Extended my Thailand Elite visa today. Some surprises.

[wasabi]

My wife and I are both hold TE visas. our visas annual permit was due to expire February 23 2020. You are able to extend a month in advance so with the frequent changes in immigration law and Covid we wanted to do this ASAP.

 

We have both extended education and tourist visas at Thai immigration in the past so I thought I knew the extension process. In addition I read what was required on the TE website, read posts on this site and called Thailand Elite. We prepared and brought the following:

 

Passports

photos

photocopy of relevant pages in passport with signatures on each page.

TM 7 form.

TM 30 form. (Not sure if this was needed but brought it and they accepted it)

1900 THB 

 

We arrived with these and our passports at Chaeng Wattana Government Center in Bangkok at 10 AM today. We didn't breeze through but it wasn't overly crowded. We were given our queue numbers and began to wait. My wife was walking around while we waited and randomly bumped into a Thailand Elite staff member. We did not pay for their concierge service, but the woman graciously offered to review our documents. She took a look and noticed we did not have a scan of our Thailand Elite Cards and informed us a signed copy and the card were required which we did have. She went and scanned the cards. She said we could try informing the immigration agents we are TE members and could move ahead in the queue. We were nearing the dreaded lunch hour when they take a break so I considered this, but worried it would backfire so we decided to wait our turn. About 20 minutes later the TE Staff member saw us sitting and informed us there was another set of documents we needed which she had for us to sign.  I've attached photos I snapped of these with my phone. I had never heard of these document before and after reviewing them didn't want to sign it. At first glance they seem to indicate we had overstayed, but she informed us no it just is an acknowledgement what happens if you overstay so we signed it and put it in our bundle of papers. This was my first time extending the TE visa, but I had never seen or heard of these forms before today or in prior visa extensions. Has anyone seen these before? They are not listed on the TE Website nor mentioned during my phone call to them, but of course this is Thailand.

 

The TE Staff member then spoke with one of the immigration agents and waved for us to come over. It was inching ever closer to lunch so we went for it.

 

I went first. Initially there appeared to be no issue, but then the agent became increasingly agitated. She had the following grievances:

 

• I did not have a photocopy of the SETV visa I used to enter Thailand prior to changing in Thailand to the TE visa last February. I explained that was an old visa, but she insisted it was required. She went and photocopied it herself & I signed it.
• She informed me I needed my Thai phone number on the first page of my TM7 form so I wrote it down.
• She was very annoyed I had paperclipped and not glued my photo to the TM7 form. She stated (This is not my job) but begrudgingly did it. I had paperclipped it in the past so this came as a surprise but lesson learned.
• She told me I did not file my 90 day report and that I would be fined and had to go to Muang Tong Thani after this was done. I politely informed her TE had done this for me a few days prior and the relevant proof was in my passport. She swiped through the passport, saw the document and said okay never mind.

 

The TE Agent stopped by and asked if everything was okay. Flustered, the agent said in Thai, no he is missing everything. I have to do everything for him. It's true I had missed a few things but certainly not "everything." I just smiled and didn't say anything and the TE agent did the same. The TE agent quickly made a copy of my wife's prior SETV and my wife signed it while she waited for her turn after me.

I paid for my 1900 THB. The immigration agent stamped my passport and gave me a stack of papers. I started to walk out but another immigration staff member informed me to go to a 2nd desk for a few additional signatures. This other agent took all the remaining papers except my receipt and I was done. FYI the visa is extend one year from it's expiration date NEXT month, not as of today.

 

My wife had her turn. We had addressed the missing SETV photocopy so no complaints about that. She too had to add her Thai phone number to page 1 of the TM7. BTW I did not see any blank or indication phone number is needed anywhere on the form. The agent did not complain my wife was missing her 90 day report which like me, she wasn't. My wife then went to the 2nd counter. Suddenly a woman (foreigner) looking very flustered and upset cut in front as my wife was at the final step to get a signature. The IA told my wife to wait outside and she'd process her visa in a moment and took care of Mrs. Flustered. It only required one more signature so I am not sure why this other woman was allowed to interrupt. 

We anxiously awaited the process to finish. At 11:59 someone came out and began calling names while holding a stack of passports. My wife's name was called and her passport was returned to her. And for the record no Covid-19 test was required.

