The End of VisaRuns...

[Idefix 2,275]

... in 28 days

 

It has been announced 2 months ago already :

The death date for VisaRuns is August 13.

 

Another article today on the subject: No more visa runs

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/No-more-visa-runs-30238504.html

 

You should read it if your idea for your next travel

was to use several "30-days Visa Exemption"

or to use "2 or 3-entries Touristic Visa".

[midlifecrisis 4,030]

Oh ya? What about retirees? They spend far more than the resources they use.

 

This is not a case of shooting yourself in the foot, they missed their aim by half the height of the target.

 

This has been building - remember when you had to fly in?

 

A tale of two cultures - America who cannot control its borders at all and Thailand who is over controlling.

[Idefix 2,275]

Oh ya? What about retirees? They spend far more than the resources they use.

This is not a case of shooting yourself in the foot, they missed their aim by half the height of the target.

This has been building - remember when you had to fly in?

A tale of two cultures - America who cannot control its borders at all and Thailand who is over controlling.

Sorry but I don't understand what you mean with this message ??

Retirees and other people living here using non-Imm visa/extension are NOT concerned.

[jacko 8,778]

Oh ya? What about retirees? They spend far more than the resources they use.

 

This is not a case of shooting yourself in the foot, they missed their aim by half the height of the target.

 

This has been building - remember when you had to fly in?

 

A tale of two cultures - America who cannot control its borders at all and Thailand who is over controlling.

Nothing to do with retirees who have retirement extensions.

Everything to do with retirees living here long-term using tourist visas and/or exemption stamps.

Nothing to do with resources whatsoever!

 

I have just spent an age reading about this on Thai-Visa, and of course all the ensuing hand-wringing, complaints and glee.

The reasoning behind this is to get foreigners onto the correct visa types, and to stop those working here without permits.

Not very good for the Visa run companies and their staff.

[Greg_B 306]

In the past, you could easily do back to back to back runs to Myanmar, no questions asked

 

But if you plan to stay for an indefinite time period , you must get the right visa

 

Most over 50 can do a retirement visa, as many a company will do the work for you for about 22,300 baht

It is cheaper to do yourself, but some don't have the resources necessary to do the transaction

 

If you have the correct visa, there is no issues or problems with Immigration

[nkped 1,208]

I'm glad my next two trips, next month and January will only require tourist visas with extensions. The Nation article focuses on visa runs to land borders. That could really ruin your day, being stuck at Kompong Nowher with a back pack, 2000 baht and no legal way to get back into Thailand.

[Idefix 2,275]

Most over 50 can do a retirement visa, as many a company will do the work for you for about 22,300 baht

It is cheaper to do yourself, but some don't have the resources necessary to do the transaction

You should mention that using these kind of agency is illegal and can send you to jail.

Yes, getting a visa when you don't qualify for it is illegal, even is the stamp is a "true" one !

 

Like for overstay the probability to be found is very small,

but I know one guy (yes, only one) from my country who got taken

and his story of several weeks in jail certainly discouraged many to use such agencies.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Official at the Thai consulate in NYC told me in mid-June that those who get multiple entry visas in their home countries, then go back to their countries for a week or 10 days, won't be hassled when re-entering Thailand at an airport to activate the second or third entry. It's those with visas from Thai embassies in neighboring countries and who try to re-enter Thailand from a land crossing that may have problems after Aug 12. As long as you regularly return to your home country, even for a short stay, and have a return trip booked each time you enter Thailand, you can still continue to get back-to-back tourist visas, at least until the rules are tightened even further. He said in the future, anyone who applies for a tourist visa may have to include proof of a return flight to their homeland with the application.

 

Evil

Edited July 17, 2014 by Evil Penevil

[Idefix 2,275]

Out-in visa hoppers now being barred from entry to Thailand

 

PHUKET: Pol Col Sanchai Chokkayaikij, Superintendent of the Phuket Immigration Office, this afternoon confirmed to The Phuket News that the multiple Out-In visa hop is now officially dead.

 

Every immigration post on land borders and at airports now has the same rules.

 

If they are genuine tourists that's fine. But if we believe they are not tourists, they will not be readmitted into Thailand.

 

We can see [from their passport stamps] if a foreigner has stayed in Thailand too long [on tourist visas]. We will not let them in.

