Where you go?
Thank you for your comments regarding my Plan B. I still hope I can stay in Thailand next year, not least for the sake of my boyfriend, but the visa situation has never looked as bleak as now.
I am not going to abandon Chalerm if I am forced to live in another country. Chalerm has been with me for five years. He is loyal and honest. Maybe his role sometimes is more of the adopted orphan than of a boyfriend, but that’s not his fault. I wanted a young Thai boyfriend and when I got one I should not be surprised if I have to play father figure.
Financially and emotionally Chalerm is dependent on me. Where else can he go? His useless father is still missing and wanted by the police. The grandparents are no longer alive. His biological mother did nothing for him the first 24 years of his life, and hence there is no reason to think she would do anything now. His aunt and surrogate mother in Petchabun is kind to Chalerm but she is poor. She also depends on my money.
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Thai Immigration officers are busy closing the loopholes. They come up with ever more rules and hoops they make people hop through.
I am under 50, so I can’t get retirement visa. I don’t have a work permit job, so I can’t get a business visa. I am not married to any Thai citizen, so I can’t get a family visa.
The immigration officers think some farangs cheat and marry Thai girls only to get a visa. They send officers to interview the maid and the security guard where the foreigner live, asking if the relationship is real. They ask tricky questions separately to the farang and the Thai girl, such as what the colour of the curtains in the bedroom are.
I would never sink as low as to marry a Thai woman for a visa. And in any case Chalerm’s aunt said no.
October 15th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
Actually, I think you should be able to get a work permit…
Your blog requires hours of preparation, study, and work everyday.
Without your blog how many people would be aware of all the fascinating and interesting aspects of Thai culture that most tourist sites seem not to explore.
I believe you could document how many visitors your site gets a day and do some math to determine how much income that brings to Thailand when all of your readers come to visit.
You might also be able to document that your keen insight is being used by numerous universities in the world to beter understand the sociology of thai culture.
Hey, as they say, “…if you cannot dazzle them will brillance then baffle them with bullshit….”
I believe this argument could take care of your visa issue for the next year…
October 15th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
The gay tourism argument worked wonders for Utopia when they were raided and the manager put in jail. A government official said they “brought foreign homosexuals to Thailand” and that this was immoral.
But I only need to emply four Thai staff, pay taxes on a minimum profit, give myself a minimum salary to pay tax on, hire an accountant, find a lawyer, and give Thai shareholders 51% of the company. Easy.
October 15th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Actually, you already employ a housekeeper, a receiptionist, Chalerm and his buddies…oh, and Chalerm already owns alot more of you than 51% so, all you need is an accountant and a lawyer. You are almost there…..
Gee, and in 1985 during one of my visits to Thailand I almost bought a bar….glad I didn’t!
October 15th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
eeek don’t leave us! I Hope you the best.. not really sure what advise to give here as I am not familiar with it at all
I like TAO’s response though!
October 15th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
SF, I suggest you take a look at Thaivisa.com. There you will find the best places to apply for a Tourist Visa, or even better a multiple entry Non-immigrant type O visa, which would give you 15 months. Before when I was visiting for 6 months, I never had a problem getting this visa, although it varies from one Thai consulate to another. I am glad you don’t plan to abandon Chalerm - you have the same sentiments as me. I also have a much younger bf and understand what you go through. Good luck.
October 15th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
SF, there is no question that Thailand is becoming increasingly more difficult for us farangs to be long-term residents. The growing xenophobia of the Thai government is well documented on ThaiVisa.com. Even though I have a retirement visa, that doesn’t mean the rules won’t change to make it more difficult for me too. Currently we split our time between the USA and Thailand, but my partner wants to stay in the western USA permanently rather than coming home. On the other hand, I love the time I spend in Thailand and don’t want to give that up. In a previous post, I mentioned that there is one city in the Philippines that is looking more attractive to me — Cagayan de Oro (or CDO as the natives call it) on the Island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. CDO is a city of about 500,000 and has become the commercial center for Mindanao. And it has a thriving gay community. More importantly, the Filipino government would love to have you come there to live long-term…a welcome departure from the prevailing attitude of the current Thai government. It really would be worth a visit.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I just got a 1 yr multiple entry O visa back in the UK without any problem… 10 minutes. This means I am OK for 15 months.
And anyway let see what happens after the elections
October 16th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Why not try Bali for a while. Very friendly people, and cheaper than Thailand!
Or if you are a Brit, get a 1 year Thai visa from the consulate in Liverpool.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Even if you and we all can continue to stay in Thailand we should ask ourselves if we are willing to continue spending our money here. This is an increasingly xenophobic AND homophobic country.
Just visited Luang Prabang and was shocked that the people not only speak English (unlikely the Thais…) , but also understand my Thai and are genuinly friendly and welcoming.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Glad to hear you plan to keep supporting Chalerm. I vote for Cambodia, not that I’ve ever been there. I hear though that Khmer is similar to Thai so you might have a leg up on that, and the visa situation is much better. Go for a 30-day business visa (its $5 more than for tourist) then talk to a travel agent in-country, they can help you get a 12-month business visa for $240 I think it was. I don’t think you have to prove anything to get a business visa (perhaps you do have to be wearing shoes).
You could keep an apartment in Cambodia and visit Chalerm for 30 days at a clip half of the time — just show up unannounced at that other place he stays and go to bed!
October 16th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Stuart seems to have cracked the system there!
Well done Stuart!
I don’t know if Stuart has some circumstances that allow him to get treatment that you wouldn’t get Silom, but perhaps it’s time to visit mother again!
This time, bring Chalerm too.
October 16th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
It would be a shame to see you abandon the blog. I enjoy reading your observations, not to mention the great pictures of gorgeous guys
October 17th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
No special circumstances…. The Consulate in Hull has to be one of the friendliest around and I was one of 5 getting a non-immigrant O visa when I was there. Just fill in the forms, sign to say you have enough money and hand over £100 and your passport.
The Consulates in Europe tend to be easier than in Asia. Last year I got a four entry tourist visa from Birmingham. Posted the passport and forms and got it back two days later.