Genix

Update... ended up buying one from BananaIT online which offers 3 hour delivery! 

Thanks for suggestions

Hey,

Looking to go get a gaming laptop today. Generally do desktops but will be moving more often so gonna do a laptop instead.

What's currently the best brand for gaming laptops and where in Bkk should I go look for one?

Have about $2-2.5k USD (+/-) budget

Currently looking at JiB

Thanks

1 hour ago, sungod said:

You'll get a hair cut, but not a beer in a bar.

What about restaurants? Are they allowed to be open and also serve alcohol? 

Back in BKK after 4 months and about to finish quarantine. Was planning on hitting up a rooftop bar but researching now and not sure if they are ...

My understand was they're open till 10 PM ? 

And are barber shops open? I look homeless after quarantine.

What about Ekkamai? Haven't spent much time there but seems that it has a good gym, close to Octave & Thong lo nightlife incl Emporium rooftop bar (& has bars of its own).

English speaking audience (apparently?) and the condos seem to be good value/spacious.

Hello,

I just received my Elite Membership and headed back to Thailand in 2 weeks.

I am planning to apply for the CitiGold Wealth Management in order to obtain a CC (for points primarily).
I'm assuming just like all banks, they ask for proof of address. However I plan to live in an AirBnB for the first 3 months (as I have to fly out for a few months after that).

Is there another alternative/solution to obtaining sufficient proof-of-address?

Thank you

2 hours ago, khunPer said:

You might be thinking of some news articles with proposals about Elite Card and work permit; so far nothing has been agreed to my knmowledge...

 

As others have already mentioned, anyone can invest in a Thai company – i.e. buying shares and being a shareholder in a Thai company limited – and you can also be member of the borard of directors and attend high-level meetings, but you cannot perform any lower duties, including being a managing director, without a work permit.

Yeah defo not looking to invest $1 Million... I specialize in online marketing and want a side project in the offline market to invest and help it grow via online means. Technically it seems like it would be classified as 'working' and yah, would be risky if the biz partner can just report to immigration as Timenders pointed out.

Perhaps just investing only, without the help in marketing part then. 

3 minutes ago, timendres said:

There is nothing that prevents you from investing in a Thai company, other than common sense.

 

To legally work, you need a work permit. The gray area of working without one is a question of your risk tolerance, and the work involved. Clearly, many work under the radar online, but if it were involved with a Thai company, especially one you are invested in, I think your risk increases somewhat.

Yeah the dilemma here is that I'd invest & be focused on the online side and i'd be working from home and don't even need to be in Thailand (although i'd be in Thailand). Just like digital nomads, except it's for a Thai business and occasionally meet the owner(s).

Would a Thai Elite holder be able to be an investor to a Thai business as a Thai Elite holder? Perhaps through a foreign LLC if personal not allowed.

And would they be able to help with online marketing (basically work from home)?

Hey,

In the process of getting my Thai Elite and will e opening a bank account with Citibank (they have an easy offer for TE) and I'd be looking to invest with the U.S stock market.

Is it 10% on dividend & 10% on gains (only when sold)?

Are there any downsides (fees etc)?

I'd transfer funds from USD to a USD balance in Citi's bank. 

Very risky... you could just swap random stuff or somebody else and send it instead of  yours.

Countries  won't allow that, especially Thailand which is afraid even of 1 extra covid person...

I think Thailand would  rather allow 10 zombies in than than 10 people with covid

24 minutes ago, wolf81 said:

I paid mine using TransferWise. TransferWise doesn't cheat with exchange fees like most banks. 

Are you talking about paying for EliteVisa's fee via TF? 

TF is awesome we use it a lot for our business and it saves us a lot of money & it's quick.

26 minutes ago, wolf81 said:

Yesterday a Dutch expat told me the cheapest Thai Elite visa will go up in price by 100.000 THB next year. I can't confirm it myself, but if true and you're considering to buy a Thai Elite visa, might need to buy one in the next 2.5 months unless one wants to spend an extra 100.000 THB.

