krey

Just an update

So I went to a Visa Agency today in Chiang Mai trying to get an idea if this 6th year is possible.

I talked to the rep there about how I am getting back and forth answers on if I can stay past my expiry date on a visa if I have a yearly stamp that covers me.  I explained how some reps were saying I could, I explained that some Elite Members are on their 6th year and doing this.

She called Her Boss first - who confirmed what Thai Elite was saying that I can only stay up to the date of the visa expiry it does not matter what the yearly stamp date is.

she called Thai Elite Though I told her not to bother as I already knew what they were going to say, which was the exact same thing as her boss said.

She then called her immigration rep at Chiang Mai immigration and that rep also said that one could not stay past the expiry date on the visa, even if the yearly stamp goes past.

I am not fluent in Thai but I could understand a lot of the phone conversations and it seems like she was asking legitimate questions on the phone.  She says the people that are doing the 6th year might be slipping through due to the inexperience of the immigration officers in regards to the Thai Elite but officially you are considered overstay after your Thai Elite Visa Expires. Actually her first response was she was surprised they have not been charged:)

So none of this makes me confident in the 6th year.  As I started before I am only looking to get to the summer months so I can return back to Canada in the warmer months.  So unless something changes drastically where I can get some solid proof that I am allowed to stay I will stick to doing a couple of border runs.  I hear I can leave get 30 days, extend that 30 days, leave again get 30 days, extend 30 days and even do one more land border Mae Sai for one last 30 days if I need it. 

I want to believe I can stay  on the year stamp but besides some posts of people on here saying they are doing it I can't get anything official to prove it.  I also do eventually want to come back to Thailand perhaps on the Thai Elite once again and do not want to mess things up having a overstay tacked on my record.

I thank everyone on here that has supplied info and I will continue to monitor this post, perhaps there is something else I can do that others will suggest, but as of right now I am just not Trusting the whole process.

5 minutes ago, MeePeeMai said:

 

This is a bit strange. 

 

The rules are that one cannot get an Elite Visa if he/she has any record of overstay (even just one day from what I understand) and they admit that by saying "but he also could not affix Thailand Elite Visa due to overstaying record"... then they contradict themselves by saying "So he had to leave the country and affix a new Elite visa upon arrival."

 

This does not make sense.  If he had an overstay record then why was he allowed to leave and re-enter and then get a new Elite Visa sticker?

 

Oxymoron?

yeah I heard about this as well.  My friend had a 3 day overstay once on record.  Thai Elite refused to let him get a Elite Visa with that 3 day overstay on his record.

As a side note, when I got my Thai Elite visa 5 years ago, one of the selling features of the agent at the time I was talking to was I could stay into the 6th year (of course with no elite benefits), though nothing was every put on paper saying so, was just like everyone is saying, you can leave before it expires and get the stamp. 

On 11/22/2019 at 4:52 AM, ukrules said:

Thailand Elite - This will not go away. You fix this problem of the lies or it will start appearing in news papers.

I have no idea who Thai Elite is getting the information from at immigration if they are at all.  I just know that the three people I have talked to via Email (three different Thai Elite Reps) have all sent this same email , one of them was a manager as I asked to speak to someone higher up the chain at the time.   I also emailed the rep back that sent me the last email asking her why she told my friend he could stay on his 6th year and I could not, no answer of course as of yet (4 days).

I got an meeting with a Thai Visa agency on Nov 26th, will update what they have to say.

I was curious can one set up a meeting with someone at immigration directly? like at Chiang Mai Immigration so I can hear it from an actual person at immigration and not through third parties such as the agencies or Thai Elite?   I would be curious on that.

I told my friend who is also on the Thai Elite about how the 6th year was kind of up in the air if it is legit or not.  He actually went down to the offices and talked to the rep there and she said that you can stay the 6th year to him and then he came back to me and said See you can do it?  I asked him for the reps contact information so I could email her and ask her the same question.  She came back with the No you cannot stay - Overstay this was two days after she just told another member he could stay.  She then copied and pasted the same email I have seen 3 or 4 times now, as seen below.  Seems this is their standard response email to the question now.  Next week I have an opponent with a Thai Visa Company going to see if I can get to the bottom of it , I only want to stay 3 or 4 more months and am hoping to avoid border hoping during those times but not confident on the 6th year right now  Here is the email below

Thailand Elite visa will automatically expire no later than the expiry date of your membership. The Government Relations Department usually sends the list of the member whose membership has expired to the immigration office.

