Thailand Elite Visa - Experiences of Non Visa Exempt & Non VOA Nationals

[BigManager]

Hi All,

 

I have read many posts here from people describing their experiences with Thailand Elite Visa and the process of obtaining one. Some good, some bad but I have failed to read of anyone's experience with TE who is from a Non Visa Exempt & Non VOA country. And I'm really talking about nationals of African countries here. From what I have read, it is becoming harder and harder now for Africans to secure short and long term visas in Thailand, due to the prescence of overstayers and criminals from this continent giving the rest a bad name. For most, this leaves the Thailand Elite visa as the main option for coming to Thailand for long periods legally.

 

So if one was to apply for a Thai Elite Easy Access Visa from Africa, are the screening requirements tougher? Or is it really just like, hand us the cash and here's your visa? Because let's be honest here, this visa was intended for visa exempt nationals who had a bit of cash to make their stays in Thailand more convenient, not Africans.

And secondly, let's say you're accepted by Thailand Elite, how would you actually get the visa stamp affixed in your passport? They say on the website that you can apply at Royal Thai Embassies abroad. They do say this is not recommended and I've read stories about how people have asked to apply at the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh and Thai Elite said they were unable to. If they are unable to do it in Phnom Penh then I can tell you now, they won't be doing it in Abuja or Dakar or Nairobi.

That leaves getting it on arrival at BKK or applying for a tourist visa from the nearest embassy to your country as the only options. For some, the tourist visa won't work so getting it at BKK on arrival seems the best option if one can actually manage to hop on a plane to Thailand without check-in enquiring about the presence of a Thai visa in their passport (there are ways around this). And then with the fast track immigration, even though Thai Elite will be helping, won't the immigration officer question how a national from a non visa exempt & non VOA country has arrived in Thailand without any Thai visa?

 

These are just my thoughts.

 

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences so that more clarity and understanding can be brought to TE Visa for nationals of non visa exempt & non VOA countries.

 

Thanks

[ubonjoe]

17 hours ago, BigManager said:

And then with the fast track immigration, even though Thai Elite will be helping, won't the immigration officer question how a national from a non visa exempt & non VOA country has arrived in Thailand without any Thai visa?

If you have a have completed the membership process for Thai Elite you will go to a normal immigration desk. You will be taken to an office where your PE visa will be put in your passport and then you will stamped into the country for a year.

The problem though would be boarding a flight to here without a valid visa for entry. I think though with the assistance from Thai Elite you should be able to get a visa at a Thai embassy or consulate. Even a transit visa would be enough which has a slightly lower bar to get than a tourist visa.

[HidyHo]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

If you have a have completed the membership process for Thai Elite you will go to a normal immigration desk. You will be taken to an office where your PE visa will be put in your passport and then you will stamped into the country for a year.

The problem though would be boarding a flight to here without a valid visa for entry. I think though with the assistance from Thai Elite you should be able to get a visa at a Thai embassy or consulate. Even a transit visa would be enough which has a slightly lower bar to get than a tourist visa.

 

I have experience with getting the Elite visa at Suvarnabhumi airport (although I am not a national of non visa exempt & non VOA countries.

 

1. After booking a flight to BKK, you email Thai Elite member service to "book" assistance from Thai Elite to get the visa stamp on the passport at the airport.  Thai Elite representative(s) - the gals in nice dress uniform with your name card - will meet you at the gate and guide you through the entire process which happens before you get in the immigration line.

 

2. Once you have completed online application process, you will receive a welcome letter in an email. You are requested to print this and bring it along.  This is used as proof of visa.

 

3. In my case, I was taken to usual "fast track" lane where an immigration lady had a table ready for affixing my stamp.  I didn't have to do anything as Thai Elite staff took care of everything and it was done rather fast (10 minutes or so).  After you get the visa in the passport, they will guide you to the immigration line/agent and will be with you to make sure you get the one year stamp in the passport.

 

4. Once you are through the immigration line, they will take you to the lounge while "bellboy"go get your luggage from the belt.

 

5. The ladies will escort you through the custom line and to your ride.  I left them here as I already had my own transportation waiting for me.

 

[tpkhk]

Big Manager -  I didnt think the list of excluded Nationalities extended beyond a handful of countries.  I was wrong - and came across a website called Citizenship by Investment (.ch) - that has a detailed FAQ.  Attaching the link - was really surprised to see over 25 countries on the excluded/restricted list.  The list maybe outdated, or may just have extra clearance requirements.  

