Question:
They would enter "pleasure purposes" as the reason for entry. If they are planning on living and retiring in Thailand then that’s a lie. Yes, they would find it "pleasurable". But hiding the exact reason, particularly when there are specific legal requirements accompanying that reason and the primary reason for not revealing their true purpose is because they don’t meet the legal requirements, is a lie. Simple as that.
I notice you’ve carefully snipped and failed to address the important question at the heart of this discussion. Let me ask again, if, as you claim, making repeated visits to Thailand for the purpose of staying there long term is illegal why does the Thai government continually re-issue visas to these people? Its quite obvious from their records what their pattern of travel is, so why do they permit it? Are they really so stupid to not notice, or is it because there is actually nothing illegal about it and the government is perfectly happy to let them stay? And lying on a visa application is a crime.
Nonsense. You have just invented the term "living" as a specific activity that you say needs to be declared on a visa application form. In previous discussion we’ve had on this subject you have always denied that people who stay on a series of tourist visas are living in Thailand. And before you accuse me of lying, lets look at one of those posts. I think you place too much emphasis on a persons visa status when determining where he lives. If someone has spent 9 out of the last 10 years in Thailand on tourist visas, with the remaining period in various other locations doing visa runs, you have to admit that he "lives" in Thailand. No, I don’t. Under those circumstances he lives where his passport says he lives. Take me for an example. I live in California. I spend maybe one month a year there. Nonetheless it is the only place I can claim to live. I spend several times that much time in Thailand. And I work in Thailand. But I am not a legal resident, temporary or permanent. I don’t live in Thailand.
So a few months ago you said a person lives where his passport says he does, but now, just because you want to argue with someone you change your mind and say that people who stay on multiple-entry tourist visa *are* living in Thailand and lying when they fail to state that fact on their visa applications. Can’t you make your mind up about this? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Your point? Other than hoping to win an argument when you know you are wrong? Deflect and divert. I have never claimed perfection. Also, as you well know having seen the threads you refer to, I was specifically told to overstay by one or two days by Thai Immigration officials when I went to the Immigration Office in Suan Plu to purchase a visa extension. I followed the specific instructions of the Immigration Office. One thing is for sure. I didn’t lie. Did I? I didn’t say you were lying, I said you’d broken immigration laws, and you were caught and fined for doing so. Now here you are berating others for breaking the law when what they are doing is perfectly legal. Out and out lie, Chris. Sorry, but the statement you made was false and you knew it when you made it. I was not "caught" and "fined" for anything. Immigration specifically said that it would be better to pay a 2 day overstay fee rather than a 10 day extension. They advised me. I followed their advice and did what I was instructed to do at the airport. No "caught" involved.
There was no lie. You admitted you overstayed. Here are your exact words. QUOTE I’ve overstayed 3 times total. The last 2 deliberately. They don’t give you any static about it in the future. (I suppose if you do it all the time, they would.) The reason that I stayed over deliberately twice is that you can skip the immigration line and jump directly to the overstay line, which is usually empty.
UNQUOTE Overstaying a visa is an offence in every country I know, including Thailand. You knowingly and deliberately broke Thailand’s immigration laws.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It seems that hardly a single discussion goes by without you labelling somebody a liar. Only when someone lies. And in your eyes that means anyone who doesn’t agree with you. No. It means anyone knowingly making a statement that is not true. And on the entry form you must state a reason for your entry. If you don’t put "To live in Thailand" when that is your actual reason for entry, but instead check the tourism or business box, you are lying. Simple as that. No. They are applying to stay in Thailand for the maximum time permitted under a tourist visa. As long as they fully intend to leave at the end of that time and as long as they don’t work or perform some other prohibited activity while there they are completely within the law. Go to www.thaiembdc.org and click on the Consular Services. You will see that you must give a *reason* for your trip. If you are planning on living in Thailand but give a different reason you are lying. Simple as that. They would enter "pleasure purposes" as the reason for entry. If they are planning on living and retiring in Thailand then that’s a lie. Yes, they would find it "pleasurable". But hiding the exact reason, particularly when there are specific legal requirements accompanying that reason and the primary reason for not revealing their true purpose is because they don’t meet the legal requirements, is a lie. Simple as that. And lying on a visa