Pulled aside in Chiang Mai

[steve187]

11 hours ago, jackdd said:

It's called permanent residency, which you should get if you want to live in Thailand permanently

isn't that different o a marriage visa, do you not have to work and pay taxes  for that

[jesimps]

12 hours ago, Totoandlilly said:

Is it illegal to live in Thailand on those visas? Not everyone are married/old enough to get the retirement visa or dumb enough to pay a tons of money for a elite visa. As long as he is not working illegally,are a criminal etc there shouldn't be a problem, people that spend money should been treated like a criminals, time the Thai immigration starts to require background check from home country and show you have money from that are earned not in Thailand so they can continue live here on whatever visa they want as there are no options for those.

 

One day the might hit the retirees harder and most of you will moan, some if you guys thinks they because you have retirement visa means you are immune to be affected, no you are not.

Don't blame us retirees, it's the Thais that make the rules. We're suffering almost as much as you young beggars.

[jesimps]

9 hours ago, EricTh said:

 

Yes, it is illegal because there is a maximum number of days in a year that you can stay in Thailand on a tourist visa.

 

Can anybody live in your home country 12 months every year on a tourist visa alone doing visa/border runs to extend their stay?

The OP is posting about Thailand on a Thai forum, why the comparison?

[jesimps]

8 hours ago, Happy Grumpy said:

The question is, why is he really here?

 

He was living here as student for the last 2 years.

 

Not here for family reasons.

Not here for (legal) work reasons.

Not here for retirement reasons.

Not here for educational reasons.

 

Is it because he simply wants to live here? 

 

He's got no birthright for that. Get out, you're not welcome. 

 

Is he working here illegally, as a criminal? 

 

 

 

He's a 'tourist', here on holiday, according to his visa. Strange advice to give to a 'tourist'.

I'd drop the first word of your username if I were you.

[GeorgeCross]

love it!

 

all the oldies rushing around to trash the young'uns (who aren't actually doing anything illegal) WHILST scrambling around to avoid their insurance requirements (which isn't illegal either)

 

TOTAL HYPOCRITES.

 

have a look at yourselves. disgrace.

 

 

 

 

[rct99q]

Just asking....you were here on an ed visa. I do assume it was for learning Thai? 

Perhaps you were here studying history.

 

So, if it was for learning Thai...the Female immigration officer asked her colleague...lets see if he speaks Thai...ask him something stupid in English to see if he understands what we are saying....

 

And it appears after 2 plus years you are unable to follow a basic conversation between the two immigration officers. 

 

Just curious is all...

[LukKrueng]

12 hours ago, Totoandlilly said:

time the Thai immigration starts to require background check from home country and show you have money from that are earned not in Thailand so they can continue live here on whatever visa they want

can you give a list of countries you can live on forever on tourist visa/visa exempt/ed visa?

[Lee4Life]

28 minutes ago, GeorgeCross said:

love it!

 

all the oldies rushing around to trash the young'uns (who aren't actually doing anything illegal) WHILST scrambling around to avoid their insurance requirements (which isn't illegal either)

 

TOTAL HYPOCRITES.

 

have a look at yourselves. disgrace.

 

 

 

 

look at your own post..."all the oldies"! Don't paint us oldies all with the same brush.

[5633572526]

12 hours ago, jackdd said:

It's called permanent residency, which you should get if you want to live in Thailand permanently

If I get PR I have to give up my ocean view condo in Phuket because my friend does not rent to Thai residents ????

[jacko45k]

30 minutes ago, GeorgeCross said:

love it!

 

all the oldies rushing around to trash the young'uns (who aren't actually doing anything illegal) WHILST scrambling around to avoid their insurance requirements (which isn't illegal either)

 

TOTAL HYPOCRITES.

 

have a look at yourselves. disgrace.

 

 

 

 

Not all of them, a small percentage I expect. Only those on O-A related retirement extensions or Visas. Most will be on marriage extensions or Non-Imm-O originated extensions. And those having concerns can switch. I can afford the insurance anyhow.

Watch out for the grumpy menopausal IO at Don Mueng, and have your 20k and servile look ready! Try crawling up to the kiosk.......

[GeorgeCross]

18 minutes ago, Lee4Life said:

look at your own post..."all the oldies"! Don't paint us oldies all with the same brush.

