Phuket Thailand

LivinLOS · #1 02-09-2007, 12:02

Quote:

No More Dependent Extension Of Stay If The Host Foreigner Has A Retirement Extension Of Stay Permit
and
Map required

If a foreigner has been granted a extension of stay based on retirement, until now as per 7.19 of the Royal Police Office Order 606/2006 his or her foreign dependent ( Wife or husband, child, father, mother) could get a extension of stay by being a dependent. As of Sept 1st, no more dependent extension of stay permits will be issued if the foreigner has a extension of stay based on retirement. This includes any “grandfather” cases where the dependent applicant had the extension of stay before Sept 1st 2007.

Example. A foreigner husband is 53 years old and has a extension of stay based on retirement. His wife is Japanese and they live together in Thailand. She is 43 years old and now cannot get a extension of stay as a dependent. Even if she was 51 years old, she does not qualify. She must meet her own set of criteria and not piggyback off her husbands retirement extension of stay permit. If she is over 50 years old, she can get a extension of stay based on retirement but must have her own 800K sent from outside the country to her bank account or qualify by having a pension of 65K per month.

Example: A foreigner has two children that are not Thai nationals. They are 16 years old and 12 years old. They can no longer be a dependent to obtain a extension of stay permit by having a father who is over 50 years old. They possibly can get a extension of stay permit or visa on a different criteria. Perhaps they will qualify as a educational extension of stay permit.

This National Police Order will be dated Sept 1st 2007 and will be published in the Gazette in the next 10 days. However this order is effective immediately.

This could be a U-turn next week but the odds are very high, this will continued to be the new law and interpretation.

If you are applying for the extension of stay based on retirement. You now need to provide a map from Immigration to your house.

So now non Thai couples have effectively doubled the amount of money required from 800k to 1.6m.. Also the total lack of grandfathering any rules just shows how little they care..

First it was the backpackers, then the visa runners, now the retirees.. Visa regs really are developing in an unfriendly way.

Massive thread on ThaiVisa about this.

K2 · #2 02-09-2007, 12:12

Big change and nasty one at that ... could be even worse if your non-Thai with kids!

I posted on TV that for married couples (one of which is Thai) the 400k in the bank will no longer be accepted (even if grandfathered on this system prior to Oct 2006) according to Phuket City Immigration - now all have to get the 40k/month documentation.

Simbo · #3 02-09-2007, 12:16

They just won't learn will they. The sooner the senile gits dissappear and get new Gov't in the sooner this will get sortd out ( yeah right!!!) Start looking at other places guys!!!

Nicke · #4 02-09-2007, 12:48

Worrying, you really never know what's going to happen when living here, as todays rules may not be true next year.

LivinLOS · #5 02-09-2007, 12:49

Sadly I cant think of a single change in the years I have lived here that benefited the farang community.. As much as I like living here and as much as I tend to feel theres always a way, it really does spell out how they dont seem to want to make any concession or any encouragement to allow people to stay.

Masterwoodsman · #6 02-09-2007, 12:54

In a nutshell....... THEY DONT WANT US HERE !!!!!!

Crustasian · #7 02-09-2007, 15:06

This country must now be the most unuser friendly one in Asia towards foreigners trying to settle here.Malaysia,PI,Cambodia,and Vietnam are all busy welcoming Ex Pats to settle in their places.

Dodger · #8 02-09-2007, 16:36

They want our money but not us, heh sounds bit like I'm describing bg's!!!

I keep thinking they will change once they note how much they are losing to the other sea countries but more and more, I do not think so, theyv'e never followed suit before with their neighbours.

Ask any local and they do not want us here, Thailand for Thais!!

Masterwoodsman · #9 02-09-2007, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodger

They want our money but not us, heh sounds bit like I'm describing bg's!!!

I keep thinking they will change once they note how much they are losing to the other sea countries but more and more, I do not think so, theyv'e never followed suit before with their neighbours.

Ask any local and they do not want us here, Thailand for Thais!!

The post Tsunami help and donations has obviously been long forgotton...

Selfish W@NKERS dont think we'd get away with England for English !!!

Simbo · #10 02-09-2007, 21:50

Talking to my fixer in Penang the other week he said they may start looking at 60 day visas next, even tho Immigration guys in Phuket say its OK so long as you have the paid for visa. No consistency whatsoever. May have to cast further afield for consulates and embassies as the ones on the perifery seem to be becoming decidedly unfriendly. In the end got the visa no probs-will wait out and see what happens next time.

LivinLOS · #11 02-09-2007, 22:03

Its a recurring rumour at the moment that tourist visa's may become restricted soon, no firm side on restricted per person (you have had too many etc) or per embassy / consul.

Tho the rumour may be based purely on fearful speculation..

midnightsun1 · #12 03-09-2007, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Its a recurring rumour at the moment that tourist visa's may become restricted soon, no firm side on restricted per person (you have had too many etc) or per embassy / consul.

Tho the rumour may be based purely on fearful speculation..

if that comes to be... i will take myself to cambodia or viet nam. even though thailand is a great place. i would much rather be where i am welcomed.

just got 3 entries 60 day tourist visa with no problems.

Nicke · #13 03-09-2007, 12:04

I think tourist visas may be the next target aswell at nearby embassies/consulates. E.g. max 4 visas in a row. As a sign in Penang said many years ago.

