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Legal
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2006-09-15 23:40:42-04
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Thailand tightens visa rules to deter over-stayers
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Bangkok, Sept 15: Thailand will tighten visa rules from October 1 to stop foreigners from 39 countries from working illegally and crack down on criminals using it as a haven. Currently, foreign nationals can stay in the country for 30 days upon entry. Many extend their visit each month by simply crossing the border briefly to a neighboring country to get a new 30-day tourist visa. From next month, citizens from 39 countries will be allowed to stay in Thailand as a tourist for a maximum 90 days during a six-month period, reports Reuters. The changes are most likely to affect people working on tourist visas, such as Westerners teaching English, Filipina maids and Japanese and Europeans who own small businesses in Thailand but have no work permits, police said. The new rules would allow Thai consular officials and other agencies to do background checks to keep out undesirable people. "The system has been abused for such a long time. We have fugitives staying in Thailand, laundering money or they act as mafias in Pattaya, Phuket or Samui," Immigration Police chief Lieutenant General Suwat Tumrongsiskul told said in reference to three beach resort towns popular with foreigners. These places have gained reputations as Asia's "Costa del Crime" -- the nickname given in the 1980s to the Spanish Costa del Sol due to the presence of many high-profile British fugitives. Drawn from as far afield as Western Europe, Russia and China by the widespread availability of false documents, as well as cheap sex and beer, such mafias exist in part because of lax law enforcement and corrupt officers. The new rules would "keep Thailand clean for all the good people like you," Suwat told Thai and foreign reporters. The 39 affected countries include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Greece, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and most of Thailand's nine Southeast Asian neighbors. Tourists from other countries can still get a 15-day visa on arrival or a 30-day visa in their home countries.
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