Ronuk

This all looks to be heading down the exact route of US immigration. At one time you could do 6 months, leave the country and re-enter and start again. Not anymore. There is very little opportunity now for long term stay in the US.

It is now 6 months in a 12 month period but you try getting a Tourist Visa for 6 months. It is notoriously difficult and there are a lot of parameters that need to be abided by to get it. The norm now is 2 x 3 month entries in any 12 month period and that's more or less your lot for those wanting to stay for 6 months a year. Of course, if you don't exceed the 6 months in any 12 then it's still acceptable to get more entries but they do look and count the amount of time you have spent there.

On a side note, don't even think about over staying in the US or attempting to call the bluff of Immigration because all that is likely to achieve is a long term or even lifetime ban rather than an entry visa. I know of one case who is not only banned from ever entering the US but is banned from taking any flight that passes through US airspace in case of the need to land. He was a proper naughty boy though who was caught working without a work Visa on a 3 year over stay

Fortunately, here in LOS there are other options for long term and multiple entry stay rather than 30 dayTourist visas etc.

That's only one side of the coin. The irony in all that, is that all those restrictions only apply to those trying to do the right thing and obey USA laws. If you do have a run-in with Immigration for violating your visa, you may get 'banned' - but that just means you cannot use "legal" means of entering the country, while the border is wide-open to anyone. In many areas - so-called "sancutaries" - it is 'illegal' for the police to even enquire as to someone's immigration-status. Violators can work, use fake documents with citizen's identities (a felony), receive tax-returns, obtain drivers licenses, etc, all while illegally in the country. If arrested for other violations of law, including violent crimes and other felonies, they are often released onto the streets, rather than handed over to Immigration for deportation.

Exactly the same as most country's. At least LOS are trying to finally do something to stamp it out. Don't blame the system. Blame those that over the years have abused it by living here for years on Tourist visas and in thousands of cases, no visas at all.

Like most things in this world, it's the genuine ones that try to do it the right way that get the aggravation of doing exactly that.

Sorry, I probably never worded my last post quite right.

Here is the thread.http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/923752-need-21-day-validity-of-permission-to-stay-for-visa-conversion-in-cm/

Looks to be a problem in Chang Mai now regarding Retirement Extensions and Visas.
Thread just gone up.

This all looks to be heading down the exact route of US immigration. At one time you could do 6 months, leave the country and re-enter and start again. Not anymore. There is very little opportunity now for long term stay in the US.
It is now 6 months in a 12 month period but you try getting a Tourist Visa for 6 months. It is notoriously difficult and there are a lot of parameters that need to be abided by to get it. The norm now is 2 x 3 month entries in any 12 month period and that's more or less your lot for those wanting to stay for 6 months a year. Of course, if you don't exceed the 6 months in any 12 then it's still acceptable to get more entries but they do look and count the amount of time you have spent there.
On a side note, don't even think about over staying in the US or attempting to call the bluff of Immigration because all that is likely to achieve is a long term or even lifetime ban rather than an entry visa. I know of one case who is not only banned from ever entering the US but is banned from taking any flight that passes through US airspace in case of the need to land. He was a proper naughty boy though who was caught working without a work Visa on a 3 year over stay
Fortunately, here in LOS there are other options for long term and multiple entry stay rather than 30 dayTourist visas etc.

Why do they even post email addresses on their website if they are not going to answer them.. :/ I'm glad it's not yet urgent.

Nobody else appears to have a problem.Most people would of picked the phone up and called them if they never got a answer by E mail.

I have now supplied you with an E mail address that I know for sure, will answer you within an hour or 2.

The programme is set up in order to enable 5 full years of Visa usage, regardless when you actually applied for the membership. The 5 years start the day they affix the Visa in your passport. Hence, it's very unlikely you will be able to swing 6 years out of it by leaving and re-entering the country just before the Visa expires. It's a fair programme for both parties in that respect.

You might well be correct on both claims, Ronuk.

My comments are just based on what I read on TV from other TE members who said/claimed that

a/ the visa expires 5 years after joining TE and not 5 years after they had the sticker put into their passports and

b/ they were told (but not in writing) that as you always get a new 1 year stamp whenever you re-enter the country that you could also do that before your membership comes to an end, thus squeezing 6 years out of your 5 year membership.