LivinLOS · #14 03-09-2007, 12:26

If they do cut the tourist visa route.. At the same time as the 3x Visa exept route.. And the 'investment option'.. And dont have a class of visa for the under 50 early retired..

I think that would have a larger effect on this community than previous ones.. So far its been not quite the straw that broke the camels back.. But its getting closer for a lot of people.

Whats mad about this ruling is its the married respectable retirees they are pushing out.. This isnt single guys, or younger poorer people.. Its the 'quality' person they claimed to want.. Add in that theres no grandfathering, so that shows they really dont care what previous commitments they are breaking without notice (previously they had sort of honoured prior agreements via the grandfathering rules). Lastly that this seems to be 'instant' starting as soon as announced. Thats all poor signs for the future.

Retirees are the age group that are risk averse, they dont want radical changes, small things may feel more risky to them.

Minder · #15 03-09-2007, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

If they do cut the tourist visa route.. At the same time as the 3x Visa exept route.. And the 'investment option'.. And dont have a class of visa for the under 50 early retired..

I think that would have a larger effect on this community than previous ones.. So far its been not quite the straw that broke the camels back.. But its getting closer for a lot of people.

Whats mad about this ruling is its the married respectable retirees they are pushing out.. This isnt single guys, or younger poorer people.. Its the 'quality' person they claimed to want.. Add in that theres no grandfathering, so that shows they really dont care what previous commitments they are breaking without notice (previously they had sort of honoured prior agreements via the grandfathering rules). Lastly that this seems to be 'instant' starting as soon as announced. Thats all poor signs for the future.

Retirees are the age group that are risk averse, they dont want radical changes, small things may feel more risky to them.

__________________________________________________ _________

The scary thought I have when these things occur is that somebody there knows exactly what they are doing - Thailand for Thais!

It could be argued that these "quality" types are in a way the hardest to get rid of from your country. They are established in several ways - own property/assets, are part of the community, law abiding....as LOS points out..this is EXACTLY the way to get rid of some and deter others in the future.

It's even logical for the "Thai Government" to take on the hardest job first (did I say Thai and logical in the same sentence?).

The moral crusade, early closing and the recent changes to financial rules have shown how easy it will be to deter the rest when the time comes.

Gotta go now I'm late for my Conspiracy Theory 101 Class

. Enjoy.

fotonut · #16 03-09-2007, 14:21

So they want tourists, tourist money then tourists can leave to make room for the next tourists? What about all the condo's being built, why buy one if you can't live there???

New TAT slogan for Thailand as a holiday destination "Welcome tourists, don't worry, only locals live here..."

Interesting, on the other side of the world the US gets criticized for trying to enforce immigration laws just a little, like this stunner from the president of Mexico...

Mexico's Calderon protests U.S. crackdown on immigrants - Yahoo! News

JayBee · #17 06-09-2007, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotonut;

So they want tourists, tourist money then tourists can leave to make room for the next tourists? What about all the condo's being built, why buy one if you can't live there???

New TAT slogan for Thailand as a holiday destination "Welcome tourists, don't worry, only locals live here..."

Interesting, on the other side of the world the US gets criticized for trying to enforce immigration laws just a little, like this stunner from the president of Mexico...

Mexico's Calderon protests U.S. crackdown on immigrants - Yahoo! News

"I want to express again an energetic protest at the unilateral measures taken by the U.S. Congress and government," says Calderon.

OMG, where does the US get the nerve to think they can enforce the laws of their own country UNILATERALLY!!

Every time a cop wants to arrest someone here, I guess he should first get permission from Mexico!!

Dodger · #18 07-09-2007, 09:23

Why not JB, there seems to be more Mexicans living there than in Mexico!!!

JayBee · #19 07-09-2007, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodger;

Why not JB, there seems to be more Mexicans living there than in Mexico!!!

Not quite yet, but they're working on it.

And if you read the birth announcements in the paper, it is almost all Joses, Marias, and Jesuses being born at the local hospitals these days.

K2 · #20 07-09-2007, 13:22

Just a follow up from my Phuket experience. Went back today for what I expected to be another months extension while BKK review/approve my 1 year extension. Very friendly and had a little chat .... 1 year approved

.... also was told that Had Yai is now the South processing center - so improved efficiency.

JayBee · #21 07-09-2007, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2;

Just a follow up from my Phuket experience. Went back today for what I expected to be another months extension while BKK review/approve my 1 year extension. Very friendly and had a little chat .... 1 year approved

.... also was told that Had Yai is now the South processing center - so improved efficiency.

Very nice! Congrats, Kevin!!

LivinLOS · #22 07-09-2007, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2

Just a follow up from my Phuket experience. Went back today for what I expected to be another months extension while BKK review/approve my 1 year extension. Very friendly and had a little chat .... 1 year approved

.... also was told that Had Yai is now the South processing center - so improved efficiency.

Assuming extension based on marriage ??

So were you grandfathered in at 400k or 40 per month ?? And if grandfathered any hint on if it looks safe for the future ??

K2 · #23 07-09-2007, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Assuming extension based on marriage ??

Yes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

So were you grandfathered in at 400k or 40 per month ?? And if grandfathered any hint on if it looks safe for the future ??

400k in bank route ... I have been told this is the last year I can renew under this scheme and next year I must obtain the embassy letter under the 40k/month income system ...... (not happy about that as I do not bring money into Thailand on a regular basis).