New Visa Rules

[sarapy]

I love Thailand, Thai people, Thai culture, Thai cuisine... I have been to Thailand a dozen times over the past twenty years. I don't remember any big difficulties before re visas, though I do travel , by air, around Asia. So entering and leaving was "normal". However, on my last visits, the "administrative climate" changed so much from what I had known. And the whole "airport experience" became more "complicated", longer and less enjoyable. When I compare that with my many visits to Malaysia - the airport experience is MUCH MORE user friendly (especially in Business Class - special Visa lines, etc) - I start to wonder if it's worth the administrative hassles to visit longer than thirty days (visa at the airport). I'm sorry to miss my Thai friends, the islands I love, the beautiful sites in other parts of the country... But honestly, when a government makes it clear to tourists that they do not wish for them to come and spend money in their hotels/restaurants/resorts/natural parks/etc... it is perhaps time to visit other countries.

[stilljustbrowsing]

It's all about money, nothing more, nothing less! Pay, and you can play !

[antony77]

Thailand visa rules are now in line with most other countries. Anyone who stays more than 180 days in a year has to pay income tax on their world income regardless of their vias staus. Thats why Thailand limits tourist stays to this amount.
If you "live" here you should pay income tax like Thais and Permanent residents do.

[pachangamac042]

[quote="propaganda"]BANGKOK / PHUKET: Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Thai Immigration crackdown on border runners
"In a crackdown on foreigners who "abuse" the tourist exemption rule allowing 15-day visit extensions at border entry points, the Immigration Bureau has confirmed and informed ThaiVisa.Com of the following new regulation, which went into effect yesterday:
A foreigner who has entered the kingdom four consecutive times on 15-day tourist exemption stamps will not be allowed to leave the country and re-enter Thailand by land.
The only option is to exit Thailand and re-enter via an international airport, which will allow a further 30 day extension of stay in the country."


Yep, propa, and you have to leave the country on Thai Airways only and in business or first class, in order to qualify for an other 30 days.

[hidalgo]

I do not understand about the exit and entry from and to Thailand by Thai airways and business/1st class ONLY. What has this got to do with the immigration??

Apparently they are making Thai nationals who go home for holidays as well reapply for new passports (after their last passport is about to expire) to travel by Thai airways too.

Funny and illogical!

Regards.

[durant]

i visited thailand first time in aug for one month, i spend time in pattaya and was very offended by the behaviours of farangs.to see these very old men with young thai women and openly fondling them offended me alot. these men would never do this in their own countries but feel free to show total disrespect for thais.it is good to see that thailand is taking control of their immigration ,i am planning to retire to thailand and will do it in the legal way by applying through the thai embassy in canada. is is outrageous how farangs abuse thai laws and hospitality.