Happening FOREIGNERS IN THAILAND WARNED AGAINST BREACHING VISA RULES, WORKING ON TOURIST VISAS

on visa extension applications that cite work for foundations, the need to receive medical treatment, and for studying in both the formal and informal educational systems,” Pol Lt Gen Pakpoompipat said.

“Foreigners who stay in Thailand with student visas must have certificates from educational institutions. So, educational institutions must do this right. The bureau’s regulations are already comprehensive but all other organisations related to foreigners’ visa extensions must cooperate closely,” Pol Lt Gen Pakpoompipat said.

He added that local schools may be required to submit quarterly reports on the educational results of foreigners studying there. If the reports could be submitted, their visas could be terminated, meaning they would be forced to leave the country.

He said that charitable foundations where foreigners volunteer their time on volunteer visas may also have to submit the activities of said foreigners on a regular basis.

Foreigners in Thailand have been warned they must not breach the rules regarding their visas or permission to stay in the country.

The Royal Thai Police has instructed the Immigration Bureau (IB) and Tourist Police to help ensure that foreigners in Thailand are following visa rules.

Under the current rules, foreigners who stay in the country on a tourist, education or so-called ‘retirement visas’ are not allowed to work

In addition, there are certain jobs which foreigners are not allowed to take up, such as street food vendors or tour guides.

The warning comes following a complaint made by a street food vendor on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok’s Chinatown. The vendor claimed that Chinese nationals on tourist visas were in fact working and running businesses in Thailand using Thai nationals as nominees, which is against the law.

RTP spokesman Pol Maj Gen Atchayon Kraithong said that Chinese nationals can enter Thailand using a visa on arrival, which currently gives them permission to remain in Thailand for a period of up to 30 days. It does not grant them permission to work in the country.

Anyone found violating the conditions to remain in the country can expect to be deported and barred from re-entering, Pol Maj Gen Atchayon warned.

“The RTP and other relevant agencies will work to ensure these [visa] conditions are followed,” Pol Maj Gen Atchayon added.

Education, volunteer visa rules to be tightened

In addition, the Immigration Bureau has said it will tighten visa extension rules in a bid to prevent foreign criminals from setting up businesses in the country.

Pol Lt Gen Pakpoompipat Sajjapan was responding to comments that some foreign criminals involved in illegal business activities were staying in Thailand on volunteer and education visas.

He said that foreign criminals may use loopholes in some of the existing rules to apply for the visas.

“So, there will be a working group to revise rules

Crackdown on foreigners using Thai nominees

Meanwhile, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek will crack down on foreigners in Thailand who use Thai nominees to set up and run businesses in the country.

Ms Rachada warned that foreigners who wish to run food and beverage businesses in the country must obtain the necessary permits from Thailand’s Department of Business Development.

Furthermore, Thai business partners or co-investors are also required to prove they have sufficient funds to invest in such a business.

“Thai citizens who are foreigners’ nominees face up to three years’ imprisonment and/or a fine between 100,000-1 million baht,” said Ms Ratchada.

Officials from the Department of Business Development and the Labour Ministry regularly inspect foreign owned businesses in Thailand to check they are operating within the law, Ms Ratchada added.