Thailand Elite members warned about overstaying

 

Thailand Elite file photo

 

It may have cost them the best part of 1 million baht but don’t think Thailand  Elite members get an easy ride should they overstay their permission to remain in the country.

 

Thailand Elite has this week warned its members about the severe penalties for overstaying in Thailand. 

 

According to the firm which operates Thailand’s exclusive long stay visa program, “many”Thailand Elite members have been found to have overstayed.  

 

Cases of overstay appear to have occured at the end of the last visa amnesty, with members failing to apply for an extension of stay within the required time limit. 

 

Earlier this week, the company sent a memo (below) to members warning them of the penalties for foreigners who overstay in Thailand. 

 

Members who overstay were warned they face a 20,000 baht fine or could even be barred from Thailand for one year.

 

A Thailand Elite member in Hua Hin who spoke to Thaivisa on the condition of anonymity confirmed he had received the memo.

 

“Thankfully it doesn’t affect me but I was quite surprised they were warning members about overstay”, he said. 

 

 

“You normally read about criminals, backpackers or older guys who have run out money overstaying their visas, not people who spend a million baht to stay in Thailand!

 

“What I didn’t understand after I read the email was that Thailand Elite normally contact you when you need to renew, they certainly did with me. So I am still not sure how they can let people overstay. 

 

“Maybe I am just not fully aware of the renewal process but I thought it was pretty impossible to overstay on Thailand Elite, as they contacted you to remind you to renew”.

 

Thailand Elite membership allows stays of between 5 and 20 years, with prices ranging from 600,000 baht to 2 million baht.

 

Last November, it was announced the cost of the 5-year “Easy Access” visa would increase  by 20% from January, to 600,000 baht.

 

Thailand Elite reported a surge in new members during the COVID-19 pandemic with 2,674 people signing up from January to September 2020.

 

Around 11,200 people are understood to hold Thailand Elite membership, as part of 9 different packages offered by Thailand Privilege Card. 

 

Most members are from China, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and the US. The company has said previously it expects  to sign up at least another 2,700 members in 2021.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-01-26

 

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3 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

A Thailand Elite member in Hua Hin who spoke to Thaivisa on the condition of anonymity confirmed he had received the memo.

it was not me.

 

I did speak to Thaivsia about the invisible dome that covers all of Hua Hin so you can't leave. 

You renew your permission to stay once a year, everyone should know that. The TE visa is all about the '1 year stamp'.

 

You can tell by the stamp in the passport - it has an expiry date on it - that's the date to renew by ????

 

There must be some real dummys out there.

 

I also got an email from them today, I rolled my eyes and moved onto the next spam.

Not me either as I am on a marriage extension that needs renewing in October.

 

However, what a way to treat people who pay 500,000 to 2 million baht.

Like throwing your money into a bottomless pit.

 

Anyone who buys into this 'elite' nonsense needs to give their head a serious wobble. 

She has her hand in the correct position for a warm welcome ???? 

11 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

She has her hand in the correct position for a warm welcome ???? 

NO. She thinks, hey, look at me, I am your representative.

He starring to the Immi girl and she starring back.
Hmmm, this guy put a lot of money on the table for this sticker in his passport.

Could be something for me as well lol.

Naive stupidity to pay up to 2 million baht and expect to be treated respectfully by Thailand ... I mean cmon you're farang 

Is there any reason to actually get a Thailand Elite Membership if you qualify for either the Retirement or Marriage Visas?  Not seeing the appeal...

36 minutes ago, WineOh said:

Anyone who buys into this 'elite' nonsense needs to give their head a serious wobble.

Sounds like you got turned down 555

might be a good idea at the end, the requirements are getting ridiculous for regular long term visa, it's all about making money at the end

22 minutes ago, Snig27 said:

Sounds like you got turned down 555

I wouldn't even dream of applying.

 

My YEARLY extensions cost 1,900 baht.

 

Tell me exactly what is worth 1 million baht for practically the same visa????

