wasabi

It is not a bad idea as long as it is not built or maintained by Thai people.

In an era of artificial intelligence and self-driving cars (flying cars soon) Thailand wishes to open a casino. I think they should start with better education and a greater focus on intellectual rigor than casinos.

1 hour ago, xenophon said:

I agree with you. However these emails do make me nervous. I have had a 20 year Elite Superiority Extension for a few years now., am happy with it and see no need to change.

I hope that I can continue to simply use that. What do you think?

The precedent up to now, as another poster mentioned, is for current visa holders to be grandfathered into their various visa schemes. Thailand Privilege can try to entice us with new schemes, but all visa holders have signed contracts with them which should prevent them from requiring us to change. There was a brief period around 2008 when Thailand Elite nearly went bankrupt and there was uncertainty if the scheme would endure but even then, no one was forced to give up their rights to the visa because the government stepped in and supported the program.

2 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I hold the same membership which is life time and can be sold on for 30 years (S.E. Visa - 5 years validity each time, renewable for life, but have to do 90 day extensions, its a bit weird)....  I didn't know it could be sold on for a 20 year P.E Visa.

 

How much did you buy your memberships for (2nd hand) ?

 

I've always been lowballed by offers in the past and never sold mine on.

 

Once we elected to change from SE to PE visas, we were briefly converted to the SE and then the PE visas. It was not possible to go straight from the lifetime version to PE, but the process was done seamlessly on our end. My wife and I retain the right to sell our visas one time, but the next person would only receive our remaining years. We have no plans to sell them.

Thailand Privilege has a flat rate they charge for eligible transfers, and that fee is non-negotiable. I don't remember what portion of the total we paid that was. Whoever is selling the visas sets their own rates in addition to the flat rate. The couple were eager to return to Russia, which affected our price. We purchased both visas for a total price of 1.5 million THB (which included the couple's fee and the Thailand Elite fee) That was an exceptional deal as far as I can tell, given that the Priority extension, 20-year visas were 1 million THB each at the time, which itself was a good deal too. At the time, the Elite Ultimate Privilege (EUP) visas, which is what we now have, were 2 million each. So that's a 2.5 million THB savings. One other detail is we were required to pay in cash which was a little odd but not a big deal since the transaction took place at Bangkok Bank.

I was ignorant about how all of this worked until I discovered the secondhand visas on the website BahtSold.com. At first, I thought my wife and I would be getting lifetime visas, too, and did not expect any further benefit. We were lucky to have a very knowledgeable Thailand Elite Staff member who explained all the options clearly. Once I understood everything, I realized this was the best deal I'd get, and we went for it. I had not planned on receiving the "benefits" and likely would not have paid extra for them, but my wife and I enjoy them immensely, so it all worked out in the end.

7 hours ago, schweizer said:

Many years ago the Elite visa was without an end date, when they brought out the previous visa they tried to get them to change to a 20 year limited visa, not popular

 

now they are trying to get people to move to the new visa, shorter life, more costs

 

I believe the Americans call this a "no brainer"

My wife and I purchased our Thailand Elite visas from a couple who had the lifetime TE visas and were leaving Thailand. Some classes of the visa then and now can be resold. Thailand Elite told us we could obtain a 30-year Special Entry visa or a 20-Year Privilege Entry visa. At first it seemed like a "no-brainer" to go with the Special Entry version but that required not only 90-day reporting but 90-day extensions as well. That'd involve getting our photo taken, paying the 1900 THB fee, and going to immigration or leaving and reentering Thailand every 90 days in addition to 90-day reporting.

Thailand does not offer their visa concierge services for 90-day reporting with the SE version. However, the 20-year PE version comes with yearly extensions and the various concierge services.  One last wrinkle is with the SE family visas we had to choose a primary member. If that member died then the other would lose their visa. The PE version does not have that restriction either. Basically, they really wanted to get people away from the SE versions of the visa and due to the hassle, the SE visas would have caused us we elected to go with the 20-year version. These are equal to the EUP class that has massages and transfer service etc. but cost us less than the 20-year superiority extension would have so that was the "no-brainer" for us.