 

The impending clampdown has been a while coming, and has been applied in stages, with some Immigration posts ahead of others.

 

On May 13, the then-national head of Immigration, Lt Gen Pharnu Kerdlarpphon explained to The Phuket News, Lots of nationalities come to Thailand on tourist visas but they come to work.

 

I really want them to do the right thing, not to try to dodge around the law and evade taxes.

 

Immigration has also begun to apply blacklisting to people who overstay their permits to stay in Thailand.

http://www.thephuketnews.com/out-in-visa-hoppers-now-being-barred-from-entry-to-thailand-47360.php

[MM 6,562]

This clampdown will have a serious effect on those under 50 who don't qualify for any long stay visa.

 

I think a result of this will be a reduction in the younger "Ibiza" crowd who have been living here on tourist visas or "out-in" 30 day stamps.

It won't matter if they have money or not, whether they work or not...just their age will be working against them.

 

I'm wondering if the disco crowds will start to dwindle as a consequence, cutting back on the freelancers' income stream (unless, as some of these guys say, they are getting it for free), and then these top tottie who have been freelancing might migrate back to the bars and gogos.

 

There might be an increase in marriages though.

 

There might be many knock-on changes from this enforcement in the demographics of the scene.

[Idefix 2,275]

This clampdown will have a serious effect on those under 50 who don't qualify for any long stay visa.

...

It won't matter if they have money or not, whether they work or not...just their age will be working against them..

It's not really true MM.

If they have money enough they can stay long term, even if they are just 18

 

I think I wrote it somewhere already, but in short :

- ED and going school

- IB and investing in some governmental founds

- B and getting a job

- EP and buying a Privilege Elite card

 

They can't say they have no option because too young.

[midlifecrisis 4,030]

Nothing to do with retirees who have retirement extensions.

Everything to do with retirees living here long-term using tourist visas and/or exemption stamps.

Nothing to do with resources whatsoever!

 

I have just spent an age reading about this on Thai-Visa, and of course all the ensuing hand-wringing, complaints and glee.

The reasoning behind this is to get foreigners onto the correct visa types, and to stop those working here without permits.

Not very good for the Visa run companies and their staff.

There are a lot of guys over 50 there not on a proper visa.

[MM 6,562]

It's not really true MM.

If they have money enough they can stay long term, even if they are just 18

 

I think I wrote it somewhere already, but in short :

- ED and going school

- IB and investing in some governmental founds

- B and getting a job

- EP and buying a Privilege Elite card

 

They can't say they have no option because too young.

 

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough.

 

I said "those who don't qualify for any long stay visa".

 

I'm referring to the perennial holiday younger guy, not serious people who actually might be planning to get work, go to school, or spend 500K-2M baht for an Elite Card. There is a large number of them..Their numbers will likely dwindle as a result of this, which was my conclusion.

 

The cheapest option, ED, are getting harder to get and they are clamping down on those as we discuss this...possibly it's not a reliable future option ...and from the lifestyles of many of the younger crowd I see, many wouldn't be able to make it to school anyway.

 

B and getting a job..not as easy as that...who will hire that many of them?

 

Of course they can form their own company and with a 20M baht capitalization (as I recall), escape the requirement for 4 Thais on social insurance and tax rolls for each foreign work permit. That has a lot of cost associated with it, but yes, with a good deal of money, someone could do that..if they could be shown to have a legitimate business...labor department does come to look at the work site, engineering approvals are required...not something the Ibiza crowd is likely to get involved with.

 

My point is that the options are limited for those unmarried under 50 who want to stay and just be in holiday mode.

[Greg_B 306]

Idefix

 

There are some restrictions that have exceptions also, you may want to get familiar with it, before assuming it is illegal

[Idefix 2,275]

 

There are some restrictions that have exceptions also, you may want to get familiar with it, before assuming it is illegal

Please give details.

 

What you said is: "It is cheaper to do yourself, but some don't have the resources necessary to do the transaction"

I am sorry for them, but if they have neither the 800'000 in bank nor the 65'000/month they don't qualify for retirement extensions.

Using a "agency" to get this stamp without the required founds is what conduct this person in jail...

[MM 6,562]

Maybe he means they're just thick and/or lazy.

 

Is there a reason you say they're illegal with the information given?

