Rob Browder

For the next 5 years, I do not see why anyone would buy the Elite visa. I say 5, because we do not know if the DTV will be available 5 years from now. But, for the next 5 years, there are two possible costs, depending on interpretation of use (in debate): 180 days / year only, unless you buy the extension every year = 20K Baht/year = 100K Baht for 5 years. One border-run per-year this way. 180 days for each entry = 10K Baht/year = 50K Baht for 5 years. Two border-runs per-year this way. So, it is 50-100K / 5 years for the DTV. What is the elite now for 5 years?

In theory, you can apply in a neighboring country - nothing yet printed on consulate websites saying you cannot - though those websites are not always accurate / complete. I am waiting to see "success" reports, to know for sure. Note that we can NOT apply in a neighboring country for the METV (Multiple Entry Tourist Visa) - only "in your home country" - and I agree that flying 1/2 way around the world to submit paperwork is stupid.

Someone wrote that - but I do not see it in the translation in this post (below) - but will the Visa still be available then? Who knows.

What extension is 500 baht from an agent? The cheapest - and only if over 50 - is 12,500. I am happy for all the under 50s who won't go through the hell I went through to stay here, when I was younger, and had plenty of income, but no "applicable visa" option other than the elite rip-off. I do hope they bust anyone who HIRES illegally, though - as in, the EMPLOYERS. A few well publicized cases - going to prison for years - would curb that very effectively.

Report from yesterday (that office) was that it is only available at a consulate abroad. Only "extensions of stay" from the Visa will be available in Thailand.

1) One cannot apply for an eVisa from within Thailand. Also cannot from several other countries, where only in-person (or mail) applications are accepted. 2) Foreign funds are fine, if applying at a Thai consulate in the country where you have the funds. Maybe Thai Bank 500K will work in Laos Thai Consulates, but I would wait for a report of a successful application there before attempting. This might be the easiest route for you, given you are in Thailand now. 3) Reports of successful eVisa DTV application here - but he was applying in his home-country (UK) - see the thread for docs submitted:

Back in the day, I used land-borders because I knew I would get back in - whereas the airports might say I spend too much money in Thailand, and refuse entry. Flying cost wasn't a factor to nearby locations. If they just followed the rules at the airports - have the return-ticket and 20K Baht worth of cash - then that would not have been necessary.

That seems foolish. It would be easy to look at the date of issuance, and see that the applicant was in Thailand when it was issued. One could easily stamp-out of Thailand across a border, apply, get approved, then return, to avoid this. Just waiting to see if they can apply at Thai consulates in Laos using 500K in a Thai account - would be the best way.

If a condo, I am surprised they did not demand the Chanote and Blue-Book of the condo, signed by the owner. Glad if they stopped doing that to people, as many owners do not want to provide those. Maybe only CW is being so kind. And, only three pictures? Amazing! It was 6 a few years ago at my old office - and best to bring 20+, and let the IO chose the 6. They seemed terrified the district-office would find a "problem" with them (since no agent involved with our application).

I recall it happening at the same time - 15-days to 30-days entry, as part of that "deal" between the hardliners (anti-foreigner) and pro-tourist-income folks. Maybe this change will show up in the Gazette soon.

This makes more sense, for a multi-entry visa. Otherwise, if 10K Baht, people would opt to border-bounce for the next 180 days - not buy the extension. This way, immigration earns something once per-year. The only way to make the 10K extension work, would be to limit stay to 180 days/year, unless you extend.

There is nothing in the Gazette'd official-release about granting a tax-exemption with this visa.

The 2-entry limit was implemented by Gazette - now withdrawn without it? This is odd.

Yes - said they were worried about "illegal working" from people coming from countries where one day's 8-hour wage is greater than 6 * 12-hrs per-day, here. Meanwhile, they kept the no-limit land-border policy for those from poorer, neighboring countries where the vast majority of Illegal Workers were sourced. Clearly "illegal working" was a sincere concern with that policy. /s

How many times the average Thai salary in foreign-sourced income being spent in Thailand is "little," though? It appears they have decided to stop shooting themselves in the foot by refusing what amounts to repeat-customers. The only error I see, is not having restrictions on those entering from countries with a lower median salary than Thailand, which could allow flooding the Thai labor market, which hurts Thai workers. But, they were doing that all this time with Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos - had unlimited border-entries, while we did not.

