Steve80

10 hours ago, Mike Teavee said:

Wow, that's news to me... I knew you could extend the 5 year visa to the 2Million 20 year one but didn't know you could also extend to the 1Million one. 

 

That would seem to make the 1Million 20 year visa a bad choice as you could get the 600K 5 year one, use the free airport transports etc for 5 years then pay the remaining 400K (which hopefully has been making you more money) to get the extra 15 years... 

 

From https://www.thailandelite-direct.com/en/program-overview

 

 

 

    

Thank you all for replies. It is very helpful.

So if I was to buy the Elite Easy Access, would I have to upgrade this to the Elite Superiority Extension immediately at the same time as buying the Elite Easy Access, or would I be able to buy the Elite Superiority Extension during or towards the end of the Elite Easy Access 5 year period?

I see that the Elite Easy Access is 5 years @ 600,000 baht and the Family Alternative Visa is 10 years @ 800,000 baht which is only 200,000 baht more for an extra 5 years.

Can anyone who is a single person also obtain the Family Alternative Visa as I do not see any requirements for this type of visa?

All I can see on the page is: *immediate family refers to member’s parents, legitimate spouse and children - but no real mention of what this relates to and the * is not shown anywhere.

I am also a bit confused by where it says: Membership Validity 10 years and five-year multiple entry visa with extendable one-year length of stay per each entry. Does this mean the first 5 years you can stay in Thailand without leaving, and then after that you would have to leave Thailand and re enter at least once a year for the next 5 years?

Is it possible to buy a second-hand (non new) Condo within the Foreign Quote with a Single Entry Tourist Visa?

And a similar question, Is it possible to buy a second-hand (non new) Condo within the Foreign Quote with a Elite Visa?

I read somewhere that to get a yellow book you need a a non-immigrant visa?

I would rather spend a week in Phuket in a cheap hotel with freedom to go out, rather than a week locked up in a overpriced hotel room in Bangkok.

I still have not seen how this is going to work with Flights though, considering nearly all international flights go to Bangkok and being able to connect to a domestic flight to Phuket?

Also considering the UK still has not pulled its finger out and decided on proof of vaccination certificate/passport, what they will require as proof and whether this can actually be obtained from the NHS or UK government.

26 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

Thai consulate in london has links to Thai insurance providors.

 

https://covid19.tgia.org

 

https://www.tipinsure.com/CovidRegional/product_detail

Both links seem to go to the same place.

From reading that it looks like it only covers Covid and nothing else - E.g. any other medical cover, lost luggage, theft etc...

I am presuming in addition to this I would also need a standard travel insurance policy to cover non-covid travel insurance related things.

22 minutes ago, Eindhoven said:

Which do you feel do not cover Thailand's requirements. I imagine most do; it's likely just a matter of getting them to provide a certificate confirming it.

Of course anyone can correct me if I am wrong.

Most UK travel insurance quote comparison sites (for vacations) do not include Covid cover with the insurance at all, and the ones I have seen that do, do not cover the level required by Thailand.

I am looking a bit ahead here, and know things can change but is there a list of insurance providers which provide the Covid cover Thailand currently requires?

I am struggling to find something sensibly priced, or that meets the requirement.

I was looking at the Long Stay Visitor Visa as described here: https://www.wandergogo.com/the-philippines-long-term-stay-visa-finally-getting-easier/

I am 40 (41 soon) and live in the UK. I have a income from UK property, so finance is not an issue.

I had been planning on moving to Thailand on the 5 year Elite Visa, but it is a lot of money and I have been considering other options too.

From what I have read there is no long term visa options in Cambodia or Vietnam at this time for someone in my position, and the only real other option could be the Philippines (looking at Cebu) where I have read it is easy to get a 6 month visa, but would need to leave and re-enter every 16 months.

Does anyone know anything more about this or have any other recommendations of where else I might be able to go?

My main requirements are somewhere affordable (cheap), near the beach and restaurants, where I can rent a small condo, good internet, vegetarian food available. At the moment Pattaya is on my shortlist as it meets all these requirements, but I have concerns at the predicted strength of the Baht against the Pound over the next five years, and the cost of the Elite Visa.

I am looking to get a 60 Day SETV and extend this by 30 days in Thailand for a 90 day stay.

I just want to confirm the dates before I book this.

UK Flight: Tue 14th April 2020

Arrives in Thailand: Wed 15th April 2020 (start date of 60 day visa)

60 Day Visa Expires/New 30 day visa start: Sat 13th June 2020 (providing immigration office open on a Saturday?)

Flight home on day 30 of extension: Sun 12th July 2020

I am mainly asking because I have seen mentioned the 60 day visa expires after 59 days and the 30 day visa expires after 29 days. Have I got the dates right?

I used Halifax. I have been using OrbitRemit, while their fees are low the exchange rate is much lower than the actual current rate.

I have a UK Bank Account and a Thai Bank Account (Bangkok Bank). I am looking to transfer a large amount of money (to me!) from my UK Bank Account to my Thai Bank Account (about £15k). I am also looking to get the best exchange rate and pay the minimal amount of fees. Please can someone recommend the best way of doing this.

