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Crackdown On Back-to-back Tourist Visa Applications


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This could be the end of back to back Tourist Visas.

So it would seem Lite Beer. I meet a lot of backpackers etc who enter Thailand on 15/30 visa exempt stamps and then decide to extend their stay with visa runs to Penang etc, many staying for 6 months or more. Looks like these genuine tourists may have their stay curtailed due to a lack of forward planning.

6 months of tourist visa in Thailand for tourist purpose indeed? That sounds fake to me and I cannot believe that even backpackers want to stay more than 1 or 2 months in this country for genuine tourist reason. Usually either they found a Thai girlfriend with whom they want to stay any time longer and which forces them to look for a job (on tourist visa) or they came in with the sole purpose of finding a job in the first place. But the first reason is outnumbering the second one... :)

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Are there a lot of jobs that are being taken by illegal frangs, that Thai nationals would get if they were not here? I am not sure what the problem is. Or is this like the USA .. . keep the Mexicans out because they are stealing our jobs... jobs we wouldn't do even if they were available.

Really?

The jobs given to "illegals" are jobs no "original" would do for the money paid for that job.

The money you earn for a full time job should be enough to live on.

If it is less, why do that job.

The crackdown, legal or not, is indeed another nail in the coffin.

Negative messages are not needed, positive messages are needed urgently.

Edited by hansnl
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!!!!! another crack down back to back tourist visa ???

what will happen my triple tourist visa now ??

i got triple tourist visa in abroad and now im in thailand already sinse 10 days..

now : somebody tell me pls. can i stay with this visa 9 months now (back to back) with my triple tourist visa which i already have in my passport..

or not ?? ( with extentions )

thanks

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The above statement taken from the main thread.. could anyone please tell does this apply to the Non Immigrant O Multiple Tourist visa? as did not realise this could be done as I am wondering do the immigration bureau know this as could they be picky and just say no.. I am in Phuket

I believe that the non immigrant o (there is no tourist in the title) can only be extended for a year if you are married to a Thai or aged over 50, both if you have the necessary funds.

Does anyone know if this is just Helsinki enforcing this. What about Vientiane, they are a visa issuing machine, so what would the staff do there?

Yet another case of the Immigration moving the goalposts again!

Edited by loong
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finally ! was about time. i guess in your "civilized" country you welcome illegal workers with open arms...

Yes we do then after a few years we give them an amnesty and let them stay(Uk)

Yabaaa. even worse in Belgium: we regularise their illegal stay (by 20,000 units at a time) and give them a Belgian passport so that they can re-unite with their Marokkan or Turkish family in Belgium (NOT in Marokko or in Turkey) and that their family also can obtain the Belgian Nationality after 9 months... After that they all vote for the socialist or Christian Democrat party as compensation for their Belgian passport... :D:D:D

So really we ARE civilized.... :):D:D

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Well people can still fly in and out every 30 days to use 30 day stamps.

Do you always have to let us know how rich you are? The day I see you on a Baht bus sitting next to me I'll buy you a drink.

Not all nationals have the luxury of entering on 30-day tourist stamps. Those from Russia, Arab Countries and others will need to find another way to circumvent the system to stay.

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I think we all are missing the point,

I do not think that those "legally" working tourists are causing to much harm financially, or take all those jobs away from the Thais.

(the statement we heard over and over in EU, but where it boiled down to was that those "foreigners" did the jobs locals didn't want,

being to hard or to dirty or below the locals "educational" level)

Looking down history of visa amendments, each change, specially for those who are long-stayers, resulted in bringing in more bucks into this country.

Preventing those "back-to-back" tricks is one more down that lane, or you have enough money to get a decent visa or you are not worth to stay in this country, they don't want low-income people.

Countries live from the business they do, import-export, tourism etc., others from offering incentives (for a price)...

This country is mostly aiming at the later one, and will constantly amend the laws to get what they want, or produce the next

nicely wrapped package to get more bucks into the country. This of course under the condition that little or no effort is involved

to get to it.

In the animal world there are some species that show the same behavior, however I forgot their classification.....

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is this crack down related to the crackdown on girls wearing too-tight shirts at their pseudo colleges?

so how does one stay if he cant qualify for some visa's, like 200,000 baht or whatever it may take? i am moving to the philippines but rather live in Thailand. i dont want to travel every 30 days.

