STV Visa application precidure sounds like a scam

[ernests]

Hello,

 

I guess many now know about Thai goverment's plan to bring back tourists to Thailand via STV Visa.

 

I know it too, I even emailed them about my intent to use this Visa to go to Thailand and got a response from them.

 

What seems odd to me is that only 1200 people will be able to enter Thailand via STV Visa each month, but in order to apply for the Visa you have to make payments beforehand even when you don't even know if you will be approved or not..

 

"3.      After receiving approval from the Thai Immigration Bureau, the applicant will have to pay the application fee and the company will send the applicant the STV Visa application form and the company will correspond with the applicant regarding:

•    the 15 days ASQ/ALSQ quarantine accommodation options

•    accommodation options and requirements after the 15 days quarantine (minimum stay of 15 days) [Total minimum stay of 30 days including the 15 day quarantine]

•    Options for chartered flights

•    Medical and Travel Insurance options with minimum coverage for medical expense of 100,000USD including Covid-19 medical treatment. The insurance must cover for at least 90 days.

            Once all payments have been made for all the above items and the applicant must send all of the documents to [email protected]

4.      The company will submit on behalf of the applicant, the STV visa application from and all required documents to the Department of Consular Affairs, Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to apply for the CoE (Certificate of Entry) and the STV Visa"

 

Can someone explain to me what is this? To me this is just plain stupidity.

[thaitero]

Quote

After receiving approval from the Thai Immigration Bureau, the applicant will have to pay the application fee

You pay after receiving approval, I read

What are the points 1 and 2 ?

[treetops]

It's customary to pay a visa application fee when applying for a visa, but not all the other costs, especially when the others are unknown at the start of the process.  Just more ill thought out madness that I thought would be dropped by now, but which they seem determined to go ahead with.

[Max69xl]

They are desperate to make money out of this. As I understand it, it seems that only 5 star hotels are considered for the 15 days quarantine. Another requirement is to show a certain amount of money, how much,they haven't said (or I have missed it). Imo, this way to lure people into Thailand won't work. First the need to spend a lot of money for a possibly expensive airline ticket, the health insurance + 15 days at the ASQ-hotel in BKK before the "real" vacation starts. Think about a couple doing this, the amount of money spent the first 15 days will keep "normal" people away,even if they can afford it. 

[DrJack54]

STV sets new standard of stupidity.

First up the travel bubbles.

Then Phuket having Au and few other countries fly in. Bit funny at same time Au had serious issues covid wise. 

Now this rubbish STV. Absolute rubbish.

Yet many fools asking how to register.

[ernests]

6 hours ago, thaitero said:

You pay after receiving approval, I read

What are the points 1 and 2 ?

Application Procedure for Special Tourist Visa (STV)

1.      A foreign applicant must e-mail Thailand Longstay Company ([email protected]) to submit his/her intention to apply for the Special Tourist Visa (STV). In the e-mail, please provide the following information of all the applicants:

•    Photo of the passport that the applicant will use for entry into Thailand

•    Current Location/Residence (City & Country)

•    Nearest Thai Embassy/Consulate to the Applicant

2.      The company will send the photo of the passport to the Thai Immigration Bureau to check the applicant’s criminal record

[ernests]

1 hour ago, Max69xl said:

Think about a couple doing this, the amount of money spent the first 15 days will keep "normal" people away,even if they can afford it. 

I guess I am not normal????

[Tounge Thaied]

It's simple... they want you ALL in before they spend the time processing your entry. And to be fair, you can imagine the amount of Flakey people that would start or initiate this process and then just back out. This will be a very crazy process... and those "travel agencies" that are being tasked to facilitate this have there work cut out for them. This is seriously not going to be a good option for anyone other than individuals or couples and certainly not families. This is primarily going to be for others that are desperate to get back into Thailand for one reason or another. 

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

STV sets new standard of stupidity.

First up the travel bubbles.

Then Phuket having Au and few other countries fly in. Bit funny at same time Au had serious issues covid wise. 

Now this rubbish STV. Absolute rubbish.

Yet many fools asking how to register.

The travel bubbles are what could be a game changer. Unfortunately, there are few countries that would currently qualify for safe, quarantine free entry. China would qualify (if the Chinese were also trusting of Thailand) but the Chinese are not overly popular as many blame them for Covid-19.

[impulse]

I think an even more fundamental question for the OP is what role ThaiLongStay, the company plays and how much of the listed procedure is driven by them and how much is actually required by Thai Immigration.

 

And are there any alternatives, like dealing direct with the Thai consulate or embassy?

