thailand elite visa - application time

[ladytravels]

Hi,

I'm interested to hear from others, who have recently applied for the Elite Visa.  How long did it take, and where are you from?

I am just starting the process and wondering how to plan things

[ladytravels]

I have searched this forum, I understand a while ago they changed things. It seems to be in the past it was very quick to organise. But now, its a longer process.  Super interested to hear others experiences

[Enzo555]

Hi there, 

 

 I Recently applied; took to me 3 weeks to get approved (to get invitation for payement). I'm from Europe and you where are you from?; 

[ubonjoe]

It depends upon your nationality. It can take up to 2 months for those from countries that take a long time to get a background check done.

[ladytravels]

great thanks, i am applying from australia.  i am just interested to hear how others are with this process now.

[CygnusX1]

Not very recent sorry, about 10 months ago, but after the Immigration approvals started to take a lot longer. Also applied from Australia. Took exactly a month for approval by Immigration, only a couple more days after I’d sent the money to join and arrange an appointment at Suv. airport to have the visa attached - think they want a week or so notice for appointment if you’re flying into Thailand.

[Metapod]

I recently applied and they said it will take 1-2 months. I'll let you know when its finished. still waiting to hear back, but ive submitted all the forms

[gk10002000]

i assume one sends the money after being approved?

[CygnusX1]

36 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

i assume one sends the money after being approved?

Yes

[DaveK68]

I spoke with an agent yesterday. He told me that it can take anywhere from 8 weeks to 3 months now.

[Kelsall]

On 1/17/2020 at 7:31 AM, ubonjoe said:

It depends upon your nationality. It can take up to 2 months for those from countries that take a long time to get a background check done.

Do you know what type of home country background check they do?  Normally I would expect a credit check to start, but I saw no place for my US SSN.  Also, fingerprints are required for an FBI criminal record check, but of course fingerprinting is not required to apply for TE visa.

Edited January 20, 2020 by Kelsall

[Kelsall]

An agent told me last week the processing time is now about a month for US passport holders.

Edited January 20, 2020 by Kelsall

[ubonjoe]

20 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Do you know what type of home country background check they do?  Normally I would expect a credit check to start, but I saw no place for my US SSN.  Also, fingerprints are required for an FBI criminal record check, but of course fingerprinting is not required to apply for TE visa.

How thorough of background check they do appears to depends upon a person's nationality. Certainly no credit check.

I think for most countries they only do a check with interpol for wants and warrants. 

[CartagenaWarlock]

It took me 7 weeks for my Antigua and Barbuda passport. Before the EV, I had never stepped foot in Thailand. I applied in the USA, moved to Singapore and got a Tourist visa to Thailand and then entered Thailand. Changed to EV at CW with the help of EV staff. Since then I have traveled multiple times out of Thailand and entered Thailand using the same passport with EV visa (I have multiple passports and the EV visa attached to Antigua passports).

Edited January 20, 2020 by CartagenaWarlock

[murikamba]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

I think for most countries they only do a check with interpol for wants and warrants.

I don't think interpol has power to issue warrant, arrest or detain anybody. Countries can send Red Alert Notices to interpol and interpol dessimentiate that to member countries. Member countries can ignore or take action if the person lands on their soils.

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, murikamba said:

I don't think interpol has power to issue warrant, arrest or detain anybody. Countries can send Red Alert Notices to interpol and interpol dessimentiate that to member countries. Member countries can ignore or take action if the person lands on their soils.

I did not write that interpol issues warrants. They are only a source of info that can be world wide instead of a specific country.

 

[Kelsall]

Also there is this from a US passport holder...

 

 

 

[Good Lord]

It took about 1 month for me. I am from Austria!

[Metapod]

It has been about a month for me. Still waiting for the approval letter so I can send the funds.

[wasabi]

My wife and I, both Americans, began the process a month ago. We purchased a pair of existing Thai Elite visas from someone who had purchased the original Special Entry version over a decade ago. We are doing a transfer of these rather than buying new ones so that may cause our results to vary from others. 

 

Today I received an email from Thai Elite that they had gotten verbal confirmation our background check is complete and a letter should arrive next week confirming that at which time we can get our visas. Why bother with the verbal confirmation and not go straight to the letter? Well this is Thailand and I will never know but I will be glad when this is done.

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, wasabi said:

My wife and I, both Americans, began the process a month ago. We purchased a pair of existing Thai Elite visas from someone who had purchased the original Special Entry version over a decade ago. We are doing a transfer of these rather than buying new ones so that may cause our results to vary from others. 

 

Today I received an email from Thai Elite that they had gotten verbal confirmation our background check is complete and a letter should arrive next week confirming that at which time we can get our visas. Why bother with the verbal confirmation and not go straight to the letter? Well this is Thailand and I will never know but I will be glad when this is done.

 

Interesting... Is the original Life long Membership grandfathered in, or are you getting 20 years ?

 

The original S.E. Membership (lifelong) was 1 million baht. 

Thai Elite take 20% of any of the sales fee if I’m not mistaken, how did you work that out?

 

I would just say I’m selling mine for 100,000 baht and let them have 20k, then make a private transaction for the privately agreed remainder !!!

 

 

 

 

[dodgybros]

2 weeks {Australia) last year

 

[wasabi]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Interesting... Is the original Life long Membership grandfathered in, or are you getting 20 years ?

 

The original S.E. Membership (lifelong) was 1 million baht. 

Thai Elite take 20% of any of the sales fee if I’m not mistaken, how did you work that out?

 

I would just say I’m selling mine for 100,000 baht and let them have 20k, then make a private transaction for the privately agreed remainder !!!

 

 

 

 

Mine will become 20 years. The fee is case by case.

[richard_smith237]

10 minutes ago, wasabi said:

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Interesting... Is the original Life long Membership grandfathered in, or are you getting 20 years ?

 

The original S.E. Membership (lifelong) was 1 million baht. 

Thai Elite take 20% of any of the sales fee if I’m not mistaken, how did you work that out?

 

I would just say I’m selling mine for 100,000 baht and let them have 20k, then make a private transaction for the privately agreed remainder !!!

 

 

 

 

Mine will become 20 years. The fee is case by case.

 

Interesting...  it does appear to be a case by case basis (I suspect that evolves over time). 

 

I was wrong in quoting the transfer fee is 20% of the transfer, I was informed it was 20% of the prevailing rate (back when I asked the question).

 

Back in 2014 I received this reply when I considered selling my Thai Elite Visa to someone. 

In the end I realised the membership was too useful to me. 

 

Privileges:--

 

1.                   5 Years Renewable Special Entry Visa

2.                   Airport Service (Transport + Airport Assistants) upon International Arrival and Departure at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Phuket International Airport

(Only transport service provided at Chiang Mai and Samui Airports)

3.                   Complimentary Annual Medical Check-Up at Hospitals

4.                   Daily Complimentary Thai Massage at different spa venues 

5.                   Daily Complimentary Green Fee at different golf courses

6.                   Government/Business Concierge via Elite Personal Liaison (EPL)  

7.                   Special Prices at Hotels/Restaurants/Department Stores 

8.                   24-Hour General Assistance at our Member Contact Centre

 

Conditions:--

 

n       30 years of Membership 

n       Unlimited times of transfer with the remaining years

n       Membership Transfer Fee at the rate of 10 percent of the Prevailing Rate (Our latest price is 2,000,000 Baht so the transfer fee will be 200,000 Baht.)

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 30, 2020 by richard_smith237