application is a crime. Your point? Other than hoping to win an argument when you know you are wrong? Deflect and divert. I have never claimed perfection. Also, as you well know having seen the threads you refer to, I was specifically told to overstay by one or two days by Thai Immigration officials when I went to the Immigration Office in Suan Plu to purchase a visa extension. I followed the specific instructions of the Immigration Office. One thing is for sure. I didn’t lie. Did I? I didn’t say you were lying, I said you’d broken immigration laws, and you were caught and fined for doing so. Now here you are berating others for breaking the law when what they are doing is perfectly legal. Out and out lie, Chris. Sorry, but the statement you made was false and you knew it when you made it. I was not "caught" and "fined" for anything. Immigration specifically said that it would be better to pay a 2 day overstay fee rather than a 10 day extension. They advised me. I followed their advice and did what I was instructed to do at the airport. No "caught" involved. And what these guys are doing is completely illegal. Lying on a visa application is illegal. So you’re wrong twice. And since you clearly knew that you were wrong, you lied. If you have to lie to make your point, maybe your point isn’t worth making. It most certainly is. Go read the application and the rules for a visa. Intending to retire in Thailand is a specific circumstance that requires a specific visa. No. Being retired simply means that you’ve come to the end of your working life. That doesn’t mean you have an obligation to apply for a retirement visa in order to spend time in Thailand. If you enter "retired" as your occupation when applying for a tourist visa they are quite happy to issue you a tourist visa. But if you intend to live and retire in Thailand then there are specific circumstances, laws and regulations around that. Quit trying to play semantic games. Read the description I posted from the Thai Embassy. The rules are quite clear. Just so we are clear, here are the rules from the Thai Embassy web site. They list 3 types of visas: NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (May required the approval from the Ministry Concerns from Thailand in case by case) Purpose of visit: BUSINESS and CONFERENCE (requiring the business letter with letter-head explains purpose of visit, also included name of company, organization or mission and address in Thailand), RESEARCH, TEACHING, MASS MEDIA or MISSIONARY (requiring the letter with letter-head from company, agency or organization sending you on your mission, and also the letter from your counterpart in Thailand). TEACHING AND EDUCATION (requiring the letter with the letter-head from educational institution in Thailand). FAMILY REUNION (requiring marriage or birth certificates). SETTLEMENT AFTER RETIREMENT (requiring proof of retirement and financial support). MEDICAL TREATMENT (requiring letter from licensed doctor). (Maximum stay 90 days, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) TOURIST VISA Purpose of visit: for pleasure purpose only. (Maximum stay 60 day, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) TRANSIT VISA Purpose of visit: TRANSIT (requiring proof of confirmed onward ticket to a Third country). SPORTS or CREW (requiring letter from organization concerned). (Maximum stay 30 days, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) Note that "SETTLEMENT AFTER RETIREMENT" is a specific, named circumstance. If that is your actual intent but you apply for a tourist visa instead, you have lied. Simple as that. The settlement and retirement visa is intended to enable those who can show the required income level to stay long-term in the country. No. The settlement and retirement visa is intended to enable a foreigner who wants to retire in Thailand to do so *IF* he meets certain requirements. The existence of that visa doesn’t mean that applying for a different kind of visa is lying. It does if their true intent is to settle and retire in Thailand. No question about it. It’s a lie. Simple as that. If you want to stay in the country for 3 months, a tourist visa is entirely appropriate. That’s true. But if you want to settle and retire in the country, a tourist visa is completely *IN*appropriate.
So why just don’t call them "frequent tourists", who just happens to also be retired? Nothing wrong with that. JohanZ
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It seems that hardly a single discussion goes by without you labelling somebody a liar. Only when someone lies. And in your eyes that means anyone who doesn’t agree with you. No. It means anyone knowingly making a statement that is not true. And on the entry form you must state a reason for your entry. If you don’t put "To live in Thailand" when that is your actual reason for entry, but instead check the tourism or business box, you are lying. Simple as that. No. They are applying to stay in Thailand for the maximum time permitted under a tourist visa. As long as they fully intend to leave at the end of that time and as long as they don’t work or perform some other prohibited activity while there they are completely within the law. Go to www.thaiembdc.org and click on the Consular Services. You will see that you must give a *reason* for your trip. If you are planning on living in Thailand but give a different reason you are lying. Simple as that. They would enter "pleasure purposes" as the reason for entry.
