frank lee bent wrote:maybe now they will make those visas easier to get. there is a lot of push back by local business now, even in smaller places like chiang rai

If you do NOT qualify for one of the many long term visas and there are many options
it will not be an easier to obtain and why should it?

Spending 4-7 months in Thailand , it is quite obvious ur not a tourist, regardless of how much money you have and if your working or not.

Ever country draws the line somewhere. Even Cambodia is now starting to get more strict on visas and wp
i expect to see the Ordinary visa which will be canceled as of Oct 1st ( an called the business visa again) to make a come back an be issued to those that do not work or seek work but can show ( no idea how they will do this but imagine it will be something like Thailand does for a retirement extension) they have enough $$ to live without working.

Its sad there is not a visa for those that have big bucks
BUT wait, there is and its the 5 year Elite card ( costs 500,000 baht) which gives u unlimited entries/stays in a 5 year period

?

OrangeDragon wrote:

phuketrichard wrote: Its sad there is not a visa for those that have big bucks
BUT wait, there is and its the 5 year Elite card ( costs 500,000 baht) which gives u unlimited entries/stays in a 5 year period

ahahahah, 30,000 a year... just to live in an early retirement.

30,000 what?
500,000 baht is $15,625
so $3 grand /year

not me clarifying;
thats their quote

I agree its a grey area an as i said does nothing about the many teachers working without WP cause the school cant or wont give them one.

The way i see it with ASEAN on the horizon they want the situation under control for westerners, so they can deal with the ASEAN members when the time comes( and thats going to be a major fuck up)

*REAL tourist ( an please don't ask me who that is as everyone knows) will have no trouble.
*Those able to get the right visa will have no trouble, Non immigrant ed , O & B
*those using visa exempt for entries every other month or so ( guys with 1 year visas for other asain countries, off shore workers etc) and can show there not living in Thailand, will have no trouble.

The reality of it is, for so many years so many have been taken advantage of the laws cause everyone knew they were not being enforced OR cause they knew they could pay off an immigration officer (very easy to get a non O 1 year visa in Bangkok for about 20,000 baht or a retirement exteniosn with ZERO money or income show) The Army is shutting down the Police corruption as well. ( although not doing a very good job as Phuket airport offers a "fast track" entry for 200 baht )

Every embassy ( in your home country) will issue double entry tourist visas and many will even issue triples ( as will the consolute in Bali) so in effect that would give, you with a double entry, 6 months in Thailand with one trip out after 90 days And those people will have no trouble ( just make sure u have a ticket to show them your leaving)

End of the day,its the way its going to be until they change it.