Ronuk

1 hour ago, elviajero said:

Semantics! I was talking about limits to visa exempt usage.

 

It is highly unlikely that they will ever issue a limit on the number of entries as it is the time staying in the country as a 'tourist' that is the concern.

There is nothing to say that may limit the consecutive amount of Tourist visas you can use to stay here, no matter where you may aquire them from. In fact, I regard that as a distinct possibility in the very near future. 

58 minutes ago, Asiantravel said:

 

well it doesn't seem like good value to me when you consider I was only paying $156 Australian for a three-year Visa (1500 baht PER YEAR ! )

incidentally as you seem to be a staunch supporter did any foreigners lose money when Thailand elite went broke the first time?

Nobody lost anything. They just stopped issuing anymore at the time.

This time the programme appears to be expanding more into the Asian country's. I did notice when I flew in Monday evening that TE have opened a second reception lounge in Suvarnabhumi airport. In that case they must be getting quite a few people through there. They expand into Don Muang sometime in 2017.

4 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

 

If the Thai authorities considered the use of Tourist Visas as I use them "misuse" - they would simply write a regulation to limit its use.  They have chosen not to do this. 

 

I will not be giving away a year of my life - the cost of living for a year - to pay for a temporary visa that, when it expires, leaves me in the same boat I was in before.

 

If there is a "scam", it is the Elite Visa system.  Completely out-of-whack with the cost of living in Thailand.  Wonder where the money goes?  I am sure whoever is on the take for that scam is working hard to make the people of Thailand poorer, by excluding people like me, so they can line their pockets. 

So it's not a Tourist visa after all, it's a scam? Are you for real?

If you haven't got an inkling of what is happening regarding the misuse of tourist visas,  then you have blinkers on.

And I would be careful with the scam accusations regarding Thailand Elite.

59 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

But the Elite is a Tourist Visa, and they stay here long term, but you and others claim one cannot "be a tourist" long-term (to spite many like me doing so), Elite members are not staying short-term, so they are not Tourists, so they are ineligible for a Tourist visa, using this logic - no?  

 

The Elite is priced way out of the market, relative to the living costs in Thailand, which is one of the main attractions to stay here in the first place.  One could argue that the extra cost means someone would be more likely to work illegally to afford it.

 

I do not think most using back-to-back TVs from Western countries are "usually working" here.  Why would I, for example, want to work here for a fraction of my current offshore income?  If you mean people from poorer countries, like the Philippines, maybe so.  But easy to remedy that as they do with India, etc - having a different method of application / criteria.   Or simply go to the schools where these people are known to be working illegally, and catch them.  Seems they do not want to catch them.

 

 

It does tend to prove you can afford to be here, which is likely why it is currently tolerated.  My costs are about 25K Baht/yr to do this, not counting any extra time I spend on my trips.  That's a slightly-high but not completely unreasonable price to pay for staying in a nicer low-cost country.

The Elite visa is not a Tourist visa. It's a Privaliged Entry visa. There is absolutely nothing on the visa, paperwork or anything to do with Tourism. You can leave everyday and come straight back in with no need for reentry permits and get a full 12 months stamp in your passport each and everytime. It's a great way to LIVE here FULL TIME LEGALLY  with no immigration issues. Just do a 90 day report or a run over the border and straight back in or get the people at TE to do the report for you and your good to go.And NOT SCAM the use of Tourist visas, swapping and changing passports etc.

Very shortly, I expect you and many others to experience it or move out of the country. Imo, the MISUSE of tourist visas is going to come to an end. Rather than at each and every opportunity knock the programme for cost or another reason, you would be better to make a plan on how your likely to be effected in the near future. All in my opinion of course.

I just came back in this evening through Suvarnabhumi. Seemed to be very slow and lots of checking of passports going on. It was actually the slowest I have seen it for a long time.

16 minutes ago, Pinot said:

 

I'm privileged in Thailand as an American...they like us best...err, better.

 

Just being able to hand over the embassy letter for proof, does everyone have that path? I don't have to prove anything. My Aussie friend next door has to prove he has money in the bank. I don't. Some nationalities get different treatment. 

Be aware though that at anytime they could ask for proof. That could then prove interesting if you couldn't provide it. 

9 minutes ago, stereolab said:

A Government office should not be able to make up its' own local rules. The key word here being 'Government". No autonomy should be granted to an individual office. I spent many years in military administration, and the key factor in  making administration smooth is global standards, an office in Scotland had the same exact rule book as an office in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We had annual inspections to check on these standards. No Unit within the U.K. Could declare unilaterally that they had added a new hoop for our customers. 

All very well wanting the same standards applied across the board here. Remember though that in that scenario, 75% or possibly more of expats here could be given 7 days notice to leave the country.

Sometimes it's better just to comply.

At least we have moved on from the 'TE Visa being a scam' and being closed down to whinging about luggage tags and having to wait a while at the Express desks. Personally, I've never waited at the desks and have never had a broken luggage tag. Take it up with the baggage handling service. Its hardly the fault of TE is it? As I have said, if you don't see any value in the helpful airport service offered, don't use it. Don't book it and go your own way.

I think some people just like to moan for the sake of moaning. 

12 hours ago, TerrylSky said:

It's a crying shame, needless to say, that we have to deal with inconsistent, illogical and impractical policies and activities associated with contributing greatly to the Thai economy by living here neccesitating stupid ass visa runs. As I've posted before in relation to visa and other issues in Thailand, that well, it's becoming time to go to live in an alternative country - at least part of the year - and spend and enjoy my time - and money there - without visa and discrimination hassles. Thanks for the thread, it was informative.