If they are planning on living and retiring in Thailand then that’s a lie. Yes, they would find it "pleasurable". But hiding the exact reason, particularly when there are specific legal requirements accompanying that reason and the primary reason for not revealing their true purpose is because they don’t meet the legal requirements, is a lie. Simple as that. And lying on a visa application is a crime. Your point? Other than hoping to win an argument when you know you are wrong? Deflect and divert. I have never claimed perfection. Also, as you well know having seen the threads you refer to, I was specifically told to overstay by one or two days by Thai Immigration officials when I went to the Immigration Office in Suan Plu to purchase a visa extension. I followed the specific instructions of the Immigration Office. One thing is for sure. I didn’t lie. Did I? I didn’t say you were lying, I said you’d broken immigration laws, and you were caught and fined for doing so. Now here you are berating others for breaking the law when what they are doing is perfectly legal.
Out and out lie, Chris. Sorry, but the statement you made was false and you knew it when you made it. I was not "caught" and "fined" for anything. Immigration specifically said that it would be better to pay a 2 day overstay fee rather than a 10 day extension. They advised me. I followed their advice and did what I was instructed to do at the airport. No "caught" involved. And what these guys are doing is completely illegal. Lying on a visa application is illegal. So you’re wrong twice. And since you clearly knew that you were wrong, you lied. If you have to lie to make your point, maybe your point isn’t worth making. It most certainly is. Go read the application and the rules for a visa. Intending to retire in Thailand is a specific circumstance that requires a specific visa. No. Being retired simply means that you’ve come to the end of your working life. That doesn’t mean you have an obligation to apply for a retirement visa in order to spend time in Thailand. If you enter "retired" as your occupation when applying for a tourist visa they are quite happy to issue you a tourist visa.
But if you intend to live and retire in Thailand then there are specific circumstances, laws and regulations around that. Quit trying to play semantic games. Read the description I posted from the Thai Embassy. The rules are quite clear. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just so we are clear, here are the rules from the Thai Embassy web site. They list 3 types of visas: NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (May required the approval from the Ministry Concerns from Thailand in case by case) Purpose of visit: BUSINESS and CONFERENCE (requiring the business letter with letter-head explains purpose of visit, also included name of company, organization or mission and address in Thailand), RESEARCH, TEACHING, MASS MEDIA or MISSIONARY (requiring the letter with letter-head from company, agency or organization sending you on your mission, and also the letter from your counterpart in Thailand). TEACHING AND EDUCATION (requiring the letter with the letter-head from educational institution in Thailand). FAMILY REUNION (requiring marriage or birth certificates). SETTLEMENT AFTER RETIREMENT (requiring proof of retirement and financial support). MEDICAL TREATMENT (requiring letter from licensed doctor). (Maximum stay 90 days, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) TOURIST VISA Purpose of visit: for pleasure purpose only. (Maximum stay 60 day, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) TRANSIT VISA Purpose of visit: TRANSIT (requiring proof of confirmed onward ticket to a Third country). SPORTS or CREW (requiring letter from organization concerned). (Maximum stay 30 days, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) Note that "SETTLEMENT AFTER RETIREMENT" is a specific, named circumstance. If that is your actual intent but you apply for a tourist visa instead, you have lied. Simple as that. The settlement and retirement visa is intended to enable those who can show the required income level to stay long-term in the country.
No. The settlement and retirement visa is intended to enable a foreigner who wants to retire in Thailand to do so *IF* he meets certain requirements. The existence of that visa doesn’t mean that applying for a different kind of visa is lying.
It does if their true intent is to settle and retire in Thailand. No question about it. It’s a lie. Simple as that. If you want to stay in the country for 3 months, a tourist visa is entirely appropriate.
That’s true. But if you want to settle and retire in the country, a tourist visa is completely *IN*appropriate.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It seems that hardly a single discussion goes by without you labelling somebody a liar. Only when someone lies. And in your eyes that means anyone who doesn’t agree with you. No. It means anyone knowingly making a statement that is not true. And on the entry form you must state a reason for your entry. If you don’t put "To live in Thailand" when that is your actual reason for entry, but instead check the tourism or business box, you are lying. Simple as that. No. They are applying to stay in Thailand for the maximum time permitted under a tourist visa. As long as they fully intend to leave at the end of that time and as long as they don’t work or perform some other prohibited activity while there they are completely within the law. Go to www.thaiembdc.org and click on the Consular Services. You will see that you must give a *reason* for your trip. If you are planning on living in Thailand but give a different reason you are lying. Simple as that.
