SaintLouisBlues

4 minutes ago, houstoniron said:

Are they avaialble for foreigners?

No

I'm guessing (but TiT) that one of the drivers for online visas will be to extend the use of these gates to other nationalities. They're in use in Singapore, New Zealand and Australia for holders of ePassports ie. passports with a chip in them, from a list of countries approved by their government. I used my US passport in one last time I went to Sydney

Just now, heybuz said:

trying for free ones

You hansum man

Just now, heybuz said:

i stay in bkk for, rent friends house 260 bht a day food 2 meals a day restaurant 120 bht  thai food, drink only night 3 bottles of leo drink thai style with ice 330bht,thats basic, area lat phrao,bang kapi. not exciting i know but thats me

No legovers?

2 minutes ago, ThomASen said:

So the embassy does not check up on immigration before giving out any visas? Sounds strange for me..

A visa entitles you to travel to a country. It does not entitle you to enter that country. That's a settled point of international law

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

I suggested the older one establish residence via retirement visa in THAILAND and the younger one establish residence in the Cambodian visa system. They could both rent separate apartments and travel to be with each (or other places) depending. No, they wouldn't be living together full time before the younger one reaches 50. 

How would those costs compare with the younger one simply buying a 5-year Thailand Elite card?

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I agree considering Cambodia is a good idea

The OP's opening comments included this phrase: "My partner is almost 50 and it looks like he may be granted early retirement on health grounds". Are you seriously recommending Cambodia's health facilities are worth serious consideration for someone in that situation?

2 hours ago, rhodie said:

The fee for the 5 year visa is 500,000 baht. No refund. That gives you 5 years without any problems and you can re-evaluate then. I am sure things will change over the next 5 years anyway.

 

http://www.thai-elite.com/ 

I've noticed Thailand Elite has slightly changed the format of its offerings. There's now a "Singles" page and a "Families" page (or maybe I just haven't looked recently)

11 minutes ago, louse1953 said:

There is more to tourism than bars.

Heresy

You need to do a proper cost-benefit analysis. Since the (almost) 50yo can stay indefinitely with no need to leave the country once he's turned 50 and got his long-stay visa, the issue becomes how much you want to spend vs. how much you need to spend to maintain a quasi-right-to-stay for the 41yo for the next ~9 years. If you can pad out the time at the start and until you turn 50, is it worth spending 500K baht for a 5-year Thailand Elite Easy Access (ie. THB100K  or USD3K per year)? Or are you and your partner going to want to gallivant around and therefore you're happy to spend money applying for METV and having to leave every 60/90 days, travel costs etc?

Only you can answer those questions

12 minutes ago, Feel The Sun said:

Re affordability, I think we'd be fine. My concern is that a large chuck of capital would be held by the Elite program and I'd worry about its return. (?)

Not sure about Elite demanding a deposit that may not be returned - it's a one-off, straight out purchase. The price depends on the period of time you need one for - five, ten or twenty years and the benefits you want to accompany it

1 hour ago, Savilesghost said:

Yes you did infer you were better than others and now you go off topic with a "do you know who i am type post" LOL 

Actually he can only have implied that he is better than others. Infer is something you do in response

11 minutes ago, glegolo said:

Yes correct, and therefore mostly NOT willing to learn anything new at all....

Considering the number of people back home who use H&R Block to prepare the most straightforward of tax returns I think you have an overly optimistic view of how people generally view bureaucracies and form-filling

12 minutes ago, glegolo said:

Yes I read it too at their website,,, this is just any "another" agent trying to squeeze money out from falangs, that are not able to read or write, or too lazy to do any of it.....

You've forgotten "confused", a condition that happens to many in a strange environment or/and as they grow older

13 minutes ago, upside said:

My wife's eligible to sit the Australian citizenship test and I'm wondering from any others that have been through this process, what to expect ?

Go through the free test questions with her beforehand https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Citi/pathways-processes/Citizenship-test/Australian-citizenship-test-resource/Australian-citizenship-practice-test

9 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

I kind of prefer there to be nothing; imagine coming back and having an abusive parent, as a sand worm, or a democrat for instance.

You mean we're going to be free to choose our own after life, including not having one, based on our preferences?

12 minutes ago, thai3 said:

If it's legal whats the problem discussing it?, if not they should be closed down

You do realize you're in Thailand don't you?

9 minutes ago, balo said:

I am laughing every time you mention a work permit in Thailand. Because it is a silly comment to make in 2017.  If you want the Thai governnment to visit all the coffee shops in Thailand and asking all the tourists there with laptops what they are doing online, then good luck with that job.

You don't understand. The thought of numbers of people flouting the law and getting away with it is an affront to people like him

12 minutes ago, KittenKong said:

I see nothing in any regulations that requires that the money in your bank account should actually be yours. If it is in your account it is assumed to be yours, but that's just an assumption. In the same way that money in a joint account is assumed to only be half yours, and so only half is counted.

Exactly. None of the money in my account (on fixed deposit) is mine, as I've explained before. It's part of a secured back-to-back loan the other "leg" of which is in my home country. I suspect it's "black" money but I've no interest in asking

13 minutes ago, BudRight said:

This poll should be: Are you morally self-righteous?

A. Yes.

B. No.

It's no contest based on my reading of posts on TV generally

9 minutes ago, tgeezer said:

They want your embassy to notorize it then the Min of Foreign Affairs! In this case I would go directly to the Ministry. What business is it of Immigration to lay down requirements for the Ministry?

Don't forget to stamp your foot at the same time

8 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

You mean like this one ?? 

 

http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/news/chinese-porn-website-gang-arrested-at-faham-home/

I'm not sure how a "website gang" who hire premises and involve others fits the criteria of:

1. a digital nomad and
2. keeps his mouth shut and
3. keeps his door shut

10 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

A statement made by someone not involved with policing labor law.. What does your barber say about the issue.. Its about as relevant as the miss quoted immigration official. 

Could you give us a real-life example of digital nomads who kept their door and their mouth shut actually being caught by Labor Department officials?

44 minutes ago, TheTurtle said:

Does the group feel that if I work in another country in Asia, then travel into Thailand via air monthly, stay 10 days, return overseas to work, have a retirement visa in Thailand....am I breaking the letter of the law, if not the Intent?

You do realize that obeying the law is only an option, don't you? It's a simple risk assessment - am I likely to get caught, and if so, how?

16 minutes ago, Dave67 said:

I brought in a 6 week supply for 7 tablets a day 5 different tablets,  I had a GPs letter, They xrayed my bag and said nothing

Stand by for the knock on the door at midnight