krey

3 hours ago, thinktoomuch said:

 

Why did you buy the re-entry permit on the way out? Weren't you trying to return and get an extra one year stamp?

 

Perhaps the re-entry permit caused some confusion because that just stops the permission to stay that you already have from being automatically cancelled when you leave the country.

 

It's after you retuned and got your sixth year on the five year visa that you'd need the re-entry permit if you left again.

 

Is the sequence of events you posted correct or did I miss / misunderstand something?

 

ah yes that did sound confusing it has been a while since I did it, I did a post about it in the past

1. I left Thailand in October of 2019 and came back at that point I got the 1 year stamp that brought me to Oct 2020, at that time I was happy with that as I was only planning on staying to the summer of 2020

2. My Thai Elite expired in February of 2020

3. I had one side saying that when the Thai Elite expires (the visa) then I would be on overstay even if I had a permission to stay stamp.  Thai Elite said this, visa agencies said this, some members in forums said this and even some immigration officers said it at the local office in chiang mai.  However, many people were doing it with no problems and some forum members said it was okay etc

4. So I left the day before my visa expired to basically test it out, I asked immigration in Chiang Mai airport if I leave now and return after my Thai Elite visa expires will my permission of stay to Oct 2020 still be vaild, they said it would and I would need a re entry permit because I was coming in on an expired Thai Elite,

5. So basically I was testing out if the permission of stay would work even with a Expired Visa and it turned out it did work, my back up plan was to get a on arrival tourist visa and extend it a couple of times, but did not have to do that.  Then covid hit and cancelled my flights etc and decided it was safer to stay here longer, and it got to a point where I decided I would like to stay another year but Problem now is changing over to a new visa inside the country I am still considered Thai Elite since it was my last valid visa so I got to follow the rules of that particular visa, so it was either buying another one, or leaving the country and coming back and getting a different type, which was and I believe still not possible.

6 hours ago, Big Joke said:

Last year talked to a guy who had just got his 5 year elite. He told me that under his visa sticker is a hand written note in Thai, that was explained by the Elite agent says "Note to immigration. If less than 1 year remains on visa expiry date entry will be only granted until visa expiry date"

If I see him again will try to get copy of this note to translate . English is not his first language so maybe something lost in translation.

yeah I went through all of this at the time.  I heard of the magic 6th year where you could leave and come back just before it expires and you are granted a 6th year.  I talked to my visa agent locally ]that dealt with Thai Elite and they said it cant be done, a=I talked to Thai Elite several times and they said it could not be done,  Funny enough I got a friend to call who was interested in getting the elite and asked him to see what they said about the 6th year and they said no problem, can do for sure, that was also told to me when I bought it , that 6th year no problem and you are on your permission of stay, the visa itself is cancelled and you do not get the elite privledges but you do get that extra time.

Anyway I left country and came back with the assumption if it failed I would just get a tourist visa.  In Chiang mai where I left I got a re entry permit and talked to the local immigration at the airport and they said you can do no problem.. So left and flew back into the country into Bangkok  Gave them my passport and right away got the puzzled look and the no you cannot do, I explained situation and they gave it to another immigration, no can do, then talked to the supervisor and he asked why not get another 5 year elite? explained I did not want to commit to 5 years right now, will be going home this year and might get the elite in the future, then he said okay and stamped it

As with anything it depends who you get at the time, if you can talk your way around it can help to I suppose, unfortunately now though that Thai Elite Visa has stopped me from getting a different type of visa inside the country.  Since the visa is kind of in a classification of its own the old rules still following, you got to leave and come back to reset if you want a different type of visa, like Thai Elite to ED for instance. 

As I mentioned before two months ago they said could stay on Thai Elite within country no problems give us the cash and it take about a month.  The original poster says that cannot be done now, so the question is it that the new rules? or is the OP just talking to someone that really does not know:)  You would think that the country would want those that had the ability to drop 500k to stay in the country, even if it is a temporary visa, knowing that they do have some spending power, your 20 year old backpacker probably does not have 500k to drop, but it seems Expiring Thai Elites are not on the radar. 

Good luck OP and hope you find some option, I spent a good 3 to 4 weeks trying to find one, but now in my acceptance phase of going home.

another amusing side note, I went to several schools seeing if they had an options. I first emailed them with my situation, they say no problem can do for sure, come see us with your passport, I would go there they say they talk to immigration then they come back and say ok we can do for you, but you need to leave country and come back, do you want to get started? and I was like ummm if I leave I can't come back the country is closed? then they all say ah yes that is a problem we cannot help you now then:)  think every school said something similar ????

