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I Immigration Authority of Thailand. Immigration and Customs officials are likely the only governmental authorities with whom foreigners generally have contact. The central headquarters in Bangkok is where you go to get your visa extended, if nationals of your country are eligible for extensions. Immigration Police. So long as you do not stay longer than your visa allows, you will meet Immigration police officers only at the Immigration desk upon your arrival and at passport control upon your departure. Immigration Policies of Thailand. As is true with any nation, Thailand has different laws for different foreign nationals. Most controversial for foreigners living outside Thailand is that it is very difficult to obtain permanent residency in Thailand, except under limited circumstances, and virtually impossible to obtain Thai citizenship, even for foreign spouses of Thais. Generally, to marry a Thai in a government-sanctioned ceremony – not only a traditional Thai wedding, which has no weight in law here – makes the foreign partner eligible for a yearly visa, and, if desired, permanent residency, though this is difficult and holders of it have to go to Immigration once each year anyway. Further, holders of permanent residency or yearly residency visas have to "check out" with Immigration headquarters before departing, or they risk losing their residency or visa. Further, there are limits on how long one can remain outside Thailand without forfeiting their status. There are also yearly visas available for large investors. Of course, foreign employees working legally will receive residency visas and work permits through their employers. Import Allowances. For most foreigners, these are not of much concern. Western/ foreign cigarettes are readily available, at least in larger cities, as are foreign alcoholic beverages. Customs officials tend
to be tolerant of minor excesses, such as a couple packages too many of cigarettes – if they even check you at all. If you are bringing in prescription drugs or medications, that’s fine, but you should have a
current prescription with you covering the amount you are bringing in – a legible prescription, in English (or, of course, Thai). If your doctor can’t write one or the other, take the prescription to a certified translation service and have it translated, and be ready to present both the original and the certified translation if asked to do so. Import Prohibitions. Don’t even think about attempting to bring in any kind of firearm or explosive, including ammunition. Small pocketknives are acceptable. Mace™ and similar products, tear gas, pepper spray, and the like are all big no-no’s. Illicit drugs are also prohibited, and to be caught in possession of any, even in small quantities, will land you in big trouble, trouble you won’t be able to escape. If you’re really, really lucky and have just a tiny quantity – one marijuana cigarette, for example, it’s just barely conceivable you might simply be fined and deported (staying in jail until your flight, by the way). However, most violaters find themselves in serious trouble, and embassies are powerless to help – except, as we note in other entries, to occasionally visit you to ensure that you have just as "nice" a rat-infested cell and are receiving the same maggot-infested rice and treatment as Thai nationals are who are incarcerated. If you can’t live without your dope, at least don’t be a dope: stay home. Also, if you Clint Eastwood wannabes just have to have your gun and live by the motto "they’ll get my gun when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers," well, better count on exactly that. Thais are rightly noted for their smiling tolerance and overall friendliness, but all three vanish in a heartbeat if you try to sneak any of these items into the Kingdom. Importing. Port customs officials are notoriously corrupt in Thailand, sometimes looting even mailed packages containing perfectly innocuous items. Expect to pay what is called "tea money" above and beyond any import duties. This under-the-table payment can easily reach such stratospheric levels that importing becomes prohibitively expensive. If you must import something, it is best to do it through one of the reputable, established private shipping and/or courier services; even EMS mail has been stolen. India. This nation lies west of Thailand across the Adaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Depending on the exact destination, India is just a few hours’ flight from anywhere in Thailand offering international flights. Despite the many difficulties the nation has, it is a popular destination for travelers in this part of the world. Indonesia. This huge island nation, huge both geographically and by population (it’s the world’s fourth most-populous country and the world’s largest Moslem one) stretches roughly along an east-west axis from southeast of Thailand (near Australia’s northwest) to southwest of Thailand. In recent years the country has experienced considerable turmoil and domestic strife, most notably in Aceh, where a formidable separatist movement exists, and East Timor, a tiny former Portuguese enclave which Portugal left, granting it independence. Soon thereafter, Indonesia invaded and annexed it, and only in 1999 allowed a referendum, through which East Timor is again an independent state, though as of this writing (late May, 2000), it is basically a U.N. protectorate, completely lacking any government. Besides territorial problems, Indonesia’s long-time autocratic ruler, Suharto, was driven from office in 1999 by swelling