Thai immigration offices and especially the Jomtien Branch have been trying to curb the number of long-stay farangs residents without any real raison d’etre for being in Thailand other than having a good time or sanuk.
Gone is the endless merry-go-round of 30-Day tourist visas.
3 and no more.
Nearby Thai embassies or consulates are giving tourist 60-day visas with serious scrutiny. Penang and Vientienne are the only ones issuing 3 consecutive 60-day tourist visas. Extensions on tourist visas are limited to 7 days for visas on arrival and 30 days extra and 30-Day tourist visas obtained abroad and now applicants must show dated airline tickets for onward travel.
These latest requirements are mostly enforced in Pattaya with its large population of transient farangs, but also long-term residents have a new huddle, since Jomtien announced retirement visa holders will have to show a foreign credit or ATM card in good standing.
Some farangs blame this anti-farang sentiment on the natural chauvinism of Thais.
Others say the lager louts and football hooligans brought on these draconian measures due to their bare-shirtedness.
A few thinks it’s an attempt to improve Bangkok traffic.
Less farangs. Less cars.
My Thai friends are confused with this government policy as they earn their daily rice from farangs.
“No have farang. No have money. Go grow rice. Bad back.” Chang works at the Buffalo Bar. He isn’t interested in going back to Ban Nok.
So is the party over?
No, but I suggest to anyone thinking about staying here for an extended period of time to get their visa before leaving their native country and also to re-consider buying a house, condo, or business.
Of course situations could change, but this latest trend has been tightening up under Thaksin and has accelerated with the interim government.
Of course there are those handy Elite Cards for anyone wanting to shed 1 million baht.
Get discounts on golf too.
Oh joy.
Cheap golf.
UPDATE : For my retirement visa I gave a copy of a credit card maxxed to the hilt.
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