2014年7月15日星期二
No more visa runs
No more visa runs
FOREIGNERS WHO do regular visa runs in order to extend their stay in Thailand have less than a month before a crackdown by the authorities to enforce immigration laws more strictly.
From August 13, people will not be able to re-enter the country, regardless of their choice of transport.
The Immigration Bureau has already instructed officials to deny entry to foreigners doing visa runs as a measure to stop the exploitation of tourist visas and visa exemptions to live or work here.
Visa runs have been common among foreigners in Thailand recently, given that a simple search on the Net turns up several companies offering "visa trips" for expatriates staying or working here.
Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay. By exploiting 60-day tourist visas and 30-day visa exemptions, many foreigners can work illegally in language schools, or restaurants and other businesses. It is easier for some to get jobs this way, as some employers do not want to go through the complicated process of seeking work permits and like to avoid the expense if they can.
"I have done visa runs several times before, because my employers would not agree to seek a work permit until I passed their probation period. So, when you stop allowing visa runs, the lives of many foreigners in Thailand will be affected," a 46-year-old American said.
Meanwhile, the Immigration Bureau website says: "Leniency will be granted until August 12, but only for passengers arriving by air. Foreigners who come to Thailand must seek a proper visa in line with the purpose of their intended stay here."
Now, those on a visa run who are allowed back in will find an "O-I" (Out-In) mark next to their latest stamp marking entry. From August 13, nobody with an O-I sign on their passport will be allowed to re-enter Thailand if they cannot produce a proper visa.
The Immigration Bureau has instructed checkpoints on shared borders to stop visa runners from entering the Kingdom effective immediately.
Immigration Division 6 chief Pol Maj-General Tatchai Pitaneelabut, who oversees immigration affairs in the South, said visa runners come from several countries, including Vietnam, South Korea and Russia.
"They come here to work as tour guides, waiters, waitresses, etc," he said, pointing out that these visa-runners are often based in tourist centres such as Phuket and Songkhla.
However, he said the presence of the so-called "out-in" migrants in the South had been significantly reduced because immigration officials were already enforcing stricter laws.
Pol Lt-Colonel Weerawat Nilwat, an inspector at the Sungai Kolok border checkpoint in Narathiwat province, disclosed that immigration officials at his workplace had already barred more than 100 visa-runners from re-entering the Kingdom.
"We have to be strict because we have to uphold laws and properly control immigrants. Efficiency on this front will also reduce crime," he said.
Pol Colonel Thirachai Dedkhad, the superintendent at the Sa Kaew checkpoint, said officials under his supervision were not stopping visa runners from re-entering yet. "But we have been warning them to acquire a proper visa before they come to Thailand the next time."
He said immigration officials had also warned people departing that they must obtain a proper visa if they want to come back.
"We have made it clear that if they want to work in Thailand, they must seek a work permit and get the right type of visa," Thirachai said.
~News courtesy of The Nation~
FOREIGNERS WHO do regular visa runs in order to extend their stay in Thailand have less than a month before a crackdown by the authorities to enforce immigration laws more strictly.
From August 13, people will not be able to re-enter the country, regardless of their choice of transport.
The Immigration Bureau has already instructed officials to deny entry to foreigners doing visa runs as a measure to stop the exploitation of tourist visas and visa exemptions to live or work here.
Visa runs have been common among foreigners in Thailand recently, given that a simple search on the Net turns up several companies offering "visa trips" for expatriates staying or working here.
Visa runners are those who leave Thailand and return immediately for the purpose of extending their stay. By exploiting 60-day tourist visas and 30-day visa exemptions, many foreigners can work illegally in language schools, or restaurants and other businesses. It is easier for some to get jobs this way, as some employers do not want to go through the complicated process of seeking work permits and like to avoid the expense if they can.
"I have done visa runs several times before, because my employers would not agree to seek a work permit until I passed their probation period. So, when you stop allowing visa runs, the lives of many foreigners in Thailand will be affected," a 46-year-old American said.
Meanwhile, the Immigration Bureau website says: "Leniency will be granted until August 12, but only for passengers arriving by air. Foreigners who come to Thailand must seek a proper visa in line with the purpose of their intended stay here."
Now, those on a visa run who are allowed back in will find an "O-I" (Out-In) mark next to their latest stamp marking entry. From August 13, nobody with an O-I sign on their passport will be allowed to re-enter Thailand if they cannot produce a proper visa.
The Immigration Bureau has instructed checkpoints on shared borders to stop visa runners from entering the Kingdom effective immediately.
Immigration Division 6 chief Pol Maj-General Tatchai Pitaneelabut, who oversees immigration affairs in the South, said visa runners come from several countries, including Vietnam, South Korea and Russia.
"They come here to work as tour guides, waiters, waitresses, etc," he said, pointing out that these visa-runners are often based in tourist centres such as Phuket and Songkhla.
However, he said the presence of the so-called "out-in" migrants in the South had been significantly reduced because immigration officials were already enforcing stricter laws.
