Nong Khai Immigration Meeting

Yesterday along with many other farang I attended a seminar at which one of the guest speakers was the head of Immigration for Nong Khai ,Pol Maj General Rapphipat. After a detailed report on many aspects of visa regulations we had the opportunity to ask questions from the floor. These are a few and the answers in no particular order.
In view of the purpose of the seminar which was about the help we Farang can give to the community , I started with a question whether under present work permit legalisation we could participate without endangering our visa status? The answer was an emphatic , YES. Apparently helping a Govt dept, at their request, voluntarily and unpaid, although out of pocket expenses are allowable, is not considered a breach of current rules. With the proviso. The dept requesting such help issues a letter indicating that they have asked, which must be available for inspection by immigration if requested.This voluntary, unpaid help is not permitted when the request is for teaching in schools.The reason seemingly being the need for professional qualifications and control over those that are working with children.Understandable issues.
When I pointed out that her advise conflicted with the printed visa regulations and would it be possible to have written confirmation that its okay. She promised to look into that possibility.
We were then informed that the new immigration offices in both Udon and Khon Kaen would be operational before this Xmas.All stored documentation on residents in those areas will be transfered to the new one, and we must use the office for the area we reside in. Nong Khai will not be an option, only for those within its catchment area.She did list the places applicable but unfortunately I didn't make a note of them.
Answers to further questions. Marriage visa. It was asked if a working wifes salary could be added to her spouses income to qualify for this? She replied, yes, but it must be paid into the account of the applicant, which must be in his name only.
A further question regarding the income requirement. A Swedish man said he had a visa for marriage for the last two years ,this year due to the lower currency exchange rate, although in his own currency, his pension hadn't altered, he wouldn't be able to reach either the monthly requirement or combined with savings the amount required. What should he do?
The answer was an unequivocal. Those are the minimum acceptable figures. You'll have to find the extra cash. A reminder was also given about the 3 months before rule.
Re-entry and 90 reporting . It was confirmed a new 90 period commenced on re-entry.
The 90 day report can be done up to 7 days before or 7 days after. Later than this attracts a penalty. I believe a fine of 2,000bht.
Overstay of visa. A fine of 500bht per day, up to a max of 20,000bht.After this it becomes a criminal action and decided by a court.
All the above are the official replies as given . No personal interpretation has been applied.

Good report Trubrit!Interesting that they are so emphatic on the effects of currency exchange rates and school volunteering!I would think that if they were to treat us as guests they would put in a flexible rule allowing currency differences,especially for those expats already married and living here for sometime!

I don't see any difference in vetting of a volunteer versus an employee for the school as the only difference I can see is pay!TIT

Was there any discussion about the "Proposed" compulsory health insurance for Farang on long term visas as was mentioned in a thread a few months ago?

Bandung_Dero wrote:Was there any discussion about the "Proposed" compulsory health insurance for Farang on long term visas as was mentioned in a thread a few months ago?

Not from immigration but from the health team that included the manager of what used to be the Paolo hospital there was talk about a govt issued gold card that would be issued to all Farang.But nothing concrete, just talk. So nothing worth reporting there.Will post if anything further happens.TIT

BKKSTAN wrote:Good report Trubrit!Interesting that they are so emphatic on the effects of currency exchange rates and school volunteering!I would think that if they were to treat us as guests they would put in a flexible rule allowing currency differences,especially for those expats already married and living here for sometime!

I don't see any difference in vetting of a volunteer versus an employee for the school as the only difference I can see is pay!TIT

it doesnt matter what the thai baht does or doesnt do, 40,000 per month is the requirement!! the cost of living here doesnt go down with the swedish Krone or the uk pound!! So if your pension was worth 40,000 per month no problem, if it went down with the exchangerate to 30,000 per month then you must show 100,000 baht in your bank 3 months prior.. Think about it!!! its not thailands fault that our currencies have collapsed.So why should they make concessions for us?

Why should anyone put in a flexible rule?? Any country?? our own countries messed this whole thing up not thailand...
If the dollar dropped to 10 baht, would you expect a marriage visa for 10,000 baht per month?? the price of food hasnt dropped 75% here!!! Thers nothing wrong with them sticking to 40,000 baht per month minimum or 400,000 in the bank... how else would you survive here??

BD there was no mention of a compulsory health cover to get a visa etc, but the seed is planted and you can bet your bottom dollar that it will come in the not too distant future so like me i would suggest people without start looking now...