3 hours ago, MrBanks said:

I also received the email from them.

I bought the 20 year visa for 1 million baht, I don’t see anything in the upgrades that interests me, or justifies the increased cost.

The one thing that I am unclear of, is where we stand regarding the change in income tax, I bought my visa, in great part because of this:

”Tax exemption on any income earned outside Thailand” direct quote from their website (at the time I was applying) https://thailand-elite.com/thailand-residence-visa-ltr-visa-vs-elite-visa-comparison/

I understand (hearsay only), that in the past when they changed the benefits, if an existing one was taken away from the new “offer”, it was left “grandfathered in” for the people who had bought the visa with that benefit.

I am trying to find out if that is the case, regarding tax, do you have any insight on this?

I'm fairly sure that the link you've shared is not for the official Thailand Elite visa site even though at first glance it looks like it is. I believe that it's from a vendor wishing to act as an agent selling the visas (who may now be defunct). This is the official site. https://www.thailandprivilege.co.th/ I've read some people who said they were promised tax advantages by having the Thailand Privilege visa. I would certainly like that but I've never seen or been offered that myself.

14 hours ago, Caldera said:

They've clearly lost the plot with their new offers, I'm curious what's next.

It was already confusing having the old Special Entry and newer Privilege Entry Thailand Elite tiers with each having their own benefits and quotas to use them (sometimes unlimited). Now, adding a point scheme and new tiers does not add value, only more confusion. I've felt that my benefits with Thailand Elite are similar to those I get with my credit card for simply having it. These benefits were easy to understand and use. The point system makes it seem like they want to be somewhere between an airline, hotel chain and visa concierge service. The duck-billed platypus of visas. If they wanted to enhance value, they should've found a way to get rid of 90 day reporting for holders of the visa in the same manner the LTR visa holders do not need to bother with that annoying process.

I am certain it is not. Because I saw brochures mentioning the same new tiers at their Headquarters. The email is from them and the website is https secure.

I recently got an email from Thailand Privilege pointing me to the following link.

Membership Upgrade Information (thailandprivilege.co.th)

In the email, I was told I had the "opportunity" to upgrade.

As a valued member of Thailand Privilege Card, you can consider upgrading your membership to a new card scheme to experience endless benefits and privileges from hundreds of vendors that fit your lifestyle.

They further stated regardless of choosing to upgrade or not, all tiers would change names as follows:

The current members in Elite Ultimate Privilege, Elite Family Premium, Elite Superiority Extension, Elite Family Alternative, Elite Privilege Access, Elite Family Excursion, Elite Easy Access, and Lifetime members have the option to remain in the same categories and enjoy their current benefits.

However, there will be an automatic card name change as follows:

•Elite Easy Access Card will change to “Gold Elite Easy Access Card”
•Elite Family Excursion Card will Change to “Gold Elite Family Excursion Card”
•Elite Family Alternative Card will change to “Platinum Elite Family Alternative” Card
•Elite Privilege Access Card will change to “Platinum Elite Privilege Access Card”
•Elite Superiority Extension Card will change to “Platinum Elite Superiority Extension Card”
•Elite Ultimate Privilege Card will change to “Diamond Elite Ultimate Privilege Card”
•Elite Family Premium Card will change to “Diamond Elite Family Premium Card”
•Lifetime Card will change to “Diamond Lifetime Card”

Other than the initial fee I paid to purchase my visa, I don't pay any recurring fees for my visa and am happy with my current benefits. But I was curious, so I followed the link which opens as a PDF that lists the tiers and upgrade options. All come with costs and recurring fees beyond what I currently (don't) pay. They mention "endless benefits and privileges", but I don't see any such thing in the documents they provided. Only additional costs. They've also implemented a point system which I don't know the utility of either. As I said I don't plan to upgrade but was wondering if anyone else will and what are the advantages of doing so.

