Vietnam puts the kibosh on foreigners

[Scouse123]

Panama? Costa Rica? Ecuador?

 

All seem to score highly for easy visas and cheap living and reasonable on evening activities! except Ecuador I suppose.

[ThomasThBKK]

20 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

I don’t understand why you say that these countries are brain dead. Because they won’t allow certain categories of foreigners to stay long term? It is much much harder for Asians to live in western countries than it is for westerners to stay in Asia. So are western countries also brain dead by your reasoning?

 

yeah it's so hard to open a business in the US, Germany, Singapore and create jobs? Costs me 99 USD to incorporate a US LLC in Delaware and takes 5 minutes via the internet.

 

Or let someone buy real estate? 

 

yes, they europe/singapore/usa would be braindead to ban foreign company ownership, they would however never do that.

 

What category are you talking about, even someone loaded with cash asia is near impossible to stay longterm without hassles, that's why not many want to go here and rich chinese and go to canada,uk, portugal and co.

 

 

[Destiny1990]

What visa options does Wuhan offer?

Looks from what i see on the tv not to much of a crowed kind of a town. 

[rabang]

50 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

I don’t understand why you say that these countries are brain dead. Because they won’t allow certain categories of foreigners to stay long term? It is much much harder for Asians to live in western countries than it is for westerners to stay in Asia. So are western countries also brain dead by your reasoning?

For some reason I do however see Asian restaurants and other legitimate businesess everywhere in the west. Many members of TVF have wives who have even obtained the citizenship of their husband's country. Asian countries will treat foreigners as temporary visitors, notwithstanding whether they are married with family or single. One must just accept that these places are very xenophobic, racist and exclusive, even, or especially, towards other Asians.

[Jaggg88]

9 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

there's always Cambodia

 

and if that goes down could try Bangladesh, i hear the women are a bit ropey there though ????

 

 

I hear Iran is quite welcoming ????

[Gweiloman]

13 minutes ago, rabang said:

For some reason I do however see Asian restaurants and other legitimate businesess everywhere in the west. Many members of TVF have wives who have even obtained the citizenship of their husband's country. Asian countries will treat foreigners as temporary visitors, notwithstanding whether they are married with family or single. One must just accept that these places are very xenophobic, racist and exclusive, even, or especially, towards other Asians.

The circumstances of a lot of Asians setting in the west (UK for example) is very different from westerners setting down in Asia. 
There were a lot of asylum seekers from Vietnam, settling predominantly in France and UK. 
A lot of Hong Kongers left for the UK prior to 97. Hong Kong as you know was a British colony. 
A large proportion of other Asians were economic migrants - they had to bring a lot of money to be invested in the country. 
You won’t find many Asian “retirees” simply because it’s almost impossible for elderly Asian men to “retire” to the west. Similarly, extremely difficult for a younger male unless duly employed by a western registered firm and with a valid work permit. 

[Stevemercer]

Well...a lot of useful information in this thread.

[digger70]

10 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

 

Thailand clamps down on visa requirements

 

foreigners flee to nearby countries

 

nearby countries clamp down on visas

 

foreigners ______ ??

 

 

Gotta go back home,,,,, 

[AAArdvark]

2 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

its mentioned on a lot of expat vlogs: 

 

 

Here from newssource: https://www.silent-gardens.com/blog/philippines-9a-tourist-visa-stricter-enforcement-of-regulations/

 

 

 

Their visa system gets abused like thailands, obviously they will crack down - this will happen everywhere in the world. 

 

I was warning about vietnam for a while here, got only laughed at ... well, now see yourself.

 

All these SEA countries - except glorious Singapore are super protectionist, because they are braindead. Foreigners have far less rights in PH/VN than in thailand, and it's only going downhill from here... think twice before you go their long term without an SRRV visa.

 

I will be getting an SRRV but planed on using 30, 29, and 6 month visas as a backup.  The 9A link seems to be stressing that they are serious about not working on those visas; not an issue for me. 

The video seems to be someone who is doing their normal 36 month visa run.  The flight is "really difficult" because of him.  He has medical and memory issues that really have nothing to do with tightening of short term visas.

