Tuvoc

Found it on the Thai Elite website itself: Discontinuation of Current Thailand Elite Visa Membership programs by 15th September 2023 (thailand-elite.com)

I think that the price increase is as a result of the extra demand that they have now. All about making money. To me there do seem to be too many packages at the moment and simplifying that would be a good thing. I had planned to buy the 20 yr one at 1 million baht about 2 years from now. If that will go up by 20-30% then I have some thinking to do, it may make sense to buy now.

I saw on a youtube video that the ability to do that is in the contract that you signed, but that the contract also says that they reserved the right to change the price to do so.

Apologies if this has already been posted. I got an email from one of my regular newsletters that all existing packages will no longer be able to be applied for after September 15th, and will be replaced by new packages. Has anyone else seen this ? Presumably, the new packages will be at a higher cost !

Yes, at 63 I'm incredibly tempted to do the same. I probably will at around 65. I'm sure I wouldn't be around at 85 to worry about any renewal. Of course, that won't give the main benefit of PR - free medical care.

Thanks for the explanation.

That is correct. As soon as the bank installed the app on my new phone, I got an email to say that the other phone had been de-registered.

After you've visited Bangkok Bank, the daily limit on the app can be set as high as 2M Baht. (after a few hours lag while they update their systems)

I had the same from Bangkok Bank, and indeed I was limited to 50k. Now remedied. I went into the branch, they checked my passport and took a photo. Now when I do a large transaction, it accesses the selfie camera on the phone to check that it matches the photo on record, and then the transaction proceeds.

Oh, so what I was told is true. Damn. OK, well I want it on the new phone, so I'll go into a branch again and get the ID etc. A nuisance, I have always taken comfort from having a back-up phone in case something happens to the main one.

I've had the app on two phones for quite a while. I got rid of one old phone and removed it from the device management section using the remaining phone. I went into the bank today to get them to help me install on a newly acquired phone as well, only for them to tell me that things have changed now and you can only have it one on device. A new rule. Anyone else had this very recently ? I need to use the userID and PIN method on the new phone which the app says you can get from an ATM, so I may try it myself instead of asking the branch which is what I've done successfully before. Or try another branch...

NZ Thai emabssy: Extension of Stay and Re-Entry Permit - สถานเอกอัครราชทูต ณ กรุงเวลลิงตัน (thaiembassy.org)

Definitely annoying for the people having these issues. But annoying for me too because I have plans to do the same thing via the Chiang Rai office ! Although in my case, I'm killing off my Non-O extension in my UK passport and getting a new Non-O in my NZ passport. Oh well, I do have the option of getting the 90 day Non-O in NZ and I might just do that, the only downside is I think special insurance may be needed for the 90 days, I'll check the NZ website first for sure.

The Integrity Legal youtube channel says the same thing, that people should not assume that it is always possible, because it isn't.

I don't think there are any agents that use Mae Sai or Chiang Rai offices. At least there weren't a couple of years ago when I searched regarding Chiang Rai.

Well, Chiang Rai currently which I have found to be really excellent but will be changing to Chiang Saen in the next few months. If Chiang Saen is likely to be difficult we will have 2 addresses for a while so I could probably do the changeover at Chiang Rai first. I haven't researched the immigration offices at Chiang Saen yet, I think there is one there. Edit: Yes, found the Chiang Saen office.

Thanks for the two replies. Yes 800k has been in the bank for a few years, so good to have flexibility to do it straight-away.

I plan to let my Non-O retirement extension in my UK passport expire, and then re-enter 30-day visa exempt on my NZ passport, and then convert to Non-O on that passport. I can't recall the deadline - when must you do it within that 30 days ? And is it a 90-day Non-O that they give you ?

Fantastic recommendation, thanks. In my case, it is a crown that I want done. In all likelihood, the dentist that my wife uses may not speak English actually.

I had an interesting experience recently. Timing can make a huge difference. Sometimes, you wait closer to the time and seats get scarce and the prices go up. Other times, if the flights aren't full, the prices go down. Post covid it has been the former usually. Book early has usually been best post-Covid. But this time, in late March I booked a ticket from AKL to BKK via KL, for travel late May - so nearly 2 months ahead. Last week I cancelled the ticket and got a full refund because I thought I would not be able to travel. I'd bought the class of fare where there was no penalty, so 100% refund. My credit card was refunded in a couple of days. This week I found that I could in fact travel, and booked again the exact same flights on the same dates - and it was $500 cheaper than before. Not often you get a win like that.

There is most certainly a risk. When he becomes tax resident in Thailand, his UK employer may be liable to account for Thai tax and social security etc. I struck this when working from home in Thailand remotely during Covid. My employer insisted that I not become tax resident in Thailand, and I had to return to the UK to make sure that I did not exceed the 180 days in the calendar year.

In regards to a marriage extension and leaving the country shortly after application - No they don't keep your passport, but what if you aren't in-country to present yourself back to immigration at the end of the 30 day point consideration period ?

I've never seen brake dust on the driveway, that does seem odd.

My wife goes to one, I'll see if I can find out next month. I need one myself too, and possibly an oral surgeon as well.

This is the sort of thing that drives people towards Elite Visas. Something that should be so easy sometimes just isn't. Expensive solution though.