 

Other than the usual Kafkaesque moving goal post frustrations many of us have with Thai immigration I took away the following lessons:

 

• I am very glad I have Thailand Elite. Though the process was stressful I never was in doubt our visas would be extended. That was not always true in times past. I recognize this experience wasn't "Elite" but TiT and here I am in Thailand.
• If I ever have to extend the TE visa in country again I will definitely pay for the concierge service. It's clear Thai government workers and Thai people in general prefer to deal with other Thai people rather than Foreigners.
• The agent would enable us to be seen promptly. 
• If there are any issues with signatures or pages missing that is on the agent and they will be responsible for addressing it so we won't take the heat like we did this time.
• It seems inevitably a surprise form that's missing will be required and that too would be on the agent and addressed by them.

 

However hopefully borders will open before the year is up and I can simply enter through an airport and avoid the entire process going forward.

 

 

Edited January 25, 2021 by wasabi

[tonray]

Certainly nothing elite about that process.

[WineOh]

Sounds like 20 grand well spent mate ...

Not ???? 

[ubonjoe]

They now give those forms to everybody applying for extensions.

[statman78]

The 2 forms you attached have been required for at least a year.  I did my retirement extension last week and they were included with the TM47 form.  I also had to sign them last year.

[wasabi]

I agree the process WAS NOT Elite. The IA was aggravated, but here I am under 50 staying with my wife in the kingdom for another year so it is what it is. I also didn't pay 20 grand as my wife and I got our visas via a transfer agreement from a holder with a pair of the original lifetime TE visas. As a result we each have  20 year Thailand Elite Ultimate privilege visas for a cost that will not be disclosed but not what you wrote. These come with unlimited airport transfer, 2 massages at a Thai spa a month (which we use every month), medical check ups and a few other benefits blah blah. Our visas are also transferable, so I could get my money back if I ever truly was just pleased which I'm not. Stay in Thailand long enough and you realize this is just part of the package.

Edited January 25, 2021 by wasabi

[toolpush]

Great update. Thanks for posting

[ThomasThBKK]

Hilarious, but elite sends you an email on what exactly to bring including those forms and everything else you mentioned.

[clearance]

Thank you very much for the report, going to extend my TE tomorrow.

They mention that you need:

6. Thailand Elite membership card 

But they didn't mention that you need to have singed copy of it.

[wasabi]

28 minutes ago, ThomasThBKK said:

Hilarious, but elite sends you an email on what exactly to bring including those forms and everything else you mentioned.

I had discussed what was needed over the phone with TE and brought what I was told to bring. In retrospect I probably should've gotten an email. Also I am not saying I am blameless in the situation, though the IA could've been less aggro and made a few mistakes of her own. None of us ever expected the Covid situation and I never expected not to be able to leave the country for an entire year. I had thought I'd get my yearly extensions by virtue of international transit. Going forward that's still the plan, but as stated if I stay in country I will use the concierge.  

 

Also had a typo Above I wrote

 

"Our visas are also transferable, so I could get my money back if I ever truly was just pleased which I'm not"

 

I meant to write "I could get my money back if I ever was truly DISPLEASED which I'm not."

 

Look they have pictures of red carpets and white gloves in the TE ads but I never expected or desired the reality to match that. The word Elite is a bit of a marketing gimmick but I am totally happy with the purchase for me and my wife's situation just trying to help others extending their visas, particularly TE members.

[ubonjoe]

A rude baiting post was removed and then a comment on moderation was removed from a post.

[galt1967]

"I am very glad I have Thailand Elite."

 

+1

Although I'm 'over 50', I chose TE, and have ZERO regrets.

 

And, btw, know multiple other 50+ TEs.

 

[mrmicbkktxl]

I think I don't understand why anyone needs an elite visa.What is the point if you have to go through all the immigration BS same retirement visa or marriage visa? If they would leave me alone for 5 years or visit me at home with all documents then YEAH I want one.500.000bt is 100.000 per year for that amount I better take an agent every year and pay 20-30000bt saves me over 300.000bt that is 4 return tickets in business class to Europe

[paddyfield7]

When I read all this, I'm happy NOT to have a TE permission. I did my annual extension last week at CNX immigration based on pension certified by Swiss Embassy in Bangkok. No questions asked and no additional signatures required, just 2 pictures taken. I was done in less than 25 minutes. I used an agent which did cost me THB 9,500 "all in", i.e. I/O extension fee of THB 1,900, I/O multi re-entry fee THB 3,800, and agent commission of THB 3,800 including THB 300 for 90 days report.

