| |
koolbreez
|
Today in the Bangkok Post.......What effect is this going to have?
_____________________________________________
Visa rules will be tightened to stop abuse
Maximum stay of 90 days for foreigners
By Chatrudee Theparat
Visa-on-arrival (VOA) regulations will be tightened for nationals of 41 countries to prevent abuse of the privilege and curb the rising number of illegal entries, according to the Immigration Police Bureau (IPB). Foreign nationals from those countries, including the US, China and India, will be able to stay longer but with fewer chances of renewing the VOA.
IPB commissioner Suwat Tumrongsiskul said nationals from those specific countries are currently allowed to remain in Thailand for 15 days maximum after the VOA is granted. The VOA is normally renewable once.
However, some foreigners including tourists ''tiptoe around the law'' by resorting to so-called visa runs to extend their stay. Most take a bus to a border, check out of the country and then return the same day to have the VOA renewed.
They repeat the practice as many times as they wish, affording them almost unlimited stay in the country. The policy is largely intended to serve tourism.
Pol Lt-Gen Suwat said the change of the VOA rules is in order.
In future, foreigners from those 41 countries will be able to stay in the country for 30 days from the first VOA stamp, which will be renewable twice at most, each time for a maximum of 30 days. In other words, a foreigner will be permitted to remain in Thailand for no longer than 90 days in total after three VOA stamps.
The commissioner said the current system is prone to abuse as many foreign nationals make numerous visa runs so they can stay on long term to do business. In some cases, they have gone unregulated, causing social problems.
Official figures showed that about 400,000 Chinese nationals were granted a VOA last year, and 18,000 of them have stayed behind.
Around 200,000 Indians made VOA visits last year and it was found that 16,000 of them have not left.
Pol Lt-Gen Suwat said the new VOA rules will be put into effect once approved by the Royal Thai Police Office.
He said more information technology will be employed in the blacklisting system. The IT-operated immigration clearance system is now in use at 15 out of 55 checkpoints nationwide to check in tourists and screen out undesirable individuals. The technology lets the bureau enlarge its database of foreign visitors to identify those on the blacklist and expel them.
Pol Col Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai, head of the Pattaya immigration centre, said its IT-operated database is shared by many hotels and resorts in Pattaya to help track down blacklisted people. The technology has been credited with weakening the local mafia network.
The Betong immigration centre in Yala is also using the system to trace people of dual nationality, some of whom are believed to be behind the southern strife.
Pol Lt-Gen Suwat said more authority to issue visas will be delegated to regional IPB offices.
At present, IPB chief inspectors are authorised to grant visas, and in future their deputies will also be able to approve visa requests.
_____________________________________________
Cut N' Paste new service
|
Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:50 pm on Sep. 9, 2006
|
|
Yurune
|
They'll enforce for a week or so and then forget, just like the schools that are being 'raided' at the moment in the wake of John Mark Karr.....that'll all blow over once it stops being news.
|
Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 10:17 pm on Sep. 9, 2006
|
|
Mel Gibson
|
If enforcerment is ongoing alternatives will soon arrive.
Example, those of us who are share-holders in a Thai company and managing director of same could easily organise a 12 month contract job for those that would like to stay.
It would probably work out a fair bit more expensive than the "visa run" system but a viable alternative.
Maybe I missed it, but what is the "reset" time,, i.e you stay 30 X 3,, how long until you can do another 30X3 ?
If it's only a week or so, may be cost effective to have a short trip to Cambo / Loas.
|
Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 10:32 pm on Sep. 9, 2006
|
|
DaffyDuck
|
Quote: from Yurune on 11:25 am on Sep. 10, 2006
They'll enforce for a week or so and then forget
I would disagree - enforcement can be simplified and automated in this case, especially on main entry hubs. They just need to update the computer system to flag passengers with too frequent extensions, and you won't get your extension.
This may prove to be more lax at simpler, or not yet automated checkpoints (making those a prime destination for visa runs, until those holes are plugged), but it appears that this is one regulation that would be easy to implement and maintain.
I do agree with Mel Gibson, what is the 'reset' time on this...? Even if it's a week, or 2-3 days, it would still amount to additional expenses for those dependent on visa runs - and if they hold down jobs, the 2-3 days or one week 'break' could terminate any regular employ.