 

its a generalised comment regarding a generalised observation of a sub-section of the TV readership and i stand by it.

 

hopefully it changes a few attitudes around here as WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME SIDE.

 

 

 

 

[jacko45k]

5 minutes ago, GeorgeCross said:

hopefully it changes a few attitudes around here as WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME SIDE.

 

What side is that? 

[GeorgeCross]

22 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Not all of them, a small percentage I expect. Only those on O-A related retirement extensions or Visas. Most will be on marriage extensions or Non-Imm-O originated extensions. And those having concerns can switch.

 

see what i mean? how is this any different from switching from voa's to tourist visas or to EDs?

 

we all just want to stay.

 

 

[GeorgeCross]

Just now, jacko45k said:

What side is that? 

 

foreigner in thailand on a visa

 

jeez do i really need to explain that?

 

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

see what i mean? how is this any different from switching from voa's to tourist visas or to EDs?

 

we all just want to stay.

 

 

It is whether one is using the correct Visa to support the reason of being in Thailand. Many base their stay on a lie. 

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

foreigner in thailand on a visa

 

jeez do i really need to explain that?

 

And I presume there is another side then, you made it sound like a competitive confrontation . 

Where the old guys get upset is people abusing the system which, when uncovered, causes an (over) reaction that impacts them. You may relish the old guys, who have the carpet pulled from under their feet, by an insurance requirement they cannot fulfill, but at the moment they all have legitimate alternatives. I see that differently than any person working here without a work permit, or on an ED without attending a school. 

[jackdd]

6 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Where the old guys get upset is people abusing the system which, when uncovered, causes an (over) reaction that impacts them.

The main reason for this are the old guys who pay agents, who then bribe immigration officials, to get their extension. Immigration officers see that they can get a nice income by this, so they try to shut down the alternatives, and put everybody in the extension scheme because a percentage of them will pay agents.

So you should start by blaming the people who use agents, they are the main cause. If they wouldn't exist (and they exist because people on extensions pay for them) it would probably still be possible to get 12 visa exempts per year at land borders.

Edited November 18, 2019 by jackdd

[Thaidream]

1 minute ago, jacko45k said:

It is whether one is using the correct Visa to support the reason of being in Thailand. Many base their stay on a lie.

It's not up to me or anyone else other than the Immigration Offier to determine whether one should stay  in Thailand.  

 

However, I point out that if one is below 50 and not working- and living in Thailand you are wasting your time unless you have access to several millions of dollars, pounds or Euros.

 

In all the years I have been coming to Thailand and living here- I am aware of about 5 foreigners who came to Thailand and made it big.  All the rest failed; wasted their time and what money they had and left.

 

Those under 50 would be much better off getting a top notch education and working in a position that actualy pays top money, saving and coming to Thailand every now and then on a vacation- 30 days.

 

Anyone who things teaching English or working on line (unless backed by a Fortune 500 Company) is going to set you up for living well in Thailand is mistaken.  The Visa problem is not going away and the cost of living  is rising continuously as well as issues with the exchange rate.

 

In addition- while you are wasting your time- you are not saving anything for retirement;  you are not paying into your countries Social Security Fund or a Superannuation Fund and once you are of retirment age- you will not be getting a pension.

 

This is the harsh truth of being in Thailand  at this particular time.  I. m not telling anyone to leave- that is a personal choice-  but you don;t want to be elderly in Thailand without a firm income flow from either investments; pensions or Government Social Security.

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, jackdd said:

If they wouldn't exist (and they exist because retirees pay for them) it would probably still be possible to get 12 visa exempts per year at land borders.

So what initially caused the withdrawal of the 12 Visa Exempt Entries at a land crossing? The agents that up to then did not exist and had no raison d'être? A bit egg-then chicken? I actually think not. But most certainly go along with the concept that Immigration changes rules to force people into the use of agents. Else they could have basically insisted on personal applications only. 

[UncleMhee]

16 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Many base their stay on a lie. 

Personal reasoning can be so subjective though; whereas lies are deliberate misrepresentations.

[scottiddled]

11 hours ago, Happy Grumpy said:

You're not a tourist.

They shouldn't have let you in.

 

11 hours ago, EricTh said:

I am surprised they let you in because they have been refusing entries to those so-called 'tourists' who stay long term in Thailand.

 

You might not be lucky the next time. 