I like the fact that anotheruser will check with TE and report back to the forum in due course.

The Visa is 100% valid for 5 years the day it go's in your passport and not when you apply for membership. Even after you have been accepted TE state they need at least 14 days of your intended arrival to have the visa affixed.

I am no Visa expert but if say your 5 year Visa was to run out on 31st December 2016 and you left and re-entered the country on say 1st December 2016, is it legal to have a further 1 year stamp in your passport that would allow you to stay a further 12 months on an expired Visa? As I say, I am no expert on Visa legalities.

Ugh I didn't explain well. Shouldn't my visa from june 08 2016 expire on june 07 2021. that is exactly five years.

Yes it should of been until June 7th. 2021.

Imho, it shouldn´t.... :-)

As far as I understand it, the maximum period the "TE visa" is valid for is the period of your membership. Your TE membership started in May 2016. The fact that you went to CW to have your sticker put in today is irrelevant as it does not extend the time of your TE membership.

PS: Oops, contradicting ubonjoe on the Topic of visa regulations feels like committing virtual TV suicide. ;-)))

The programme is set up in order to enable 5 full years of Visa usage, regardless when you actually applied for the membership. The 5 years start the day they affix the Visa in your passport. Hence, it's very unlikely you will be able to swing 6 years out of it by leaving and re-entering the country just before the Visa expires. It's a fair programme for both parties in that respect.

I had a bit of trouble with email and found that one of the links on their site wasn't valid. Try and look and manually type the link in. Check your spam box also of course. That guy is a woman I think but yeah that is who you get referred to. They are very prompt so I wouldn't assume they are ignoring you.

He/she definitely shows 'Mr' in his/her email replies

I am going to go get drunk and celebrate what a weight of off my shoulders. It is worth the money if you don't like sweating it.

It's a great feeling to be able to come and go as you like, when you like

_{Thai Immigration rules state that a Visa can only be issued for the validity of the Passport. TE will only issue the Visa for the current length remaining on your passport.
Your current passport requires 3 blank pages in order for them to affix your new Elite Visa
If your current passport or passport pages are nearly run out and you need to renew your passport, send your new passport to the member contact centre in order for them to update your information and affix a new Elite Visa for the remaining period.
Non Immigrant Visa must be cancelled before Privilege Entry visa is granted.}

100% they are still active, quick and helpful. I helped a friend do an application the other evening. He had his reply within a couple of hours to say his application is being processed. One of the guys that did the applications has now left the company. Have you filed the application?

Email this guy and he will come straight back to you.
Mr Pakpinya Ploydee. Sales Officer Regional 2

[email protected]

I'm going down to the local immigration office to do another yearly extension before the end of the week.

Regarding the email which came in with the link to the message from the president of Thailand Elite contains no new information. Someone else mentioned this above - that's all standard procedure and has been for a long time before I set foot in Thailand.

This is the lnk in case anyone's interested : http://www.thailandelite.com/tpc_news_view.php?id=56

The announcement is tomorrow.

^{If I pay the premium up front for a years cover they offer a discount which in effect brings the premium down to 14000 bt a month. I am also covered for anytime I spend back in the UK. I am reluctant to take cheaper cover just in case it all go's wrong when and if I need it.}

^{If Immigration said it was ok before, why not contact them again and ask them to confirm the current situation?}

Best possible cover I have found is with AXA PPP International but at a cost. My policy was originally with Simply Health but AXA have acquired the company.
I have been with them for a long time and never had a problem (2 claims) and they have always settled with the hospital direct. You cannot beat piece of mind when you need to claim. Although I am based in Thailand, it gives me World wide cover (Except the US) and it's included so not an option. I like the fact that I know they will pay and not argue. Note the cover is for £1.5 million Sterling.
15,000 baht a month.
I am 58.
The Policy also includes Accident cover which a lot of Policies will not cover. A lot of Policies in Thailand require you to take out separate Accident cover which adds to your costs. Lots of people appear to have had Motor bike and car accidents only to find there Health Insurance won't cover there hospital costs....Buyer beware. If it's cheap, it probably isn't a lot of use.
PB55132 Benefits (Comp).pdf

There really are some shocking, disrespectful, Judgemental people on this forum.
I am actually amazed by the amount of marriage guidance experts alone.