[ubonjoe]

54 minutes ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

I think I don't understand why anyone needs an elite visa.What is the point if you have to go through all the immigration BS same retirement visa or marriage visa?

You only need to visit immigration for a extension if you do not leave and re-enter the country for a year. Every time you enter the country you get a new one year permit to stay.

[DUS]

I’m also a TE member and went to CW yesterday as well to get my extension. I hesitated to depart with 2,000 Baht at first, but as it was my first extension ever at CW, in the end I decided to book their “concierge service”. Reading your story, I am glad I did.

 

Appointment was made for 13:00. She gave me a call and met me outside the Immigration office at 12:50, checked my paperwork, provided the 2 other forms you also mentioned and then she went in with all docs and my passport shortly before 1pm. She said she’d pick

me up again shortly after 1 when all those waiting in line would have gone inside.

 

She appeared back 2-3 minutes after the door had been opened, took

me straight to a desk with an IO. IO did  whatever she had to do on the computer, took my photo, took my 1,900 Baht and that was it. The TE staff asked me to wait for her at the exit as there was one more step she had to take care of. In the end I was back in a taxi at 13:17. 

 

Now, even with yesterday’s very satisfying experience with the TE staff, I hope the borders reopen fully before Feb 22 as I’d still rather do a trip

abroad than going to CW to get a new 12 months extension. Fingers crossed! 

[wasabi]

1 hour ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

I think I don't understand why anyone needs an elite visa.What is the point if you have to go through all the immigration BS same retirement visa or marriage visa? If they would leave me alone for 5 years or visit me at home with all documents then YEAH I want one.500.000bt is 100.000 per year for that amount I better take an agent every year and pay 20-30000bt saves me over 300.000bt that is 4 return tickets in business class to Europe

 

19 minutes ago, paddyfield7 said:

When I read all this, I'm happy NOT to have a TE permission. I did my annual extension last week at CNX immigration based on pension certified by Swiss Embassy in Bangkok. No questions asked and no additional signatures required, just 2 pictures taken. I was done in less than 25 minutes. I used an agent which did cost me THB 9,500 "all in", i.e. I/O extension fee of THB 1,900, I/O multi re-entry fee THB 3,800, and agent commission of THB 3,800 including THB 300 for 90 days report.

 

For a long time I thought the TE visa was a waste of money and it'd be better for us to just use METV. My wife and I did this for a time up until immigration became increasingly hostile and critical of why we were staying so long in Thailand. Furthermore that visa requires you to periodically cross the border which would be a huge problem in our current Covid situation, but I didn't even know Covid was coming when I got the TE visa.

 

I got the TE visa when I was 44 and my wife was 41. I do not work nor want to work. My wife is from Laos. I am too young for a retirement visa. We could all debate the merits of living in Thailand but bottom line this is where we want to live. I could not find any other option for us to stay in Thailand long term. One of the key reasons to stay in Thailand long term is the lower cost of living vs the USA. The TE visa for us has ALREADY paid for itself in cost of living savings. IMO the rest of our stay here is now free. Furthermore TE gave all holders an extra 6 months due to Covid so we got 20 years and 6 months. I am not going to say what we paid but I will tell you dividing our time remaining vs fee paid means we each will pay less than 1,000 a year for our TE visas and we have the ones with all the various 'perks'. I didn't want or expect these perks but randomly ended up getting them due to purchasing our visas from a couple who had the original Special Entry version of the TE visa. The airport transit, monthly access to Thai spas, help with 90 day reporting when needed, free annual check up at Bummrungrad all are worth MORE than $1,000. So not only is the visa free when contrasting cost of living but the visa is paying us back in a similar manner a credit card would with bonus points.

 

Was the immigration experience frustrating and a hassle not becoming of a visa called "Thailand Elite" yes. It was annoying, but it was about 20 minutes of annoyance which I will be able to avoid in the future vs all of the aforementioned benefits that'll last decades. I totally get this visa is not for everyone, but it is fantastic for us. NO REGRETS. I made my living filtering out the signal through the noise with financial analysis in my past life. Those skills, knowing what matters and what doesn't remain valid. The immigration was temporary static. Hassle free living in Thailand with a bit of pampering here and there, well that sends a strong positive signal.

Edited January 26, 2021 by wasabi

[Fairynuff]

21 hours ago, WineOh said:

Sounds like 20 grand well spent mate ...

Not ???? 