 

10 hours ago, Happy Grumpy said:

The question is, why is he really here?

 

He was living here as student for the last 2 years.

 

Not here for family reasons.

Not here for (legal) work reasons.

Not here for retirement reasons.

Not here for educational reasons.

 

Is it because he simply wants to live here? 

 

He's got no birthright for that. Get out, you're not welcome. 

 

Is he working here illegally, as a criminal? 

Gotta love all the rejected Merriam-Webster applicants on their mission to redefine "tourist."

 

So what if the OP wants to see Thailand for 2.5 years? There are legal ways to do that. There's nothing illegal about using an ed visa and then deciding you'd also like to see the country on a tourist visa. There's nothing illegal about having the appropriate combination of time and means to be able to afford that kind of adventure. There's nothing illegal about not wanting to splurge for the elite visa when there are other lawful ways to make that trip happen. Heck, there's not even anything illegal about continuing to apply for tourist visas and/or use exemptions--although the Thai authorities sure love causing real hardship to people through arbitrary/inconsistent interpretations and exercising of "discretion."

 

If I wanted to paint the salty "get out, you're not welcome" crowd with a broad brush, I could. I've seen plenty of disgusting boomers paired up with broken, desperate Thai women three decades (or more) younger. Congrats on being here for "approved" reasons. But I know not everyone is like that. People are different. Everyone has a story. Not everyone is a sexpat.

 

And not everyone who posts here about their bad experience with an IO or a visa application is working illegally or "living" in Thailand "forever."  Just because *you* think their version of tourism stretches the limits doesn't make them some sort of criminal, liar, or drain on the Land of Smiles. If the Thai authorities had a clue, they'd realize how much of an economic hit they're taking by scaring off visitors with their unpredictable/corrupt policies and actions. They'd design a visa system that accounts for digital nomads, gap year folks, folks on sabbatical, the semi-retired, etc. Until then, people are going to try to work within the system--either by bumping up against the unwritten limits or by bending the rules--in order to enjoy their lives. Others will simply choose friendlier locales. I suspect that many of the salty types are happy to see those visitors leave, as they're the ones a quarter century younger who are staring across the road shooting judgment from their eyes when they see the fog of gray, flabby predation. But hey...I'm not judging.

[khunpa]

41 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

It's not up to me or anyone else other than the Immigration Offier to determine whether one should stay  in Thailand.  

 

However, I point out that if one is below 50 and not working- and living in Thailand you are wasting your time unless you have access to several millions of dollars, pounds or Euros.

 

In all the years I have been coming to Thailand and living here- I am aware of about 5 foreigners who came to Thailand and made it big.  All the rest failed; wasted their time and what money they had and left.

 

Those under 50 would be much better off getting a top notch education and working in a position that actualy pays top money, saving and coming to Thailand every now and then on a vacation- 30 days.

 

Anyone who things teaching English or working on line (unless backed by a Fortune 500 Company) is going to set you up for living well in Thailand is mistaken.  The Visa problem is not going away and the cost of living  is rising continuously as well as issues with the exchange rate.

 

In addition- while you are wasting your time- you are not saving anything for retirement;  you are not paying into your countries Social Security Fund or a Superannuation Fund and once you are of retirment age- you will not be getting a pension.

 

This is the harsh truth of being in Thailand  at this particular time.  I. m not telling anyone to leave- that is a personal choice-  but you don;t want to be elderly in Thailand without a firm income flow from either investments; pensions or Government Social Security.

Totally agree. Seen and know so many under 50, who are struggling to stay here and live the good life they dreamt of.
 

So many are underestimating what it really takes to make it here. Many end up getting kids and have problems putting their kids in a decent school. Others are in constant risk of being deported due to visa issues.

 

Those who manage to “survive” long enough, will really feel the pain, when they get sick or can not longer work.

 

I fully understand that many want to live in Thailand, but it really does require either a steady good income or a lot of savings. Which most do not have.

[jackdd]

55 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

The agents that up to then did not exist and had no raison d'être?

I guess agents exist as long as visas exist, also back then there were probably people who used extensions and some of them used agents (if not retirement, then companies who used agents to get the extensions for their employees).

Probably there was once a smart Immigration officer who had an idea how to make a lot of money, and so they cut down the number of visa exempts which caused the agents to flourish

Edited November 18, 2019 by jackdd

[Jaxxper]

I think they suspected you had come back to work without a WP. Would be a little more cautious next time. Maybe you are now marked in the system. Who knows.