Having the entry stamp that is over your membership expiration. We are afraid that you will be considered as 'overstay' in the immigration record after we send the abovementioned official letter to them. There is very little chance that immigration considers this as their mistake, but they will most likely consider this as your false.

Similar cases like this have happened before. The most recent one was last month. One of our renewed members got the arrival stamp from Suvarnabhumi Airport, but he had an appointment to affix the new visa at Chaeng Wattana Immigration. On the appointment date, the immigration officer checked the record and found that this member had overstayed since his membership expired. Not only he had to pay for the overstay, but he also could not affix Thailand Elite Visa due to overstaying record. So he had to leave the country and affix a new Elite visa upon arrival. We tried to negotiate with the immigration but they refused and the reason they gave us was that member should know well about his membership expiry date (which is the end of the Thailand Elite Visa).

We would like to clarify because we do not want you to have any problem which might be caused you overstay or accidentally if over 90 days, you will be banned by immigration for 1 year.

Should you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact us any time.

2 hours ago, ukrules said:

Hold on a minute - 'Star Visa' - what is this?

 

I got my visa directly from Thailand Elite, maybe this explains why I didn't receive the email as it comes from some agency?

 

Don't confuse anything some third party for profit visa agency says with the official word from Thailand Elite.

the email telling me about the overstay came directly from Thai Elite.  They even mentioned that Star Visa (which is just a visa agency in Chiang Mai that helps them out) are unaware of how the process works.  Thai Elite is saying that Star Visa statement on how I am allowed to stay on an expired visa is incorrect because they do not understand the process fully.

sorry for the confusion

1 I got my Thai Elite directly from Thai Elite the very first time.

2. I

3 hours ago, lupin said:

Unless you were very articulate in what you wanted at the border... an IO would likely stamp you in under the extension of stay of the Elite Visa anyway (unless you are already in the 6th year, which would require a re-entry permit before doing the bounce). If you were in the 6th year already... you could bounce without the re-entry permit which voids the permitted to stay under the elite visa... which then means you'd come in on exemption (or could go get a 60 day TR and come in on that then extend 30 days at CW)

I have the year stamp already, it will expire in October 2020.  I have no plans on leaving the country until it is time to go back to Canada which is up in the air on when at the moment. I would leave around May or June if I felt like this stamp could be used, if I can't use this stamp like Thai Elite is telling me in fears of overstay then I will either go home in February or do a couple tourist visa border runs to get my by.

Sorry for the confusion on the Star Visa.  Star Visa is just a visa agency company here in Chiang Mai.  For the 90 day reports I just give them my info and they take care of it for free under the Thai Elite agreement.  I used to do it myself but started having issues with the online and when they introduced the service in Chiang Mai for members I just took advantage of it to save me going to immigration myself.  They actually told me during my last 90 day that I could stay even with the visa expired, only Thai Elite themselves are the ones saying I would be on overstay at  this time. 

I did not buy the Thai Elite Visa from Star Visa, I got the Thai Elite directly from the company coming into Bangkok.

1 hour ago, lupin said:

If you were/are definitely going to re-new in future (say at the end of the 6th year)... then it is at that point that you are more likely going to get discovered as being in overstay since it is at that point that you'd be dealing with EPL staff at changwattana.

 

I see no advantage in trying to get a 6th year for free instead of re-newing now - you get the 4% discount, which you would NOT get if you tried to buy new membership again at the end of your "free/6th" year.

 

The other side of the coin,  if you had no plan to re-new at the end of the 6th year... then you would likely have no issues with that 6th year. But I dont want to suggest one course of action over another since I'm convinced that as far as TE are concerned, you are in overstay at that point and although IO officers may not ever pick up on it, the potential exists that some eagle-eye IO will.