[mike787]

2 hours ago, SteveK said:

Not just Vietnam - it seems many countries in the vicinity are tightening their visa policies. Pretty obvious why. Look at what Trump is doing to China, and as much as you deny it, China has it's claws very much embedded into SEA nations.

Whoever thought we would be living a life of a fugitive: border running, paying agents, negotiating, bartering, risking, catching flights, reporting every 90 days like a pedophile to his probation officer, on and on in our supposid golden years...all for what?  A vagina/love, some sun/fun, cheaper life...really?  Goes to show, there is always a price to pay; you only have to choose what the price is, and how your going to pay, but YOU will pay - somehow...

[ThomasThBKK]

11 minutes ago, AAArdvark said:

I will be getting an SRRV but planed on using 30, 29, and 6 month visas as a backup.  The 9A link seems to be stressing that they are serious about not working on those visas; not an issue for me. 

The video seems to be someone who is doing their normal 36 month visa run.  The flight is "really difficult" because of him.  He has medical and memory issues that really have nothing to do with tightening of short term visas.

read his description: 

 

Quote

Expat visa run to Hong Kong was a difficult trip with flight changes, lack of lodging, and pressure from Philippine Immigration for us to get permanent residency.

 

He clearly had issues before or he would not write this.

[Titan1962]

So the people that left Thailand because they couldn’t meet the requirements and headed to Vietnam and the Philippines are in the same boat. How long did you think the honeymoon would last,they knew that the influx of older expats Coming in had to be from Thailand. Looks like a lot of older Falang are going to have to leave Asia altogether.I personally just couldn’t imagine having to leave the  street food the cheaper cost of living,and the beautiful young Asian women. Look out old falang women in Europe the sexpats are heading home.

 

[Jingthing]

My take on all this from a "retirement visa" POV:

Thailand -- has definitely tightened up and squeezed out a hefty percentage of existing retired expats and potential future ones (but still viable for lots of people if they're willing to be jerked around).

 

Malaysia -- higher income levels needed. A good option for many that can meet them though. 

 

Vietnam -- never offered retirement status in the first place and probably never will! There have been workarounds but these changes in July are for real. Forget about it.

 

Cambodia -- one of the easiest retirement visa situations in the world. No news of it changing. Financial requirements very low. But it's Cambodia. From an infrastructure, safety, and health care perspective, it's some steps down from Thailand.

 

Philippines -- You are welcome there, unlike Thailand. SRRV a good stable option. The constant in country extensions along with visa runs every three years has been going on for many years and the only noise seems to be towards working age expats. People of retirement age especially if you can show evidence of a pension are as far as I know not having issues. That could change of course but there is the SRRV there that would probably work for the majority of people that have been able to swing Thailand at least before the recent hell year.

 

Outside Asean?

Sure.

Eastern and Western Europe (generally easier for EU people). 

Portugal is the trendy place now.

Latin America.

Colombia and Mexico are the trendy places now with currently relatively easier visa options. 

Colombia threatening to tighten up though, To be determined.

Ecuador visas low financial requirements but definitely NOT easy or fast. 

Costa Rica -- has gotten expensive.

Panama -- the place there that is by far the most desirable for most expats, Panama City, has gotten very expensive. 

 

[impulse]

2 hours ago, Gweiloman said:

I don’t understand why you say that these countries are brain dead. Because they won’t allow certain categories of foreigners to stay long term? It is much much harder for Asians to live in western countries than it is for westerners to stay in Asia. So are western countries also brain dead by your reasoning?

 

While I agree that I'd rather be a westerner trying to live in SEA, there's a huge difference between sneaking in to a country to get a better paying job, and looking for any job you can get to live in a country where there's cheap sex on tap.  

 

Also, I've never heard of a truckload of westerners dying trying to sneak into SEA.  Nor have I ever heard of a western company knocking off an SEA product (okay, maybe Siracha sauce).  And you don't see too many western companies clamoring for technology from SEA.   Drive around any foreign country and you'll have a hard time identifying any tech from SEA.  Drive around SEA without foreign tech?  Can't be done.  You're driving in it.