[The Theory]

Got lucky at this time, 

how ?!!! Don’t know. 

But be prepared next time. 

[tabarin]

Pretty simple, newbies can make it work and stretch for first 1-2 years without issues. After that, under current ways, you are done.
Thailand does no longer want or allow us to be here for the entire year, unless work permit / non-o / elite etc. 

Seems people still live in denial and think this is only a ghost story,
specially people who do have a yearly visa (many never check the news as they have no concerns yet), sadly it is the truth.

Having said that, can't wait for my visa horror days again half way next month.
Hanoi is fine for a single non-o without financial proof too? @Britmantoo 

Edited November 18, 2019 by tabarin

[ThomasThBKK]

3 hours ago, khunpa said:

Totally agree. Seen and know so many under 50, who are struggling to stay here and live the good life they dreamt of.
 

So many are underestimating what it really takes to make it here. Many end up getting kids and have problems putting their kids in a decent school. Others are in constant risk of being deported due to visa issues.

 

Those who manage to “survive” long enough, will really feel the pain, when they get sick or can not longer work.

 

I fully understand that many want to live in Thailand, but it really does require either a steady good income or a lot of savings. Which most do not have.

 

Reading this forum suggests otherwise, many young people with elite visa while many old struggle to get their 800k in the bank. Of course as much of a garbage generalisation as yours.

 

Being broke doesn't have any age barrier, old age poverty is a really big problem in europe and the US. Pension systems are borderline scams. If you think you can judge someone based on his age you are wrong.

[tabarin]

3 hours ago, khunpa said:

Those who manage to “survive” long enough, will really feel the pain, when they get sick or can not longer work.

I fully understand that many want to live in Thailand, but it really does require either a steady good income or a lot of savings. Which most do not have.

That problem would be even bigger if those same couples with kid(s) would be living back home. I calculated that I would need at least 2900 euro monthly if moving back home (non working wife, child, me) while I can live with half of that here, if needed even less.
(+ I would be working 50-60 hours a week for that back home, and then still be broke at the end of the month). 
So Thailand is still cheaper and easier with less / little money.

You are also assuming those people do not have insurances, pension savings being paid monthly. Kind of generalising it if you ask me. 

I seen more people above 50 struggle in Thailand than anything else, unless you count the backpackers on their last few days. 
Generally those living here before retirement age, are very well off, they just deal with luxury problems (bilingual vs international school, wanting more money etc etc).

Edited November 18, 2019 by tabarin

[Thaidream]

48 minutes ago, tabarin said:

seen more people above 50 struggle in Thailand than anything else, unless you count the backpackers on their last few days. 
Generally those living here before retirement age, are very well off, they just deal with luxury problems (bilingual vs international school, wanting more money etc etc).

No one is saying under 50s can't survive- but what are they doing to do when they are  60 or 65 and have no government pensions as they never paid into the system; have no superannuation fund as they never paid into the system.  I

 

If one is working for a Thai Company- they won't want you anymore after a certain age.  You will then be forced into an untenable situation.

 

If the most money someone who is youger than 50 is making in Europe is 2900 Euro or in America $2900 per month- that tells me it would be better in the long run to get more education or a marketable skill that pays at least double that amount per month

Good , high paying jobs are abundant in the US.  No one wants to leave their familr but Thais do it constantly by seeking higher wages abroad.

 

The proof in what I am saying is  accurate, are the  elderly foreigners that are around- that live a very basic life- have no property- live month to month and no savings.  They don't have the liberty of going back to university or technical school.  Yhey're stuck.  Don't become one of them. 

[Tayaout]

18 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

The proof in what I am saying is  accurate, are the  elderly foreigners that are around- that live a very basic life- have no property- live month to month and no savings.  They don't have the liberty of going back to university or technical school.  Yhey're stuck.  Don't become one of them. 

I started making good money when I left Canada and could save tax and keep reinvesting the money I saved. Time have changed and there are plenty of opportunities that are not location dependant. I also don't feel comfortable giving my money to anyone and hope they give it back later. I expect the pension system not to be sustainable or that they will raise the minimum age near life expectancy. Sure if your only option is to teach English then it's better to stay in the west. 

Edited November 18, 2019 by Tayaout