Historically what has caused Thailand to loosen up on their Visa policies

[Hal65 317]

Loosening up can be either making things easier on paper or in practice (how IOs are told to handle you).

 

I see it mentioned often during a tightening period like this past year, that "they'll change again after some pain." Historically is this actually true?

 

If it does yoyo back and forth, I suppose slow tourism numbers and declining revenues are the catalyst for changing attitudes? Or are the other more important factors?

[Puchaiyank 8,190]

Historically, not sure...but in the last few years they may be asking: "What would the Chinese do?"  "How can we change the visa requirements to please the Chinese?"  

 

Just a guess...

[PatOngo 26,824]

Loss of earnings, hence the adoption of visa free entry  for Chinese and Indians.

[neeray 10,028]

This sounds to me like a good dose of "wishful thinking".

[canopy 1,487]

6 hours ago, Hal65 said:

"they'll change again after some pain."...Historically is this actually true?

 

No. Lots of tightening has gone on for the last 20 years and no signs of letting up, in fact quite the opposite can be forecast. Examples:

 

1. several of the best visa types were withdrawn completely in the early 2000's
2. crackdowns on tourist visas and O visas at consulates all over
3. crackdowns on 30 day arrivals
4. 90 day reports used to be not done, now everyone has to do them
5. tm.30 has reared its ugly head
6. crackdowns on over stayers
7. More crackdowns in the works making the news
8. They are planning to force foreigners to carry special sim cards so they can be tracked wherever they go

 

The problems with all these types of crackdowns is while their intention is to net the 1% bad guys and more power to them for that, they just never stop and think what a PITA they make life for the 99% just wanting to keep everything legal. Now their modern thinking is "oh we'll just give them an app". This is a complete horse**** approach when they should instead go back and fix the fundamental bureaucratic nightmares they have created. But there is too much loss of face to go back and admit decisions they got behind, made, and celebrated were foolish and wrong. More tightening in the works. Not a good picture.

 

Edited November 9 by canopy

[worgeordie 35,088]

My 84 year old cousin visits us every winter, stays for

3 months,in the past fill 1 form send it off to Thai Embassy

in London along with payment to get Visa,easy

 

Now this time has to fill in a 5 page application,online to get

a E-Visa,what a carry on, picture too light,picture too dark,

needs letter from me inviting her to stay at our house,has

to provide a copy of bank statements,so things are definitely

a lot more difficult now,for her at least.

regards Worgeordie

 

 

[meechai 1,089]

My guesstimate is this... Despite the so called "elections" This is for all intent & purpose a Military Government.

 

As such we expected tightening & it seems to be occurring although slower than we initially expected.

We expected more from 2016 on But they seem to be catching up now

 

Even if/when tourism gets crippled & many expats leave & then the Military Government wants to switch gears back to open arms or a true government moves in it will be an accordion effect that will take many years if ever to spring back to what it once was. Because once expats relocate & tourists plan for other destinations it does not switch right back to how it was before just because the smiles return. (aka: return of a normal elected government that knows how to steer an economy)

 

Edited November 9 by meechai

[spidermike007 23,312]

I am not sure anything could change the attitude of this current administration. The degree of ignorance they are cursed with, the dearth of knowledge and competence, the amount of hatred and racism of Westerners, they are cursed with, and the level of fear they operate under is beyond the pale. Only money will motivate them. If tourism completely falls apart, or millions of Thais really start rising up against their policies, things might change. 

[86Tiger 49]

Guys,

 

I think the entire "crack down" is due to those that abuse the system. 

 

Yes, it has been very easy in past to game the system and stay long term on entry methods intended to be short term.  But reality is it is still very easy to stay in the Kingdom long term with the proper visa.  All they are asking you to do is prove you can support yourself and follow the rules.  

 

 

It is a helluva lot easier for me to stay in Thailand long term than my wife to get a simple tourist visa to the US.  We don't even want to get into what it would take for her to get long term visa........

 

 

YMMV

[Number 6 1,514]

I think a decision has been made at the very top of this country to reduce the numbers of westerners hanging out in the country and to reduce numbers overall. The restrictions on visas and additional steps to obtain visas seem a good remedy. Many, many countries have same requirements about pre booking your holiday. I don't think the logic unsound. The countries with the most flush benefits give workers one month a year. So you with 2-3 or 6 or 12 to burn are a big question mark. Time was Thailand didn't care. Now for many reasons, they do. It doesn't matter why you're not going to change policy. I think one big reason is fewer foreigners about to criticize what goes on here. Especially if political unrest bubbles up. This isn't China. Thailand is run as a profit center for a few hundred families. That will not be out in jeopardy. Blood in the streets first. Lots of it. The nation is moving toward the Philippine model not the Singaporean.

[Number 6 1,514]

48 minutes ago, 86Tiger said:

easier for me to stay in Thailand long term than my wife to get a simple tourist visa to the US.  We don't even want to get into what it would take for her to get long term visa........

I believe the exact opposite. My wife then GF obtained her visa with only a letter of job guarantee. Further, she very well could have appeared to be traveling back to US with me to marry. She was given a ten year visas and has made half dozen trips

[SteveK 3,913]

It's gotten to the point where I strongly suspect that the country actually wants to become fully independent from tourism income. Hence the apparent lack of interest in the declining tourism industry and the continued tightening of visa regulations and immigration requirements.

[BritManToo 23,970]

This is the way repressive military governments always behave.

Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Chairman Mao etc ........... first order of business, all foreigners out. 

[Tounge Thaied 155]

There is a global tightening on freedom of movement on this planet. I have been watching Thailand's VISA process for the last five years tighten. I would ask Hal65 to provide some evidence for his/her assertion that Thailand has historically loosened up on their VISA policies.

Edited November 9 by Tounge Thaied

[whiteman 480]

We arrived back from N.Z. on the 9th Nov at 9 pm at the airport, hardly any one here no qs and heaps of imm officers just sitting around chatting. For the first time ever I saw a indian woman pulled over at customs check when she tried to walk though the green gate. I sailed passed no bother with my partner we had 3 suitcases and 3 carry ons

 

I have a retirement visa my partner is Thai

 

Edited November 9 by whiteman