 

Nor are many western countries dependent on foreigners for such a large part of their GDP.

 

[scubascuba3]

Kenya? Mombasa or Nairobi?

 

Madagascar?

[impulse]

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Madagascar?

 

What if you don't like penguins?

 

[Gweiloman]

3 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

While I agree that I'd rather be a westerner trying to live in SEA, there's a huge difference between sneaking in to a country to get a better paying job, and looking for any job you can get to live in a country where there's cheap sex on tap.  

 

Also, I've never heard of a truckload of westerners dying trying to sneak into SEA.  Nor have I ever heard of a western company knocking off an SEA product (okay, maybe Siracha sauce).  And you don't see too many western companies clamoring for technology from SEA. 

 

Nor are many western countries dependent on foreigners for such a large part of their GDP.

 

Naturally, we don’t discuss illegal immigration here as I don’t think any of us condone it. 
 

My point is that it is a lot harder for an Asian to live legally in the west than it is for a westerner to live legally in Asia. The financial requirements are a lot less, thus I feel that a lot of the complaints are not justified. 
 

Reference your last sentence, countries like Thailand and Vietnam does depend a lot on tourism. But equally, tourism (and especially from Asia) is very important to many European countries as well. Without tourism, countries like the UK, France, Italy, Spain and a whole host of Eastern European countries will also be suffering. 

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, Jaggg88 said:

I hear Iran is quite welcoming ????

Who knows? Maybe in a decade or two it will be the place. 

[Gweiloman]

29 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

My take on all this from a "retirement visa" POV:

Thailand -- has definitely tightened up and squeezed out a hefty percentage of existing retired expats and potential future ones (but still viable for lots of people if they're willing to be jerked around).

 

Malaysia -- higher income levels needed. A good option for many that can meet them though. 

 

Vietnam -- never offered retirement status in the first place and probably never will! There have been workarounds but these changes in July are for real. Forget about it.

 

Cambodia -- one of the easiest retirement visa situations in the world. No news of it changing. Financial requirements very low. But it's Cambodia. From an infrastructure, safety, and health care perspective, it's some steps down from Thailand.

 

Philippines -- You are welcome there, unlike Thailand. SRRV a good stable option. The constant in country extensions along with visa runs every three years has been going on for many years and the only noise seems to be towards working age expats. People of retirement age especially if you can show evidence of a pension are as far as I know not having issues. That could change of course but there is the SRRV there that would probably work for the majority of people that have been able to swing Thailand at least before the recent hell year.

 

Outside Asean?

Sure.

Eastern and Western Europe (generally easier for EU people). 

Portugal is the trendy place now.

Latin America.

Colombia and Mexico are the trendy places now with currently relatively easier visa options. 

Colombia threatening to tighten up though, To be determined.

Ecuador visas low financial requirements but definitely NOT easy or fast. 

Costa Rica -- has gotten expensive.

Panama -- the place there that is by far the most desirable for most expats, Panama City, has gotten very expensive. 

 

Fairly accurate summary. But more negatives to PI than you outlined. Infrastructure for one. Natural calamities also a big negative. 
 

What about Laos, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei?

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, Gweiloman said:

Fairly accurate summary. But more negatives to PI than you outlined. Infrastructure for one. Natural calamities also a big negative. 
 

What about Laos, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei?

Laos has no formal program but there are apparently workarounds. So I'd say for the more adventurous that want to live in Laos (I've been and don't). 

Singapore is not a retirement destination. It's for working expats.

Indonesia, haven't kept up. It used to be difficult though. 

Brunei, off my radar.

[impulse]

4 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

My point is that it is a lot harder for an Asian to live legally in the west than it is for a westerner to live legally in Asia. The financial requirements are a lot less, thus I feel that a lot of the complaints are not justified. 

 

On that, we agree.  Anyone here complaining about how hard it is to get into Thailand or Vietnam or...or... in SEA should accompany an SEA local while they try to get a visa to a western country.  Most of them would stop complaining.  The others?  They're not happy unless they're griping.

