country that is approved by the Minister of the Interior, under the approval of the Cabinet, to enter to temporarily stay in Thailand for tourism purpose, shall be permitted to enter Thailand several times. Each permitted time shall not be exceeding 30 days period, and the total period shall not be exceeding 90 days from the first day that the passport holder arrived in Thailand.

4. According the Article 13 (4) of the Ministerial Regulation which stipulated the criterions, practices and conditions regarding the verification, exception and the changes in the visa requirements B.E. 2545 (2002) dated on 16th August B.E. 2545 (2002), the holder of passport or other substitutive documents who enter to temporarily stay in the Kingdom of Thailand for the conference or the international sport contest shall be permitted to stay in the Kingdom not more than 30 days from the day arrived in the Kingdom of Thailand.

5. According the Article 13 (5) of the Ministerial Regulation which stipulated the criterions, practices and conditions regarding the verification, exception and the changes in the visa requirements B.E. 2545 (2002) dated on 16th August B.E. 2545 (2002), the holder of passport or other substitutive documents of the country that is the member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and holds the APEC businessman passport who enters to temporarily stay in the Kingdom of Thailand for business purpose shall be permitted to stay in the Kingdom not more than 90 days from the day arrived in the Kingdom of Thailand.

6. This Order shall be supersede to all other rules, regulations and orders that are conflicted with this Order.


This Order shall be in full force commencing from this 1st day of October 2006

Order dated on 8th September 2006



Signed Signature

(Police General ---------)

Royal Thai Police Commandant

[hogus]

Have been in my bank yesterday...because of the supposed changes of the visa -inv-regulations!
I thought I haven't any need to deposit anymore 3 mio Baht for minimum interest from now!... had the idea to save whatever I can...
The answer was, " oh, Sir, you're Farang, we'll proof if it's ok that you transfer your money out of TH...please, come back next week!"...

My lawyer from Bangkok is informed about this, confirmed me that I can transfer my money out of TH wherever/whenever I want to do, and he'll try to teach the bank-stuffs about these circumstances by fax at first.
It cost me 5,000 Baht...wtf

TH becomes more and more a banana-country.... to cheat seems to become a public sport...