protests against his authoritarian rule and his wide abuse of power. On the plus side, Indonesia is home to Bali, that fabled mecca worshipped by lovers of the sea and sun, and to Java and Borneo, an anthropologist’s delight. Botanists find themselves in heaven in lush, richly-vegetated Indonesia. Jakarta, the capital, is about 6 hours by air from Bangkok. Insurance [Accident]. Tourists should have travel insurance, and if they plan to drive any vehicle, they should obtain local insurance. Be aware that the almost invariable practice is that the foreigner pays, no matter who’s at fault. And the police expect a generous "tip" for handling the matter with little fuss (the tip not covered by insurance, of course). Insurance [Health-Medical]. Though medical costs are remarkably low here even for the highest-quality services, one should have health insurance; many hospitals require payment in advance plus a deposit if you don’t have an insurance policy which will cover your situation. Most foreign insurance is good only in the country where it is issued, so check with your provider; some have separate coverage available. You also should consider emergency repatriation insurance in case of the unlikely (we hope) event you have a serious medical crisis and need to return to your home country. Such insurance is expensive – but cheaper than renting a medical evacuation aircraft and the flight and medical crews to go with it, which can easily run into many tens of thousands of [U.S.] dollars. Insurance [Liability]. This is a necessity for anyone operating a motor vehicle – but is not available for motorcycles. Foreigners are almost always held liable, no matter the circumstances. As discussed elsewhere, expect to pay the police a "tip" for coming out to talk to the Thai who, drunk, ran the red light and broad-sided you then to tell you it’s your fault. One of the founders of this site was once a passenger in a taxi which strayed across the lane stripe and side-swiped another taxi. The police happened along about then and took the passenger and both drivers to the nearby police station, where after much hoopla the decision was made that the passenger had to pay 3,000 baht for damages to the aggrieved side-wiped taxi driver -–1,000 of which he promptly handed over to the 2 original officers! Get insurance. And carry a stash of 2-3,000 baht for such contingencies. Insurance [Life]. Make sure your policy covers you here, and be sure to know all limitations and restrictions. Ask if your policy will cover payment to the government here and the cost of shipping your remains home. If it doesn’t do any or all of this, seek additional coverage. The fees the government charge (for autopsies, storing a body, etc.) are low, but getting remains home can be a costly proposition. Insurance [Travel]. To have travel insurance is a good idea for any traveler. It usually is available for a nominal sum at major airports, and through travel agencies. Try to get a comprehensive package that covers lost luggage, health/accident situations, lawyers’ fees (in case you find yourself arrested or otherwise unhappily entangled with the authorities and in need of legal counsel), etc. Insurgency. In decades past, Thailand had a serious insurgency problem, one related to the Vietnam War and connected struggles in Laos and Cambodia. Though laws addressing it remain on the books, they are largely anachronistic – though there is a small, simmering movement in the far south, where some Moslems would like to break away, perhaps to join Malaysia, Thailand’s immediate neighbour – and a Moslem country – to the south. This is scarcely ever a problem for anyone, and one need not be too concerned. If you are planning on traveling in the southernmost provinces, particularly to small towns and villages, you might take the time to check on the current situation, more for peace of mind than anything. Intellectual Property Rights. As is the case in many countries, intellectual property rights are not well protected here, despite laws that exist for that express purpose. Software piracy is particularly widespread, and apparently unstoppable. There is a widespread belief, sincerely and deeply held, that the wealthy nations – especially Japan, America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the member states of the European Union – should share intellectual property much more freely, and much more cheaply, than is the case. Entire malls are given over to shops hawking pirated software. Occasionally there is a crackdown, but the trade in stolen software continues largely unabated. In fact, it can be difficult to find legitimate copies, particularly of less-popular programs. International ATM Cards. These are a good way to get cash quickly when visiting Bangkok, where ATMs are ubiquitous, many of which give access to funds in your bank in your home country. There typically are limits imposed on the daily maximum withdrawal, 20,000 baht being a common one. (Sometimes the limits are set by the foreign bank, sometimes by the local bank, and yet other times by both.) Of course, you will receive your withdrawal in Thai baht, not your home country’s currency. International Airports. [See entry for "Don Muang International Airport" above.] International Calls. The telecommunication sector exploded, and continues doing so, over the last few years, and in Bangkok, international phone service is readily available to just about everywhere in the world. In early 2000, some private mobile-phone concessionaires began offering – illegally – discounts on international services, much to the anger and dismay of Thailand’s