@Shane *******

kind of agree. If you are going to learn the national anthem, you should be doing so and understanding the words, or else it is simply memorizing words as you said.

many expats who live and work in Thailand also have proper visas and have gone through the correct channels. Honestly, like Istvan says, it’s the abuse of the Ed visa system that has made it harder for people who truly want to come here to study, to be able to do so

@Chris ****

There were times when you could live in this country on unlimited border runs or tourist visas or on Ed visas that weren’t actually ever used for learning. I’m not knocking it, I lived here for 2 years on tourist visas and no one said anything, those days seem to be changing and I had to adjust my visa status accordingly…Not really sure where naivety fits into it..it’s not far fetched to believe that things aren’t as lax as they once were…I also honestly don’t see why anyone should feel it is unfair or surprising that anyone on an Ed visa would be asked to show proof of hours studied per week. Yes, it’s been lax for years but..if you are here on a marriage visa, you have to prove you are married to a Thai right? Same with a B visa, you must be….working…

Wow, the nerve of the immigration folks. It's almost as if they are trying to make sure people are using the visa for what it was intended for!

Charles Meyersevery single elite visa holder is a business holder? Maybe, but they would only be owners of a foreign non Thai based business with income generated outside the kingdom…in this case, labor and immigration turns a blind eye, but The elite visa is basically a long term glorified tourist visa. If you want to actually work in the country and pay taxes on an income earned in Thailand, your only actual legal option is a Non B.

exactly

I think what they are trying to do is avoid having people "Live'' here indefinitely by doing border runs or staying on tourist visas. If you get a job or get married/have a child/are retired, or invest in an Elite visa it's really no issue staying long term. Coupled with the abuse and misuse of the system over the years, also with many people who get Ed Visas and don't actually study, they kind of are cleaning 'house'. I don't necessarily agree with it, but t at the end of the day it's a privilege and not a right to stay in this country as a non Thai citizen. For years many people got away with living here long term on methods that weren't actually designed for such a thing. I mean, look at all the people who stayed for two plus years on Covid extensions...Think about your home country, most likely you have to either be married, be sponsored by family or have a job lined up in order to immigrate in the first place. Many western countries don't even have a retirement visa option, and forget trying to live in Europe/USA/Canada/Aus etc on a tourist visa....why should the Thai laws be any different?

Just dig in. I find a lot of falangs will talk about the tones and how they have mastered them and when you hear them speak Thai, they just speak it monotone anyway.

@Chris ****

the old cliches are often valid

There are plenty of countries that are happy to have foreigners invest in, open businesses, own land etc…Cambodia looks more and more enticing as the days go by