They would enter "pleasure purposes" as the reason for entry. They’re asking to stay there for 90 days, after which time they intend to leave the country. You are not asked, and there’s no requirement for you to state your intentions after the end of that period. If you want to repeat the process and return to the country again the Thai authorities are perfectly aware of the fact that you’ve already spent time there. If they don’t want you to return they can just deny you another visa. If they approve it then you’re completely entitled to spend another 90 days there. Why would they issue you with another visa if what you were doing was illegal? And while we’re talking about being in Thailand illegally, what is illegal is to overstay your visa. You admitted in another thread that you have done that deliberately twice. Now who is breaking immigration laws? Your point? Other than hoping to win an argument when you know you are wrong? Deflect and divert. I have never claimed perfection. Also, as you well know having seen the threads you refer to, I was specifically told to overstay by one or two days by Thai Immigration officials when I went to the Immigration Office in Suan Plu to purchase a visa extension. I followed the specific instructions of the Immigration Office. One thing is for sure. I didn’t lie. Did I?
I didn’t say you were lying, I said you’d broken immigration laws, and you were caught and fined for doing so. Now here you are berating others for breaking the law when what they are doing is perfectly legal. They don’t. But a tourist visa means you are a tourist, not someone trying to live in Thailand. "Being retired" or "living" just describes your personal circumstances. Its not an "activity" that needs to be entered on a visa application. It most certainly is. Go read the application and the rules for a visa. Intending to retire in Thailand is a specific circumstance that requires a specific visa.
No. Being retired simply means that you’ve come to the end of your working life. That doesn’t mean you have an obligation to apply for a retirement visa in order to spend time in Thailand. If you enter "retired" as your occupation when applying for a tourist visa they are quite happy to issue you a tourist visa. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Just so we are clear, here are the rules from the Thai Embassy web site. They list 3 types of visas: NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (May required the approval from the Ministry Concerns from Thailand in case by case) Purpose of visit: BUSINESS and CONFERENCE (requiring the business letter with letter-head explains purpose of visit, also included name of company, organization or mission and address in Thailand), RESEARCH, TEACHING, MASS MEDIA or MISSIONARY (requiring the letter with letter-head from company, agency or organization sending you on your mission, and also the letter from your counterpart in Thailand). TEACHING AND EDUCATION (requiring the letter with the letter-head from educational institution in Thailand). FAMILY REUNION (requiring marriage or birth certificates). SETTLEMENT AFTER RETIREMENT (requiring proof of retirement and financial support). MEDICAL TREATMENT (requiring letter from licensed doctor). (Maximum stay 90 days, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) TOURIST VISA Purpose of visit: for pleasure purpose only. (Maximum stay 60 day, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) TRANSIT VISA Purpose of visit: TRANSIT (requiring proof of confirmed onward ticket to a Third country). SPORTS or CREW (requiring letter from organization concerned). (Maximum stay 30 days, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) Note that "SETTLEMENT AFTER RETIREMENT" is a specific, named circumstance. If that is your actual intent but you apply for a tourist visa instead, you have lied. Simple as that.
The settlement and retirement visa is intended to enable those who can show the required income level to stay long-term in the country. The existence of that visa doesn’t mean that applying for a different kind of visa is lying. If you want to stay in the country for 3 months, a tourist visa is entirely appropriate. As you’ve already admitted, there are no conditions attached to a tourist visa that say you cannot return to the country at a later time, and there’s no requirement for you to declare that intention on the application.
Response:
It seems that hardly a single discussion goes by without you labelling somebody a liar. Only when someone lies. And in your eyes that means anyone who doesn’t agree with you.
No. It means anyone knowingly making a statement that is not true. And on the entry form you must state a reason for your entry. If you don’t put "To live in Thailand" when that is your actual reason for entry, but instead check the tourism or business box, you are lying. Simple as that. No. They are applying to stay in Thailand for the maximum time permitted under a tourist visa. As long as they fully intend to leave at the end of that time and as long as they don’t work or perform some other prohibited activity while there they are completely within the law.
