30-day border runs now only 15 days

[lomuamart]

lindosfan1,
If you're married to a Thai, you can get a one off extension to your visa of 60 days. I think this is probably what you got. You can certainly do it if the original visa is a Non O and you probably can also if it's a Tourist Visa (but I'm not 100% sure about that).
What is interesting is that Imm seemed willing to give you more time if you'd wanted it. I thought it was 60 days and that was that.
Can you see if you got an extension stamp as I'd be surprised if it was actually a visa? Terminology, I know. I'm just curious.

[Name Taken]

With the 15 day deal and the elimination of quantity per year, we may see a farang population boom in border area towns such as Nong Khai, Ubon, Chantaburi, Trat etc. Makes life very easy for those without visas, especially in Nong Khai where there is already a large farang population. Pete

Their passport(s) will certainly fill up quickly with entry and exit stamps when doing visa runs every 15 days.

[Spitfire]

Think they've finally 'nailed it' with this.

Yes, if you can be bothered to do it every 15 days and have the money required to go on a visa trip every 15 days, then fine. What will probably be a result of this is that people start to actually get the visa's they are supposed to have. This just clears the decks/air a bit but still leaves it open for the rich that are undecided to stay, perfect for them(Thais and the rich).

The days of staying here continually 'on the cheap' and doing 'border-hops' all the time, working on a tourist visa are almost over, if not now, with this new set of changes. They are just 'plugging the gaps' and this one makes it much harder but still possible if you have money, that doesn't change.

Pete might well be right about the border towns seeing a benefit from this. I'll give them their credit with this, it will get them closer to what they want, even if it is not so good for some of us.

We'll have to see how it 'shapes-up'. I might be wrong with the above but the 'screw is tightening', OK, slowly.

[lindosfan1]

Lomu it was an extension stamp but what puzzled me was when he stated is two months enough I wonder what he would have said if I said no.

[Onlyme]

The 60 day extension will also be given for a "visa upon arrival."
I got a friend of mine to do it in Huahin last year.
Onlyme.

[margaretcarnes]

The prospect of 15 day border runs would certainly deter me, if I was considering going back to LOS 'permanently'. Good point made about the passport filling up for one thing (and now can't be renewed without going home?) 24 border runs a year equals 48 stamps - it would indeed probably be more sensible in many ways to just go home for a 12 month visa every year, especially for retired Brits, who should also be aware of the need to maintain some form of contact with their country of origin.

But no-one has mentioned the 90 day visas available in the UK, or have these also been stopped?

The timing of the change to 15 days couldn't have been worse either, coming right on top of the airport closures. A typically shortsighted move IMO. Maybe there is hope of a shake up in regulations by the new PM, who was born and educated in England (and is said to be a chum of Boris Johnson no less) or is that wishful thinking?

[lomuamart]

Lomu it was an extension stamp but what puzzled me was when he stated is two months enough I wonder what he would have said if I said no.

"Tough"? Only joking. Thanks for clarifying that.
And also thanks to Onlyme for confirming that the 60 day extension, if married to a Thai, can be granted on lesser status than a Non Imm O visa. I assume you mean a 30/15 day visa exempt stamp, Onlyme, and not a visa on arrival which is a separate thing. Most western countries can't get and don't need those.

[lomuamart]

Mags,
24 border runs a year, at least through Ranong, equals 96 stamps (two in and out of Thailand and the same for Burma every time). The British Embassy will be making a mint on new passports.
Surely passports can be renewed at The Embassy? That's one of the major functions they perform anywhere in the world. Correct me if I've missed something here.
90 day visas, ie Non Immigrant O, are certainly still available. It's those that you use for annual extensions here based on marriage to a Thai or retirement. They're normally easily obtainable in your home country (reason being to visit family or FRIENDS as in the instance of Hull, Birmingham in the UK etc) or through neighbouring countries to Thailand (ie at Penang), but you have to prove marital status then and evidence of funds dosn't go amiss.

[Roel]

margretcarnes said:

born and educated in England

No guarantee Maggs, look around! (just kidding)

The timing of the change to 15 days couldn't have been worse either, coming right on top of the airport closures.

