The simplest way to clear out expats
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I always enjoy Eric Bahrt, but his latest missive shows signs of personal insecurity. Not for the first time, he accuses "them" (political parties, junta toadies or whoever) of wanting expat critics to get out of Thailand.
At least 75 per cent of expats are on one-year retirement visas, unable to qualify in most cases for the more problematical work permit or language-study visa or permission to stay long-term based on marriage to a Thai. The retirement visa is very easy to obtain as long as you are aged 50 or over and have an income or bank balance of Bt800,000, or can borrow same. It could hardly be more straightforward.
If some invisible hand in Thailand wanted to clear the ranks of complaining expats, this would be the visa to cancel or make more difficult to obtain by upping the cash minimum. Unless and until that happens, it’s probably best to steer clear of conspiracy theories. But if I’m wrong, Eric, see you at the airport check-in.
Barry Kenyon
