I think Drifter's anger against thailand was started by the fire of a bar girl's loins.

New announcement. Education visas only one year max and no more? That is a huge development. As I recall, the schools were promising up to 10 years, renewed annually. Watch many Thai language schools close down. There may be quite a few poorly-thought-out, semi-recent condo purchases being reconsidered and put up for a fire sale in the next year by skint farangs. So far, only the over-50 year old retirees with 800,000 Baht cash in the bank (or annual income equivalent) have been spared the visa upheaval. Can retirement visa reform be far behind? Or will we get another "Oops, I did it again" press conference and back-track by some hapless junta general?

As it stands, this puts a total damper on my plans for a quick return to Thailand in early retirement. I may as well work until age 49 or 50 now.

Bangkokpost.com wrote:Tourists get extended visas
Published: 27 Aug 2014 at 18.35 | Viewed: 15,019 | The Immigration Bureau has approved a new regulation that that allows tourists to extend their stay in the kingdom by a further 30 days, effective from Aug 29.

more...

http://bangkokpost.com/news/local/42905 ... nded-visas

c'mon, at this point the game is over, who is going thru all this hassle, Thailand is not the Eldorado, it's so easy to get long term visas in cambo, malaysia, vietnam ... and also in philippines you can extend up to 18 months, in Bali you can do visa runs to singapore.

c'mon, at this point the game is over, who is going thru all this hassle, Thailand is not the Eldorado, it's so easy to get long term visas in cambo, malaysia, vietnam ... and also in philippines you can extend up to 18 months, in Bali you can do visa runs to singapore.

Don't worry, according to their latest pronouncement:

THE Tourism Authority of Thailand yesterday finalised its 2015 international campaign themed "Thainess Year", which is expected to help lure 29 million tourists who will generate revenue of Bt2.2 trillion.

they have added +4 - 5 million to their imaginary number, so that will offset any actual real drop in arrivals to the Land of Make Believe.

Before long, they will be talking about 30 million plus.

^ is that like Zimbabwe dollars, now?

StroppyChops wrote:^ is that like Zimbabwe dollars, now?

I have a couple 100 trillion dollar bills. A State dept guy gave 'em to me as a joke. Might be able to buy a paper clip w/them.

wackyjacky wrote:

StroppyChops wrote:^ is that like Zimbabwe dollars, now?

I have a couple 100 trillion dollar bills. A State dept guy gave 'em to me as a joke. Might be able to buy a paper clip w/them.

Well, most of a paper clip. Did the State guy give you the notes in an elastic band?

No, the elastic band is worth money.

wackyjacky wrote:No, the elastic band is worth money.

Shame.