Do not think this change will affects many genuine tourists so this time was as good as any other time. But imagine the illegal English teachers in Bangkok who have to make it to Cambodia twice a month now! Schools will not be happy with that either. Two birds with one stone maybe?

[Super Joe]

Might be a naive question but why do teachers have to work illegally ? Don't their employing schools provide work permits for their farang teachers ? If not the schools are acting illegally too.

SJ

[Roel]

I was talking about illegal teachers as opposed to legal teachers. In my years in Thailand I met quite a few illegal ones actually. Seems getting less but on the other hand who wants to admit in public nowadays that he is employed without a WP. No big deal 15 years ago but very dangerous today.

Don't their employing schools provide work permits for their farang teachers ? If not the schools are acting illegally too.

Exactly. That is what I mean. This might also discourage schools to hire teachers illegally. Or any other employer. Schools and teachers just being one example. This new regulation is surely inconvenient for employers who hire visa-runners.

[Name Taken]

I can certainly understand why farangs don't want to invest a large amount of money in Thailand with all the protests, political instability,
rampant xenophobia and frequently changing visa rules. I think Thailand has a very low opinion of farangs living here and i find that slightly depressing.

[Takiap]

Not really sure I understand what all the fuss is about because after all, this is Thailand and we all know the visa laws change in accordance with the seasons. You could almost bet your life on it that they'll change again within the nex six months or so unless this new government puts a stop to anyone in office meddling with lawas just because they don't really have much else to do.

As far as chnging the visa laws to stop illegal employment is concerned, I think it total bollocks. If this was the only way to stop people working then please answer this, why has Malaysia for example not followed Thailand's example? I'll tell you why. Simply compare their progress and stability to that of Thailand.

Don't get me wrong because I love living here but in my honest opinion, Thailand is much the same as many African countries which will simply never improve significantly enough to compete with the rest of the world unless of course some major changes happen and on top of that, they'll need to be permanent changes. Perhaps they are simply unable to govern a country suitably.

So, for as long as it continues this way, we can still enjoy living here because hey, if they became just like our own home countries, I'm sure we'd all want to leave anyway.

[sandman67]

But imagine the illegal English teachers in Bangkok who have to make it to Cambodia twice a month now

the point I tried to make earlier was that this will hit one significant source of tourist revenues....backpacker style tourists.

A significant number of these make up Thailand's revenue stream. Now, when entering from land borders with Laos and Cambodia they only get a 15 day visa.....and to stay have to do costly visa runs more often.

Yet studies have shown that, as tourists, head for head they put the most revenue into the local tourist business economies...which is really what is needed to address unemployment and revenue worries.

This dumbass policy was implemented despite glaring signs that the tourist industry here is in freefall.

Thats a Thai strategy if Ive ever seen one

[Spitfire]

The illegal teacher still exists in many places, they are just being slowly forced away from cities and high profile areas.

What everyone has to remember is that there are many places that simply can't attract/afford qualified teachers, so they accept ones that are on the 'fringe'/'questionable'/'agency' etc etc as they are unwilling/unable to pay 40,000 baht a month, serves both side well.

In HH, Bangkok, Chang Mia, Korat etc etc etc, it is/it's becoming a 'no-no', but in places like Yasorthon/Kalasin/Chumpon/Ban Phai/Mahasarakham/Buriram etc etc then it may still be possible as there is not much to choose from(farangs). Many illegal teachers are fleeing to the provinces, but it's the alamo for them, inevitable conclusion, just prolonging it.

They still exist because if a Thai school/college/university etc so desires for you, qualified or not to work for them, can sort it out and find a way to by-pass the laws, so that the situation suits them. It's surprising just how much 'sway' they have.

I have heard 'on the grapevine' that now a farang no longer needs a degree to work at an educational institution. The only thing he/she needs is a letter from the school, that is sent by the school, demanding that he works for them, I think that is enough now.

All I can say is

I am happy to be stood corrected by others in this line of work as I may be wrong.

Although, having said all of that, I think I have swayed 'way off topic' and would like to imply we go before one of our veritable brethren passively instruct us to do so.