Go to www.thaiembdc.org and click on the Consular Services. You will see that you must give a *reason* for your trip. If you are planning on living in Thailand but give a different reason you are lying. Simple as that. And while we’re talking about being in Thailand illegally, what is illegal is to overstay your visa. You admitted in another thread that you have done that deliberately twice. Now who is breaking immigration laws?
Your point? Other than hoping to win an argument when you know you are wrong? Deflect and divert. I have never claimed perfection. Also, as you well know having seen the threads you refer to, I was specifically told to overstay by one or two days by Thai Immigration officials when I went to the Immigration Office in Suan Plu to purchase a visa extension. I followed the specific instructions of the Immigration Office. One thing is for sure. I didn’t lie. Did I? They don’t. But a tourist visa means you are a tourist, not someone trying to live in Thailand. "Being retired" or "living" just describes your personal circumstances. Its not an "activity" that needs to be entered on a visa application.
It most certainly is. Go read the application and the rules for a visa. Intending to retire in Thailand is a specific circumstance that requires a specific visa. Just so we are clear, here are the rules from the Thai Embassy web site. They list 3 types of visas: NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (May required the approval from the Ministry Concerns from Thailand in case by case) Purpose of visit: BUSINESS and CONFERENCE (requiring the business letter with letter-head explains purpose of visit, also included name of company, organization or mission and address in Thailand), RESEARCH, TEACHING, MASS MEDIA or MISSIONARY (requiring the letter with letter-head from company, agency or organization sending you on your mission, and also the letter from your counterpart in Thailand). TEACHING AND EDUCATION (requiring the letter with the letter-head from educational institution in Thailand). FAMILY REUNION (requiring marriage or birth certificates). SETTLEMENT AFTER RETIREMENT (requiring proof of retirement and financial support). MEDICAL TREATMENT (requiring letter from licensed doctor). (Maximum stay 90 days, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) TOURIST VISA Purpose of visit: for pleasure purpose only. (Maximum stay 60 day, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) TRANSIT VISA Purpose of visit: TRANSIT (requiring proof of confirmed onward ticket to a Third country). SPORTS or CREW (requiring letter from organization concerned). (Maximum stay 30 days, extension of stay may be applied in Thailand.) Note that "SETTLEMENT AFTER RETIREMENT" is a specific, named circumstance. If that is your actual intent but you apply for a tourist visa instead, you have lied. Simple as that. I previously stayed in Thailand for 2 years on non-immigrant educational visas. I attended the courses I told the embassy said I would, but I was also "living" there at the same time. Does it mean I lied to the embassy because I didn’t say I would be "living" there? If someone goes to Thailand on a business visa and also takes a tour while there does it mean he lied because he didn’t say he was also going to do some of things that tourists do?
See the details above. Again, "TEACHING AND EDUCATION" is a specific, named circumstance. As long as that was your actual intent, you did not lie.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <snip A foreigner cannot live in Thailand as a retiree without that visa. If you’re saying that you can lie to the Immigration authorities and to the Consulate in order to get a visa under false pretenses and then go back and forth out of the country as each tourist entry expires every few months then, yes, you’re right. Of course he can, and many thousands do. Not legally. It seems that hardly a single discussion goes by without you labelling somebody a liar. Only when someone lies.
And in your eyes that means anyone who doesn’t agree with you. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Nobody is lying to immigration about anything. Some are. Those who are attempting to live in Thailand on a tourist visa are. All they are doing is asking to stay in the country for the maximum of the 3 months they are allowed. They are granted a visa on the basis that they will either leave the country at the end of the time allowed or obtain an extension. No. The visa is granted on the basis of an application. If your intent is to live in Thailand as a retiree but you apply for a tourist visa you have lied to the consulate. Simple as that. And on the entry form you must state a reason for your entry. If you don’t put "To live in Thailand" when that is your actual reason for entry, but instead check the tourism or business box, you are lying. Simple as that.
No. They are applying to stay in Thailand for the maximum time permitted under a tourist visa. As long as they fully intend to leave at the end of that time and as long as they don’t work or perform some other prohibited activity while there they are completely within the law. And while we’re talking about being in Thailand illegally, what is illegal is to overstay your visa. You admitted in another thread that you have done that deliberately twice. Now who is breaking immigration laws? To be pedantic, it’s actually 180 degrees the other way. You are only allowed to enter the country for a short period of time (usually 90 days). The intent of the tourist visa is not for you to stay in the country and have to leave periodically. Just the opposite. Who are you to interpret the intent of the Thai government? Read the visa regulations. It’s quite clear. Where do the conditions of a tourist visa state that you cannot return to the country again at a later date? They don’t. But a tourist visa means you are a tourist, not someone trying to live in Thailand.