As much as anything else, this 'Hans Brinker / put a finger in the dike' policy by Thai Imm, is going to dissuade young farang English teachers. To many T.Visaites that may be fine, but the more native English speakers willing to teach English here, the better. Granted, some may not have degrees and/or skills and some may be laggards (or worse), but chances are even the frumpiest farang pseudo teachers will have a better handle on English than many Thais who teach English on a U level. The majority of English speakers teaching English will be good at doing so (whether with degrees or not), and for sure Thai youngsters can use all the help they can get in learning English.

It's been said a hundred times already, but it needs repeating: the Thai standard for English speaking, even among U graduates is dismal. If Thailand wants to remain a backwater tourist destination, that's ok. But if Thailand wants to be a player on the world stage, its level of English comprehension has to improve drastically. Science, business, research, diplomacy, computers, advertising, history, tourism ....all essentially require a good handle on English to be effective.

French used to be the 'diplomatic language,' but now English is the 600 lb gorilla on the world stage. Wake up Thailand.

Edited by brahmburgers
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What gonna happen for a guy like me ? I don't work in Thailand, i'm not over 50 years old or married with a thai woman but i have 100.000 bahts to spend because i'm owner in Europe and rent apparments there. So i can't stay in thailand for long term? It's illegal? I'm a tourist !

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finally ! was about time. i guess in your "civilized" country you welcome illegal workers with open arms...

That's right! try working illegally in Europe, OZ or the U.S. and see what happens. YOu'll be out on your arse with no hope of returning.

Get a job in Thailand, get a work permit and stay here. Otherwise you have no business trying to work here.

not another nail in the coffin. Pull another nail out. The corpse is reviving!

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Crackdown on back-to-back Tourist visa applications

Extended screening of visa applicants

"As there has been a number of visa applicants having entered Thailand . . . to continue their illegal employment, which is unlawful.

Illegal is unlawful? You think!!!???

Edited by webfact
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Wow...good idea. Get rid of all the illegal native English teachers who make up the majority of teachers in the public schools and lower end privates, and replace them with legal ESL teachers from Eastern Europe and the Philippines etc., (given that native speakers with proper degrees will seek higher paying jobs) whom hold degrees which may better be used as toilet paper. Before you know it, Thai English speakers will have a heinz 57 accent and a conglomerate vocabulary which stretches halfway around the world.

This is not a bitter reply from an illegal worker by the way. But, at times I think the logic (?) in this country is stranger than fiction.

Edited by Thaifever
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It is easy follow the law and you have no problems.Try to get a visa for europe as Thai people and you will see were it is the most difficult.

If you work get a workpermit like in every decent country in the world and you get a 1 year renewable visa.If you are retired put 800.000 baht in a thai account and you get also the same visa.The people who complain are those who are doing monkey business and think that as foreigner all is allowed.Dont forget we are guest here no local people.

You forgot all the foreigners who are less than 50, not married with Thai and don't work, just spend time and money here.

I know a lot of these guys and they don't understand the strict rules as they support Thai local economy.

Who think about them ? :)

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so how does one stay if he cant qualify for some visa's, like 200,000 baht or whatever it may take? i am moving to the philippines but rather live in Thailand. i dont want to travel every 30 days.

I wanted to thank you very much for going to the Philippines soon. I don't know where the hel_l you're from, but don't you get the message? Is there another country in Europe where you can stay without any Immigration? Or look at America, if they don't like your crippled nose, you won't come in. Have fun at the P.I.s man.

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Interrogate the tourists. All part of their holiday experience. Maybe someone will write a book about it.

I suspect that the authorities will look at a passport quite closely and if there are back to back tourist visa stamps for extended periods of time (i.e. over a year or more) that these will be rejected. A legitimate tourist need not fear interrogation, but your sarcasm is not lost on me. :)

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This may help some -

Australia continues to expand its Work and Holiday scheme by signing visa agreements with new countries and increasing visa quotas for countries that are already participating in the program. Now, Thailand and Australia will expand their Work and Holiday agreement by more than doubling the number of visas under their arrangements.

Speaking in Bangkok, Thailand on 09 August 2008, Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the change will increase the number of Work and Holiday visas available for citizens of each country from 200 to 500 per year.

The Work and Holiday visa scheme allows young people from participating nations between the ages of 18 and 30 to work in each other's country for up to 12 months.