 

 

yeah I hear what you are saying, my plan was to go home to Canada though but was hoping to go home in the summer instead of the winter so I was looking for options to stay a little longer.  I might do the Thai Elite in the future but it won't be for at least another full year perhaps longer so I did not want to commit to 500 000 Baht when I am unsure.  I mean I can still do the 2X border run where I get 30 days, extend, then go again get 30 days, then extend which will get me to the warmer months but I was hoping to avoid the border runs if this stamp could get me through to April, May June type dates

1 hour ago, lupin said:

Ayep... and I've had several very long conversions with different EPL staff at CW who have said exactly the same. I've not tried to make any recommendations at all, but I do think it is irresponsible to claim Thailand Elite (essentially TAT) dont know what they are talking about, or that they are lieing to sell more memberships and that it is fine to completely ignore them... which could potentially put you in overstay.

 

 

yeah this is exactly where I did not want to be, Uncertainty . 

I got the same email that someone else posted here from them

"

"

Thai Elite still saying I can't stay past the date, telling me that the immigration probably not aware of the visa expiration date when they gave me the year stamp

hey guys

Just an update on my situation

I did leave and come back and got a new Stamp.  Thai Elite told me 75% I would not get a year stamp but only up to my expire date in Feb 2020.  Well I got a full year stamp until Next Oct 2020.  so I guess I was one of the lucky 25% haha or they just said this to try to get me to get another membership, not really sure. 

All I want is to get to the summer so I can go home to Canada in the warmth and perhaps get the Thai Elite again in the future but was not sure when I would be back so didn't want to commit.

I asked the immigration girl that stamped me can I stay until Oct 2020 even though my Thai Elite Visa expires in Feb 2020 and she said yes.  She then said if you want to leave the country and come back though you need to get a re entry permit as the Elite benefits are all gone in Feb.  I do not plan to leave  but nice to know.  Anyway I think this is good it will save me a couple border runs which I was hoping to avoid.

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

CNX/Saigon not so cheap any more now AirAsia have dropped the route, Vietjet want 4,800bht return.

DaNang or Hanoi are now usually the cheapest at around 2,500bht return.

cool thanks for the info

12 hours ago, La Migra said:

I know these are hypothetical dates, but just in case the IO decides not to stamp you in for another 365 .... don't cut it too close to the end of your visa.

yes plan a small trip in December, as I only need to get to the summer months before I head back to Canada, so April, may June  are good to be able to extend to it possible. 

Last Thai Elite Rep told me I had a 75% chance not to get a 365 stamp ???? from a Thai Official at immigration.    Sure would be nice one day to be able to enter Thailand and be sure on what is going to happen:)

yeah i read quite a few posts seems to be a lot of back and forth on if it actually worked.I just talked to Elite again was a bit more aggressive on my chat now they are saying yes it is possible I might get another 365 days but it would be up to the immigration officer, some might not give it ha:) now I am starting to remember why I went to the Elite in the first place, to get away from all this randomness and uncertainty, it was a good stress free 5 years anyway:)

if anyone on the Elite has actually done the 6th year I would love to talk to you about it.

8 minutes ago, Tayaout said:

What counts is the entry stamp with the 1 year permission of stay not the date on the visa. If you need to travel during that period you will need a re-entry permit to maintain the permission of stay on your stamp since the visa is expired. 

wow so I can even leave and come back as long as I get a re entry permit as well.  Looks like a trip out of the country is in order than so I can get this 1 year stamp, that will definitely take me into the summer Canada months.

so just to understand here

Lets say I have a Expiry date of Feb 1 2020

I leave on January 25th and come back on January 27th

I have a new year stamp that states I can stay in the kingdom until Jan 27 2021

However I have an expired Thai Elite Visa of Feb 1 2020

So it ok to be here on an expired visa, I guess the year stamp and the actual visa get me a little confused on how it works and what is considered correct.

Because I much rather leave before my expiry date and come back and get a year stamp that would give me a lot more time obviously to get things in order ( I presume you can't leave at all during that last year as once you come back it would be completely void the visa that is)

Thanks guys for helping me out

18 minutes ago, jackdd said:

If you re enter before your Elite visa expires you get another year, so about 6 in total

yeah I thought about this as well as it was something that was talked about several times.  When I brought it up with Thai Elite they said that this would not work, that my visa expires  Feb 2020 and thats it, I can't do a slip out and come back just before it expires.    At least that is what the last two reps have said to me. I would love to hear if someone has actually extended to the 6 year somehow as an actual fact.  They told me that I would not get a one year stamp but instead it would be a stamp up to the day of my expired visa date

Hello Everyone

So I have been on the Thai Elite for the last 5 years.  I have not been here the full five years but Thailand (Chiang Mai the last 3 years) has been my home basically with visits to Canada to see the family every year.  Well The Elite Visa is expiring in Feb 2020.  I do not plan to renew it at the point.  Decided it is time to head back to Canada for a while to be with my family and give Thailand a break for a while.