"Being retired" or "living" just describes your personal circumstances. Its not an "activity" that needs to be entered on a visa application. I previously stayed in Thailand for 2 years on non-immigrant educational visas. I attended the courses I told the embassy said I would, but I was also "living" there at the same time. Does it mean I lied to the embassy because I didn’t say I would be "living" there? If someone goes to Thailand on a business visa and also takes a tour while there does it mean he lied because he didn’t say he was also going to do some of things that tourists do?
Response:
A foreigner cannot live in Thailand as a retiree without that visa. If you’re saying that you can lie to the Immigration authorities and to the Consulate in order to get a visa under false pretenses and then go back and forth out of the country as each tourist entry expires every few months then, yes, you’re right. To what degree are you really "lying" to them? They must see that such people have a passport soaked through with Thai immigration stamp ink.
To get a visa (not the entry stamp, but the visa that Chris was referring to) you must apply at a consulate somewhere. If your intent is to retire and live in Thailand but you apply for a visa saying your intent is to be a tourist you have lied on your application. So to some degree it’s a tacit understanding rather than outright deception.
No, it’s an out-and-out lie. (I think you’re thinking about the entry stamp you get at Immigration when you cross the border. That’s not a visa, just a permission to enter.)
Response:
<snip A foreigner cannot live in Thailand as a retiree without that visa. If you’re saying that you can lie to the Immigration authorities and to the Consulate in order to get a visa under false pretenses and then go back and forth out of the country as each tourist entry expires every few months then, yes, you’re right. Of course he can, and many thousands do.
Not legally. It seems that hardly a single discussion goes by without you labelling somebody a liar.
Only when someone lies. Nobody is lying to immigration about anything.
Some are. Those who are attempting to live in Thailand on a tourist visa are. All they are doing is asking to stay in the country for the maximum of the 3 months they are allowed. They are granted a visa on the basis that they will either leave the country at the end of the time allowed or obtain an extension.
No. The visa is granted on the basis of an application. If your intent is to live in Thailand as a retiree but you apply for a tourist visa you have lied to the consulate. Simple as that. And on the entry form you must state a reason for your entry. If you don’t put "To live in Thailand" when that is your actual reason for entry, but instead check the tourism or business box, you are lying. Simple as that. To be pedantic, it’s actually 180 degrees the other way. You are only allowed to enter the country for a short period of time (usually 90 days). The intent of the tourist visa is not for you to stay in the country and have to leave periodically. Just the opposite. Who are you to interpret the intent of the Thai government?
Read the visa regulations. It’s quite clear. Where do the conditions of a tourist visa state that you cannot return to the country again at a later date?
They don’t. But a tourist visa means you are a tourist, not someone trying to live in Thailand.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi: My name is Mike and this is how I solved my retirement / limited income problem!! You seem to have failed to notify people that the law in Thailand requires foreigners to have an income of around $1,600 a month to legally retire there. There’s no legal definition of retirement. You can stay there without that income as long as you comply with the visa requirement to leave the country when required. There most definitely *IS* a legal definition of retirement for foreigners. http:www.thaiembdc.org will help you see the requirements for a foreigner to retire in Thailand. That’s not a legal definition of retirement, its just a list of requirement to obtain what they call a retirement visa. You can still be ‘retired’ whether or not you meet those requirements. The point I was making is that if you can’t prove the $1,600 a month income you don’t *have* to get that particular visa in order to retire in Thailand. You can stay there on a tourist visa as long as you don’t mind leaving the country every 3 months and the accept the risks associated with that. A foreigner cannot live in Thailand as a retiree without that visa. If you’re saying that you can lie to the Immigration authorities and to the Consulate in order to get a visa under false pretenses and then go back and forth out of the country as each tourist entry expires every few months then, yes, you’re right.