Dave . Of course there is a great deal of logic in what you write. That obviously is how immigration look at it. In a way I can see Stans point too, there appears to be no compassion or understanding in the rules.
The guy that asked the question had a real point. He had been married for 3 years. Had , like you are about to, a child with his wife. In previous years he had some savings in the bank which accumulative with his pension, qualified him for the visa.Since his last renewal, in an attempt to provide some security , both for his wife and his child, he purchased a small bungalow.This means for the next renewal he won't have the savings in the bank to supplement his diminished pension.I think the officers reply of "Find some money"although technically correct as per the rule book, was insensitive. It could be said she meant , borrow some.Now if that is the case it makes nonsense of having such a rigid attitude. as if he can find a lender for the three months period he will, no doubt have to pay it back, possibly with an added sum for interest ,immediately after the visa is issued .He will then be left to survive another year on even less than before,on a sum immigration rules said is not possible for a married man to survive on .
I wonder what would happen if he can't raise the money? Will they send him home. leaving his wife and child here? I'm not an expert but I believe there is a human rights convention that actually gives the absolute right for a family to live as one in either partners country of origin.Presumably Thailand is a signatory to that?

Funny you should mention that, because last week i saw the same lady at the panyvej seminar. i told her i wanted to stay in thailand until after my baby is born and that i didnt have a right to stay here even though i was about to be a father etc etc... she would not budge, go to laos after 90 days... full stop...
how about being the carer of a patient in hospital, that gives you automatic 90 days..NO!! not in this case...
how about a doctors note/ NO...
How about some compassion here??? No...

What if my wife has an emergency while im out of the country...NO...
What if the immigration man has had a bad day and decides i cant re-enter today??? NO...

I know how them people in the boats felt!!! Cast off and left to it...
yes i know i am a guest here blah blah blah i can hear it now.... but i believe it is my right to be allowed to attend the birth of my child...immigration dont believe this...in all probability i will be here no problem but its the principle!!!
before anyone suggests i should have taken her to england, her familly being around are important to her too!!

We sat there yesterday basically being told how the thais want their farang cake and eat it... nothing was coming back!!! if you are an errant father the govt will chase you unless you are thai!! true!!! if you own a house and its in your wifes name and she dies!!! youve guessed, you dont own the house, you have 3 months to sell it or it goes to the government or her familly... whatever loophole you have all found, i would suggest you check it for leaks talk about ...cake and eat it?? Now that came from the deputy public prosecutor of udon thani's mouth!! the second most senior govt lawyer around...at the panyavej meeting..

Then the people were told things like farangs take thai wives to be slaves for them and their famillies in their home countries.. we only like uneducated dark skinned girls... we basically try many girls before we decide to marry one and then we pass on sexually transmitted deseases to them.... we beat our wives... blah blah some of us were at the boiling point and about to walk, then the subject was changed or another speaker came on.. but there was a very good speaker and very usefull as trubrit said the boss of immigration khun joseph!! She has a farang husband by the sound of her surname!!! lets hope!!!

Thailand has sing human rights convention during which says that you can not dissociate parents and children.
So what you can do is apply for a parenting visa, where one does not need money just to show you are a parent of the child.

Bugger me!!!! Any news on this or will it be a test case??? this will have major ramifications if tested and won!!!!

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm

Wow, thailand has a duty of law not to seperate children from their parents!!!! its in black and white!!!
see article 9!!!! This is very interesting reading... only a judicial review can legally seperate a child from its parents...
Also article 17... this is good stuff... really this is saying thailand cannot restrict a parent from seeing or being with his or her child whatsoever... e.g. they should have a parent visa that is easy to get without any red tape etc...
maybe im wrong here but they want the benefits of the Un etc so they should adhere to the rules they signed up to!!!

So if you follow the spirit of the convention then thailand does not have the right to stop me working to support my child either!!!

Just let us all know the results of your case when you take it to Thai court (or maybe the U.N.), it should hopefully be resolved before the child turns 18

It always seems amzing to me that we talk about inflexability of the Immigration rules, now before anyone says anything, I am no great lover of Thai Immigration laws, but they are there, it was always the inconsistences of the system that annoyed me not the actual law.
The law is quite specific, why you need less money of you are married than single always seems silly to me, but you do and that ain't going to change.
Many people I know always approach the visa renewal with trepidation, take the current scenario, now although I agree with the statement, a man should be with his wife when the birth of a child is due or imminent, the lady has been pregnant for nine months, so planning to ensure compliance with Thai law would I feel have been uppermost in my mind, complaining about the situation is stupid, lack of planning has obviously caused the problem, although I do feel for him, he should have looked at the situation earlier.
The man with the small bungalow, go the bank get a mortgage get the money and pay the mortgage, get a life ins to pay off the debt if you die, no problem.
One has to think laterally , there is an answer just look at all the options, not just the one in front of you. #
Sermon endeth.................

Khun Paul wrote:The man with the small bungalow, go the bank get a mortgage get the money and pay the mortgage, get a life ins to pay off the debt if you die, no problem.
One has to think laterally , there is an answer just look at all the options, not just the one in front of you. #
Sermon endeth.................

Taking your advise and thinking laterally.
If he doesn't have enough pension to qualify for visa how do you suggest he finds the extra funds for life insurance and mortgage interest? I've tried many positions thinking about this one and I still can't see the answer that is always there.