Ohyesuare

I think he means the standard "Holders must leave within the date....offenders will be prosecuted lettering on the extensions of permissions to stay.

I'm pretty sure I've seen @ubonjoesay a bunch of times and some personal reports that they deny you first and you have to personally choose to just get the 7 days. Another reason why I believe everyone's claims that his story is BS along with his history of always chiming in on every covid extension post that people are abusing them.

Awesome, if I have issues getting it affixed before my permission of stay is over then that's good to know. Thanks again!

7 days extra from when their permission to stay expires or just 7 days from the denial?

They said they do but they give me conflicting information sometimes so was just curious if you heard anything, thank you. Here's what they said a day or so ago: Once you got the approval letter, made a payment, and become our member, you may book/request for getting Elite visa at Upon Arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Do you know if they are affixing the Thai Elite sticker at BKK now or still only by appointment at Chaeng Wattana?

School now says they will just give a letter and I will have to go to immigration and get it cancelled myself. Seems like there is a process to do this on the same day you have an appointment to get the Thai Elite Visa affixed so I will just do that and hope it goes smoothly.

600,000 baht for 5 years with the option to upgrade at anytime to 20 years for an extra 400,000 baht. It has to be renewed every year if you stay continuously for that long and you still have to do 90 day reports. It's the only legal option for people under 50 who want to stay in Thailand long term and don't work in Thailand or want to get married. The price is worth it for me to be here legally as long as I want and not have any other obligations besides doing 90 day reports.

Thanks for your answer. It doesn't seem that they did that from what I can tell. The school has responded now though and said they can cancel it and issue the letter for whatever date I want. If I cancel the Non-ED now, it doesn't affect my permission to stay date for the COVID extension correct? I don't want to cancel it now and then be on overstay when my permission to stay date is good until the end of April currently.

I'm guessing foreigners are more likely to be officially detected with COVID in their eyes, then their whole business has to be shut down for days, cleaned etc.. and they lose a lot of money. Who knows though. Here in Pattaya there are dentists everywhere, 99% will have no problem taking foreigners I'm guessing. Maybe bring a recent ATK test next time just as insurance.

I was on a Non-ED last year for a few months and then switched to the covid extensions. I'd like to switch to an Elite visa now but the Thai Elite staff are saying my school has to provide: an official document from the Office of Basic Educational Commission: OBEC. I'm worried that 1) My school will refuse to provide this because there's nothing in it for them. 2) I believe the school branch where I got my Non-ED no longer exists but they seem to still have branches in other cities so I'm not sure how that affects it. I'm also willing to leave the country and come back if I have to but I believe that still does not cancel the Non-ED so might be pointless. I don't want to pay the large fee and then have problems anyway as they have made it clear, once you pay, there are no refunds. Appreciate any help or input on this. I'm willing to do whatever I need to.

Royal Garden is still doing them I believe.

You're only able to do the 30 days extension first. If the COVID extensions continue after March then you'll qualify for the 60 day ones. You'll get the full 30 days even if you go in advance.

The agent who has been doing my covid extensions since 2020 said they can't do anymore since I was on an education visa at one point and it's only for tourists now. My permission to stay is good until the end of April so hopefully I can get my Elite Visa done by then which seems to be the only other option.

And serious and ventilated. Those are the numbers that matter now anyway in regards to any decisions being made.

Jomtien always allows it for me, through an agent though. Any longer than 30 days they refuse, even with an agent.

Can't say how credible but I recall reading multiple reports on this forum and others of people being taken to a room after trying to enter the country and someone hinting that things could go another way somehow.... this was quite awhile ago though...

If immigration approves it, it's not abuse. Nobody is forcing them to approve them. If they suspect someone is "abusing" or "misusing" them then they shouldn't continue approving and extending them.

I think regular extension is for a tourist visa not exempt but maybe you're right.

Yes or the COVID extension if you want to stay even longer (60 days)

Seems like they dumped maybe too much cash into advertising and promo codes that didn't see a good return. I used it just once if I recall and the driver made me come all the way to the very front entrance of my condo, whereas I can usually ask the Grab guys to meet me at the elevator. I did like that the app and menu were more English friendly. But I never expected they could compete with Grab or Food Panda.

Yeah I doubt most of the Russian tourists coming to Thailand at the moment arrived with Rubles and came stocked up with USD or Euros instead as you said.

Talk to an agent, they will tell you if it's still possible or not. I imagine it will be because the borders are still closed. What type visa did you arrive on and are you sure your ED visa is still valid?

I don't blame them. With how hard the currency and economy will crash for the longterm with the harsh sanctions, they lose money by accepting any. If Russia is removed from SWIFT eventually, it will be even worse.

Yes I love living alone and enjoy my own company. I have found a few compatible people during my life whose company I enjoyed almost as much as mine and there were pros and cons to living with them that about evened out but I much prefer to live alone. Although I do get very rare bouts of loneliness that come and go, triggered by certain events usually.