Of course he can, and many thousands do. It seems that hardly a single discussion goes by without you labelling somebody a liar. Nobody is lying to immigration about anything. All they are doing is asking to stay in the country for the maximum of the 3 months they are allowed. They are granted a visa on the basis that they will either leave the country at the end of the time allowed or obtain an extension. What they intend to do at the end of that time is irrelevant as long as they comply with the conditions of the visa. If they then want to return and do the same thing again its entirely up to the Thai government whether they permit that. The original poster did not point out that you have to violate Thai Immigration law (by lying on your visa application) in order to do what he was saying.
He didn’t say that because its not the case. Nobody is suggesting anyone lies, and nobody is suggesting you break immigration laws. Further, there is no visa requirement to leave the country periodically. You are talking about the practice of getting a multiple entry tourist visa that only allows you in the country for 90 days at a time. Yes, that’s exactly what I was saying, so holding that kind of visa *does* carry a requirement to leave the country periodically. To be pedantic, it’s actually 180 degrees the other way. You are only allowed to enter the country for a short period of time (usually 90 days). The intent of the tourist visa is not for you to stay in the country and have to leave periodically. Just the opposite.
Who are you to interpret the intent of the Thai government? Where do the conditions of a tourist visa state that you cannot return to the country again at a later date?
Response:
A foreigner cannot live in Thailand as a retiree without that visa. If you’re saying that you can lie to the Immigration authorities and to the Consulate in order to get a visa under false pretenses and then go back and forth out of the country as each tourist entry expires every few months then, yes, you’re right.
To what degree are you really "lying" to them? They must see that such people have a passport soaked through with Thai immigration stamp ink. So to some degree it’s a tacit understanding rather than outright deception. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi: My name is Mike and this is how I solved my retirement / limited income problem!! You seem to have failed to notify people that the law in Thailand requires foreigners to have an income of around $1,600 a month to legally retire there. There’s no legal definition of retirement. You can stay there without that income as long as you comply with the visa requirement to leave the country when required. There most definitely *IS* a legal definition of retirement for foreigners. http:www.thaiembdc.org will help you see the requirements for a foreigner to retire in Thailand. That’s not a legal definition of retirement, its just a list of requirement to obtain what they call a retirement visa. You can still be ‘retired’ whether or not you meet those requirements. The point I was making is that if you can’t prove the $1,600 a month income you don’t *have* to get that particular visa in order to retire in Thailand. You can stay there on a tourist visa as long as you don’t mind leaving the country every 3 months and the accept the risks associated with that.
A foreigner cannot live in Thailand as a retiree without that visa. If you’re saying that you can lie to the Immigration authorities and to the Consulate in order to get a visa under false pretenses and then go back and forth out of the country as each tourist entry expires every few months then, yes, you’re right. The original poster did not point out that you have to violate Thai Immigration law (by lying on your visa application) in order to do what he was saying. Further, there is no visa requirement to leave the country periodically. You are talking about the practice of getting a multiple entry tourist visa that only allows you in the country for 90 days at a time. Yes, that’s exactly what I was saying, so holding that kind of visa *does* carry a requirement to leave the country periodically.
To be pedantic, it’s actually 180 degrees the other way. You are only allowed to enter the country for a short period of time (usually 90 days). The intent of the tourist visa is not for you to stay in the country and have to leave periodically. Just the opposite.
Response:
Hi: My name is Mike and this is how I solved my retirement / limited income problem!! You seem to have failed to notify people that the law in Thailand requires foreigners to have an income of around $1,600 a month to legally retire there. There’s no legal definition of retirement. You can stay there without that income as long as you comply with the visa requirement to leave the country when required.
There most definitely *IS* a legal definition of retirement for foreigners. http:www.thaiembdc.org will help you see the requirements for a foreigner to retire in Thailand. Further, there is no visa requirement to leave the country periodically. You are talking about the practice of getting a multiple entry tourist visa that only allows you in the country for 90 days at a time.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi: My name is Mike and this is how I solved my retirement / limited income problem!! You seem to have failed to notify people that the law in Thailand requires foreigners to have an income of around $1,600 a month to legally retire there. There’s no legal definition of retirement. You can stay there without that income as long as you comply with the visa requirement to leave the country when required. There most definitely *IS* a legal definition of retirement for foreigners. http:www.thaiembdc.org will help you see the requirements for a foreigner to retire in Thailand.