Your living here on back too back 'Tourist visas'.....Think about it.

11 hours ago, TerrylSky said:

I've recently gotten a tourist visa in Savanalahket and extended it. I did this twice this year. Now, I'm about to go to Ho Chi Min City for another tourist visa. This will be the third time this year. Is this a problem? Is there a limit? I can bring my house deed and land lease, and some financial documentation if necessary.  Wondering how many times a year I can do this. Sorry if I neglected to see this issue in earlier postings. Khap khun nakhrap.

Why would you take house deeds and land lease and ask for a Tourist visa. Do you not think that tells them something?

I imagine he was possibly banned for handing his passport over to somebody in order to get him a visa.

5 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

 

So surely the solution for the OP is not to tell them he is coming 

Yes, exactly that. There is nothing to be gained from telling them your coming unless you want the service. Even if he just books the car service, he will still have people running around for him. That's how the whole thing works.

6 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

Some people like the kind of service you have received at the Airport some people don't

 

Instead of posting here why don't you just email TE and tell them to put a note on your account stating that you require no service whatsoever at the Airport

 

Then just before the next time you are about to enter again call them to remind them, maybe get them to email you something you can show to the TE staff at the Airport stating that you require no assistance and a number for the staff to call to confirm this

You only get assistance if you email them and request it in advance. ?

Just now, Grubster said:

I agree with that if you have issues that may black ball you, I don't. My extension renewals take 1/2 hour on my way to town, very convenient. Not same for all I'm sure. I wonder if elite visa overlooks foreign criminal record. I had a friend get deported for that when he switched from marriage to retirement extension. Brutal, they gave him 48 hours and escorted him to Laos, He lost everything. 

I have no issues. I can afford the PE option and it suits me nicely even though I qualify for a retirement extension.  

It takes 7 to 10 days after applying for the visa to get an answer, yes or no so I doubt they over look previous history.

6 minutes ago, Grubster said:

I only see this as an option for someone who is under 50 and wants to live here full time and not travel much. I would rather do the 90 day reports than be embarrassed at the airport like that.

You still do 90 day reports or the TE staff will do them for you. I would rather use the PE visa option than be embarrassed at immigration when your refused an extension for a whole host of possible reasons.

1 hour ago, Florian42 said:

In case the elite program read this post, this is my advice for a better service : 
This service is for foreigners right ? Sorry to say that but if you want to look like a VIP service, you should maybe comply with foreigners standards, It look like this service is made for very rich thai people

- remove the gold suit, dress black, simple but professional, billionaires like something discreet, this is not a show ;-)
- assistance can be useful for some peoples, but sometimes it is better to do nothing than to pretend to
- When you deliver the visa at immigration, you gave me a very nice gift, this is a well designed red box (the same that we use for jewellery, big format), what is inside ? : a key-ring, I feel insulted by this gift, honestly, it's better to give nothing than that to a guy that just paid 500 000 bahts.

Something positive :
- Each time I send you an email, you reply in hours, and this is something I really appreciate.
- The car service is great, and on-time

Cheers

It's not a 'Gift' or key rings. It's 2 luggage tags and the information booklet. The luggage tags are used to identify your luggage so the Elite staff can collect your luggage for you, if you ask them too. If you don't want the airport service, don't email and ask for it.

If you have ever visited the London Thai Embassy you can easily understand why phoning is a waste of time. The place is packed solid day in day out. Your often waiting on the pavement to even be able to get in. Phone waiting time is way in excess of 90 minutes at times just get through to the switch board. It helps if you have the correct ext number before you call.

If you must then Pat Pong in Chingford, Essex is about as Thai as you are going to get. It's great food and service but it isn't cheap.

3 hours ago, performance said:

I have never had a problem and own 4 condos all studios. I are the employer. you may enjoy being robbed. Good luck to you. I employ 12 Thais and 500 is robbery. 

I clean my self when possible. Most Thais are not worth 200. I have to clean again lol. My mother taught us well.

You talk a load of B/S. In the post below your renting off of somebody else and have no clue how a TM30 works......Billy! 

Some people need to wake up to the fact that the days of cheap slave labour and the scraping and bowing to the big white chief are over. If your worried about 500bht, it's time to ship out.

49 minutes ago, IMA_FARANG said:

I was given this form when I got a 30 day extension at CW in June.

I  rememember very clearly I was old to fill out the information and return the form to them as soon as it was convenient for me.

it never turned out to be convenient for me to return the form to them, so it went into the nearest trash can instead.

That turned out to be much more convenient for me.

 

 

Maybe it could be convenient for them to refuse your next extension. Who knows?

28 minutes ago, elviajero said:

I am talking about the fact that however the 1 year permission to stay is achieved, once it's granted, TE members do not have a more secure permit to stay than anyone else. 

• A husband is granted permission to stay for 1 year at a time. A PE Visa holder is granted 1 year permission to stay at a time. The security of each permit to stay is exactly the same!

You are talking about the convenience that a PE Visa gives for arranging, possible, future permits to stay in advance. 

 

The PE visa is for 5 years. Nothing less.

1 hour ago, elviajero said:

I completely agree, but the same applies to those on 1 year extensions of stay. And any TE member that thinks they have greater security than those on extensions are mistaken.

A PE Visa is nothing like an extension of stay. PE visa holders do not continually have to ask permission to stay. An extension of stay is not a visa as people seem to enjoy continually pointing out. A PE visa has already been granted for a full 5 years and people that have it are not under continual scrutiny. 

Everytime a holder enters the country they get a full 12 months entry stamp without the need for a re-entry permit to keep it alive. Again, nothing like an extension.

Of course a PE visa is more secure than an extension!