Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Business Visas. We are specifically discussing Business Visas, applications for Business Visas, applications for conversion of Business Visas as well as just standard application for Business Visa. 

I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com. I urge those watching this video, go check out that article in detail, a lot of good information there. I'm just going to quote an excerpt. Quoting directly from the article titled: 100 Cops to be charged over illegal visas. "The 110 IB Officers were reported to have committed criminal conspiracy by setting up firms that process Visa applications for foreigners, especially for Chinese Nationals who travel to Thailand with a Tourist Visa but go on to get Non-Immigration Visas without meeting the necessary business or volunteer criteria." 

So this is very noteworthy insofar as one, it looks like Business Visa applications are being increasingly scrutinized and two, it looks like this may be a new trend going into 2023. As we discussed in other videos specifically pertaining to this article, I said in those videos "hey this article is noteworthy!” I kind of stepped back when I read it and did not really report on it, discuss it yet because I wanted to digest it all. There are a lot of ramifications here. I think we could be looking at a fundamental change in paradigm within Thai Immigration for the moment, at least for the immediately foreseeable future. So again those who are looking for Business Visas, this is something to think about. Also bear in mind, issues pertaining to conversion to Business Visa status in the Kingdom are not going to be treated as they were under COVID. The Emergency Decree is over; Immigration Officials do not have the same discretion that they had during the promulgation and ultimately the tenure of the Decree. Now we are kind of reverting back to what we saw in March of 2020 and that is an Immigration System that does not particularly, in fact it does not really at all encourage conversion to Business Visa in country; in fact it discourages it. It likes to see people do a Visa Run, go out of the country, get their visa sorted and then return to Thailand. 

So again, this is one of those situations where we are kind of in a fluid situation, we are moving into I think a situation where there is going to be heightened scrutiny associated with Business Visas, so just kind of bear that in mind. We will certainly keep you updated on this channel as the situation evolves.