Visa-on-arrival (VOA) regulations being tightened

Author: **sunbeltnortheast** » September 14, 2006, 9:46 am

I would strongly caution people about relying too much on overseas consulates and embassies as their primary source of visa advice. Although most of us have had positive experiences with consular officials in our local consulates (myself included), this is not the universal experience. We have had clients who have had truly bad experiences taking the approach that they would arrive at their local consulate/embassy first and then figure out how to get a visa. For a simple tourist visa this is no problem; for non-immigrant visas, though, unfortunately some consular staff are less than helpful.

I am thinking of a couple of clients in particular (I can

Author: **banpaeng** » September 14, 2006, 10:02 am

Good write up ther Roger. I think that would have been a good preamble to some of your previous post to eliminate the confusion. I do not disagree except with one thing and that is the foriegn counsulates are not very helpful. I am sure there are sorry governmant employees, but if you persist you will get to the right answer. Will folks need your service. I am sure they will.

Thanks for telling folks where you are in Udon and if I need your services I will grace your threshold.

Thanks.

Author: **BKKSTAN** » September 14, 2006, 12:13 pm

SBNE,canyou tell me if Thailand has a legal instrument called A Revocable Living Trust to avoid probate?

Author: **Galee** » September 14, 2006, 1:09 pm

Thank you for everyones advice.

Think I'm worrying unneccessarily. I hope.

Author: **polehawk** » September 14, 2006, 9:57 pm

Beware foreign consulates? From reading in the various forums and my own experience, most of the Thai consulates in the US (including Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston) offer well-informed advice but I'm glad that I sidestepped advice given by a member of "Honorary Thai Consul" in Miami which is the closest to my Florida address. Even though I clearly explained that I wanted to apply for a multiple entry non-immigrant type O-A visa for retirement purposes, the lady advised that I would have to send them a copy of my roundtrip plane tickets (to/from Bangkok) along with my documents and a money order to cover the $125 cost of the visa and $75 for "costs" so my documentation could be forwarded to Thailand. She estimated a couple of weeks or more before I could expect to receive a visa. I politely bid her adieu and immediately called the Thai Embassy in Washington, DC. After following their clear, implicit directions and submitting the required documents, I had my visa within three days.

BTW, the Miami honorary consulate is actually a law office and apparently does the consulate gig as a sideline. :-k

Author: **Ricky** » September 14, 2006, 10:13 pm

As Ray said on his thread, - "I think something is in the wind with immigration", (we always seem to have 2 or 3 threads on the same topic! :lol:

) - It maybe to target or deter those who are working illegally and we don't know how much of it is sabre rattling or how strictly it will be enforced/applied.

It will certainly be a case of "suck it and see", meaning we will have to see how religiously they enforce it and whether they allow people to switch from VOA's to 60 day tourist visas.

Though with the latter, the various Consulates will have a lot of individual control, which may not be applied consistently, rather like at present!

Author: **Ricky** » September 14, 2006, 10:31 pm

Ray wrote:From Thai Visa
Penang halts issuance of double-entry tourist visas

PHUKET: -- The Royal Thai Consulate in neighboring Penang, Malaysia, has stopped issuing double-entry tourist visas for Thailand. The only tourist visa currently available there is a 60-day single-entry one.

An official at the consulate this afternoon told the Gazette that Consul Pramote Pramoonsab had issued an order to cease issuance of double-entry tourist visas.

Other visa categories are unaffected by the order, the official added.

The Royal Thai Consulate in Kota Bharu and the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur are, for the time being, still issuing double-entry tourist visas.

Fareeda Chewae of the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur warned that this may change in the near future, however.

The Gazette contacted the consulates following the news that from October 1 Thai Immigration will limit to three the number of visas on arrival it s officers will issue at Immigration checkpoints in Thailand.

To cope with the new policy, many long-stay “tourists” who currently do ‘visa runs’ every month are looking for alternative ways to spend more than three months with their families or friends in Thailand. As a possible short term solution to the problem, some foreigners had been contemplating short trips to Penang where they would obtain multiple-entry tourist visas that would not go against their limit of three visas “on arrival [in Thailand]”.

The chiefs of all Immigration offices will meet in Bangkok tomorrow to discuss the details of the new Immigration policy, after which they will make a much-awaited statement.