These used to be pretty easy - just avoid Poipet - but it's been a few years for me - maybe different now. My primary incentive, back in the day, was not the ~$20 difference in cost - it was not feeling sick in a van at 5AM. If they left at some reasonable hour, I would have used them. There is a market-niche for 10-AM to 7PM Visa Runs - vs 6AM to 3PM ones - I would bet.

They like to rip you off with the exchange-rate AND the "not stay one night" fee. I always paid in dollars + 100 Thai Baht (to stop them whining), and stayed overnight (or longer).

If you are under 50 and not married to a Thai + a foreign-sourced income, it makes it possible to stay here longer-term at all - unless you count the crazy-priced "elite" visa, or maybe a year on an "ED" visa/extension. I am over 50, and prefer my 1900 Baht annual extension on "retirement." The only incentive for me to consider the DTV, is freeing up the 800K to invest and get a decent ROI. And, some source of foreign-income they spend here, which is the point, given no handouts here. I enjoyed the trips, also - but not wondering if the IO would "let me" to go home to my condo - to spite having the required money, flight-booking, etc. Border-bouncing through known-safe (for now) land entry-points is only permitted 2x / year - unless you fly, then get randomly-booted by airport immigration, unless you pay their agent $100+ per-entry - I would still be nervous. Imagine if agent rackets and "crackdowns" on tourists who "stay too long" didn't break what worked before? If they simply required the flight out, 20K cash, and hotel-booking, per the written rules, then it COULD have worked, and none of this would be necessary at all - like it was 20 years ago.

My speculation is a Thai account might work for applications in Laos (if they let us apply there) - because Thai accounts are accepted there for marriage-based Non-O-ME Visa applications. But, this would not needed to apply in one's home-country. The docs I saw here yesterday did not list the requirement for being a Laos resident or citizen (as with the METV) - but, wait to see what people report when they try, which is the only way to know for sure.

It was better 20 years ago, with the unlimited border-bounce system + triple-entry Tourist-Visas from Vientiane + 1-year-Non-O ME for having a Thai friend. That did work very well. When that was stopped, things got much more difficult for many local business owners and their employees - entire streets boarded up / all jobs lost. The Chinese were bought-in en-masse, but they were taken on "tours" to certain places (still are) so did not help many small businesses. Ask any Thai worker what nationalities tip well, and treat them with respect.

In the USA, there is no "income / savings" check at our border - even get free airfare to where ever they want to go. And, no one stops them from working - including illegally - which is the primary reason for the problems. I assume UK is similar with the channel crossers? The 2nd problem in those countries is handouts. If they were forced to spend foreign-funds or be immediately deported, problem solved. In Thailand, there are no handouts, and their spending would pay for infrastructure via VAT taxes. I hope anyone employing foreigners illegally goes to prison, which solves that problem - vs whack-a-mole with the illegal-workers, which does not. Also, deport for "vagrancy" - as has happened to some foreign panhandlers.

No report yet that the 400K is required at Laos Thai consulates for single-entry. But is now required at Savannakhet for the 1-year ME, which is not available at Vientiane.

With thousands more job and business opportunities? How will they "suffer more"? Ok - then they should cancel all L "work visas" and bust those hiring foreigners illegally in a massive crackdown. Also, require all Non-B foreign-workers in skilled-jobs to be training a Thai who then replaces them at their job.

I did my decades of serfdom, so I do understand the sentiment - I resented every single expletive-day of it. But, versus what, though? Are you familiar with village-life, for most Thais? There is a reason they come to tourist-areas for jobs. Also, consider many new small-business owners will be part of this.

"Awash" with many thousands of new job opportunities for Thais, also - from Grab-taxis to restaurants, bars, hospitality, etc.