 

Of course, you can contact Thailand elite themselves, but you may also want to contact a firm called Henley & Partners.  (henleyglobal  .com).  They act as agents for Thailand Elite, in multiple countries and hold joint marketing events from time to time - so they should be a source of reliable & free info.  

 

For countries not on the restricted list, the process is as both ubonjoe & HidyHo described.

 

http://citizenshipbyinvestment.ch/index.php/2018/06/11/thailand-elite-is-the-cheapest-residency-program-in-the-world/

[ubonjoe]

16 minutes ago, tpkhk said:

Big Manager -  I didnt think the list of excluded Nationalities extended beyond a handful of countries.  I was wrong - and came across a website called Citizenship by Investment (.ch) - that has a detailed FAQ.  Attaching the link - was really surprised to see over 25 countries on the excluded/restricted list.  The list maybe outdated, or may just have extra clearance requirements.  

 

I wonder where that commercial website got that info. I see no mention of restricted countries on the Thailand Elite website.

I think it would require the OP to contact Thai Elite to find out if that list exists (https://www.thailandelite.com/contact-us?locate=en).

[atyclb]

having an elite visa is are there re entry fees and fees one must pay each time you leave?  any limit to times can leave country.  i guess no visa runs?

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, atyclb said:

having an elite visa is are there re entry fees and fees one must pay each time you leave?  any limit to times can leave country.  i guess no visa runs?

No fees when you leave.

You get unlimited one year entries for as long the visa is valid.

No need for a visa run unless your one year entry is ending or you can apply for a one year extension if you don't want to leave the country for a new entry.

[atyclb]

10 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

22 minutes ago, atyclb said:

having an elite visa is are there re entry fees and fees one must pay each time you leave?  any limit to times can leave country.  i guess no visa runs?

No fees when you leave.

You get unlimited one year entries for as long the visa is valid.

No need for a visa run unless your one year entry is ending or you can apply for a one year extension if you don't want to leave the country for a new entry.

 

can you have multiple entries withing the year . (5 year elite visa) or must you stay inside thailand for all 12 months?

[jackdd]

5 minutes ago, atyclb said:

 

can you have multiple entries withing the year . (5 year elite visa) or must you stay inside thailand for all 12 months?

Every time you enter Thailand you get a permit to stay for one year. If you want you can leave Thailand every day and come right back ?

Edited August 28, 2018 by jackdd

[New beginnings]

Just out of interest. If you returned to Thailand with, say 2 weeks remaining on a Thai Elite Visa, would you be allowed to enter only for the 2 weeks remaining on the TE visa or would they give you 30 days based on VOA terms?

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, New beginnings said:

Just out of interest. If you returned to Thailand with, say 2 weeks remaining on a Thai Elite Visa, would you be allowed to enter only for the 2 weeks remaining on the TE visa or would they give you 30 days based on VOA terms?

Since it is a multiple entry visa you would get another 1 year entry as long as you entered on or before the date it expires.

[New beginnings]

Cheers Ubonjoe - I have previously considered the Elite Visa and that additional year - possible 6 years in total - could make me reconsider.

[BigManager]

On 8/28/2018 at 4:00 PM, tpkhk said:

Big Manager -  I didnt think the list of excluded Nationalities extended beyond a handful of countries.  I was wrong - and came across a website called Citizenship by Investment (.ch) - that has a detailed FAQ.  Attaching the link - was really surprised to see over 25 countries on the excluded/restricted list.  The list maybe outdated, or may just have extra clearance requirements.  

 

Of course, you can contact Thailand elite themselves, but you may also want to contact a firm called Henley & Partners.  (henleyglobal  .com).  They act as agents for Thailand Elite, in multiple countries and hold joint marketing events from time to time - so they should be a source of reliable & free info.  

 

For countries not on the restricted list, the process is as both ubonjoe & HidyHo described.

 

http://citizenshipbyinvestment.ch/index.php/2018/06/11/thailand-elite-is-the-cheapest-residency-program-in-the-world/

I'm grateful for your replies. tpkhk - This is really interesting information you have stumbled upon. The date of the article is recent (June 2018) and it mentions the list of restricted countries twice. As ubonjoe said, the easiest thing is to contact Thailand Elite and ask. But a list like that doesn't come from nowhere and it's interesting that many what you could call 'low risk' African countries have been left off the restricted list. I remember seeing a poster on here saying he was trying to get his Kenyan girlfriend an elite visa and that it works smoothly. Kenya is not on that list. That leaves the main 'high risk' countries from across the globe being ineligible.