However, I prefer not to head back to Canada in the dead of winter, rather go back in April or May so I am looking to extend my stay here in Chiang Mai just a little bit longer, hopefully 3 or 4 months.  I was looking for suggestions on doing so.  I was thinking leaving to a neighboring country (please suggest from Chiang Mai) get a 30 day then extend it at the local immigration for another 30 days.  I then here you can do this one more time in a calendar year, so I would leave again, get 30 day and extend it at local immigration.  Then by that time it will be warmer and I can head on back to Canada.

I been out of the Visa game for a while since I been on the Elite so am looking for suggestions on how best to extend my stay, which countries would be best to go to as I know some are problematic with visas or of course a better way to extend it.

Thanks all

these are all questions on why I wanted to get actually clarification on, that is why I made this post.  I have done a lot of research on this and there are

often two sides on what is suppose to be correct.  I had a feeling this post would turn into a discussion but what  Ireally wanted was to get in touch with someone in Chiang Mai that had stronger knowledge of the system, credible tax lawyer, accountant etc.

I have also read about 180 days thing.  Say I made 50 000 on rental properties in my country and I brought 20 000 of that money into Thailand such as transferring it to a Thai bank or withdrawing it from a foreign credit card, from my understanding that if you do this the same tax year you earned it you need to be taxed on that 20 000 dollars.  However, the other 30 000 if you carry that over to the next year that is not taxed.  And yes that brings up the question on can't you just live on the money you have made in past years, but how do you actually prove that?  Not like I can call my bank and say hey can only send me the money I made in 2015 this year.. should i open another account, or just having proof of a half decent amount in your bank is enough.

I have also seen in my research that for foreigners that only money made inside of Thailand is taxed, and the money outside is not.. I get two sides of every story from researching on the internet that is why I wanted to find someone who can explain how it works so I can make educated decisions on how to approach it in the future.

Hi,

Just looking for someone in Chiang Mai that would be a good place to go to ask question about the tax system for personal taxes

might start bringing in some investment money in and I know one is suppose to be taxed on money coming in if over 183 days in Thailand.  I know many

don't bother and such but in the new year I might be bringing in some and would rather do it by the books so looking for a company in Chiang mai that

has a good rep for tax advice, doing personal taxes, has half decent English Skills etc.

Thanks all

When it was still "Touch" I paid 18.5k for year.

21,000 a year now. Went and checked yesterday

Go Gym is 5900 a year. A big price difference for a sauna, steam room and air conditioning

Am curious if the gym is owned by the same guy, I see most of the same staff in those yellow shirts when I went to Maya. I went to Maya for a while because it was close, but moved on to Harris for the following reasons

1. Maya had way to many staff there was like 20 staff in there all the time and like 3 people working out, eating, sitting on benches, playing games,

2. Price was too much really for what was offered and then they came out with some buy 2 months but get 3 but the 2 months was more expensive then how much i was paying for 3

3. Not enough free weight equipment at one time there was only one flat bench and not very many plates, pretty much useless for a power lifter, he have to take all the plates in the place and still might not have enough

not sure what happened to people's touch memberships as I quit the gym before it changed, be curious to see what it looks like in the future

yes 100 a year but you got to pay it all up front the first year at 500k, there is no payment plans

I would ask them as well, they have an email and are very helpful

My friend switched from Student to Elite and he did not have to fly out of the country to do it

but he did have to go to BKK as they would not do it in any other provinces.

If they do make you leave and come back , it is true that one of the reps will meet you at the airport and help you with everything such as going to the special elite thai visa line and they will do all the talking and work for you... If you are coming in and dropping 500 000 baht on an Elite I would not be worried about immigration not letting you in due to your extension.. of course before you do all this you have to talk to Elite, and also before you can be in the program they will need a copy of your passport to do a criminal check on you of some sorts not sure if it is just within Thailand or if they contact your own country...