 

 

[mybeat]

2 hours ago, ernests said:

Application Procedure for Special Tourist Visa (STV)

1.      A foreign applicant must e-mail Thailand Longstay Company ([email protected]) to submit his/her intention to apply for the Special Tourist Visa (STV). In the e-mail, please provide the following information of all the applicants:

•    Photo of the passport that the applicant will use for entry into Thailand

•    Current Location/Residence (City & Country)

•    Nearest Thai Embassy/Consulate to the Applicant

2.      The company will send the photo of the passport to the Thai Immigration Bureau to check the applicant’s criminal record

What's the source of this? anything official?

[ernests]

54 minutes ago, mybeat said:

What's the source of this? anything official?

yes, [email protected]

[ernests]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

I think an even more fundamental question for the OP is what role ThaiLongStay, the company plays and how much of the listed procedure is driven by them and how much is actually required by Thai Immigration.

 

And are there any alternatives, like dealing direct with the Thai consulate or embassy?

 

 

As I understand ThaiLongStay has taken the task to organize this. Imagine doing this yourself.. I feel that it would be a big pain in the ass.

 

I am just one of many, but they still bothered to answer my concerns..????‍♂️

 

I could be wrong. It happens..

[mbenson]

5 hours ago, Tounge Thaied said:

It's simple... they want you ALL in before they spend the time processing your entry. And to be fair, you can imagine the amount of Flakey people that would start or initiate this process and then just back out. This will be a very crazy process... and those "travel agencies" that are being tasked to facilitate this have there work cut out for them. This is seriously not going to be a good option for anyone other than individuals or couples and certainly not families. This is primarily going to be for others that are desperate to get back into Thailand for one reason or another. 

Draft or Daft?

[bodga]

6 hours ago, Tounge Thaied said:

It's simple... they want you ALL in before they spend the time processing your entry. And to be fair, you can imagine the amount of Flakey people that would start or initiate this process and then just back out. This will be a very crazy process... and those "travel agencies" that are being tasked to facilitate this have there work cut out for them. This is seriously not going to be a good option for anyone other than individuals or couples and certainly not families. This is primarily going to be for others that are desperate to get back into Thailand for one reason or another. 

as  simple as abc or the Thai alphabet, for a  blind  person with no hands to follow, you  wonder who thinks up this convoluted tripe, then you  look at the govt

[tabbycat]

So after initially announcing that foreigners CAN spend quarantine at their own homes if they provide evidence of home ownership documents, guess they realized they wouldn’t be making any $$$ that way. Greedy scum. You would have to wear the GPS tracker/wristband the entire time anyway and report your location via the app - so it’s certainly not a matter of security or people leaving their house for them. It’s all about the money. 

 

I was only tempted by the STV because of that particular option, could tolerate spending 14 days in my own condo but sorry; paying for “ASQ” when many foreigners already own a home will be a deal-breaker for most in a situation like mine. This would be on top of having to pay for all the other costs (they expect you to take a chartered flight for goodness sake). 

[ehgnyc]

If any rich tourist really does take part in this, they are going to be very disappointed. They will not be arriving in the happy fun Thailand they're imagining. I'm on Samui. It's a ghost town. There were some tourists here keeping some of the restaurants going, but now they were forced to leave.

 

It's not going to be hard to keep the tourists in their resorts because there are few other places to go, and those are barely hanging on. And even the most insensitive tourist will not be able to miss that the locals are sad and frightened. Not a good look. Is there a brochure? Are there big Thai smiles in it? Might be grounds for a refund.

Edited September 24, 2020 by ehgnyc

[Phillip9]

45 minutes ago, ehgnyc said:

If any rich tourist really does take part in this, they are going to be very disappointed. They will not be arriving in the happy fun Thailand they're imagining. I'm on Samui. It's a ghost town.

Actually, I think this has improved samui.  At least its is more peaceful and the beaches aren't crowded.  I think most rich tourist would agree with me.  They are mostly older and looking for peace and quiet.  They will be glad all the backpackers and associated "fun" are gone.

[userabcd]

43 minutes ago, ehgnyc said:

If any rich tourist really does take part in this, they are going to be very disappointed. They will not be arriving in the happy fun Thailand they're imagining. I'm on Samui. It's a ghost town. There were some tourists here keeping some of the restaurants going, but now they were forced to leave.

 

It's not going to be hard to keep the tourists in their resorts because there are few other places to go, and those are barely hanging on. And even the most insensitive tourist will not be able to miss that the locals are sad and frightened. Not a good look. Is there a brochure? Are there big Thai smiles in it? Might be grounds for a refund.

Can see it is going to be popular and oversubscibed once they have finalised the details. People around the world are chomping at the bit to enter Thailand.