I just wish they helped out some of the people that are already here, stay:)  but flying out in 2 weeks, been a blast, time to go back home to reality:)

On 8/18/2020 at 7:51 AM, L0cky said:

I finally found some clarity on this, on TE's COVID-19 page:

 

 

As far as I'm aware 'visa expiry' has always meant POS, or the later of visa and POS.

 

Perhaps to you but not the 5 agencies and multiple times I talked to immigration.  My visa expired before march 26th, and did try the extra 6 months but again they said no, sure their might be an immigration officer somewhere that might say yes:) but I am tired of trying to find him/her:) time to go home

On 8/16/2020 at 8:01 PM, L0cky said:

Hey @krey, on the one hand it's nice to finally find some people under similar circumstances (expired TE visa with valid POS), but on the other hand we all seem to be having problems.

 

Where did you see specifically that a PE visa does not qualify for amnesty? This may have serious implications for me as my POS expires in two days, and @BKKTRAVELER whose expired already. It's incredibly difficult to find information for people in our situation so I go by the official signs which typically say 'to ALL foreigners', or separate between short and long term visitors.

 

@ubonjoe When applying for in-country 1 year extensions, PE visa holders are required to tick 'Tourist' as our visa type, and I've read various times that it falls in the category of tourist visa. Though I guess it's difficult to expect ultimate clarity during these times when we may as well have categorised it as a Custard Pie Visa for all it mattered Pre-Covid ????

My visa expired in January so according to the 3 visa agents the amnesty didn't go into effect until March.  They even tried to see if I could get that 6 month Thai Elite extension but yet again that early expiring date.  Was also told that the Thai Elite Visa just was not part of the amnesty at all, in sense of the expiring ones, it was never connected to the new amnesty rules, which kind of makes sense when you think about it.  I think immigration was focusing on all the tourists here and those visas, I doubt Expiring Thai Elite visas even came up (this is just an assumption) so now when people like us inquire they go back to the old rules.  Thai Elite? want to change visa? Leave and come back... which of course does not help at all:)

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

A Elite visa is a category that is unique. It is not a tourist or or non immigrant visa.

Only a visa exempt or tourist visa can be used to apply for a non immigrant visa. Extensions of stay require a non immigrant visa other than a few that can be applied for with a tourist or non immigrant visa.

so sounds like you agree I do not have any longer term options:) beside of course getting the elite again.  ????

1 minute ago, Eibot said:

Just use an agent for a ED visa. Had. Friend who converted his tourist visa into an ED visa in the country. 

 

Money goes under the table. Tit after all. 

the tourist visa is under Amnesty and converting of the tourist visa to ED visa is allowed right now within country.  The Thai Elite is not under Amnesty so the past rules are still applying, meaning to change it i got to leave and come back.  I have gone through at least half a dozen Agents and at first they all say yes you can do it! then when they look into it I get a call saying  I cannot,

So will try to break this down quickly

1. Expired Thai Elite Visa in Feb of 2020

2. Left the country before that so I have a permission of stay stamp until Oct 2020 which I been using to stay

3. Was planing on heading home in the summer but decided to wait it out longer due to COVID World

4. Now looking at options to stay even a bit longer in Thailand like another year visa somehow but not looking good.

1. I can't get an ED Visa and I have tried, been to several schools and they all say the same thing, The reason is an Elite visa is a difference of purpose of visa to enter Thailand. so it's not entitled under the consideration of the Amnesty which is announced by the Thai government.  The MOD says I have to leave the country and come back, but how can I do that haha, since I can't get back in to begin with.  Honestly, if I am going to leave the country for any reason I just go home, was trying to stay in country.  I had no problem with going to school for a while but does not seem like an option

2. Not really up for this volunteer visa option, seems shady, I would just be stressed over it all the time so won't go that route

3. Thai Elite will happily take my money again for 5 years and say I can stay in the country and not have to leave to get a new Thai Elite Visa but that is another 5 years and 500k.  I was planning on heading home eventually I do not want to commit to this visa again at this time

Don't see any options at the moment, it is disappointing that someone on a 3 month tourist visa can switch over to ED Visa within the country but I cannot, but I also realize that when they made these new rules I seriously doubt they thought about what about the people with expiring thai elite visas:)

Of course some people are saying wait and see what they say in Sept.  However, I really can't stick around to what might or might not happen.

Any options out there? or just time to mask up and get in that tin can of an airplane and head on home

Hey all

My GF is in another province at the moment.  She lost her regular internet in her area and they say they can't fix it for 1 to 2 weeks.

I said I pick up an 30 day internet package for her

She says she uses True Move but her brother does everything for her and she has no idea how to top up the sim or pretty much anything else when it comes in regards to her phone, typical:)

I have DTAC, I just go to 7 11 and top up my SIM via online using my phone number then I usually buy a 30 day internet package.

