BRITONS and Germans dominate the long-stay visas issued by Phuket Immigration to expats on the island, just-released figures reveal. However, Germans appear less inclined to seek work on Phuket.
Between January 1, 2009 and August 25 this year, a total of 12,946 long-stay visas were issued on Phuket, according to statistics made available to Phuketwan. Of these, 1972 (15.23 percent) were British and 1044 (8.06 percent) were German.
Americans with 938 (7.24 percent), French with 794 (6.13 percent) and Australians with 699 (5.40 percent) make up the rest of the top five.
In all, people from 119 different countries reside on Phuket on long-stay visas. Positions six to 25 are filled by citizens from the following countries, with percentage in brackets: 6. Philippines, 694 (5.36); 7. Italy, 584 (4.51); 8. Switzerland 520 (4.01); 9. Sweden 515 (3.98); 10. South Korea 437 (3.37); 11. Japan 386 (2.98); 12. Burma 383 (2.96); 13. China 330 (2.55); 14. India 318 (2.46); 15. Canada 292 (2.25); 16. Russia 241 (1.86) 17. Denmark 227 (1.75); 18. Netherlands 196 (1.51); 19. New Zealand 188 (1.45); 20. Norway 185 (1.43); 21. Belgium 146 (1.13); 22. Nepal 138 (1.07); 23. Austria 125 (.97); 24. Malaysia 118 (.91); 25. South Africa 119 (.90).
A long list of countries have just one person with a long-stay visa. These include Ghana, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Panama, Seychelles, Liberia, Estonia, Brunei, North Korea, Curacao, Mauritania, Greece, Maldives, Georgia, Chad, El Salvador, Cuba, Costa Rica and Morocco.
Statistics on work permits issued to June 30 this year have Britain on 876, US on 343, France on 331 and Germany on 313. The rest of the top 10 is the Philippines (305) Australia (280) Sweden (236) Korea (229) Japan (153) and China (151.) The total of 5327 covers 2786 for Phuket City, 1742 for Kathu (including Patong) and 799 for Thalang. A total of 5051 work permits are regarded as short-term, with 161 ''investment'' work permits and 115 in other categories.
Between January 1, 2009 and August 25 this year, a total of 12,946 long-stay visas were issued on Phuket, according to statistics made available to Phuketwan. Of these, 1972 (15.23 percent) were British and 1044 (8.06 percent) were German.
Americans with 938 (7.24 percent), French with 794 (6.13 percent) and Australians with 699 (5.40 percent) make up the rest of the top five.
In all, people from 119 different countries reside on Phuket on long-stay visas. Positions six to 25 are filled by citizens from the following countries, with percentage in brackets: 6. Philippines, 694 (5.36); 7. Italy, 584 (4.51); 8. Switzerland 520 (4.01); 9. Sweden 515 (3.98); 10. South Korea 437 (3.37); 11. Japan 386 (2.98); 12. Burma 383 (2.96); 13. China 330 (2.55); 14. India 318 (2.46); 15. Canada 292 (2.25); 16. Russia 241 (1.86) 17. Denmark 227 (1.75); 18. Netherlands 196 (1.51); 19. New Zealand 188 (1.45); 20. Norway 185 (1.43); 21. Belgium 146 (1.13); 22. Nepal 138 (1.07); 23. Austria 125 (.97); 24. Malaysia 118 (.91); 25. South Africa 119 (.90).
A long list of countries have just one person with a long-stay visa. These include Ghana, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Panama, Seychelles, Liberia, Estonia, Brunei, North Korea, Curacao, Mauritania, Greece, Maldives, Georgia, Chad, El Salvador, Cuba, Costa Rica and Morocco.
Statistics on work permits issued to June 30 this year have Britain on 876, US on 343, France on 331 and Germany on 313. The rest of the top 10 is the Philippines (305) Australia (280) Sweden (236) Korea (229) Japan (153) and China (151.) The total of 5327 covers 2786 for Phuket City, 1742 for Kathu (including Patong) and 799 for Thalang. A total of 5051 work permits are regarded as short-term, with 161 ''investment'' work permits and 115 in other categories.
I support the idea of long-stay visas. Although i am retired and have the paperwork to support it, at 47 I am too young to get a 'geezer Visa'. Every three months its a visa run that takes money out of the thai economy instead of me spending the money here.
Also - what's the point of going to Ranong, crossing to Burma for 30 minutes and coming back - it's a complete waste of time and money, achieving nothing other than another 90 days in country. When you multiply this by the number of people doing visa runs, this is a fairly substantial sum.
The other problem is the inconsistency of the regs and some things seem to be up to the whim of an individual immigration officer. Time for a root and branch review of the situation to simplify things.
Posted by Mister Ree on August 30, 2010 19:13