kmw

Hi shroud, Yes I currently have 3 metv in my passport, Yes as soon as I land in Sydney I goto the consulate to apply for another metv, it usually takes them 3 business days process it

Hi DUS, Yes that's correct, I fly back to Sydney between each metv for about a week, 

I do have about 10 setv in my passport but they are all over 4 years old before the metv was introduced, I'm just getting a bit worried, as per my passport it's quite clear I am taking full advantage of the Thai immigration laws.

Thanks scuba,

I had the back up 20k thb in cash in case I asked and also 500k thb in a Thai account for the elite visa if I got deported, my plan was to fly to Singapore or Malaysia for several nights so I could apply, will see what happens next time I apply for the 4th metv 

Thanks DUS,

I normally drive up to mai sai a few days prior to the required departure date, they are usually nice up there, as apparently they won't let you leave unless they will grant you entry

Hi all, just wanted to give an update, I was successful with my third metv back to back, you might remember on my seccond metv I got a bit grilled at suvarnabhumi, this time I decided to fly onto Chiang mai so immigration was at the transit area at suvarnabhumi, the officer didn't even blink an eye and I stamped in, I had the 20k thb with me as well, just in case

Will try again for a 4metv back to back in 9 months time, I really think I might be pushing my luck though 

Hi Jack, thanks for your response,

I did a bit of research and to park 10 million baht in a Thai majority owned bank looks like another possibility, however with that amount of funds, it would return a higher rate in other investment vehicles I currently have in Australia,

I might just go for the 5 year elite / pe visa if I run into any issues, but am also considering a land crossing, however a lot more planning and logistics is needed, 

Just now, elviajero said:

I wish you luck, but the reality is that you clearly are not a 'tourist' and need to be prepared, as advised above, and to have a plan B in the unlikely event you get denied entry at passport control. History shows that as we push the 'loopholes' in the system immigration fight back.

Hi elviajero,

Yes it seems that way, Im pretty sure all the digital nomads I see up here in Chiang Mai are on METVs and doing similar things as I am, I thinks its just a matter of time before Thai Immigration cracks down, hence my plan B is the Elite/PE visa, as its literally the only option I will have left to spend extended periods of time here

Hi All,

First thank you for your replies, 

Thanks Jack, I did not think about the 20k thb so will definitely make sure I have this on me when I come back into BKK, I am also able to easily show where all my income comes from, and I am also a genuine tourist, and from my past visas, I leave once my time is up, so I think I should be ok in relation to those issues.

BritTim, your pretty much spot on,  Yes I mainly travel back to Sydney solely to obtain another tourist visa, and because I live in Chaing Mai, we drive to Mae Sai every 60 days to obtain another re-entry, So I am pretty sure when the immigration officers looks though my passport they can clearly see what am doing, 

I am spending so much time here because I am retired, but I am under 50 so I am unable to obtain the retirement visa, I generally spend most of the time here with my partner and travel around quite a lot, however I can see how this would raise red flags due to my age and extended periods of time in Thailand, in relation to them potentially thinking I am illegally working.

Also I am unable to obtain the marriage visa as immigration still does not recognize same sex marriages, its taking them so long to potentially pass this law, but I have doubts this will ever happen with the current government, 

If I get grilled or denied entry on my third METV, I might just need to pull the trigger on the Thailand Elite Visa/PE Visa 

Will let everyone know how it goes next month, wish me luck! thanks

Hi all, wondering if anyone is on thier 3Rd time metv? I'm about to fly back to Sydney for a week and apply for my 3Rd round of metv, I won't have an issue obtaining the visa label, but I am a bit worried about immigration at bkk, as last time I flew back to Sydney for 10 days obtained my seccond metv then flew right back into bkk, I did get somewhat grilled about other visas in my passport but not the actual seccond metv, this was also in the fasttrack/premium lane,

I would be keen to hear any feedback for people who have done thier third metv, especially back to back,

hey all, just wanted to share my story, I am currently on my second METV, had no issues at all obtaining the visa sticker in my passport, however upon entering suvarnabhumi, I was grilled by the immigration officer, she asked me heaps of questions about my previous non thai visa, for exmaple I had a few vietnam and burma visas, it seemed like she was trying to find a reason to deny me! I was also traveling in business class so this was in the premium lane at immigration,

perhaps she just was having a bad day or maybe, are the authorities cracking down on people taking advantage of the METV by doing it back to back? as on my first METV I stayed a total of just under 9 months, then flew back to sydney, obtained another METV within one week then back to Thailand.

