Not
The Royal Thai Consulate in Penang decided, in their infinite wisdom, that I should not get another tourist visa to Thailand.
Penang has been the reliable visa factory for us semi-residents of Thailand, but no more. They suddenly have a new policy. I must present an original air ticket back to Farangland, and a hotel reservation in Thailand. If I don’t have that they refuse to give me a visa. If you want more details you can read my post on thaivisa.
This is in addition to another new policy, which says I can only get three tourist visas. Is that three in a row? Three in a year? Three in a passport? Three from Penang? Nobody knows.
Care for some cliches? The noose is tightening and the writing is on the wall. Dark clouds gather on the visa horizon.
When I came to Thailand for the first time they gave me 90 days on arrival. Later this was cut to 30 days. Before, I could get a paid tourist visa that lasted six months. They cut it to 60 days. Now I could not get even that.
Thai authorities are using salami tactics to reduce the number of foreigners in the country without saying so, and without officially changing anything. They wanted our money, but they never wanted to give us any rights.
Even those foreigners who consider themselves “safe” because they are over 50 or married to a Thai are on renewal every 12 months. Thailand can pull the rug from under them at any moment.
Why do they make it harder? Thailand has turned nationalist and people in power think foreigners corrupt the morally superior Thai population.
There are still friendly Thai consulates in less frequented places, such as Hull in England or Vientiane in Laos, or Kota Baru i Malaysia.
So I am not beaten. But I am not sure if I want to play the game anymore. Do I want to chase a falling number of possible visa outlets? Do I want to get on a plane to Hull in the middle of winter? Do I want a trip to Laos to queue with the Nigerian mafia outside the Thai embassy? How about a bus ride across Malaysia to Kota Baru?
A friend of mine, who has a small business in Thailand, is leaving. Thai officialdom has made his life too difficult, all while collecting ever increasing taxes and fees. They do it on purpose and there is a word for it: obstructionism.
F##k them. I had enough of it. I don’t want to hop through their hoops anymore.
Enter plan B. Malaysia gives me 90 days on arrival. If I use Malaysia as my base I can still go to Thailand up to 14 days a month, or up to 90 days in a six month period. And this is without any applications or fees to pay to Thai authorities, which gives me a childish satisfaction.
What if they cancel the 30 days on arrival scheme as well? Well, if they want to turn Thailand into Burma I can’t stop them. Thailand dropped the 30 days on arrival for Russians and saw Russian arrivals fall to less than half. That made them change their minds.
What about Chalerm? He is 24 and a big girl now. Truth be told he is so busy with friends and school that I hardly see him. He wants daily assurance that I am there for him, but he can get that by phone. I can go up to Bangkok a couple of times a month to visit him in person.
What about The Mansion? It would be nice to keep a proper home somwhere but it is costly to run. I will think about it. Maybe I can put Chalerm up in something smaller, and I can stay with him when I am in Bangkok.
I don’t want to set up a new home in Malaysia. Not yet, anyway. I want the freedom to roam around Asia, staying in cheap hotels and using cheap chat-up lines with the boys on the street corners.
That’s it. Six years of living in Bangkok and doing visa runs. Ta ta!
February 6th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
This is terrible news SF, I wanted to retire in Thailand in 2 years time but if they wont offer me any stability in my retirement I won’t go.
Seems to me they want the ‘farang’ money but they don’t want the ‘farang.’
February 6th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I am sorry to hear that! ALways will be there to read your blog and wish you well.. Thinks always have a way of working themselves out… I hope!
February 6th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I saw the writing on the wall a couple of years ago, and postponed my moving there to see how it goes. Now the new gov’t might invite Taksin back, so they just love the chaos.
SF, sorry you have to go through this. I have always felt the idea of being a farang by name even to my adopted mother-in-law just a tad bit insulting….even though that’s the way it is. A wise man makes smart choices.
February 6th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Hmmm…There’s gotta be a way…Malaysia has never sounded a good bet to me. They make the Thais look positively new-age when it comes to racial discrimination.
I was interested to note recently that Thailand hosted an international boat show, at a coastal town they are trying (apparently successfully) to turn into a yachting destination in SEA. They seem to be trying to take Thailand “Upscale”, which is understandable…If you can make yourself part of that dynamic, rather than be seen as part of their “Farang Undesirables” problem, you might do OK. Know anything about Farang Yachties? Might be time to get into the Marina biz…lots of sun-browned boat-boys…
)
February 6th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
One more point, if you’ll permit me…I have always found, as your “obstructionism” point suggests, that rules are just there to stop the hoi-polloi…They can always be bent for the right sort of chap
Good luck, and don’t give up just yet!
February 6th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Penang was the first to instiute the new law but the others embasies are due to follow thier example. You might look at the philippines as they offer a 16 month visa on arrival and the rentals are cheaper. If this keeps going th way it is I will be looking closer to home, which is Mexico. I can fly 5 time to Merida for what I pay to fly to Bnagkok.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
so sorry to hear that…I hope you can find something with Malaysia..
February 6th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Thai authorities’ main interest in yachts used to be to storm the vessel with some outrageous tax bill for “importing” the boat.
Regarding Thai rules and your rights: they change the rules as they please and you have no rights. It it not impossible, for example, that they would suddenly double the income requirement for retirement visa. They like to do that sort of thing.
Live here with one suitcase ready and packed.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
It is unfortunate to read about that, all they want is our money,but not us. They are so greedy.They should be treated the same way as they treat us when they come to our countries, and see how they like it. I would be for that.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
thats some strange news sf. well i dont have any clew about thai laws etc. so i cant say anythaing else execpt of that i cross my fingers for you! Good Luck!!!!!