Can I do the same with True Move?  How can I top up her card and do I just use her number and also suggestions on a reasonable internet package?

Thank you

If i wanted to sell my bike in a hurry, understanding I probably wouldn't get the best price

do dealerships buy them? or any suggestions or shops that buy ?  In Chiang Mai

thanks

Moving back home soon and decided to sell my motor scooter

How can I find out what it is worth?

2014 Honda Click Idle Stop Version With the Thicker Tires

30 000 KM on it

Some scratches here and there and the speedometer light does not work (basically means you can't see how fast you are going when it is dark)

Besides that runs well, to regular check ups, oil changes, filters, new battery replaced a few months ago

Also advice on where to try to sell it? which sites etc?

Finally how easy it is to change over to a new owner? I recently got a new registration sticker and insurance just last week, not sure if all that stuff is transferable either.

The bike is in my name.

Thanks

3 hours ago, Mike Teavee said:

This must be a peculiarity of the Thai Elite visa as lots of people use re-entry permits to keep their permission to stay "alive" after their visa has expired, e.g. 

1. People on an OA Visa who leave the country just before it expires & come back to get another 1 year stamp then use re-entry permits if they leave during the 2nd year
2. People on single entry 90-day non-O visas who need to leave Thailand during the 90 days and want to keep their permission to stay "alive"
3. People on multi entry 90 day non-O visas who need to leave the country close to when it expires & come back to get another 90 day stamp then use re-entry permits if they leave during the final 90 days (I did this due to the fact I was working in Singapore at the time so couldn't stay in-country for 2 months until I could do my extension, so entered, got a multi re-entry permit to keep my permission to stay valid for 2.5 months after the visa expired & came in & out 3-4 times during that time on the re-entry permit days before doing my extension - never a word said about mu visa being expired, only thing that matters was permission to stay date which was kept alive by the re-entry permit)  

 

 

 

yes that was one of the defenses that you could do this with the Thai Elite, I had a lot of people telling me I could not do it, including Thai Elite, a visa agency and a local immigration rep at the chiang mai office. Yes I had several people on the forums saying it was possible but It wasn't until the airport in chiang mai where I was told I could do it officially  (was going to try in any case to get the 6th year, I mean might as well) and it was in Bangkok coming in where they approved it after some confusion and uncertainty.  Anyway I got it, just want to let other Thai Elite people that are planning on the 6th year that it might work, might be confusing or might not work at all, hard to say who you will get as an immigration officer when you come back and how flexible or knowledgeable they will be of the rules.

7 hours ago, Maestro said:

No. 5 on your post is correct. Get a re-entry permit before leaving Thailand.

I did of course, and coming back tomorrow for the first time with the expired visa but the good permission to stay stamp with the re entry permit.  I have to admit I am stressed out since I seen so many different answers on my queries on here and outside of the forum.   Hopefully all goes smoothly

Just an update for you guys

So today is the day I am heading out of the country.  Heading to Laos to meet up with a good friend for a few days.

1. My Thai Elite Expires Tomorrow

2. I am flying out Today

My plan was to just go and come back and get the 30 day stamp and then extend it for another 30 days at local immigration then do one more run and go back to Canada in May or so. 

There has been a lot of back and forth if I can stay here longer because in oct 2019 I left the country and came back and got a full year stamp allowing me to stay until Oct 2020.  However, Thai Elite, a couple of visa agencies and one guy at Chiang Mai local immigration said I could not stay with an expired visa, something that has been debated here on this post and probably many others.

So I just got to the airport and of course I decided to see if I could get a re entry stamp and take advantage of staying to October 2020 which is much longer than I need.

1. I went to the re entry permit office (4 officers were there and they all helped me with this)

2. I explained my Thai Elite officially expires tomorrow

3. I explained I have a stamp that allows me to stay in the kingdom until 2020 of october.

4. I asked can I stay in the country if I get a re entry stamp now and come back.  I stressed many times my Visa will be expired when I come back.

5. They all said I can come back, I can stay until October 2020 with no problems, just need to do the 90 day check in and if I want to leave and come back before october 2020 I will of course have to get the re entry stamp once again.

It totally amazes me that everyone has a different answer but it is nice to at least hear the airport staff are the ones saying that this can be done.

Anyway I got the re entry stamp and I am off to Laos, will be back in a few days and will see if I have any problems getting back in to the country.

Thanks!

9 hours ago, BritTim said:

I would personally attempt to get a re-entry permit to keep that permission to stay intact. I would have the visa exempt entry as a backup plan if (as some have reported) Immigration decides the permission to stay past the expiry date of the Elite visa is invalid.

