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Thai immigration laws are complicated
Editor;
Re: Visa Scam (PM Mailbag Friday, 12 September 2014) - The Thai laws on
immigration are so complicated there must be legal loopholes somewhere.
There are some visa shops who use these loopholes to their advantage. Sure,
money must change hands somewhere.
If you have B800,000 in a Thai bank and have a non-immigrant O visa and have
the other requirements (doctor’s report, etc.) you have no trouble. Take the
case of an older unfit person who does not have the required B800,000, but
has an income of B65,000 monthly pension. They will still qualify. It is
long winded and involves a trip to an embassy to obtain a letter stating
this to be true. Then start a Thai bank account; also a letter from the bank
stating you have these funds, no more than 7-days old and proof of
residence. A police report may be required. The list goes on.
If you have arrived on a tourist visa, this must be converted to a
non-immigrant O (B1,900). I know for a fact that some overseas consulates
will not grant these visas.
Taking into account the time and money spent, gathering all this information
could cost thousands of baht. Asking about, I find that if you borrow the
B800,000 and need to convert your visa, charges range from B19,000 - 23,000.
You must be realistic - even a bank will not lend money free of interest. If
you do not need to borrow, the average charge is B12,000.
I hesitate to say if the system is legally or morally correct and there is
always the lamb waiting to be fleeced. Never jump at the first offer and
seek references from former clients. Remember the old saying, “It’s not what
you know but who you know.”
Good luck,
Bill
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Fitting in in Thailand
Editor;
High season his coming to Pattaya again, with cooler weather, busier
businesses, and, unfortunately, more shirtless men sporting their sweaty
torsos. Yes, Thai people and Foreigners alike can look forward with disdain
at seeing more bared backs daily. The .0001% of all male tourists think that
because they are on vacation and spending their tourist dollars here that
they can do whatever they want including going against Thai culture,
nauseating other people at restaurants, in offices and just walking down the
streets far removed from the beach. Many people do not like this, and are
ashamed at the classless, clueless few who go half nude everywhere.
Thai parents teach their children, “When at home, wear what you like, but
when you go outside, put on some clothes.” It is a common courtesy. The
Tourist Authority of Thailand even publishes a pamphlet that is distributed
at various sites, including Suvarnabhumi International Airport that tells
tourists to wear shirts in public when they are away from the beach.
Obviously the shirtless are either blissfully unaware that Thai men do not
go out in public underdressed, or they are arrogant and just don’t care. Do
they dress like that where they come from, or only here? Thai people are
quite “clean conscious”, and judge people on their tidy appearance.
Is there anything that can be done to stem this barbaric problem? Yes,
gratefully there is all businesses, whether a bar, restaurant, store or
office, can post a sign that states, “No Shirt, No Service”. If Pattaya City
Hall can finally decide to support and enforce this rule of decency, this
fine resort city will quickly see almost no sweat dripping, shirtless people
in any business, and soon less of them would be walking the streets and
riding motor bikes.
We are guests in the Kingdom of Thailand, and we should dress and act with
respect.
Respectfully submitted by
Sir William of Doodadshire
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Skirting intent of law
Editor;
Re: Visa Scam (PM Mailbag Friday, 12 September 2014) - If you get the proper
visa *before* you come to Thailand rather than relying on the gray market
visa running operations you will never face these problems. The mere fact
that you have to go on a visa run tells me that you are skirting the intent
of the law.
John Nielson
Chai market is favorite of many
Editor;
Re: Wat Chai Market to be dismantled as military continues clearing
sidewalks nationwide (PM Friday, 12 September 2014) - This market is a stand
alone favorite of Thais/foreigners alike and removing it will affect many
other businesses - Tuk Com for one, beauty suppliers, banks, restaurants,
and removing it is likely to cause more than the usual protests.
Remodeling/changing even putting in another sidewalk next to the crowded
existing one would be better than demolition! My 2 times a week trips there
were both savings and fun!
Don Aleman
Decided to quit playing lottery
Editor;
I was very impressed with the “crackdown” on lottery ticket prices which
lasted here for two drawings. Now, I can no longer find a ticket for less
than 110 baht so I’ve decided to quit playing. I don’t blame Somchai who is
out walking the streets trying to feed his family and I don’t even mind
buying the middlemen a Mercedes but I’m tired of buying them a Ferrari and
Lambo for every member of the extended family. 110 baht for an 80 baht
ticket is crazy.
Bob Spanier
Cannot get a visa (legally)
within Thailand
Editor;
Re: Visa Scam (PM Mailbag Friday, 12 September 2014) - You cannot get a visa
(legally) within Thailand except for conversion to single O for purpose of
getting a retirement extension. If you were paying 18,000 for an extension
you were obviously asking for something ‘dodgy’, since an extension only
costs 1,900 baht.
So while these ‘scam visa’ shops should not be in business the easiest way
is for people not to pay a stupid price for something that is cheap to do if
you satisfy the requirements. If you do not satisfy the requirements for
extension or visa then any problems that arise after paying these type of
shops are down to you.
Joe
Use solar energy for desalination plants
Editor;
Re: Mabprachan Down (PM Mailbag Friday, 05 September 2014) - I know
absolutely nothing about water technology but with the hot sun beating down
365 days a year on Thailand, if I was in the Thai government I’d invest in
solar energy to power desalination plants off the coasts so that there’d
always be plenty of water at low cost.
Philip Fletcher
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