Pol Lt-Colonel Weerawat Nilwat, an inspector at the Sungai Kolok border checkpoint in Narathiwat province, disclosed that immigration officials at his workplace had already barred more than 100 visa-runners from re-entering the Kingdom.
"We have to be strict because we have to uphold laws and properly control immigrants. Efficiency on this front will also reduce crime," he said.
Pol Colonel Thirachai Dedkhad, the superintendent at the Sa Kaew checkpoint, said officials under his supervision were not stopping visa runners from re-entering yet. "But we have been warning them to acquire a proper visa before they come to Thailand the next time."
He said immigration officials had also warned people departing that they must obtain a proper visa if they want to come back.
"We have made it clear that if they want to work in Thailand, they must seek a work permit and get the right type of visa," Thirachai said.
~News courtesy of The Nation~
新时代航空开通桂林-甲米航班
新时代航空开通桂林-甲米航班
7月15日，泰国新时代航空开通了桂林直飞泰国甲米府国际航班。甲米成为了继曼谷之后，桂林机场开通的第二个泰国直飞航点。
位于泰国南部的甲米是著名旅游胜地，与普吉岛隔海相望。它拥有30多个离岛，是安达曼海岸边最美丽的地方，也被誉为泰国的「小桂林」。
此次新开的桂林-甲米航线由泰国新时代航空公司使用波音737机型执飞，航班号为E38615/6，每5天飞行一班往返。北京时间12点30分从泰国甲米府起飞，16点30分抵达桂林；之后17点30分从桂林起飞，19点40分抵达泰国甲米。
自去年年底泰国政局陷入持续动荡以来，当地旅游业遭遇严重冲击，导致同期赴泰的中国游客数量大幅下降。目前，随着泰国政局趋于稳定，赴泰游开始回暖。当地也在致力于整顿旅游市场，刺激游客前往泰国。
据桂林机场消息，自8月1日起，中国南方航空将新增桂林-南宁-曼谷每周3、5、7航班，由原来的每周4班增至7班，达到每天一班的频率。此外，泰国新时代航空也将开通桂林-曼谷新航线，加密桂林至曼谷航班。
目前，桂林机场已开通往返马来西亚吉隆坡、韩国首尔、中国香港、澳门、台北、高雄等多条地区及国际航线，2013年出入境航班达3246架次，旅客逾35.4万人次。随着7月28日起桂林口岸正式对51个国家公民实施72小时过境免签，将开启桂林培育国际航空港的引擎。桂林近期将开通桂林-南宁-新加坡、桂林-韩国济州、釜山、青州航线，今年桂林的直达国际航线将达10条；并正筹划开通桂林-越南胡志明市、桂林-印尼雅加达、桂林至其他国际友城等近10条航线。
～以上新闻转载自世界日报～
7月15日，泰国新时代航空开通了桂林直飞泰国甲米府国际航班。甲米成为了继曼谷之后，桂林机场开通的第二个泰国直飞航点。
位于泰国南部的甲米是著名旅游胜地，与普吉岛隔海相望。它拥有30多个离岛，是安达曼海岸边最美丽的地方，也被誉为泰国的「小桂林」。
此次新开的桂林-甲米航线由泰国新时代航空公司使用波音737机型执飞，航班号为E38615/6，每5天飞行一班往返。北京时间12点30分从泰国甲米府起飞，16点30分抵达桂林；之后17点30分从桂林起飞，19点40分抵达泰国甲米。
自去年年底泰国政局陷入持续动荡以来，当地旅游业遭遇严重冲击，导致同期赴泰的中国游客数量大幅下降。目前，随着泰国政局趋于稳定，赴泰游开始回暖。当地也在致力于整顿旅游市场，刺激游客前往泰国。
据桂林机场消息，自8月1日起，中国南方航空将新增桂林-南宁-曼谷每周3、5、7航班，由原来的每周4班增至7班，达到每天一班的频率。此外，泰国新时代航空也将开通桂林-曼谷新航线，加密桂林至曼谷航班。
目前，桂林机场已开通往返马来西亚吉隆坡、韩国首尔、中国香港、澳门、台北、高雄等多条地区及国际航线，2013年出入境航班达3246架次，旅客逾35.4万人次。随着7月28日起桂林口岸正式对51个国家公民实施72小时过境免签，将开启桂林培育国际航空港的引擎。桂林近期将开通桂林-南宁-新加坡、桂林-韩国济州、釜山、青州航线，今年桂林的直达国际航线将达10条；并正筹划开通桂林-越南胡志明市、桂林-印尼雅加达、桂林至其他国际友城等近10条航线。
～以上新闻转载自世界日报～
2014年7月14日星期一
Growth of Udon Thani brings thrills, new style
Growth of Udon Thani brings thrills, new style
The two rubber ducks at the famous Prachak Pond in Udon Thani carry the national flags of Germany and Argentina, who met in the 2014 World Cup final.
Old 'GI City' now a major hub in Northeast
From being known as a "GI City" due to the US Airforce base that was once there, Udon Thani has transformed from a simple peaceful town into a leading hub in the Northeast, buzzing with businesses catering to investors, locals, and traders from neighbouring provinces and nearby Laos. As urbanised as any other major Thai city, Udon is flooded with brand-name goods and malls and people there, especially teenagers, have leisure choices equal to those of their peers in Bangkok.
