11 replies to this topic

[bumgooh]

Found this article in the Phuket Gazette on Monday

http://www.phuketgaz...s-Myanmar/29346

Any concerns by our expats? Reading the article it sounds that these restrictions might not only be limited to Myanmar...

Not currently relevant for me but maybe sometime in the future...

Regards,
Bumgooh

[thailover57]

It seems there are various immigration crackdowns every few months, this one, a few months ago Education Visas, etc. Shortly after, things go back to what they were. Great example was the 100% helmet law a while back. Today the posters are gone and there appear to more helmet-less drivers than ever.

[dixon cox]

Any concerns by our expats? Reading the article it sounds that these restrictions might not only be limited to Myanmar...

 

It's always interesting and wise to be aware of these things but I doubt this would affect any expats as it's unlikely they repeatedly exit and enter the country on 30-day visa exemption stamps, at least for the vast majority.

 

It was bad enough for me doing 60+30 days then repeatedly leaving the country every 3 months to then re-enter on a new 60-day tourist visa. Even though the article states that obtaining a tourist visa prior to re-entry was the way to go I was concerned myself how long I could continue this mode until the issue was raised and I would not be allowed to re-enter, or would be denied a visa due to repeating the process over and over.

 

There's also only so many pages in a passport too, which is why earlier this year I obtained a retirement visa.

[veveron]

So is this going to affect all the Laotians working in the bars at Nana who do runs every 30 days?

[mardhi]

So is this going to affect all the Laotians working in the bars at Nana who do runs every 30 days?

Thus far, no effect whatsoever. Laos girls still getting 30 day stamps exactly as before.

Personally I think its not going to fly as immigration police get 100b for each back to backer. Assume 200 people a day at one border crossing. that 20,000b a day is a fair sized tip pool. The 100b is to stop the officer asking what are they doing etc.

[KendoUK]

I was planning to an in and out by air in September to get a last 30 days to see me through to October but I think I will be affected bt the second phase change in August.

[skin2fan]

Firstly I'm surprised the authorities have introduced this initiative as a border run increases the tourism figures. Something that Thailand desperately needs at the moment as a propaganda tool.

 

Secondly I'm not surprised because this initiative will immediately put a few extra BHT into the coffers to pay off the rice farmers.

There will be 30 day waiver visa tourists who now are here in Thailand but have no other option but to overstay and pay the fine at Swampy to get out, I can imagine the queue at the overstay fine desk at the airport.

An introduction of on arrival or departure 30 day tourist visa tax of 500 BHT.

The overseas consuls will have a dramatic increase in applications for O & A visas.

 

Luckily I bit the bullet last year and got a retirement visa but if I want to leave Thailand I have to pay 1,000 BHT before I leave to get a re-entry permit.

 

Sigh TIT

[scottieM]

Firstly I'm surprised the authorities have introduced this initiative as a border run increases the tourism figures. Something that Thailand desperately needs at the moment as a propaganda tool.

Sigh TIT

no wonder why Thailand and BKK are on top of tourism statistics thanks to the visa runs in and out

[rxpharm]

It's been announced now that visa runs will no longer be accepted after Aug. 12, 2014 as reported in The Nation, July 15, 2014

 

 

 

No more visa runs

 

Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong,
Somchai Samart
The Nation July 15, 2014 1:00 am

Immigration authorities will not let visa runners return after August 12

FOREIGNERS WHO do regular visa runs in order to extend their stay in Thailand have less than a month before a crackdown by the authorities to enforce immigration laws more strictly.

From August 13, people will not be able to re-enter the country, regardless of their choice of transport.

The Immigration Bureau has already instructed officials to deny entry to foreigners doing visa runs as a measure to stop the exploitation of tourist visas and visa exemptions to live or work here.

Visa runs have been common among foreigners in Thailand recently, given that a simple search on the Net turns up several companies offering "visa trips" for expatriates staying or working here.

Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay. By exploiting 60-day tourist visas and 30-day visa exemptions, many foreigners can work illegally in language schools, or restaurants and other businesses. It is easier for some to get jobs this way, as some employers do not want to go through the complicated process of seeking work permits and like to avoid the expense if they can.

"I have done visa runs several times before, because my employers would not agree to seek a work permit until I passed their probation period. So, when you stop allowing visa runs, the lives of many foreigners in Thailand will be affected," a 46-year-old American said.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Bureau website says: "Leniency will be granted until August 12, but only for passengers arriving by air. Foreigners who come to Thailand must seek a proper visa in line with the purpose of their intended stay here."

Now, those on a visa run who are allowed back in will find an "O-I" (Out-In) mark next to their latest stamp marking entry. From August 13, nobody with an O-I sign on their passport will be allowed to re-enter Thailand if they cannot produce a proper visa.

The Immigration Bureau has instructed checkpoints on shared borders to stop visa runners from entering the Kingdom effective immediately.

Immigration Division 6 chief Pol Maj-General Tatchai Pitaneelabut, who oversees immigration affairs in the South, said visa runners come from several countries, including Vietnam, South Korea and Russia.