Can anyone else give some feedback for people who are on their second METV? 

Just a heads up, Sydney Thai consulate still can issue the metv, only need your passport, 1 photo,  proof of address and the visa form, 

They don't need any proof of funds,

cheers!

Is the post safe to do so for sending passports?? or do you use like some kind of registered/express courier type of post?

ah nice to hear, ,my bf and I,or should I say partner(been 11 years) are building a house in Chiang Mai, almost done, its in the area of San Sai if that makes any sense, cheers

Hi Rick, yes that's what I was thinking as well, as its literally keeping on top of investments and making sure the money is coming in and out, well more in than out!

From what ive read here and the research the Thailand Elite is literally the best option, for people in certain circumstances, while the best option for me would be once and if the civil partnerships laws are changed, so in the meantime Thailand Elite is the best option for myself, my partner is Thai so thats not an issue,

just wondering rick do you reside in Chiang Mai?

Hi nzexpat, thanks for your reply, so just wondering how does this differ to a normal 30 day tourist visa I get granted on arrival? As working is not permitted on a tourist visa.

​Many times I have visited Thailand on a tourist visa and have my laptop with me and do spend a few hours a day checking emails and keeping on top of things while sitting back relaxing at a resort, I do know of many people that do the same, so correct me if Im wrong in theory I am also actually breaking the law by working while on holidays sitting on a beach/resort while on a tourist visa?

Hi, first time here so please be gentle!

I did have one question, that someone might be able to answer, ive read about 8 pages into this thread, but have not really seen an answer to what ive been looking for, I think I already know but will ask anyway,

As I will be moving to Thailand in the not too distant future, the Thailand Elite Visas seems to be the best option for me, as I am under the age of 50 and am not interested in dodgy visa runs or the need to be employed by a Thai company with the correct local/foreigner ratio, the cost of the Thailand Elite visa is nothing compared to what people pay for some kind of permanent residence to stay here in Sydney Australia, 500k thb seems literally too good to be true in my eyes,

I am wondering about the working issues around the Thailand Elite Visa,

Anyway, my main question is, I am self employed (work online, all I need is a computer & internet connection) and plan on spending several months of the year to escape the bitter cold winters here, however my questions is in relation to the employment, I would still like to work casually to keep me busy so about perhaps 2-3 hours a day, but how does this work in relation to the eyes of the Thai Authorities, as to put it in the simple way, as I work for myself I get paid in Australia into an Australian bank account and I pay taxes in Australia, this is not “taking” a job away from a thai local, so I am assuming this is ok and I would not be breaking the rules?

Thanks in advance,

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could help me, I have been scouring the internet for the last few hours with no success in finding the answers to my questions,

I am a forex trader, and have been trading successfully for the last 16 years, its coming to the point where now people are constantly asking if they can invest in me, or if I can manage their money. I have always declined such offers as I have enough stress managing our own funds, however its something that I am considering,

I am an Australian citizen and have a thai partner of 10 years, my partner hold both thai and Australian citizenship, we both live in Sydney and travel back and forth to Thailand,

I have enquired with many forex brokers the requirements of opening up a MAM or PAMM account, these are basically a solution to where I trade as per normal(master account), but trades are mirrored into the (client)slave accounts locally, thus less issue with execution and slippage, whereby I can charge a commission/performance fee after the specified cycle,

The problem I face is that all of the brokers need the trader to have a relevant licence or authorisation in the jurisdiction that they operate in, as I am Australian, I need to obtain an Australian Financial License RG146, as forex in Australia is heavily regulated for people to manage other peoples funds.

My plan of attack is that I am going to open up a MAM/PAMM account under my partners name details, thai address, and I will be the physical person trading on the master account, however the problem is, I cannot find any regulation for thai citizens to manage funds on clients behalf,

Does anyone know thai citizens require any type of license to manage the peoples money in Thailand?

Thanks in advance,