Can anyone recommend any low/mid end audio/karaoke shops in Bangkok (Perhaps in MBK or Pantip Pratunam) that sells a microphone stand for use with Karaoke, and perhaps other audio and karaoke equipment.

Where do you go (address or website) or who do you contact to get a Thai Driving Licence? I will be living in Buriram, but can also travel to Bangkok or Pattaya to get this done.

In the UK I pay £10 each month (about 390 Baht) for all the medication I need.

I get 12 Sumatriptan tablets each month and 60 Omiprazole tablets, although they want to try me on a different medication for the hernia I do not know the name of yet. I am not on any medication for the Kidney Stones as none is known to exist and depite having them three times over the years they refuse regular xray checkups in the UK.

The quote I got from Pacific Cross through here came to THB 56,521 for full cover (Platinum) for the first year with deductions for excess and renewals, and also included dental but not the existing conditions.

My current UK driving licence only allows me to drive 50cc Mopeds and Cars (not higger powered mopeds or bikes), yet my international driving licence allows me to drive higher powered bikes it seems which has baffled me. I expect I will be driving a car more anyway and have 20+ years no claims in the UK.

I intend to live in Buriram and visit Bangkok when needed and Pattaya to see the girlfriends family (not looking forward to TM30!)

Any help on the procedure would be appreciated as I speak very little Thai so far (going to learn more out there).

Are there any websites which explain to a Thai person about TM30 and what they need to do in Thai? I can only find sites that explain this in English and want my girlfriend to understand it.

I visited Thailand three times this year on a tourist visa with visits lasting between 10-12 days each.

Before I intend on getting a Elita Visa I have booked a flight for a 30 day visit next year (which I might extend to 60 days if the return flight is not expensive) before returning to sell my house, but some smaller UK property for rental for income and then return on a elite visa.

So far Thai Immigration has always been quick and efficient and not batted an eyelid letting me straight in on a tourist visa with no questions asked.

But with the longer 4th visit could I have any issues getting in?

If it helps, I already have a Bangkok Bank account and intend on putting funds in that when I think the exchange rate is at its best before I leave.

I am 40 and emigrating to Thailand next year on a Elite Visa and to not intend on returning to the UK unless I have to.

I have a international driving licence but it expires after one year. I will be driving my girlfriends car and motorbikes and will also need to get insurance.

Is there a way to renew the UK international driving licence in Thailand or would I need to do something else to obtain a licence to drive?

I will be emigrating from the UK to Thailand next year on a Elite Visa.

I am a generally healthy 40 year old (will be 41 by then) and have had a single quote for medical insurance

I have a Hiatus Hernia and I take prescription Medication for this. I also suffer the occasional migraine and again take a special medication on prescription.

I have also had Kidney Stones in the past, which is hereditary in my family.

I have been told I can not be insured for existing conditions, but have asked if it is possible still to get the prescription medications I need for these and cant seem to get a straight reply.

Can you get Prescription Medication in Thailand or can you only buy over the counter?

It would also be interesting to know if any providers can insure on existing conditions.  

There are many issues.

One that is rarely mentioned, but I have identified is Thai Airways now only offer 20KG of hold baggage on all its long haul flights:

I am a UK male under the age of 50 who is married to a Thai Female.

I would like to get a Thai Marriage Visa to live in Thailand with my Wife.

I am reading different things on different sites and they are not all stating the same thing. I am guessing some are out of date, such as on one site I read the 400,000 baht needs to be in an account for a period of three months, and another which stated a monthly income is required in addition to the 400,000 baht.

I have read the three main requirements are:

Marriage Visa Qualifications

1. Must be legally married to a Thai national.
2. Must not have any criminal history and can travel to Thailand.
3. Must meet the financial requirement: security deposit of THB 400,000 in a Thai bank account for at least 2 months prior to the visa application.

I have a Thai Bank Account in my name with this amount and meet these requirements.

It also says:

"Please note that you must first obtain a 90-day visa or a 1 year non-immigrant O visa from your home country or country of residence prior to your application for the Thai marriage visa."

This is where I am struggling. I found a page at: http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84508-Non-Immigrant-visas.html

Which states as requirement for an O visa:

" Applicant must be of age 50 years old or over. "

Which I do not meet, and will not do so for some time, and have no control over, so I do not believe I can get a 1 year non-immigrant O visa, and will have to get a 90-day (single) entry visa.

I have also read that Non-Immigrant Type O (multiple entry) are no longer issued by the Royal Thai Embassy in London.

I am guessing the 90-day visa is this one here:

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7495/81755-Visa-Fees.html

 4. Non-Immigrant (3 months validity / Up to 90 days / Single Entry)

Does anyone know if there are any other requirements (medical certificate, financial income or otherwise) to be able to obtain the 90-day single entry visa, to be able to obtain the Marriage visa?

Also if what I have stated is correct at this current time, and if I run into any hurdles if there is anyone I should be "offering a gift" (or bribing) or should under no circumstances offer a gift, for the process to go as smoothly as possible.