telecommunications authorities (The Communication Authority of Thailand, or "CAT," and The Telephone Organization of Thailand, or "TOT"). The government has reduced rates rather dramatically; as recently as the mid 1990’s, it cost, during the day (here), roughly 80 baht/minute to direct-dial North America, or about US$3.40/minute. That rate is now in the 60-baht range, but the savings are magnified by the devaluation of the baht -–instead of equaling US$2.40, as it used to do, 60 baht today (late May, 2000) roughy equals US$1.50. Late-night rates dip to well under 1 US dollar per minute. Be aware that some residential places in which one has to use the property’s switchboard to make an international call charge the day rate, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As for the quality, we routinely make international calls, and the signals are loud and clear even on our mobile phones – in Bangkok. Rural areas lag far behind; some villages don’t boast even a single phone. If you have a sound-equipped computer and either a set of headphones or speakers with a microphone, it’s worth noting for anyone interested in telephoning the United States can do so for free, computer-to-phone, using various Internet messenger services. Both Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger offer this feature, as they do a similar feature computer-to-computer (meaning both parties have to have the same software installed), In the case of computer-to-computer voice communications, one can link up globally. Whether connecting to a telephone or to another computer, be aware that the sound quality is rather lower than telephone-to-telephone calls offer. But the price sure is right! As we understand it (and we readily admit we are not attorneys), both of the possibilities described above are illegal in Thailand. Apparently, the authorities have threatened ISP’s if someone accessing the Internet via one of them makes an Internet telephone call or links computer-to-computer, though we’ve heard of no cases. International Driver’s Licenses. These are available locally, but it’s far better for you to get one in your home country. International Money Transfers. [See entry for "Electronic Fund Transfers" above.] International Schools. There are several international schools in Thailand, including several in Bangkok. These are almost always where expatriates place their children, which in most cases is the only truly logical choice; even if the children already speak, understand, read, and write Thai fluently, the Thai education system is greatly different from the systems of many other countries. The international schools are internationally accredited, and issue internationally recognized certificates and diplomas. As far as we know, all follow either the American system or the English/European/Commonwealth system. The Japanese have their own school, adjacent the Japanese Embassy (on the southeast corner of Soi Asoke and Petchaburi Road). Fees for these schools can be costly, and parents have been asked to pay unexpected fees when the school in which their child or children are enrolled experienced financial difficulties. This is not usual, however. Expatriates should try to get the costs of their children’s education covered as part of their employment package. These schools are generally well regarded, particularly the older ones. International Telephones. Bangkok (and the rest of Thailand) has a confusing array of public telephones. Some are for local calls only. Some are for international calls only. Still others are for domestic local and long-distance calls. Yet another is for domestic long-distance only. There are plenty of phones around, at least in the areas of cities in which foreigners are likely to be, but they are often out of service, broken, or vandalized and rendered unusable. If for some reason you don’t want to use the phone in your hotel or living quarters (assuming you have international service there), post offices are the best place to go – many have phone facilities for public use. The main post office in Bangkok offers this service around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. International Telegrams. There are two ways to send telegrams from Thailand: through the telegram service in post offices, and through Western Union – but the latter is found only in Bangkok. All Western Unions are located in Central Department Store branches. Though telegrams are becoming rather anachronistic, Western Union is a good way to receive or send money quickly; generally, either direction the money reaches the receiver’s national Western Union system within a few hours. One drawback to using Western Union is that it offers poor exchange rates; also, it is expensive to send money through it. But if you need to get (or send) money quickly, it's a great service. We’ve not tried the post offices’ services, so are unfamiliar with them. Internet. The Internet is just as much a sensation in Thailand as it is just about everywhere. The infrastructure is improving rapidly, though it still lags behind the infrastructures of Japan, western Europe, and, especially, the U.S.A. In May, 2000 there were proposals floated to censor the Internet, proposals which met instant and strong resistance from the public, business, and the news media. (That effort followed close on the heels of a proposal to censor the media – which ran into equally fierce opposition and ultimately was dropped.) There remain those in government, both holding elective office and employed as civil servants, who are authoritarian in outlook; even at their best, they are paternalistic, genuinely