A 17-year-old high school student, "Pop", said that rapid development had vastly improved Udon. "If I want to go eat, shop and do things it is very convenient," she said. "We can just hop on motorbikes and go to malls without asking to be driven there by our parents."
The pressure on the wallets of the youngsters, however, balances out this convenience.
"Now we have plenty of choices but we don't have enough money to buy them," complained Pop. "We have to spend carefully as the earnings of our parents and the money they give to us remains the same. Sometimes we just hang out in malls without buying anything."
Aum, a graduate from Udon Thani Rajabhat University, said that more people are spending their leisure time clubbing or watching football matches and drinking at pubs.
As he prefers shopping, he admitted that his personal expenses are high because he buys tempting, and often unnecessary, things. He claimed that crime has become more of an issue as people were robbing and stealing in order to get the things they want. Heavy traffic has also become a problem as more locals take to their vehicles to get places. The roads are also packed with visitors from nearby provinces and from Laos. Fortunately the jams only occur at certain periods of day and cannot be compared to the ones in Bangkok.
"Udon Thani used to be a peaceful place and people were not so selfish," said Aum. "The appearance of all these malls and condos have changed that. People feel pressure to dress more fashionably and spend more money at malls such as Central Plaza and UD Town, which are both beautifully decorated and offer brand-name goods."
Aum's fellow-student Thanyalak Woranoi, 24, said the city has become a real hub for entertainment. The two main malls often host events and there are many restaurants where she and her friends can go and split the bill. "Before our choices were limited to Nong Prachak and parks where we eat picnic-style or ride bicycles together," she said.
Although Udon Thani is now more urbanised, people are still kind and welcoming, hence many visitors from Laos liked to visit and make large purchases, she said.
A Laotian tourist, identified only as Noi, said she liked to shop at air-conditioned Udon Thani malls because of the large selection of products.
In addition to shopping, Udon Thani is a favourite destination for Laotians seeking medical treatment due to its profusion of trustworthy private hospitals.
Meanwhile, those with money to spare can also take advantage of the many services from Udon Thani International Airport, including flights to Phuket, Koh Samui or even South Korea.
~News courtesy of The Nation~
The two rubber ducks at the famous Prachak Pond in Udon Thani carry the national flags of Germany and Argentina, who met in the 2014 World Cup final.
Old 'GI City' now a major hub in Northeast
From being known as a "GI City" due to the US Airforce base that was once there, Udon Thani has transformed from a simple peaceful town into a leading hub in the Northeast, buzzing with businesses catering to investors, locals, and traders from neighbouring provinces and nearby Laos. As urbanised as any other major Thai city, Udon is flooded with brand-name goods and malls and people there, especially teenagers, have leisure choices equal to those of their peers in Bangkok.
A 17-year-old high school student, "Pop", said that rapid development had vastly improved Udon. "If I want to go eat, shop and do things it is very convenient," she said. "We can just hop on motorbikes and go to malls without asking to be driven there by our parents."
The pressure on the wallets of the youngsters, however, balances out this convenience.
"Now we have plenty of choices but we don't have enough money to buy them," complained Pop. "We have to spend carefully as the earnings of our parents and the money they give to us remains the same. Sometimes we just hang out in malls without buying anything."
Aum, a graduate from Udon Thani Rajabhat University, said that more people are spending their leisure time clubbing or watching football matches and drinking at pubs.
As he prefers shopping, he admitted that his personal expenses are high because he buys tempting, and often unnecessary, things. He claimed that crime has become more of an issue as people were robbing and stealing in order to get the things they want. Heavy traffic has also become a problem as more locals take to their vehicles to get places. The roads are also packed with visitors from nearby provinces and from Laos. Fortunately the jams only occur at certain periods of day and cannot be compared to the ones in Bangkok.
"Udon Thani used to be a peaceful place and people were not so selfish," said Aum. "The appearance of all these malls and condos have changed that. People feel pressure to dress more fashionably and spend more money at malls such as Central Plaza and UD Town, which are both beautifully decorated and offer brand-name goods."
Aum's fellow-student Thanyalak Woranoi, 24, said the city has become a real hub for entertainment. The two main malls often host events and there are many restaurants where she and her friends can go and split the bill. "Before our choices were limited to Nong Prachak and parks where we eat picnic-style or ride bicycles together," she said.
Although Udon Thani is now more urbanised, people are still kind and welcoming, hence many visitors from Laos liked to visit and make large purchases, she said.
A Laotian tourist, identified only as Noi, said she liked to shop at air-conditioned Udon Thani malls because of the large selection of products.
In addition to shopping, Udon Thani is a favourite destination for Laotians seeking medical treatment due to its profusion of trustworthy private hospitals.
Meanwhile, those with money to spare can also take advantage of the many services from Udon Thani International Airport, including flights to Phuket, Koh Samui or even South Korea.
~News courtesy of The Nation~
订阅：
博文 (Atom)