**** Update. I see on the following website there are a few benefits I don't have in the new tiers but they are not worth the extra money I'd need to pay to upgrade and get them.

Thailand Privilege - Diamond Membership Reservation

20 hours ago, zzzzz said:

i never got a email with tracking info  for the passport return to me
ONLY by looking at https://passportstatus.state.gov/ could i see it arrived in Bangkok, than took 3 days to get to my house in Phuket
 

The U.S. Department of State has mailed your passport book on 11/14/2023.

We sent your passport book to you using Prepaid Delivery.

Thanks. That site currently says status not available but I registered for alerts.

On 1/17/2024 at 9:24 AM, zzzzz said:

i received an emai,  which needs be printed and included in ur package for the new passport 
 

ThailandPostMart.Com ขอบคุณที่ท่านให้ความไว้วางใจเลือกซื้อสินค้ากับเรา ทางบริษัทฯได้รับข้อมูลการชำระเงินของท่านเป็นที่เรียบร้อยแล้ว รายละเอียดการสั่งซื้อมีรายละเอียด ดังนี้

 

ENGLISH

 

ThailandPostMart.Com Thank you for your trust in purchasing products with us. The company has already received your payment information. Ordering details are as follows:

 

Invoice No. :#THP2023106047301203
Invoice Date :2023-10-13 12:08:43

 

I just mailed my passport to the US embassy in BKK using this process 2 days ago using Thai post. I received a tracking number for that and know they have received it. I also purchased a return envelope as instructed using ThailandPostMart.com. I received two emails both of which gave me a THP # like you have above but no mail tracking number that I can use here Track And Trace : EMS : Thailand Post I printed and included those emails but I have no idea how to track my return envelope. How do I get a tracking number for it?

The only update my landlord had to make was to add her gender. 

I thought they'd just finished a huge project placing all those cables underground? I always see loose, dangling wires in BKK waiting to shock me into oblivion.

If you value minimal flight changes. Singapore Airlines has direct flights from SIN to NYC. Thus, once you boarded in Singapore you'd have a nonstop flight to New York. All their seats and service are excellent.

1 hour ago, Pattaya57 said:

Did you not see these 12 pages of comments?

 

Actually no I didn't and I searched before posting that. Not sure why it didn't come up.

My wife and I have 20-year Thailand Elite visas. They were the "Ultimate Privilege" Variant, which we received somewhat by accident because we purchased our visas secondhand.  I was just looking at the updated Thailand Privilege website and see that this option nor the Thailand Superiority Extension, which was the other 20-year Elite visa both no longer exist. In their place are much more expensive variants and a point system that goes with them? We are totally satisfied with our visas, but based on what I see available now, I'd be less excited to purchase one today. I can understand raising the price incrementally but the large price increase, limited variations of the visa now available and point system make me wonder how successful the program will be going forward.

Thailand Elite | Memberships (thailandprivilege.co.th)

Wonderful that they dropped this tax turd on us with no updates or further clarification for days.

5 minutes ago, 2baht said:

Rubbish!

Yes

On 7/18/2023 at 3:29 PM, placnx said:

The device is just a ring not more than 15 cm thick as I remember. How could anyone experience claustrophobia with that? 

I had never experienced claustrophobia in my life until I was slid into an MRI my first time (not in Thailand). Suddenly I felt like I was in a coffin and had to get out. I know it doesn't make sense but phobias rarely do.

I am not a fan of Youtube influencers nor this guy but it's hard for me to see this as something he should've been arrested for? Maybe I'm missing something? If I understand correctly he did this in a public part of the hotel which was idiotic but it seems like at worst he should be deported.

His particular behavior is not something I'd ever do but it does make me want to think carefully about livestreaming anything I do here. Though I have no plans to livestream anything anytime soon.