February 6th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Hi Silom:
This is definitely not good news!
Like many others I had visions of moving to LOS upon retiring in the very near future. Your predicament is not a very encouraging sign. Although my situation would be a little different, the prevailing attitude is what is disturbing. I am not sure what their ultimate goal is, but this policy seems heavy-handed and unfriendly in the extreme.
Whatever you decide to do, please keep us all informed as we have become addicted to your adventures, observations and writings.
Wishing you all the best.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:05 am
It is interesting to note that this sudden rush of tightening of the Visa rules have come about under the current regime. If it’s true that it is to change shortly, then I guess the visa rules could all change again in the coming months too.
Not that we can guarantees which way it will change !
If this has become the final straw for you and your businessman-friend Silom, I have no doubt there are many, many more who will now leave. Lets hope a new Administration “sees the light” and reverses the recent trend. Fingers crossed.
On a personal note, I feel sure (from your writings) that you will cope well with living somewhere else. Indeed you may even find it quite exciting.
But I worry for Chalerm. (Maybe I shouldn’t, but I do!) Have you discussed it with him yet? How do you think he will cope?
February 7th, 2008 at 2:03 am
The Thaksin regime also tightened the rules. People hoped the junta would loosen them but it got worse.
I expect nothing from the neo-Thaksin government led by Samak. Samak is no friend of Westerners.
I have discussed my visa problems with Chalerm, including the Malaysia alternative. Chalerm is not worried. To worry is un-Thai. He takes my continued material and emotional support for granted even if I go abroad. When I am in Farangland he worries that I will not return to Thailand. He doesn’t seem to worry about that when I am in Malaysia. Wherever I am he wants me to be available on the phone 24-7.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:33 am
Good luck in Malaysia & keep up the excellent blog.
Most countries have the good sense to encourage immigration from self supporting people who bring in money. Pity Thailand isn’t one of them.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Maybe you can do a circuit….Malaysia, Loas, Thailand, then repeat….or ad Myanmar…
have you considered going to Nepal? or Sri Lanka,
they have nice brown boys there, too!
I think Chalerm can travel to visit you in
any of those places.
It seems there are alot of scams everywhere
over there, so be careful!
I hope you can atleast get back to take care of
your things, release your property, etc…
set up some arrangment w/Chalerm.
Well, anyhow, this is distressing news, I was hoping
to be in Thailand for atleast 3 months at a time
when I retired, but now, maybe I cannot, but
could settle for Malaysia. It is more expensive
though, so maybe Laos, or other country.
Hey, there’s always Vietnam!!!!
Wow, this looks like it could be an adventure….
opportunity, etc…
You might have to travel a bit lighter….
well, I’m sure over the last 2 years, you’ve agonized over it.
Chalerm is luck you stuck it out as long as you have….
all the best,
rb
February 7th, 2008 at 3:28 am
Let me translate this comment for the benefit of English speakers who are too lazy to learn German:
Hi Silom! Such bad news. I am in Thailand from the 6th to the 22th of March. If you need help, tell me what I can do. I eagerly read your blog and it has given me a lot. If you need something (including a couple of thousand baht cash), let me know.
Your faithful fan!
Jan
Hi Silom,
was für Neuigkeiten! Mies. Ich bin vom 6 bis zum 22.03. in Thailand. Wenn du Hilfe brauchst, dann schreib was ich tun kann.
Ich lese dein Blog sehr gern und er hat mir viel gegeben. Wenn du jetzt etwas brauchst (auch ein paar tausend Baht in bar), dann sag Bescheid.
Dein treuer Anhänger!
Jan
Silom Farang says:
Thank you, Jan. I appreciate your support. If I get run over by a tuk-tuk you can come visit me in the hospital!
February 7th, 2008 at 3:55 am
SF, I’m very familiar with the noose being formed to drop on the heads of all expats living in LOS. I have been splitting my time 50-50 between living in the USA and Thailand. But this last time, it was my ladyboy who threw a crimp in the works by wanting to stay in the USA. Perhaps all’s well that ends well. You might find that Chalerm appreciates you more during your infrequent trips back to Bkk. And you might discover a whole new exciting world for your irresistable charms when you travel to other Asian countries.
February 7th, 2008 at 9:54 am
I am sorry to hear this bad and sad news. I wish you luck in future. I suppose I am lucky in that I have a non-imm B visa but every time I get it renewed I have terrible inner traumas. even though the place I work at is big, international and well known both inside and outside Thailand. I know that in the past ‘gifts in kind’ have passed between my employers and the officials.
When I retire in a few years time I shall certainly not be staying in Thaiand but probably to more visa-friendly Malaysia or even Laos.
Good luck SF. Keep posting.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
The “hateful reform” everyone is talking about is simply limiting the number of farangs living in Thailand who are neither genuinely retired, nor working for a living. As a long-term resident, let me assure that — SF and such cases aside — a lot of the former “visa runners” were unwanted for a reason: they were into drugs or other forms of crime.
I have many friends who hold work permits, and many friends who have retirement visas. None of them has reported any problems.
One major problem here is that SF refuses to work, or try to get a work permit. He also refuses to try for a student visa by studying Thai full-time. He prefers to complain about “them.”
February 8th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I agree with jaafar….that’s true.
Live here with tourist visa, is it not strange?
but if Thai live “there” with tourist visa, there’re an alien!