 

[BobinBKK]

11 hours ago, elephant45 said:

I've got an idea! they can come visa free to my country get free housing, medical, food and anything else they need. Sounds reasonable.

That's exactly why I left America! I was sick and tired of paying taxes to support these lazy morons!!!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Has the OP's report in this thread been confirmed by any news report or other "authoritative" source???

 

[AussieBob18]

2 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

Fairly accurate summary. But more negatives to PI than you outlined. Infrastructure for one. Natural calamities also a big negative. 
 

What about Laos, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei?

I know some Aussies in PI and a couple of Aussies with PI wives in Aust - they are stunned about what has happened in Thailand and glad they chose PI. It is the best choice in SEA all up now - after the Visa etc issues in Thailand.

 

Laos will probably follow Vietnam and is the same (undeveloped).

Indonesia - Bali (old busy) and Lombok (new growing) are good - the rest is 'too muslim'.

Singapore great - if you are wealthy.

Brunei? No idea like most.

 

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Has the OP's report in this thread been confirmed by any news report or other "authoritative" source???

 

Yes. It's really happening that way in Vietnam. Even if you're on a 90 day tourist visa, you must do a visa run every 30 days, effective in July.

 

If you want to work there, get involved in a legit business or marry a local, then you're welcome.

 

Otherwise -- tourism, not tourists living there permanently unless they're visa run masochists. 

[mike787]

1 hour ago, Titan1962 said:

So the people that left Thailand because they couldn’t meet the requirements and headed to Vietnam and the Philippines are in the same boat. How long did you think the honeymoon would last,they knew that the influx of older expats Coming in had to be from Thailand. Looks like a lot of older Falang are going to have to leave Asia altogether.I personally just couldn’t imagine having to leave the  street food the cheaper cost of living,and the beautiful young Asian women. Look out old falang women in Europe the sexpats are heading home.

 

The sexpats are running out of time, cash, and viagra doesnt work any more....you have a great point.  This will be interesting once the ride loops around and comes to an end on every level. 

[mike787]

26 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

Fairly accurate summary. But more negatives to PI than you outlined. Infrastructure for one. Natural calamities also a big negative. 
 

What about Laos, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei?

Singapore is nice, safe, clean easy, but boring and expensive.  Muslim countries are not as playful as Walking street.  Happy endings are obsolete.

[mike787]

19 minutes ago, AussieBob18 said:

I know some Aussies in PI and a couple of Aussies with PI wives in Aust - they are stunned about what has happened in Thailand and glad they chose PI. It is the best choice in SEA all up now - after the Visa etc issues in Thailand.

 

Laos will probably follow Vietnam and is the same (undeveloped).

Indonesia - Bali (old busy) and Lombok (new growing) are good - the rest is 'too muslim'.

Singapore great - if you are wealthy.

Brunei? No idea like most.

 

PI can be great.  But it' medical and infrastructure are on par with Flintstones versus thailand is Jetson - relatively.  PI is definitely FUN, but loud and dirty, NO sleep.  WHY? Loud music and cocks yelling 24/7 everywhere.  SOme people do not mind.

[impulse]

46 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

Reference your last sentence, countries like Thailand and Vietnam does depend a lot on tourism. But equally, tourism (and especially from Asia) is very important to many European countries as well. Without tourism, countries like the UK, France, Italy, Spain and a whole host of Eastern European countries will also be suffering. 

 

On that point, if there was a sudden lockdown on all international travel, I suspect that most old world and former commonwealth countries would see a net boost in tourist $$$, with the loss in foreign tourists more than offset by the gain in domestic tourism since their citizens would no longer be allowed to spend their holiday money in SEA. 

 

I'm pretty sure tourism, as a source of GDP, creates a trade imbalance favoring SEA, and not the developed countries.  And the harder each SEA nation makes things for tourists, the smaller their trade surplus becomes.

 

[Accidental Tourist]

So there goes Vietnam. Cambodia is also tighten the rules, maybe no choice there in the future as well.

I still have a place in Egypt where I been working years before. Every 3 months now need to apply for a new resident card (same as in Malaysia). Good thing there is no hassle, no need to leave the country and everything is halve the price compare to Thailand.