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#1
31-01-2008, 17:57
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new tourist visa rules?
from thai visa;
Stricter rules on Tourist visas issued in Penang from February 1, 2008 BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Consulate in Penang is expected to impose stricter rules regarding the issuing of Tourist Visas. Thaivisa.com have been advised that the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Penang as from TOMORROW, February 1 2008, will only issue Tourist Visas to those in possession of an air ticket departing from Thailand to an international destination not local in the same region. (i.e. not Vietnam, Malaysia or similar.) It is believed that the reason for the tightening of the rules is to reduce the number of foreigners using tourist visas to stay long term in Thailand, and not for tourism purposes for which this visa is intended, therefore abusing the system. Our source is from a reliable person, who normally provides us with accurate information, and we have no reason to doubt the accuracy of this information.
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i love wales for its climate ,its ladies and the exotic food 
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#2
31-01-2008, 18:06
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Fcuk them then- all it means is that revenues from that consulate will drop and in the long term it will bite him in the ass. This seems to be one guy with a bug up his backside, the old consul there had no problems issuing back to back visas. If they issued non-imm 'o' visas it wouldn't be an issue. One day they might realise that some people under the age of 50 are retired and just want to live here without working.
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That's it- headed for the hills to find a big stick. Back in 4 weeks 
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#3
31-01-2008, 18:49
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Penang is probably the most difficult in the region right now..
Having taken away the special investor visa theres really no options left for early retirees.. Compared to PI or Cambo or Malaysia or Laos or etc, Thailand really is making it harder and harder.
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Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#4
31-01-2008, 19:56
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Don't forget Vietnam. I don't see this as really mattering. As soon as the new government is fully in place then there should be a few fresh rounds of flip flopping.
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Women with a past and men without a future grope and shuffle on the dance floor.
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#6
01-02-2008, 01:52
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Original story said all consulates in region I'm sure - they want you to go home to get that visa.
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Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege (and become Hashers).
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#7
01-02-2008, 13:41
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Just hope when they eventually get the new goverment in that they have a fixed rule not one that changes every month and a fix corruption price that stays the same also ....Its not what you know who you know but how much you can pay them ....
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#8
03-02-2008, 16:34
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I asked this question before but never got a proper answer. Can someone explain to me exactly why they don't want tourists staying long term and therefore spending more money? Or are they just too stupid to see that they are shooting themselves in the foot?
As I ask this question I am sitting in Darwin, waiting until I can return to Phuket.
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#9
03-02-2008, 22:37
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IMHO is a very xenophobic thing. 'Nasty Falangs' are protrayed as taking money from the Thais and taking it away. This is why multi-national corporations can build huge housing and industrial complexes here but someone wanting a rai of land to live the simple life and build a nice house cannot. Perish the thought that one could set up a nice business providing employment to thais and contributing to the economy without hassle or the threat of a thai partner taking it away from you when you get too successful. They want your custom and your cash but not your long term presence (very much like the girls lolol). Its the whole mentality of not looking past the ends of there noses and taking in the big picture. The amount the Thai economy loses every year in people being forced to do visa runs every however many time a year must run to millions of baht in lost revenue. Do they care- do they fcuk!
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That's it- headed for the hills to find a big stick. Back in 4 weeks
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#10
04-02-2008, 00:15
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Step Back
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There is perhaps a country whose intelligence level meets your standards? Might one humbly suggest that you explore that locale as your expat residence of choice? Thailand belongs to the Thais. They can run it as they see fit. Intolerant foreign guests will likely find that their helpful input is rarely solicited. My .75 baht.
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Non illegitimi carborundum est. - Don't let the bastards grind you down.
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#11
04-02-2008, 10:03
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So Capt...while I have your attention...could you please answer my question...why is it that they don't want long stay tourists who actually bring money into the country?
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#13
04-02-2008, 10:37
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the new visa rules are not not just about tourists to phuket it's thailand wide. I reckon they see it more as a way to stop foreigners working illigaly in Thailand. Shame about it though cause it makes it hard for us good guys wanting a bit of paradise for a long time
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#14
04-02-2008, 10:57
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Yes I'm one of the good guys too. I just want to go back and hang out with my Thai lady..I promise I will be good.
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#15
04-02-2008, 11:01
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Yeah sure............Sorry matey but I cant help ya, you got to jump through the hoops and go under the loops and be a good boy to get your visa
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#16
04-02-2008, 12:42
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Very true. If peeps want to stay here they have to be prepared to live within the rules, no matter how ridiculous they seem and the pain in the backside factor. Once you offset this its easy to compensate. The attitude towards long stay under 50 is crazy but its the way things are. We would expect foreigners within our wn countries to live within our laws ( and in the UK get houses, benefit, cars, jobs, all other stuff not available to single str8 males btw!)- Thailand is no different at the end of the day- its just our perception. 50 satang later
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That's it- headed for the hills to find a big stick. Back in 4 weeks
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#17
04-02-2008, 14:03
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There is a lot of deadwood and abuse of the tourist visas. However I believe the Thai government believes there already is an option for "quality" long stay foreigners. It is the renewable 5 year visa issued under the "Thailand Elite Card" program.
Yes our old/proxied-new PM Taksin's program that was so widely unsuccessful at 1 million baht, they will/have raised the price to 1.6 million baht because "they were undervaluing the benefits". Seriously. I could go onto a long rant but why bother. It is another plan drafted by retarded children. So there you have it. If you are under 50 and long stay but don't pony up the money for the Elite card, then clearly you are just low-quality whining b!tch anyway...so problem solved and back to the whiskey bottle...
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Women with a past and men without a future grope and shuffle on the dance floor.
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#18
04-02-2008, 14:43
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If I had any faith in the system I would have bought one.. But they have already chopped and removed benefits, lied outright, changed the rules so many times that the idea of giving a private company (that went 300m in debt to CNN and I dont think ever paid it) 1m baht with few guarantees doesnt fill me with joy.
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Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#19
04-02-2008, 15:26
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Life may not always be the party you thought it would be, but since we are here, we may as well dance.
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#20
04-02-2008, 16:00
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What are the extradition laws in Thailand? Could they not just change these so that ALL criminals wanted by other countries could be extradited to face the music back home?
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#21
04-02-2008, 16:08
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__________________
Life may not always be the party you thought it would be, but since we are here, we may as well dance.
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#22
04-02-2008, 16:25
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I just check their web site and they did raise the fees by 50% to 1.5 million.  I raised this flip/flop issue with their rep. They said they are changing the rules so that if the program were discontinued they they would do a refund. I challenged about if it were a full refund. They then said it would be a refund less benefits used. I asked how that was calculated. No answer. Your are right that the early big promise of land ownership was killed. I don't live on a golf course or at the spa. Plus this visa still has your high-end a$$ at the immigration office every 90 days for a renewal. So it's little value to me. If it were an investment visa (like many other countries), it would be more interesting. Regardless, in their whiskey corroded minds this program is the answer. Perhaps they are actively cutting away the more reasonable options to force more people into the Elite program. 
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Women with a past and men without a future grope and shuffle on the dance floor. Last edited by ATMwalking : 04-02-2008 at 16:28.
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#23
04-02-2008, 16:35
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I completely agree with this. And there really are a surprising number of low-life shady characters living off tourist visas.
__________________
Women with a past and men without a future grope and shuffle on the dance floor.
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