Lucky it wast your money then. In normal times Elite members would never have to go to immigration because each time you leave and return you start a new 12 month stay. It’s only a waste of money to those who don’t want the visa. Thousands of people are happy with the choice they made.

[BMW Overlander]

Warning from TE:

 

https://www.thailandelite.com/tpc-news/detail/158

 

Edited January 26, 2021 by BMW Overlander

[khunPer]

22 hours ago, wasabi said:

At first glance they seem to indicate we had overstayed, but she informed us no it just is an acknowledgement what happens if you overstay so we signed it and put it in our bundle of papers.

The document with acceptance of terms that you were asked to sign, some of us on annual extensions have been signing that for several years now. They might not apply in all immigration offices, as there are differences; where I stay we for example also need a medical declaration from a hospital only, every year.

[jomtienisgood]

On 1/25/2021 at 1:54 PM, tonray said:

Certainly nothing elite about that process.

The price... 5555 And for what it's worth....

[Odysseus123]

It certainly comes across as a most unpleasant experience (in the OP) so I am glad that you got thru it okay.

[blackcab]

On 1/25/2021 at 1:50 PM, wasabi said:

Has anyone seen these before?

 

Yes, I've signed them each year for the last 2 or 3 years.

[Jackie66]

Sounds like a total normal extension experience ????  Not sure what's the fuss about? Immigration officer being annoyed? ????  Some random paper you never needed before you need now. Happens all the time.

[ThomasThBKK]

17 minutes ago, Jackie66 said:

Sounds like a total normal extension experience ????  Not sure what's the fuss about? Immigration officer being annoyed? ????  Some random paper you never needed before you need now. Happens all the time.

 

Yes and they give you this list via Email of what to bring and pdf's attached of everything you need to fill out:

 

Quote

Please bring these documents with you for Stay Extension. 

 
1. Application form TM.7, STM.2 and The Acknowledgement of Penalties for a Visa Overstay form (Please find the attached files in this email) 

2. Passport. 

3. Passport copy of relevant pages, viz.  

       - Page with name, surname and picture. 

       - Page with issue and expiry dates of passport. 

       - Page with Elite Visa. 

       - Page with latest arrival stamp. 

       - Departure card (TM.6). 

4. A photo of 4x6 (2 inches) (not older than 6 months) 

5. Original Thailand Elite membership card and its copy. 

6. Application fee 1,900 THB. 

7. TM.30 (Notification of Residence) 

 

[ronaldo0]

Thought the point of having an elite visa was they provided a service where you didn’t have to mingle with the serfs ? 

[wasabi]

42 minutes ago, ronaldo0 said:

Thought the point of having an elite visa was they provided a service where you didn’t have to mingle with the serfs ? 

There is some truth to that but at times it is merely an illusion and even Elite holders most subjugate themselves to interaction with the common man if they are not tactical in their usage of the visa. If one carefully reads my admonition they can let my pain be their gain and extend their visa from atop a lofty perch far removed from the lowly pedestrians wandering the halls of Thai immigration.

[masuk]

On 1/25/2021 at 6:19 PM, clearance said:

Thank you very much for the report, going to extend my TE tomorrow.

They mention that you need:

6. Thailand Elite membership card 

But they didn't mention that you need to have singed copy of it.

HA!  The dreaded singed copy.  Just slightly charred!

[Skeptic7]

Not Elite, but had a similar experience with a real bitch a few years back. The "baditude" runs rampant there. Never a pleasant experience. 

[david555]

On 1/25/2021 at 1:50 PM, wasabi said:

My wife and I are both hold TE visas. our visas annual permit was due to expire February 23 2020. You are able to extend a month in advance so with the frequent changes in immigration law and Covid we wanted to do this ASAP.

 

We have both extended education and tourist visas at Thai immigration in the past so I thought I knew the extension process. In addition I read what was required on the TE website, read posts on this site and called Thailand Elite. We prepared and brought the following:

 

Passports

photos

photocopy of relevant pages in passport with signatures on each page.

TM 7 form.

