Visas have been the hot topic of the week as Thailand’s immigration department made another clampdown on border runners, adding to the already mind boggling levels of confusion on the subject. The latest restriction has been placed on those crossing the border for a 15 day stamp and it seems that Thailand is trying to weed out the undesirables, or those that don’t have proper visas. What is more mind numbing is that in the year when the economy is hitting record lows and tourism numbers continue to plummet Thailand carries on with its customary clampdowns.
Naturally the discussion evolved into one on long term options which are also becoming rather limited for those under 50 without an overseas income, it appears that if you are old and wealthy you’re welcome. Getting a work permit is no longer that easy in the current economic environment as many companies can’t afford the expense or deal with the ever increasing bureaucracy of hiring a foreigner.
The majority of expats and long term residents are generally pessimistic about the trend of clampdowns and increase in requirements that have been imposed on them over the past 8 years. While its neighbours are waking up and slowly opening up Thailand seems to be closing the door on everyone in its myopic strive for a “better class of farang”.
More talk on 24 hour reporting often imposed by local immigration caused a stir. As always there is absolutely no consistency with some people getting fined and others not and nothing ever being written or offered as a way of guidance. You just have to take your chances.
On the brighter side of things a few HHAD members donated old computer parts that were cobbled together to build a working system which was then delivered to Pranburi for the Mercy House Orphanage. The project was developed to re-use old e-waste and provide no cost computers for needy organisations in and around Hua Hin. With the first one already out of the door they are working on the next so if you have any spare working computer parts or peripherals and want to make a difference get online and find out how.
The drop point for any donations for the orphanage is the Hua Hin Ham & Bacon shop on soi 41. The tech heads will make collections and start building, latest updates will be posted on the forum.
Plenty of questions were raised on the Hua Hin property market which seems to have died a death (or gone into serious hibernation). The majority of houses populating Hua Hin’s rapidly expanding suburbia are for sale but the prices seem to be artificially elevated so nothing is moving. This leads one to the thought that people that have purchased don’t really need to sell and are just trying to make a buck, there are very few ‘bargains’ or ‘fire sales’ in Hua Hin.