To qualify for the Work and Holiday program, participants must have a degree in higher education or -- if they are still taking courses -- have at least two years of study underway. Other requirements include the requirement that they must speak English or the language of the destination country.

"This is an investment in future relations with Thailand to help develop links between people in both countries," Evans said. "This visa assists young people in Australia and Thailand to travel and experience different cultures and have closer contact with a local community while holidaying."

Thailand was the first South East Asian country to sign a Work and Holiday agreement with Australia in July of 2004.

"Each year almost 50 000 Thai people visit Australia, and Thailand is a popular destination for Australians with over 300 000 departures to Thailand every year," Evans noted.

"The expansion of the work and holiday arrangement will help to further enhance this important bilateral relationship," he added.

Along with Thailand, Australia has Work and Holiday agreements with Malaysia, Chile, Turkey, Indonesia, and the United States.

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Another nail in the coff.........

This one will come soon too :)

And don't forget the perennial, "They hate us farangs, they really, really hate us...". :D

Maybe they're regretting giving the tourist visas for free now?

Quite,

They may read this and start charging too. After all I am amazed in the way Thai government runs the country

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Whenever these threads surface, there is all this discussion about the huge numbers of farang living and working here illegally. Where are they all? I don't know of 1 single person who is working here without a work permit. I'm sure that there are a number of "English Teachers", but hardly a significant amount.

They bring in another period of free tourist visas with the intent to increase tourism, then issue a statement to the effect that you may well not get one free or not!

Total BS

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finally ! was about time. i guess in your "civilized" country you welcome illegal workers with open arms...

I spent 2 years living in thailand and didn't work illegally, i just like the place and enjoy the beach and the food.

Shame it's hard and hard to work for 1 year in Australia and then spend all the money in Thailand over 2 years.

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What's illegal about seeking employment? I thought only working with a tourist visa is illegal?

And I also thought that also a tourist 60 day visa can be applied for 3 times within a year only. No?

That means that you can never travel to Thailand to seek work unless you have been invited to do so, and have a letter that approves your non-B.

So a job in Thailand can only be found online or by connections with people that live in Thailand. Is that what it means ?

Then people have to provide you a non-b letter before your interview. And that is impossible! In some immigration offices they don't just ask you a letter, but all the information of the company. How will you ever get this when they haven't even hired you??

Yes I am aware of the huge amount of illegal workers in Thailand, people that will never get a pension, or maybe even drink so much that they cannot practically be alive at the time they cannot work anymore (and normally would receive a pension). What are they all doing here then....

All I can say is that Freedom does not exists in the world, and Thailand is a great country to learn this.

Thai Nationalism will make sure that you will always be and feel like an outsider, Thailand should favor you being here and the other way round, who cares!

What you favor about thailand is probably not the thing that Thailand is proud off, so everyone who will contribute to Thailand's bad reputation should go in the first place. Or you could do that job that illegal workers normally do, like the Burmese. Thai just want to make clear that Foreigners don't own this country, even if some think they do. Everything seems so easy, as if they can play gods. While this behavior is not possible anywhere in the world, why would anyone expect it from Thailand. Maybe they're not so fast, but they learn by mistake, that's all.

Please do not place all 'Farangs' in the same basket... Not everyone thinks that Thailand should favour us for being here. I love Thailand and the people, and appreciate being able to live and work (legally) in such a beautiful country, with such a wonderful culture and hsitory, and I have many friend who also think and feel this way. One thing that is the same for all countires all over the world... we all need tourists... they are what provides money for the country, I do agree that there should be laws around working illegally anywhere, not just in Thailand.

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"The expansion of the work and holiday arrangement will help to further enhance this important bilateral relationship," he added.

My gf is currently here in Australia on this visa, great for her (under 30) but I'm just over and it don't help me. stupid age limit.

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so how does one stay if he cant qualify for some visa's, like 200,000 baht or whatever it may take? i am moving to the philippines but rather live in Thailand. i dont want to travel every 30 days.

Going by previous "crackdowns", if you have necessary funds to show you can support yourself as a "tourist" then there should be no problem. If people are here just bumming around then they are of no use to the Thai economy anyway..!!

"Nail in the coffin", "they hate all farangs"... al the usual chestnuts come rolling out.

Pish & Tish..!!