While intended as a crackdown measure on foreigners working illegally in the county, the policy has created widespread concern across broad segments of the foreign community in Phuket, particularly among the large numbers who do not work and have no interest in working.

Perceived correctly or incorrectly as a move to discourage foreigners from spending much time here, the new policy has alarmed local residents, both Thai and foreign, about the future of Thailand’s all-important tourism and property development industries.

--Phuket Gazette 2006-09-14

Author: **Galee** » September 15, 2006, 12:47 am

Further to my question about % of affected falangs.

A poll currently running on Secrets Forum, Pattaya, shows 17% from 52 votes.

Not a high number to gauge by, but 1 in 5 is something to think about.

Author: **valentine** » September 15, 2006, 7:27 am

Just an observation. I would have thought that most of the forumites in Udon were on long term visa's , marriage or retirement, but here we have 7 pages of concerned comment about 30 day ones.Am I wrong?

Author: **BKKSTAN** » September 15, 2006, 8:03 am

Galee wrote:Further to my question about % of affected falangs.

A poll currently running on Secrets Forum, Pattaya, shows 17% from 52 votes.

Not a high number to gauge by, but 1 in 5 is something to think about.

What!Trust a poll from Pattaya :shock:

They might vote between each short time :lol:

Author: **Dakoda** » September 15, 2006, 8:23 am

valentine wrote:Just an observation. I would have thought that most of the forumites in Udon were on long term visa's , marriage or retirement, but here we have 7 pages of concerned comment about 30 day ones.Am I wrong?

Somewhere on here, Paul stated it best :!:

Its not anything to do with the free 30 day visa's. Its also hard to see anyone running a business and doing 30 day runs, (although, I met one from KK doing just that, the exception I think) sure you get a free 30 days, but up here in Udon (or KK), it sure ain't free to leave and get into Laos, plus one night hotel :!:

Even down South and going to Mala for free, cost you one night hotel.

Author: **oldfield** » September 15, 2006, 8:51 am

BKKSTAN wrote::) SBNE,canyou tell me if Thailand has a legal instrument called A Revocable Living Trust to avoid probate?

Surely this kind of question should not be for everyone's viewing - isn't this what pm's are for?

I'm a newbie I know but I'm not that stupid. ](*,)

Author: **BKKSTAN** » September 15, 2006, 9:09 am

oldfield wrote:
BKKSTAN wrote::) SBNE,canyou tell me if Thailand has a legal instrument called A Revocable Living Trust to avoid probate?

Surely this kind of question should not be for everyone's viewing - isn't this what pm's are for?

I'm a newbie I know but I'm not that stupid.

Perhaps you are right

I was interested and thought others might be also,so I posted it,even off topic.If I am wrong,I apologize!!
But ,I really don't understand why it should not be viewed by all

Author: **businessman** » September 15, 2006, 12:42 pm

Just an observation. I would have thought that most of the forumites in Udon were on long term visa's , marriage or retirement, but here we have 7 pages of concerned comment about 30 day ones.Am I wrong?

I do not think you are.My interest stems from the fact i did visa runs for a couple of years.For many i think it may be the psychology of fear.Even if at the front of your brain you have no worries about future developments,in the subconcious there is always the "what visa is next" worry.Will they move on to look at the other visas.I think it is only natural.We are thousands of miles from home in a country where things can change very rapidly and we are only permitted to stay here one year at a time.The whole visa process can be very nerve racking and i have seen huge men in immigration shaking and sweating while their documents are perused.I think all the marriage and retirement visa holders like to be reassured that they are fine and that explains the number of posts.
Personally i have been here for coming up to ten years and only recently have i started to question whether i am welcome or not.The fact is if we have no money we cannot stay,even if we have a Thai wife and Thai children.

Author: **Ricky** » September 15, 2006, 12:54 pm

Val wrote:Just an observation. I would have thought that most of the forumites in Udon were on long term visa's , marriage or retirement, but here we have 7 pages of concerned comment about 30 day ones.Am I wrong?

Well not all. I guess many are, but there are others under 50 and not married to Thais that have to come and go.

Also I think there is quite a bit of interest from those further afield, who like to read our Forum for it's informed views and opinions!

Visa-on-arrival (VOA) regulations being tightened

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