Quote Originally Posted by sjaak327
Quote Originally Posted by Chao Na
Kind of puts all the griping about Thai immigration requirements for farangs in perspective, don't ya think?
At first sight, yes, but looking a little bit further, once you have obtained provisional stay, you can work (without workpermit, and no restricted occupations), you can own land, you can even vote (for instance for the city council).

So even though the initial hurdle is much bigger, once you're in, you are treated as a proper citizen.
Get real! A farang can come to Thailand without any qualifications whatsoever, and stay forever as a visa runner without any qualifications whatsoever.

"Once they've obtained provisional stay"....don't make me laugh. It's hard enough for a Thai just to get to most Western countries as a simple tourist. The hurdles they must jump to be able to stay there permanently are extremely daunting.

How many farangs do you know who would be able to pass a Thai equivalent (in Thai, of course) of the test that Thais must take to obtain permission for provisional stay? Don't make me laugh.