 

Is it because of the high price?

 

Composed on a mobile phone.

 

 

[darkmancomes 75]

Tired reading all this anyone give me a straight answer to my situation which will be arising in January February next year. I intend to visit Thailand early January next year and stay for about 5-6 weeks never done this long before I usually go there for 4 weeks spending some time in the Philippines therefore breaking the 21 now30 day stay. So my question how can I legally stay in Thailand for 5-6 weeks ?

[BigDUSA 71]

Tired reading all this anyone give me a straight answer to my situation which will be arising in January February next year. I intend to visit Thailand early January next year and stay for about 5-6 weeks never done this long before I usually go there for 4 weeks spending some time in the Philippines therefore breaking the 21 now30 day stay. So my question how can I legally stay in Thailand for 5-6 weeks ?

Thai Embassy will issue a 60 day visa. I've gotten a 60 day visa twice. I sent my passport to the Embassy in Washington D.C.. No hassle and quick service.

[nkped 1,208]

Tired reading all this anyone give me a straight answer to my situation which will be arising in January February next year. I intend to visit Thailand early January next year and stay for about 5-6 weeks never done this long before I usually go there for 4 weeks spending some time in the Philippines therefore breaking the 21 now30 day stay. So my question how can I legally stay in Thailand for 5-6 weeks ?

Get a 60 day tourist visa.

[jacko 8,778]

Interested on how this will say change the demographics of the night-life scene.

Is the component of free young guys on back-to-back tourist visas (or exemptions) so appreciable?

 

I have never seen any numbers, but what I see of night-life, I don't see many apparently young long-term guys?

But of course you wouldn't get me in a 'disco' for a gold pig.

I just thought near all of them were valid tourists, with perhaps a sprinkling of gap-year guys.

[Idefix 2,275]

So my question how can I legally stay in Thailand for 5-6 weeks ?

Tourist - true ones - are not concerned by this new story.

Best option is to get a tourist visa in your country before you come. Will give you 60 days.

 

Interested on how this will say change the demographics of the night-life scene.

Is the component of free young guys on back-to-back tourist visas (or exemptions) so appreciable?

I really don't know but would like to know too. People living here on back-to-back tourist visa are very few (maybe even none) among people I know, but yes I can believe that many live here this way, but how many ??

 

Reading reactions on ThaiVisa, you could believe that half foreign population of Pattaya is in this case, that it's the begin of the end for all condo projects, and that Pattaya will die very soon... . I have some serious doubts about that

 

About MM's "perennial holiday younger guys", no doubt there are many of them now, far more than a few years back, but no idea how long they stay? Aren't they just tourist staying 60, 90 or 180 days max ? OK Pattaya may be fun, but if I was young, have time and money, there are other places in the world I would like (or prefer) to stay...

[darkmancomes 75]

Thanks for the heads up

[MM 6,562]

The perennial holiday makers comes from seeing the same faces over time at ibar late nights.

I haven't been doing that so much but still see them heading into ibar after 2am many nights.

I fully expect a decrease in their numbers with this new crackdown.

 

Another thing is reported to me by friends. . The visa run vans seem to have lots of Russians..a different demographic that will be decreasing soon as well.

 

Composed on a mobile phone.

 

 

[john719 39]

Sportsman's Lodge British Pub on Soi 13 does van visa runs to Cambodia 2500Baht all-in includes breakfast and lunch. Can do once if entry was by air. You get 30-days extension one time at border. Departs 6:30am returns 3:30pm

[Idefix 2,275]

Another thing is reported to me by friends. The visa run vans seem to have lots of Russians.. a different demographic that will be decreasing soon as well.

That is certain. Immigration said that, even if new rules are the same for everyone, their main targets are people from Russia, Vietnam & Korea. They both have easy access to Thailand (because of Visa agreement) but use this facilities and the visaruns on visa exemption to stay long time here... and work!

 

Sportsman's Lodge British Pub on Soi 13 does van visa runs to Cambodia 2500Baht all-in includes breakfast and lunch. Can do once if entry was by air. You get 30-days extension one time at border. Departs 6:30am returns 3:30pm

You could do that... before. Trying that today if you already have number of Tourist Visa and/or Visa exemptions may see you be refused to exit, or refused to reenter. Trying that from August 12, and the probability will be 99%...