Yep there's a thread about it too on this same sub-forum which is another reason why I went ahead and applied now. That 100k will go a long way in Thailand...

2 hours ago, KoreaElte said:

I wonder now if I misunderstood your question. I was talking about getting a Thai Credit card with the help of Thailand Elite once you are in the country. If you mean "do they let me pay the membership fee with a card" then it depends. If you go through an agent its up to the agent. If you applied directly I have people report that Visa and Mastercard are accepted but they seem to be quoting in USD, not Thai Baht and at a <deleted> exchange rate. Member found it more palatable to use transferwise and pay cash rather than with a CC due to this.']

I'm pretty sure you understood it, at least based on your answer.

Yes the CC question was for AFTER arriving in Thailand and sorting all Elite visa stuff. I run a lot of marketing but as a non-resident of the US (my firm is there) it's much more difficult to get a CC. If Thailand offers CC with bonus points options it may be a great option, will investigate further after obtaining it and talking with the banks/elite etc. Basically looking to get points for my spend, but have to look into USD fees etc (as they'd be online transactions).

22 hours ago, BritTim said:

I have been unimpressed by what I have heard of Thailand Elite's customer service the last couple of months. However, if I believed there was any chance I might want to get a membership, I would go ahead and make an application. That does not require any payment. After your application is approved, you can then decide whether to proceed and actually pay.

Thanks for this info wasn't aware you pay at the end - will defo get the application process rolling. 

3 hours ago, KoreaElte said:

They can assist you with gaining a footprint by establishing a Bangkok Bank Savings Account and debit card. For credit cards you can go with a secured product to build rating and then change to unsecured a year later. YMMV. The banking story in Thailand is very much YMMV. We have a whole forum category on that topic and you will often see that two foreigners, same nationality, same visa class and status, same set of documents on hand go into 2 different branches of the same bank in the same province and one is shown the door whereas the other has an account opened no probs. Another route into credit cards and NCB (sort of like Thai FICO) is if you have enough assets to go into something like Citigold. They are usually willing to get you started with a credit card product by virtue of your AUM.

Thanks! Will work on getting a CC in order to use CC points. Not looking for the money but rather the points, so this will come in valuable.

Glad to hear things with Thai Elite are improving. Worst case a 2 week quarantine is required which I'd be okay with, better than the alternative. Weird times this year...

Yah a surrounding country isn't bad either - I'm keeping an eye on surrounding countries in South & East Asia, wouldn't mind them as long as no 14-day quarantine required although that's unlikely (unless it's Thailand). Else my plan right now is to leave Dubai end of next month and just be in Turkey until things work out.

Eyeing the Elite Visa depending on how they get treated over the next 2-3 weeks. I've read on the other thread it took about 1.5 months to get.

STV is only for certain countries it seems.

I'm a digital nomad who used to 'live' (tourist visa re-entry bs) and left 3-4 weeks ago to Dubai (whack & epensive city lol, miss Thailand)

Plan earlier was to travel 2 months per country (Japan, Korea etc) but with no sight of countries opening up soon, and the long-term stay tourist visa being delayed indefinitely, it seems my best option right now is to try to get a Thai Elite visa and have some peace of mind? The long-term visa was a better option as it was much cheaper and offered 9 months a year but yah... 

And yah, don't wanna go back home, it's cold and not a fan of the lifestyle.

Is Thai Elite Visa worth it right now? Seems now they're allowing folks back in but everything's a bumpy road with Thailand....

How long does it take to get one now?

Credit Cards (not debit cards) are not provided for Elite Visa holders right?

Is it better to gamble hoping the long-term tourist visa will be allowed soon or just say F IT and go for elite visa?  

I can afford it but would suck to pay 500k only for the long-term visa to be allowed right after.

Your input is much appreciated.