lomuamart wrote:SJ,
I know we've had disagreements in the past about changes to visa exempt rules. Let me just ask you that if, under the present system, a person makes four consecutive 15 day visas exempt border runs and then flies to Cambodia and returns to Swampy to get another 30 day stamp and then does 4 consecutive 15 day runs - ad infinitum. Are they:
1. Doing anything illegal? - I'd say not really and do it myself if I had to. But under the law the Immigration Act has 'Tourism' under the catagory of a 'Temporary Stay', so that'd be a hard one to argue 10 years down the line.
2. Are they abusing the system? I'd say after the initial 4 no., if they repeated again and again the process then yes, particularly bearing in mind the law above
3. Are they embracing the new regulations? - Not after the initial 4 no., haven't really read it in full yet though.
4. Is this within the spirit of the law?- No due to the Immigration act.
Hi mate, my answers are based on the 'ad infinitum' part, rather than once or twice more times. Having said all that, I would do it all along with the others if I had no other choice.
Personally, I'd think it's 3 and positive to 4. The moot point might be the spirit of the law, but Thailand has changed the regulations three times recently and has had ample opportunity to do away with these people.
Could it be to do with not wanting to stuff up the ex-pats from Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Mid-East Oil etc who sometimes are working remotely have no chance to get to a consulate for tourist visas or whatever ?
I probably give the wrong impression on here, I am actually all for taking advantage of every loophole, providing it's legal. I don't sit and judge any of these people until they all start moaning about how much Thailand hates them and that they're off to Vietnam next week, cos they now have to show their 800k in the bank 3 months before renewal, so they can't borrow it off their mate like usual. I take responsibility for what I do and do not try to blame others.
None of this is aimed at you Lomu, you seem like me in that you just get on with enjoying your life and let whatever Thailand throws at us go over our heads. But I honestly believe from a lot of research that Thailand overall offers the cheapest and most wide-ranging visa options in the region (and I mean legit one's, not say a Philippine tourist visa that you get an agent to arrange an extension every 2 months forever). I'll put something up with comparisons in a thread, yawnnnnnnn.
Thailand has a visa option for everyone, providing you meet their modest financial requirements. The main gap if you like is the under 50's, with no family, no business, no employment etc. Thailand caters for them though with either:
a) A Non-Imm 'O' for just a 100 quid, yeah there's 4 border runs and a 15 monthly renewal run. Costs about 2,500 Baht a month to maintain.
b) The 'ED' Education visa which you can renew/run for 3 years - Costs about 3,000 Baht a month complete with 180 hours of Thai lessons included.
Yet you have people banging on about how much better the Philippines and Malaysia welcomes us under 50's, all we only have to invest 65,000 USD & 85,000 USD respectively to be allowed to join their programs.
Then you get the "Thailand only wants wealthy Farangs" brigade, errr so why haven't they increased the retirement income/show money by not even a single Baht for the past God knows how many years ? Thai annual retirement extension - 1,900 Baht, Philippines - 16,000 Baht
I work in property, how many law changes have messed my business up resulting in mega bungs to get round things, have I ever whinged on here once about the property laws, no. You take the rough with the smooth and consider myself lucky to be living here and certainly not arrogant enough to tell them how they should do things.
It's all these whingers who think Thailand is out to get them that bug me, the vast majority of the people who can not get the visa for the category they come under is down to them not having the funds or correct paperwork., 99% of the time I've seen. I know tons of them, my own mates included, people fall in love with Thailand and move out before they're ready too.
Sure Thailand changes the rules too often at too short notice, but a lot of that is down to Farang's, if it was my house and people were peeing on my front garden I'd try and f-k em up with hourly rule changes.
When a loophole gets plugged, in immigration, property, work permits, the FBA etc, it's more often than not due to foreigners abusing the loopholes. But we're too arrogant to 'collectively' assume any of the responsibility. We rant and rave instead, like the Farang's crying away when they got done for a few hundred Baht due to corruption, but at the same time taking advantage of it when it suits.
Bet you're glad you asked now Lomu LOL.
Apologies all
SJ