Seems really that two things will come out of it - many people may forego visa runs altogether, and the number of overstayers will increase, or a new business model for 'contract jobs' will develop, for those companies that can offer such - though that raises additional issues, and additional costs with regard to taxes, and work-permit processing fees to be included. Comparing that the cost for visa runs for the same time period would be interesting.
|
Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 2:20 am on Sep. 10, 2006
|
|
DrLove
|
These new rules are clearly for Chinese and Indians (and 39 other countries).
'IPB commissioner Suwat Tumrongsiskul said nationals from those specific countries are currently allowed to remain in Thailand for 15 days maximum after the VOA is granted. The VOA is normally renewable once. '
Westerners get 30 days standard, not 15 days.
'Official figures showed that about 400,000 Chinese nationals were granted a VOA last year, and 18,000 of them have stayed behind.
Around 200,000 Indians made VOA visits last year and it was found that 16,000 of them have not left. '
|
Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 5:11 am on Sep. 10, 2006
|
|
DaffyDuck
|
> These new rules are clearly for Chinese and Indians
> (and 39 other countries).
What are those 39 other contries?
I don't believe the length of the initial stay is of concern, but rather that the visa will only be renewable twice in a row.
|
Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:32 am on Sep. 10, 2006
|
|
issanking
|
Quote: from DaffyDuck on 6:40 pm on Sep. 10, 2006
What are those 39 other contries?
I don't believe the length of the initial stay is of concern, but rather that the visa will only be renewable twice in a row.
http://www.thaivisa.com/479.0.html
try this link,
every problem there is a solution,
there will be as said a lot of work visa's and probably many new marriages on the horizon
|
Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:25 am on Sep. 10, 2006
|
|
ringthebells
|
they once limited it to 3 times, couple of years ago.
as yurune said, for a week or two.
daffy, yes they can, but they won't.
moneymoneymoney.
rtb
|
Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:34 am on Sep. 10, 2006
|
|
S M E G M A
|
The way this measure is being explained so far doesn't make much sense.
Does it mean that if you do not let 90 days pass between visits, then the maximum you can come is 3 times, then have to stay away for 90 days? i.e. you are granted up to 3 times a 30 day stay until you stay clear of coming for 90 days?
What about the tourist that comes for 2 months to Asia but makes BKK his/her hub from where they go to Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. Each time they come in they get 30 days, but stay less than that time. Do they have to stay away after their 3rd 30 day entry?
Or is it about the total number of days spent? No more than 90 over a 180 day period?
What about the frequent traveller from countries nearby that come on business often but for a few days each time? Say the banker from Singapore or the lawyer from Hongkong? He/she may come each week for 4 - 5 days over a long period of time.
Etc. etc.
|
Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 11:35 am on Sep. 10, 2006
|
|
blade
|
update
Immigration confirms the end of border runs from October 1, 2006
Thailand tightens visa rules for tourists to cut illegal workers
BANGKOK: -- Thailand will tighten entry regulations for tourists in a bid to crack down on illegal foreign workers, the Immigration Bureau said.
The move, which takes effect October 1, would affect tourists from 41 countries including Australia, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the US, said Suwat Thamrongsrisakul, the head of the bureau.
Currently, tourists from 41 countries can enter Thailand without visas and stay in the kingdom for up to 30 days.
They can extend their stay by checking out of the country, mainly by crossing the borders of neighboring Cambodia and Laos, and returning with new entry stamps.
'Under the current rules, people from those countries can stay in Thailand as long as they want. Some even stay here for one year,' another bureau official said.
The bureau had learned that a growing number of foreigners from the 41 countries worked illegally in Thailand, Suwat said, adding many were employed in bars and restaurants in the popular seaside resort of Pattaya, east of Bangkok.
'Tourists are taking advantage of the visa exemption law. Instead of sightseeing, they are doing business here,' Suwat said.
From October, tourists from the designated countries can still enter Thailand without visas and stay for up to 30 days, but their entry stamps will be renewable twice at most for a maximum stay of 90 days.
Tourists who stayed for 90 days must leave the kingdom for at least 90 days before being permitted to re-enter Thailand, Suwat said.
|
Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 12:45 pm on Sep. 10, 2006
|
|
| |
|