TM 30 form. (Not sure if this was needed but brought it and they accepted it)

1900 THB 

 

We arrived with these and our passports at Chaeng Wattana Government Center in Bangkok at 10 AM today. We didn't breeze through but it wasn't overly crowded. We were given our queue numbers and began to wait. My wife was walking around while we waited and randomly bumped into a Thailand Elite staff member. We did not pay for their concierge service, but the woman graciously offered to review our documents. She took a look and noticed we did not have a scan of our Thailand Elite Cards and informed us a signed copy and the card were required which we did have. She went and scanned the cards. She said we could try informing the immigration agents we are TE members and could move ahead in the queue. We were nearing the dreaded lunch hour when they take a break so I considered this, but worried it would backfire so we decided to wait our turn. About 20 minutes later the TE Staff member saw us sitting and informed us there was another set of documents we needed which she had for us to sign.  I've attached photos I snapped of these with my phone. I had never heard of these document before and after reviewing them didn't want to sign it. At first glance they seem to indicate we had overstayed, but she informed us no it just is an acknowledgement what happens if you overstay so we signed it and put it in our bundle of papers. This was my first time extending the TE visa, but I had never seen or heard of these forms before today or in prior visa extensions. Has anyone seen these before? They are not listed on the TE Website nor mentioned during my phone call to them, but of course this is Thailand.

 

The TE Staff member then spoke with one of the immigration agents and waved for us to come over. It was inching ever closer to lunch so we went for it.

 

I went first. Initially there appeared to be no issue, but then the agent became increasingly agitated. She had the following grievances:

 

• I did not have a photocopy of the SETV visa I used to enter Thailand prior to changing in Thailand to the TE visa last February. I explained that was an old visa, but she insisted it was required. She went and photocopied it herself & I signed it.
• She informed me I needed my Thai phone number on the first page of my TM7 form so I wrote it down.
• She was very annoyed I had paperclipped and not glued my photo to the TM7 form. She stated (This is not my job) but begrudgingly did it. I had paperclipped it in the past so this came as a surprise but lesson learned.
• She told me I did not file my 90 day report and that I would be fined and had to go to Muang Tong Thani after this was done. I politely informed her TE had done this for me a few days prior and the relevant proof was in my passport. She swiped through the passport, saw the document and said okay never mind.

 

The TE Agent stopped by and asked if everything was okay. Flustered, the agent said in Thai, no he is missing everything. I have to do everything for him. It's true I had missed a few things but certainly not "everything." I just smiled and didn't say anything and the TE agent did the same. The TE agent quickly made a copy of my wife's prior SETV and my wife signed it while she waited for her turn after me.

I paid for my 1900 THB. The immigration agent stamped my passport and gave me a stack of papers. I started to walk out but another immigration staff member informed me to go to a 2nd desk for a few additional signatures. This other agent took all the remaining papers except my receipt and I was done. FYI the visa is extend one year from it's expiration date NEXT month, not as of today.

 

My wife had her turn. We had addressed the missing SETV photocopy so no complaints about that. She too had to add her Thai phone number to page 1 of the TM7. BTW I did not see any blank or indication phone number is needed anywhere on the form. The agent did not complain my wife was missing her 90 day report which like me, she wasn't. My wife then went to the 2nd counter. Suddenly a woman (foreigner) looking very flustered and upset cut in front as my wife was at the final step to get a signature. The IA told my wife to wait outside and she'd process her visa in a moment and took care of Mrs. Flustered. It only required one more signature so I am not sure why this other woman was allowed to interrupt. 

We anxiously awaited the process to finish. At 11:59 someone came out and began calling names while holding a stack of passports. My wife's name was called and her passport was returned to her. And for the record no Covid-19 test was required.

 

Other than the usual Kafkaesque moving goal post frustrations many of us have with Thai immigration I took away the following lessons:

 

• I am very glad I have Thailand Elite. Though the process was stressful I never was in doubt our visas would be extended. That was not always true in times past. I recognize this experience wasn't "Elite" but TiT and here I am in Thailand.
• If I ever have to extend the TE visa in country again I will definitely pay for the concierge service. It's clear Thai government workers and Thai people in general prefer to deal with other Thai people rather than Foreigners.
• The agent would enable us to be seen promptly. 
• If there are any issues with signatures or pages missing that is on the agent and they will be responsible for addressing it so we won't take the heat like we did this time.
• It seems inevitably a surprise form that's missing will be required and that too would be on the agent and addressed by them.

 

However hopefully borders will open before the year is up and I can simply enter through an airport and avoid the entire process going forward.

 

 

Dear sir ...i am so glad after reading your ordeal to just using the ret.ext. 1 year with only the 800k on Thai bank  as it is a flash service not taking more than 5 minutes if the few documents are in order at Jomtien immigration ....

 

You have my sympathy..????