Rumours of Immigration Crackdown

[Bamboo Grove]

It's not only the Brits, it's an universal trait. Jealousy lurks everywhere, unfortunately.

[golfer]

I agree with Bamboo Groove, in addition that I thought it's more like Finnish thing.

[Norseman]

I agree with Bamboo Groove, in addition that I thought it's more like Finnish thing.

Sorry pal, Finns are usually not that bad!!!

[caller]

lomuamart, When I was in HH last June, I was sitting having a drink with Rod who runs the Shed Bar, and he told me exactly the same as you have just posted word for word.

He stated, that even if he was in the bar , customers came in and there was no one behind the bar, he could not serve a drink of any kind, otherwise what is happening now would have happened to him.

He said that someone could be passing the bar, see him serve a drink, report him to the authorities and he would be out of the country as fast as they could get him out.

Chelsea, - I don't get this? I mean, I understand what you are saying but the guy is running a guest house, not just a bar - can he not officially get involved in that side of things as well?

He should also take a bit more care and practise what he preaches - he's a nice guy and I had a brief chat with him in his bar - but he asked to be excused to sort out a food order out front, in clear view of everyone!!!

It seems impossible that the Thais aren't fully aware of the reality of the situation about who owns what, I can't really understand the motives of the authorities? If they really wanted to stop farang ownership, I'm sure they could. I wonder what their "driver" is, apart from the obvious?

[Burger]

If they really wanted to stop farang ownership, I'm sure they could. I wonder what their "driver" is, apart from the obvious?

It appears the authorities want foreign investers/ownership as it brings money into the country, ok they make it hard but they know very well from the figures that investors are growing and are not put off.
They also want to ensure more jobs go to Thai people, hence they make it hard for us to get work permits.
Then when they find us flaunting the law, and let's face it farang's do, they come down hard and fines are collected.
Seems to me the interest's of the country are being well protected, and us johnny foreigners get the rough end of the stick.
There's a hell of a lot of Brits out there who complain bitterly that our government does not apply the same tough rules in the UK.

Burger
[/quote]

[buksida]

Then when they find us flaunting the law, and let's face it farang's do, they come down hard and fines are collected.
Seems to me the interest's of the country are being well protected, and us johnny foreigners get the rough end of the stick.
There's a hell of a lot of Brits out there who complain bitterly that our government does not apply the same tough rules in the UK.

I agree with some of your points but it doesnt stop the fact that what is happening at the moment seems to be pure corruption in the form of backhanders. The very thing that this government wants to stamp out (along with porn, internet games, alcohol, cigarettes, TV, gasonline, drugs and foreigners).

Foreigners will always get the rough end of the stick doing business here regardless of the law and whether they abide by it or not simply because we have very few legal rights. In the eyes of the authorities the following three people are all the same:

1) Foreigner living and working in Thailand with all necessary paperwork, paying taxes and supporting a family.

2) Foreigner holidaying in Thailand for two weeks.

3) Foreigner North African or Eastern European origin who comes to Thailand for shady business purposes and dealings with none of the above.

(Apologies for the generalizations).

Until they can separate the good from the bad people and ones that are honestly trying to make a go of it here we will always get the shitty end of the stick. For many of us this is home and what goes on in the UK is of no consequence whatsoever.

[Burger]

Until they can separate the good from the bad people and ones that are honestly trying to make a go of it here we will always get the shitty end of the stick.

I think your point about seperating the good from the bad is quite relevant. Knowing Thai's as we do, I'm sure their attitude is "Sorry mr & mrs foreigner, we can't be arsed to monitor you and see if you're decent folk or not, you'll all be treated the same way. Like it or lump it." "And in the meantime make sure all the jobs you create our given to our local folk"

Although I don't like it, I can understand their stance about giving all the jobs and salaries to Thai's though. Just looking after their own.

Burger

[shakin' boxcar joe]

Do these rules apply to foriegners who own businesses other than soi bintabaht style beer bars , e.g. shops , german restaurants , furniture shops , estate agents etc.etc.etc.

I dont own a business here but I always thought that if you invested a certain amount here in order to open a business , then a work permit was given.

Or is it just beer bar owners who are prohibited by law from getting a work permit , even if they invest heavily ?

[Perente]

Just going through some of the hoops to get a work permit at the moment, so I hope some of this is right. The same rules apply to all "aliens" as the Thai authorities like to call us. To get a work permit you need to set up a registered company, or be employed by one. A 2 Million Baht company with 4 Thai employees can have one alien work permit. This is generally the permit that bar / restuarant / retail operators will apply for. So yes, as a bar owner you can get a work permit. You can also apply for a permit as a "consultant" to carry out other business, and, I've been told, this is the permit that some real estate business use.
Buks, you may be able to offer further insight into the Press and other work permits.
None of which stops some "officials" trying to give us a hard time.....

[lomuamart]

Do these rules apply to foriegners who own businesses other than soi bintabaht style beer bars , e.g. shops , german restaurants , furniture shops , estate agents etc.etc.etc.

I dont own a business here but I always thought that if you invested a certain amount here in order to open a business , then a work permit was given.

Or is it just beer bar owners who are prohibited by law from getting a work permit , even if they invest heavily ?

I'm sure Perente has got it right about bars etc. As long as there are enough locals employed and company's formed correctly, bar owners can get a work permit.
It's just the interpretation of what they're allowed to do that can be ambiguous. There dosn't seem much point if you can't serve a customer a drink etc. All that happens is that the company pays more tax as a farang's involved. Some years ago, people would do it to get an annual NonB visa. Don't think that happens so much now as the authorities tightened up on applications and , in many cases, the cons outweighed the pros.
As I said before, I never did it. Perhaps a bar owner who has can shed some light and tell us the advantages, if any.

[tuktukmike]

I really dont think people on here have got the point.

A couple renew their retirement visas at the local office.

Shortly after they get a visit, they are told their permits are not in order and that they will be arrested and escorted out of the country.

Resolution, pay a large sum and all will be put right. And by the way, the strange thing is that they never had to have anything done with their passports.

In my case work permits were not the problem, more to do with a certain person who calls himself the only Master Butcher in town. and i dont mean any of the local companies.

This prat made himself known while i was away in England some time ago and is a difficult person to shake off.

Mike.

ps. The point i am making is that it has nothing to do with saving jobs for the Thais.
Many thai friends are as disgusted as the rest of us.

[Burger]

Coming to a theatre near you (that'd be Market Village then) ...................................

Pie Wars 2 - The Sequel.

Button down the hatches

[tuktukmike]

Oh No.

Not that one again.

Is it on at the new Cineplex.

Mike.



BTW, The pie war in fact never involved us but another supplier.