OPINION

Immigration games

I, like nearly 90% of all foreigners living here in Thailand, am getting tired of going to immigration for our yearly visa renewal, only to find out that we did not follow the "rules of the day". We want immigration to state a clear policy of what is, or is not, required to renew our visas. To that end, we ask:

Why are we required to fill out additional paperwork at immigration when all of the requirements found on the internet have been met? All written in Thai of course and not understandable to foreigners.

Why does immigration refuse to accept notifications from government agencies and/or insurance companies that clearly state bona fide payments to recipients on a yearly basis? I am talking about social security payments, government pensions as well as private pension payments. Stated requirements say they are perfectly acceptable as a proven source of income.

Why does immigration demand that joint spousal bank accounts hold 800,000 baht instead of the publicly stated 400,000 baht? Is it because Thais do not trust their spouses when it comes to finances and have separate accounts? I have seen this in virtually every Thai family I know, whereas Westerners trust their spouses in virtually every case and have joint accounts.

Why does immigration demand that we must have an update from our town hall that repeats what is printed on our marriage licences? Town hall employees even question this stupid requirement, especially since our spouse must be present at the visa renewal.

Why does immigration require (not in stated requirements) pictures of spouses at our homes? I have been told that the 90-day report, which identifies our location, is not acceptable. Of course, the 90-day report unit also declares that our yearly visa renewal does not qualify as a report to immigration. Figure that one out.

Why can't spousal visas be stamped on reporting days instead of being forced to come back 30 days later after the "review" period? If spousal visas are done every year then there is nothing to review. It creates more chaos at immigration with returnees having to come back needlessly.

And while you are at it, why not amend the rules for spousal and retirement visa holders who have been here for at least 10 years to permanent residents? Eases crowds at immigration, less paperwork and makes more people happy (foreigners as well as immigration employees). At the same time eliminate the 90-day report. You know where we are and where we have been over the years. If not, fix your website so that online reporting can be done quickly and there is no message stating: "Report to your nearest immigration office." I for one am tired of seeing that message every time I try to do this online and will not visit your office to report.

Finally, on the head of immigration's first day in office, he stated that all immigration officers should be friendly and accommodating. I have yet to see that with all of their inane demands.

So immigration, are you going to respond and follow the requirements that you outline on the internet, or are you going to continue with the daily games?

Re: "WTE projects see official support, villager resistance", (BP, Dec 12).

It is unfair that responsibility for growing volumes of garbage is down to local officials.

This is a national and worldwide problem. Volumes of single-use disposable packaging, as used with food and drink, could easily be reduced by replacing single-use with multiple-use recyclable packaging. This isn't a design problem but a system problem of a global system. As long as discarded packaging is destroyed by hydraulic crushing in the garbage collection system it is impossible for manufacturers to use multiple-use recyclable packaging. The system of garbage collection needs to be redesigned so it doesn't exclude multiple-use recyclable packaging but allows and encourages it. How else are we to reduce volumes of garbage except by not making it in the first place?

With the new year approaching, along with the increase in traffic, I anticipate more fatalities once more.

It is commendable of ministers to aim for a reduction by 5% yet I have witnessed every day two, three, even four people on motorbikes with no crash helmets. Surely the police should prevent this happening. It can and does lead to unnecessary deaths.

I have been to Vietnam many times and they nearly all wear crash helmets or face a large fine. Surely Thailand could follow this example.

Re: "A smouldering issue, (PostBag, Dec 17).

The writer suggested a way to deal with smoke from stubble burning: "Confiscate the fields in question, try and jail the perpetrators for 50 years ..."

Yeah, sure, and you'll have the famous "mushroom pickers" melodrama all over again. "We destitute farmers always get punished, while a rich kid who mowed a policeman down with his Ferrari got away. Jails are made for the poor, sob, sob, sniff, sniff."

Furthermore, those poor folks can vote and, surely, you don't want to upset them, do you? I guess, we have to live with the haze. This is Thailand!

Hungary must be applauded for upholding traditional values and the rights of children to be raised by a mother and father. This is at odds with Amnesty International's view that it's a "dark day for human rights".

Well, Amnesty International, this is the way that humans have raised children for thousands of years ... because it's simply the appropriate and best way!

Having two mothers or two fathers masquerading as alternative genders is bizarre and heaven knows what long-term psychological damage this will do to the unfortunate children!

Ron Martin in his Dec 17 letter, "Not a republic fan", is correct in saying the UK does have laws protecting the monarchy. Articles 490 & 491 of the UK criminal code were (are) the equivalent of the lese majeste/treason etc law. However, they have not been applied for 140 years.

In normal circumstances I would apologise to Mr Martin for making an inaccurate statement.

I'm sure I'm not the only one left with more questions than answers from your front-page story (BP, Dec 16) on the embarrassing mix-up over a supposed major "ketamine" drug bust.

Firstly, is it the case that there had been large quantities of ketamine in the warehouse and that the drug had been removed? If not, how did the ONCB and others get it so wrong, and why are the completely legal chemicals found there described as being "hidden"?

And lastly, how on earth was one gramme of ketamine identified in 301kg of calcium carbonate?

I look forward to your update to this story in due course.

I have been with one local bank for many years. Lately I have incurred problems with my Australian pension not being entered into my account. My pension is forwarded each Thursday and most times the amount is entered into my account on Monday. I have to wait up to 14 days for my pension to be entered into my account and two pensions are entered. I am suspicious the bank is using my money for their own use to gain interest.

I am also worried the bank has a racist policy. I have a six-figure pension, with most of it spent here in Thailand. I applied for accident insurance only to be informed "we only give this to Thai people". I have now stopped my pension being placed into my account. I will do an international transfer myself to ensure my pension is credited to my account.

Also, why is the government charging large fees to retirees as opposed to the small amount Thais have to pay -- and why are Westerners charged more for entering tourist facilities? Again, this demonstrates the government's poor attitude.

With Singapore's several months' record of near-zero locally transmitted Covid cases and Thailand's robust control measures and local transmission under control, how about a Bangkok-Singapore travel bubble? There are plenty of Singaporeans who enjoy visiting Thailand and this would provide a much-needed boost for the sagging tourism industry. For Thais and foreign residents in Thailand it could also provide a respite from being locked down for a long time.

This assumes both countries have rapid testing available at the airports upon departure and arrival and don't require quarantines in either country. I believe Singapore has rapid airport testing in place but I'm less certain if Thailand is testing "departing passengers" based on prior media reports of Thai national travellers arriving in Japan, being tested and some found to be positive. I hope someone from the Thai and/or Singapore government will initiate travel bubble discussions soon!

Re: "Bring on some spice", (PostBag, Dec 17).

I am in full agreement with your correspondent.

The best laugh I had all year was the April 1 story that went viral, announcing a government decree that 90-day reports could henceforth be made at 7-Eleven stores. Evidently some farangs actually turned up at their local 7-Eleven clutching their passport and TM47, only to be met with a very bemused look from staff.

Due to an error during the editing process, two letters were accidentally merged in "Lese than truthful", (PostBag, Dec 15). The last paragraph accusing a senator of spreading fake news in saying the UK has a lese majeste law was contributed by Chris Boyle.

CONTACT: BANGKOK POST BUILDING136 Na Ranong Road Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110 Fax: +02 6164000 email: postbag@bangkokpost.co.th

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