believing they know best – for everybody else. It seems likely that the Internet will remain essentially unfettered, particularly in the current domestic political climate, in which enormous efforts are being put into reforming the political system and instituting true democracy, as opposed to traditional money politics; the Thai populace seems, by and large, pretty much sick and tired of being told by a widely corrupt leadership what to do or not do, and they resent intrusion into the Internet as strongly as they do anything else. Internet Cafes. Unheard of just a few short years ago, and rather slow taking off, since about the beginning of 1999 these have mushroomed throughout Bangkok, and are catching on elsewhere, particularly in more important, larger provincial cities. In Bangkok, prices range from about 1 baht per minute in "sidewalk" Internet cafes (which target mainly students) to around 3 baht a minute in the upscale places; all have a minimum charge, typically ranging between 10 and 20 baht. Some are really cafes, serving food, drink, even alcoholic beverages. One near us even has live music in the evenings. One can sometimes find a lone computer in a restaurant or bar one can use to access the Internet (for a fee, of course). Internet Companies. There are numerous of these – properly called "Internet Service Providers," or "ISP’s" – in Bangkok, and, increasingly, throughout Thailand. The main distinctions between them are reliability of connections and customer support. It’s best to ask around before choosing a service. Alternately, almost all ISP’s services are available by purchasing a CD. You put the CD into your computer’s CD drive and follow the on-screen instructions. One option is to use just the hours on that disk – which vary widely, from 10 to 60 hours of Internet usage time – then to try another ISP’s service, continuing until you find one that satisfies you most. Once you find one that pleases you, you can choose another available option, i.e., to sign up online and to be billed monthly for any hours you use beyond those included in your minimum monthly fee. Many ISP’s have arrangements with banks allowing you to pay your monthly bill at the bank, which is very handy. Interpreters. There are numerous reputable interpreting and translation services available, between numerous languages and Thai. Of course, the more widely spoken languages are the easiest for which to find interpreters – English, Japanese, and Chinese are the easiest. There are specialist interpreters available, too – interpreters schooled and skilled in a particular discipline, such as medicine, or the automotive industry; they, command a premium fee, of course. If you are conducting business with large numbers of ordinary Thais, you will certainly need a competent interpreter, unless you are prepared to make a serious effort to learn at least to speak and understand spoken Thai. The Thai language is tonal, and thus difficult for many foreigners to learn, so in many instances, the service of an interpreter is the only viable solution. Investing in Thailand. Many have, and continue, to invest in Thailand; some have even prospered. A friend of one of the founders of this site passed through Bangkok some years ago and asked what he would do if he (the friend) gave him a check for 10 million American dollars to invest in Thailand; the site founder replied, "Tear it up and give it back to you, and urge you to consider investing elsewhere." This remains our feeling for all but those extremely well-connected locally, extremely knowledgeable not only about international business but about Thai business practices as well, and, perhaps most importantly of all, able to lose every bit of the investment and survive. This comment will not win us friends in Thailand, but until the legal system is reformed and strengthened, and the widespread corruption rooted out, it will remain our stance. Investing here is a very risky gamble, at best. It isn’t unheard of, but for a foreigner to win in a legal battle with a Thai is very, very rare – and is headline news when it happens. We’re not financial counselors, so you can feel free to take our comments with a large dose of salt. But even some well-established and successful foreign business people we know say they doubt they would risk it again. Isaan. This is an important geographic region of Thailand, and is the nation’s Isan. [See entry for "Isaan" above.] Isarn. [See entry for "Isaan" above.] Islam. One of the world’s main religions, the faith established by the Prophet Mohammed well over a millineum ago lives side-by-side with Thailand’s dominant Buddhist faith, and does so, in the main, peacefully. Thai Moslems are generally of a tolerant mind set, utterly unlike, for example, the Taleban of Afghanistan or the conservative authorities in countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia. Estimates vary, but Thai Moslems probably represent about 4-5% of the population. Many Thai Moslems are found in the far south, near neighbouring (and Islamic) Malaysia. One can find fascinating, picturesque Moslem enclaves hidden away in back streets, and it’s worth the effort to ferret them out. |
breadbasket. Located in
the northeast, it is bounded, roughly, by a line going to the Sukhothai area, then east to Laos, angling south there to the Cambodian border, and back
along it then across to Bangkok. In recent years water shortages have hit Isaan farmers badly, and a real crises looms unless normal rainfalls return and
water management and conservation improves. Isaan is also home to some of the oldest sites of human habitation in Thailand.