[Shannoblic]

I posted a reply to this topic in another thread a few minutes ago.  Please read it carefully.  Your 10,700 baht application fee is ONLY after a police check - NOT after any other approval.

2.      The company will send the photo of the passport to the Thai Immigration Bureau to check the applicant’s criminal record

3.      After receiving approval from the Thai Immigration Bureau, the applicant will have to pay the application fee and the company will send the applicant the STV Visa application form and the company will correspond with the applicant regarding:

 

Analyzing the wording very carefully from a 'legal' standpoint I would like to point out that item 3 on the OP's list actually interprets as after approval from Thai Immigration Bureau ONLY on the applicants criminal record.   It does NOT indicate any other approval.

 

In other words - once you have been 'police' cleared you can go ahead with an application and this company require you at that point to pay up the money.  That is BEFORE your application is processed in any way.  That is a real gamble,  Caveat Emptor.

[Paiman]

39 minutes ago, userabcd said:

Can see it is going to be popular and oversubscibed once they have finalised the details. People around the world are chomping at the bit to enter Thailand.

 

I assume this is Sarcasm?

 

If not, I have to disagree with you. Rich tourists will also have a nice life back home. The Caribbean islands are slowly opening up, with a temperature check at arrival, covid tests done by port authorities... At least it is more welcoming and less hassle.

 

I don,t see this STV visa having a bright future, only the most desperate, for whatever reason will go through all this.

[Guderian]

If you have a Thai wife or family and are desperate to return here, then it may be worth jumping through all these hoops, but if all you're after is a bit of winter sunshine then forget about Thailand, it's simply not worth the hassle. Buy one of those wall-sized posters of a tropical beach, get a UV lamp and a crate of Singha, scatter some used polystyrene food cartons around the floor and a few dozen cigarette butts, then turn the music up to full-blast Thai pop, preferably played from your car speakers, and it'll be just like Jomtien Beach on a Sunday, lol.

[sammieuk1]

They haven't worked out how much they are going to rinse you for so more layers get added to this ridiculous process every other day by the look of it ????

[cjinchiangrai]

15 hours ago, impulse said:

I think an even more fundamental question for the OP is what role ThaiLongStay, the company plays and how much of the listed procedure is driven by them and how much is actually required by Thai Immigration.

 

And are there any alternatives, like dealing direct with the Thai consulate or embassy?

 

 

Thai Longstay is organizing the charter flights. The fee is basically to gain access to those flights and to grease the wheels at TAT for visas and COEs.

 

If you don't think it is for you, don't apply, but this is the deal.

 

What I want to know is where is Emirates getting their COEs and ASQ bookings.

[treetops]

1 minute ago, cjinchiangrai said:

What I want to know is where is Emirates getting their COEs and ASQ bookings.

Individuals get these from their local embassy and direct from the ASQ hotel respectively.  The airlines play no part in obtaining them, only verifying them at check-in I believe.

[farang51]

7 hours ago, tabbycat said:

So after initially announcing that foreigners CAN spend quarantine at their own homes if they provide evidence of home ownership documents, guess they realized they wouldn’t be making any $$$ that way.

No, they did not announce that. The idea of self quarantine was scrapped early on as people ignored the quarantine and went out anyway. The proof of ownership, renting contract, or hotel is to make sure you stay at least for a certain time.

[redwood1]

I will say what I think this visa is about....

 

There are millions and millions of Thai people who are very desperate for the farang to come back....

 

Said Thai people are not only getting more hungry but also angry with the situation especially since no one in their family town city has Covid.....

 

The anger is growing all the time...

 

All of SE asia is still in simi lockdown....

 

The powers that be that the SE asia governments consult with have not given the ok for a mass reopening...

 

So the Thais are stuck between a rock and a hard place.....They have angry citizen but they have not been given the clear to open.....

 

So this new visa with more hoops to jump through than a 3 ring circus....Is a way they can open without really opening...... 99.9999% of tourist will refuse to use this visa.....

[JusticeGB]

A new company set up by the Government with brand new untrained staff would be incapable of understanding the complicated rules that the TAT has put in place. It's bound to be a money making machine for those in charge of it.

[treetops]

4 minutes ago, JusticeGB said:

A new company set up by the Government with brand new untrained staff would be incapable of understanding the complicated rules that the TAT has put in place. It's bound to be a money making machine for those in charge of it.

They are a long established company who have facilitated retirement visas for many years, but yes, they'll hope to make money out it at 10,000 baht + per pop.

[ernests]

How much money would you guess this visa would cost me to the point when I have finished the ASQ quarantine??

 

Too lazy to do the digging:(