"They come here to work as tour guides, waiters, waitresses, etc," he said, pointing out that these visa-runners are often based in tourist centres such as Phuket and Songkhla.

However, he said the presence of the so-called "out-in" migrants in the South had been significantly reduced because immigration officials were already enforcing stricter laws.

Pol Lt-Colonel Weerawat Nilwat, an inspector at the Sungai Kolok border checkpoint in Narathiwat province, disclosed that immigration officials at his workplace had already barred more than 100 visa-runners from re-entering the Kingdom.

"We have to be strict because we have to uphold laws and properly control immigrants. Efficiency on this front will also reduce crime," he said.

Pol Colonel Thirachai Dedkhad, the superintendent at the Sa Kaew checkpoint, said officials under his supervision were not stopping visa runners from re-entering yet. "But we have been warning them to acquire a proper visa before they come to Thailand the next time."

He said immigration officials had also warned people departing that they must obtain a proper visa if they want to come back.

"We have made it clear that if they want to work in Thailand, they must seek a work permit and get the right type of visa," Thirachai said.

 

 

This will put a crimp on those ex-pats who were staying in LOS long term without a proper long stay visa.

[rxpharm]

As part of the stricter visa regulations, there are also changes regarding visa overstayers.

 

As published in today's Bangkok Post:

 

 

Visa overstayers face bans of 1-10 years Aug 25

• Published: 29/07/2014 at 07:54 PM
• Online news:

Foreigners overstaying their visa in Thailand likely will face bans of up to 10 years starting Aug 25.

 

The Immigration Bureau has forwarded the new regulation to the Interior Ministry, according to the statement posted on the website of the Immigration Bureau's Division 1.

''It is expected to take effect on Aug 25 after being approved by the ministry,'' Pol Maj Gen Chatichai Ieamsaeng, chief of the bureau's Division 4 in charge of the northeastern region, said on Tuesday.

Currently, overstayers face a fine up to 20,000 baht and/or a jail term of up to two years no matter the duration of their illegal residence in the kingdom, according to the 1979 Immigration Act. But in practice, they are fined 500 baht a day with the maximum topping out at 20,000 baht, another Immigration officer said.

The new regulation targets overstayers of more than 90 days. They will be banned from re-entering Thailand for a period two or three times their period of illegal residence.

All immigration offices have been instructed to promote the new rule ahead of the planned enforcement.

''The main objective is to stop foreigners exploiting our visa-free agreements with other countries. They come to Thailand as tourists and illegally work here,'' Pol Maj Gen Chatichai said. "Those coming to work in Thailand should apply for proper visas.''

While waiting for the new regulation to come into force, immigration authorities are keeping an eye on tourists using the ''visa run'' tactic to leave and re-enter Thailand on the same day in order to extend their stays or even work, he said.

A ''visa run'' is used by foreigners to activate an additional entry of their tourist visas, or simply obtain another 15-30 days of visa-free waiver status. Commercial services shuttle foreigners to a border checkpoint where they walk over, then return only minutes later to get a new passport stamp.

How long they can stay depends on the agreements Thailand has with each neighbouring country. For example, visitors from Laos and Vietnam can stay in Thailand for 30 days while those from South Korea and Russia can stay up to 90 days. Westerners generally get only 15 days when crossing the border by land.

In the Northeast, most visa runners are those from Vietnam, South Korea and Russia.

''We target all nationalities but visitor numbers from the three countries are higher than others,'' Pol Maj Gen Chatichai said.

The region has found most visa runners leave Thailand to Laos before re-entering at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge checkpoint in Muang district of Nong Khai, he said.

Other popular checkpoints for them are the friendship bridges in Mukdahan and Nakhon Phanom and the Chong Mek checkpoint in Sirindhorn district of Ubon Ratchathani, he added.

 

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The warning of the new regulation is posted on the website of the Immigration Bureau's Division 1.

 

 

[jfrank]

New Visa Rules

http://chiangmaicity...ews.php?id=4366

 

If you are a 'digital nomad' running your own business on the internet, the immigration office says you can do this on a tourist visa.

[dixon cox]

The military has told the Immigration Bureau to be flexible with "visa runners", junta chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha said.
 
Foreigners had been exploiting tourist visas and visas on arrival by illegally working in the country, mostly as English teachers.

When their visa was about the expire, they entered a neighbouring country to apply for a tourist visa and returned to the Kingdom to illegally work again.

The authorities responded by tightening the rules by not re-issuing visas to the runners and they faced deportation.

Prayuth said the change of the visa system concerning visa runners had considerably affected certain groups such as English teachers and academics.

"So, this is an ongoing problem that needs to be resolved, as it can lead to a shortage of English teachers and guides," he said during his weekly TV programme.

 
Source: The Nation
 

Perhaps the satang has finally dropped 

 

 

Also, the visa waiver stamp which is available on entry into Thailand used to be extendable for a further 7 days at an immigration office for B1,900.

As of now, a 30-day visa waiver stamp can be extended for a further 30 days. In other words, you can have a 60-day stay within the Kingdom without leaving and without applying for a visa ahead of time.