If you play by the rules then there's no problem. Responsible and respectful people will always be welcomed here. Losers and bums can bugger off!

Personally I think that it would be a good idea to start screening people who are still in the country to check what they are doing, is their visa and/or work permit in place and where their funds are coming from.

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This will be a problem for farang with internet business. The problem is that you cant just start a business in Thailand and get a work permit you need to employ 5 Thais. If they would get rid of that stupid rule a lot of people with internet businesses would pay tax and get a work permit. Many internet business are just not big enough to employ 5 Thais its completely crazy. They are not stealing jobs from Thai they are creating new jobs and spending money in the economy.

I fortunately am married so i dont have a problem, but they should really make it easier for internet businesses.

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Why all the posts about how difficult it is to get a visa to another country?

What does that have to do with this subject?

I just looked out of the window, and yes, I'm pretty sure that this is still Thailand.

The fact is that people are/were actively encouraged to get a tourist visa from neighbouring countries. So people know what to expect. Then without notice, the rug is pulled from under their feet!

You can be doing everything legally. It is not against the law to be a perpetual tourist. So getting back to back tourist visas has been no problem and LEGAL.

I have no problem with them changing regulations, but they change them so often and never give any notice.

If they issued a statement to the effect that there will be changes made in 6 months time or something like that, at least it would give people time to make adjustments/arrangements.

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finally ! was about time. i guess in your "civilized" country you welcome illegal workers with open arms...

Yes we do then after a few years we give them an amnesty and let them stay(Uk)

Yabaaa. even worse in Belgium: we regularise their illegal stay (by 20,000 units at a time) and give them a Belgian passport so that they can re-unite with their Marokkan or Turkish family in Belgium (NOT in Marokko or in Turkey) and that their family also can obtain the Belgian Nationality after 9 months... After that they all vote for the socialist or Christian Democrat party as compensation for their Belgian passport... :D:D:D

So really we ARE civilized.... :):D:D

Correctomundo; I did wish the belgian government had only halve sensibility the of the Thai government. That's why I don't understand the whining and complaining about Thai Visa rules. Or you can apply to them and then you can stay without any hassles, or you don't and than you bugger of. Simply as that.

BTW I don't know any genuine tourist who can stay longer than 3 months in a country, don't they have a job back home waiting for them. Any sensible government in the wrld is doing the same

Edited by henryalleman
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i'm glad to have a three years non-B!

Exactly. We read here time and time again about how hard it is to get a tourist visa to UK if you are a Thai. They, the Thai Government are more than reasonable here. If you are here on 'business' well just do it right, get the right visa.

And you all have a good weekend!

A few years ago I tried to help my brothers-in-law and their wives get a tourist visa to visit us in Texas. My wife had been a U.S. citizen for almost 20 years. Whether dealing with the INS in Texas or the U.S. Consulate in Bangkok, we could never get them a visitation visa. Finally we were informed by the U.S. that my wife's brother's wives could visit but not her brothers. Her dad, retired from the Royal Thai Navy & also a retired Bangkok policeman could never get a visitation visa. One of her brothers was an attorney and the other a government school superintendent. Tens of millions of illegals come into Texas from Mexico and the rest of Central America. Few, very few, are ever caught once in the U.S. They are usually charged and let go with a promise to appear at court on a certain date. Needless to say they don't show up. So getting into the U.S. illegally is quite easy. Getting into the U.S. from Thailand to even visit relatives is very difficult. None of my wife's relatives ever were allowed to visit us. Now, we are retired in Thailand.

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This will be a problem for farang with internet business. The problem is that you cant just start a business in Thailand and get a work permit you need to employ 5 Thais. If they would get rid of that stupid rule a lot of people with internet businesses would pay tax and get a work permit. Many internet business are just not big enough to employ 5 Thais its completely crazy. They are not stealing jobs from Thai they are creating new jobs and spending money in the economy.

I fortunately am married so i dont have a problem, but they should really make it easier for internet businesses.

My problem. Internet marketer and translator.

Am looking at my options now. My dad has a company here so might be able to get it sorted through his company.

But only have one month to get this done.

Aargh. :)

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i'm glad to have a three years non-B!

Is this something new???

CS

nope it's not new, see the mfa.go.th but this visa is impossible to get now, the only consulate that delivers it doesn't do it anymore, this finished in early september.

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