9 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

True. BTW wasn't there a recent release from elite visa reps stating that the "extra year" was possible. Thinking that the elite company was stating the opposite perhaps for business reasons. Surprised that someone with an elite visa and currently on 6th year has not been along to clarify

I do plan to try to get a re entry permit before I leave Chiang Mai, I mean I might as well at least try and use the Visa Exempt as backup.

DrJack54 - in a former post I mentioned how my friend who is also on Thai Elite actually went to their office and he talked to a rep there and she told him that he could stay the 6th year.  So I got that same rep contact information and sent her an email and she told me the exact opposite:) saying I could not do a 6th year.  The old meet you in real life I give you the information that you want to hear so there is no conflict was my friends thoughts on this:)

As I have said in the past the only reason I am concerned on this is I have yet to find anyone actually official say the 6th year is possible, all I have got so far is no from thai Elite, no from two visa agencies and no from 2 Chiang Mai Local immigration officers.

45 minutes ago, BritTim said:

The first visa exempt entry by air should be problem free (though I would definitely have the 20,000 baht cash equivalent with me just in case). I would recommend a friendly land crossing for the second visa exempt entry. Immigration has discretion to deny back-to-back visa exempt entries as a way of extending your stay in Thailand. Officials at some airports have been known to exercise that discretion.

interesting good advice, suggestions on best places to go from Chiang Mai? Mai Sai and Myanmar

12 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I do not have an elite visa however the OP stated he has "until date" stamp Oct 2020.

If he obtains a re-entry permit I can't see why he could not exit re-enter up till that date. If I were him I would do a border bounce prior to expiry of his current elite visa. Hence he will be given new until date upon reentry ~ January 2021. 

Exactly the same as "bonus year" to a O-A

yeah in a way I  have already done my border bounce that as I left in October, if my oct 2020 stamp was 100% legit I be just fine with it, I only wanted to get to May or June.  However, as I have stated It seems risky as only unofficial people (people in this forum) said that I can stay on a expired visa with a good stamp.  Official reps have said the exact opposite.  

To be honest this was the reason I initial got the Thai Elite in the first place, to get away from the uncertainty but it has caught back up with me as the Thai Elite Ends:)

46 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I hope some of the "elite guys" will be along to advise. As for your question re use setv etc. First up you have 2 border exempt entries for 2020. You need plan carefully. Personally I would do my first entry via obtain 30day visa exempt. Then extend. Next obtain setv and extend. Then 2 border ve entries. Both with extensions. 

Something like that. Prior to last border extension try for another setv. If unsuccessful you have the border entry up your sleeve.

hmm I have not had the SETV suggested to me.  You are talking about the 60 day Tourist Visa that you can apply in Laos then extended that for another 30 days?

I am a bit confused

1. You say first to the 30 day exempt and extend (which was my initial plan)  - why not do a 60 day SETV at Laos first?

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

??. Expires end of month. Exit and re-enter prior to expiry and obtain another year

 

yeah I have a whole post about that. I actually have a stamp that goes to Oct 2020.  However Thai Elite, two visa agencies and 2 immigration officers all told me that being in the country on an Expired Thai Elite Visa is considered an overstay even though some people on Thai Visa are on their 6th year with no problems and disagree.  Problem is I can't find anyone official saying that this is still legit.

So I am going the Tourist Visa border runs to get me into the warmer months and would rather have some advice on that.

Hello All, Happy New Year.

So just a background story first.  I have been on the Thai Elite Visa for the last 5 years, living on and off in Thailand and it has been hassle free and worked well for me.  My Thai Elite Visa expires this month and I do not have plans to renew it at this stage.  I plan to head on home to Canada.  However, I am trying to avoid going back to Canada in the dead of Winter so trying to extend my stay here for a few more months. My Plan is as follows

1. Heading to Laos On Jan 20th a couple of days before my visa expires.  (decided on Laos as I got a friend there, going to hang out for 3 days with him)

2. Return to Thailand through Bangkok get my 30 day stamp, then head back to Chiang Mai and get a 30 day extension when that 30 days is almost up

3. Then leave the country again and do the 30 and 30 again,  That will take me into May of this year and I will head back to Canada.

So questions I have are the following:

1. I been told that doing two border runs in the same calendar year is pretty safe, probably won't get flagged, that correct?

2. Should I bring 20 000 Baht each time I come back into the country for these two border runs?

3. Should I buy a departure plane ticket as well to show to immigration if they ask for it or do you think they will request it?

4. If I should buy a departure plane ticket can I get the ticket for after the 30 day extension , just explain to the immigration officer that I plan to extend my visa after the 30 days then head out or should I be buying a throw away plane ticket for only 30 days after.

Just wanted to make sure I am prepared for anything and could use your advice.

Thanks All