That’s not a legal definition of retirement, its just a list of requirement to obtain what they call a retirement visa. You can still be ‘retired’ whether or not you meet those requirements. The point I was making is that if you can’t prove the $1,600 a month income you don’t *have* to get that particular visa in order to retire in Thailand. You can stay there on a tourist visa as long as you don’t mind leaving the country every 3 months and the accept the risks associated with that. Further, there is no visa requirement to leave the country periodically. You are talking about the practice of getting a multiple entry tourist visa that only allows you in the country for 90 days at a time.
Yes, that’s exactly what I was saying, so holding that kind of visa *does* carry a requirement to leave the country periodically.
Response:
Hi: My name is Mike and this is how I solved my retirement / limited income problem!!
You seem to have failed to notify people that the law in Thailand requires foreigners to have an income of around $1,600 a month to legally retire there.
Response:
Hi: My name is Mike and this is how I solved my retirement / limited income problem!! You seem to have failed to notify people that the law in Thailand requires foreigners to have an income of around $1,600 a month to legally retire there.
There’s no legal definition of retirement. You can stay there without that income as long as you comply with the visa requirement to leave the country when required.
Response:
Any place in Thailand without talibans like F. Unke should suit him. Regards, Mort – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I agree – but don’t give away any of the real good places to retire to – Anyone dumb enough to go for this deserves to be in Pattaya! cheers Yep. Not only that: Pattaya is one of the most disgusting places in Asia. Every other city in Thailand has more to offer. For example, a good place to retire would be Nong Khai at the Lao border. Small, pleasant, good infrastructure, medical care etc. And no sick sex tourists there.
Response:
Hi: My name is Mike and this is how I solved my retirement / limited income problem!! RETIRE IN PATTAYA, THAILAND A little background on living in the Pattaya / Jomtien area. I am a lifetime member of VFW Post 9876 here in Pattaya. I have been living in this area for some 8 years. I am ex Navy (not retired) therefore I have no retirement income except my Social Security which is about $1100.00 per month. I could not live in the U.S. on this meager income. I have been living in a one bedroom two bath fully furnished apartment very near the beach in Jomtien (very near Pattaya) Thailand for the past three years. There are many modern golf courses, mall’s and shopping centers in the area. The cost of living here! Rent $175.00 P/M (there are many single units around me for under $100.00. $14,000.00. Elect. $70.00 P/M Phone $15.00 P/M Water $7.50 P/M Internet $20.00 P/M Laundry $25.00 P/M Bacon egg breakfast on the beach $1.50 Seafood dinner on the beach $5.00 Large bottle of beer 75 cents Pack of cigarettes $1.25 Taxi Jomtien to Pattaya 50 cents Health care is also very reasonable here. I myself had an angiogram with one stint inserted for a total of $1500.00 As you can see I have some cash left over every month to enjoy several visits to my favorite American bars and even on occasion a visit to Pattayas night life. I am truly enjoying my later years. You might know of some one who is just making it on his or her retirement income, if so pass this on.
Response:
Hi: My name is Mike and this is how I solved my retirement / limited income problem!! snip snip I wonder could you be a guy working for one of the many real estate agentcies here? in other words spam spam spam
Response:
I wonder could you be a guy working for one of the many real estate agentcies here? in other words spam spam spam Yep. Not only that: Pattaya is one of the most disgusting places in Asia. Every other city in Thailand has more to offer. For example, a good place to retire would be Nong Khai at the Lao border. Small, pleasant, good infrastructure, medical care etc. And no sick sex tourists there.
Might explain why the OP felt the need to post it on the non-Asia groups also… eg. rec.travel.africa… ?! Aaron AardvarkTravel.net Travel Search Engine and Travel Forums http://www.aardvarktravel.net and http://www.aardvarktravel.net/chat
Response:
Hi: My name is Mike and this is how I solved my retirement / limited income problem!! snip snip I wonder could you be a guy working for one of the many real estate agentcies here? in other words spam spam spam
Could you quit being so cynical?
Response:
I agree – but don’t give away any of the real good places to retire to – Anyone dumb enough to go for this deserves to be in Pattaya! cheers – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I wonder could you be a guy working for one of the many real estate agentcies here? in other words spam spam spam Yep. Not only that: Pattaya is one of the most disgusting places in Asia. Every other city in Thailand has more to offer. For example, a good place to retire would be Nong Khai at the Lao border. Small, pleasant, good infrastructure, medical care etc. And no sick sex tourists there.