I wouldn't hold my breath regarding anything new or exciting coming. I have been basically forced into buying a visa because I do not fit into any other category offered. Why would they offer me anything now?

Let's wait for June the 7th and see what comes up?

I am curious

End of the need for TE members to do 90 day reports?

Moral of this story.......Don't hang out with other Farangs in Thailand.

I used to Import cars for a living. You could never Import a car from Thailand in to the UK and get it registered. No idea if that rule has changed or if the rest of the EU implements the same rulings. You need to be certain before you ship it.
Not all countries can be imported from when it comes to vehicles. I would love to import my Dodge Ram Truck which I imported from the US in to the UK, back to Bangkok but the import duty in to Thailand would kill it.

There is a shop on the same floor, opposite the Cinema in Terminal 21. They have the polaroid cameras in there in different colours.

It is classed as a UK based income so unfortunately, you will need to be paying UK based Income Tax. Tell them nothing and keep smiling because they could stop your NHS treatments although there are different criteria's before they can stop it.
If only we could ditch that 40% Income Tax

Could someone have really escaped from the Benz? And then what - fled on foot? Seems hard to believe. By looking at the photo and considering the Benz was found on its side in a ditch..... Has anyone successfully viewed the video? I cant get it to open on any of my devices. Maybe the server is overloaded from traffic...

Turn off Active X filtering in your Browser and the Video will play.

I have no idea how anybody would run far away from that wreckage.

For me personally, I like the fact I can go to the airport day or night and jump a flight to wherever I want to go. I don't have to worry about re entry reports and if the immigration is open in order to do it. I like the fact I can get my passport collected and have my 90 day reports done and not have to hope the online system isn't down or join the queue to do it myself. I like the fact that I don't have to worry about what money has been in what account when I need to renew a retirement extension. I know when I re enter, I have a further 12 months if I choose not to go anywhere, although in reality, that is very unlikely.
Long haul flights, I would normally travel Business class so getting through Airport immigration, isn't too much of a problem but short haul to Myanmar or Malaysia, I wouldn't so then the TE gets me through again quickly although I would be on an Economy class flight.
The car is great. You know it's going to be there to collect you both ways without any drama of a dopey driver driving like Ayrton Senna because he wants to be somewhere else. I only take the 5 year option because I wouldn't know one end of a Golf club to the other and quite honestly, I consider golf the waste of a good walk I can get a Spa when I want so not really bothered about that. Also in 5 years time, who knows what I will doing?
I am not rich by any standards. Just comfortable and to be honest, paperwork and officials really isn't my thing. I am not the most tolerant person in the world so an option of just paying my money and getting what I need, then being left alone suits me fine. I have no worries that way.
Yes, there are lots of things that I would like to make my life even easier. Private Jet Travel, Helicopter transfers, a woman that don't moan or don't want but in reality, that isn't likely to happen! My coming and going though to Thailand and being able to stay in my Bangkok apartment is certainly made a whole lot easier for me by the TE programme and that suits me fine. For what I get and the peace of mind it gives me, then I don't consider it expensive in the grand scheme of things. Could it be made cheaper? Of course it go but then exclusive things are never made cheaper as it then takes the exclusive part of it away and everybody has it. I am not saying that's right but that's how the World works. A bit like a Ferrari, they could be made cheaper, probably to the point that everybody could own one but again, that's not how it works. It wouldn't then be exclusive for those can afford one.
For someone that just wants to live in Thailand then the TE would only be for someone like me that although they don't travel, they maybe don't like the fact of paper work an officials etc.
For me, the programme is great and I don't consider it too expensive for what it is and what it saves me. I can afford it so I suppose I would say that. If you cannot afford it then it's too expensive full stop. If it was 20,000 bht, it would be considered too expensive for some. It's a matter what you can or cannot afford. I would like a 5 Bedroom Bangkok Penthouse apartment with private roof top pool and Go Go girls on demand and another in Monte Carlo for when I get bored but that's too expensive for me too
It's good programme for what it is. You can't knock it for doing what it does.