Visas in the mist: Thai immigration to probe Israeli influx in Pai
Pai, a once-idyllic northern Thai haven for globetrotters, is now at the centre of a simmering scandal as immigration officials gear up to investigate the visa and work permit statuses of Israeli visitors. Complaints about rule-breaking Israelis have stirred up a tropical storm of controversy, prompting officials to act after locals reportedly said “Pai is no ‘promised land’ for Israeli nationals.
The Immigrant Bureau has ordered a full-scale investigation, partnering with local Mae Hong Son police, to ensure visitors are playing by the rules.
Police Colonel Thanathorn Khamthiang, Deputy Commander of Immigration Division 3, made it clear: any Israeli found overstaying their welcome or flouting work restrictions could face the strong arm of the law.
“Tourist visas do not allow for employment in Thailand. We will enforce strict measures against any breaches.”
However, initial findings show no visa overstays among Israeli nationals. Many enjoy the comfort of a 60-day tourist visa, extendable to a 90-day sojourn, plenty of time for leisure but not for labour.
Social media has been awash with wild tales of a supposed Israeli invasion, with whispers of 30,000 entering Mae Hong Son last year.
Col. Thanathorn dispelled these myths, pointing to accurate government statistics: only 1,200 to 1,500 Israelis graced the province each month, maxing out around 3,000 during peak season.
Recently, a gathering for Jewish worship at a local community centre drew between 200 and 300 Israeli nationals but ended law-abidingly, much to officers’ relief.
Yet, it hasn’t all been peaceful. Locals have raised alarms over incidents involving Israeli visitors, including a headline-grabbing episode where four Israeli men brazenly vandalised Pai Hospital’s A&E department. Desperate to see a friend injured in a motorcycle mishap, their actions flouted decorum and legality.
The fallout was swift: each miscreant was slapped with a 3,000-baht fine, their visas cancelled, and a swift ticket home to Israel. In a final blow, they now face a permanent ban from re-entering the Land of Smiles.
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