Is it the glass of warm champagne and the limo at the airport? ???? 

Gimme a cold beer and a grab taxi any day of the week bud! 

Like many things in Thailand, you cease to be special once the money changes hands ????.

 

Elite service? Hardly.

 

There's an interesting post on here today where a 20 year member was treated like shheeit by some low ranking immigration officer when renewing.

 

No surprise frankly. It's all wais and promises until they have the cash.

 

Best to keep your powder dry and mainly overseas. Once they have it, it's onto the next sucka. 

What a government! They can't even execute consistently on "Money Number One".

13 minutes ago, GrandPapillon said:

might be a good idea at the end, the requirements are getting ridiculous for regular long term visa, it's all about making money at the end

Chill Winston, once the cash runs out the requirements will ease and the fake smiles will return.

if you have to ask how much it is.... you can't afford it.

 

back when I only had 10,000 bitcoins and was the poorest person in my room.... i asked myself, "hey, there must be people with less than 300 million dollars in this world?"

 

i bought the elite visa and hired 365 people to keep me informed of daily news.

 

hahahhahaha.....just kidding......i had 20,000 bitcoins.  lol

Steady on; that Immigration girl is 'almost' smiling !

1 minute ago, trainman34014 said:

Steady on; that Immigration girl is 'almost' smiling !

nah its just wind

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

Not me either as I am on a marriage extension that needs renewing in October.

 

However, what a way to treat people who pay 500,000 to 2 million baht.

 

 Thai culture . ..

 

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

“What I didn’t understand after I read the email was that Thailand Elite normally contact you when you need to renew, they certainly did with me. So I am still not sure how they can let people overstay. 

welcome to thailand, give us all your money, thank you, anymore money ?;oh you just have a problem, LEAVE with penalty, NOW

Given that a normal retirement extension costs just 1,900 baht, perhaps the Elite customers thought that they were entitled to forego the annual extension having already stumped up a million baht, give or take. Understandable, but it just goes to show that no matter how much money you fork out in Thailand, you still need to read the small print. 

I'll stick with my non-elite retirement "visa," which costs only 1900 baht per year and comes with the same overstay penalties. 

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

However, what a way to treat people who pay 500,000 to 2 million baht.

What...treating them like everyone else? I don't think flouting Thailand's visa regulations is one of the perks of membership in the program. (And of course they're two separate entities, TPCC and the Immigration Department.)

1 hour ago, pixelaoffy said:

Naive stupidity to pay up to 2 million baht and expect to be treated respectfully by Thailand ... I mean cmon you're farang 

To quote Minister Anutin Charnvirakul a "Dirty Farang " !!!

 

Fair enough.

If you pay for a certain period, that's it.

Just because you pay a big sum (because you can afford it , of course) can you break the conditions?

If your over stay is justified, would you justify if the authorities reduce the agreed time period?

Just askin...

52 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

welcome to thailand, give us all your money, thank you, anymore money ?;oh you just have a problem, LEAVE with penalty, NOW

When you have the money, you pay for your comforts - breaking the law is not a privilege included!

Plenty money, plenty honey - THAT's International.

According to the firm which operates Thailand’s exclusive long stay visa program ?Appears to be a private concern wonder who has their finger in the pie to get this thru Immigration approval ?

Maybe they are intending to recoup the THB550 million debt the Elite Card company has in overstay fines from already subscribing members?

3 hours ago, WineOh said:

Like throwing your money into a bottomless pit.

 

Anyone who buys into this 'elite' nonsense needs to give their head a serious wobble. 

I believe that for the guys who are under fifty years old, not married, don't have a work permit and wish to live here full time that this is probably the option with least hassle.

4 hours ago, WineOh said:

I wouldn't even dream of applying.

 

My YEARLY extensions cost 1,900 baht.

 

Tell me exactly what is worth 1 million baht for practically the same visa????

Is it the glass of warm champagne and the limo at the airport? ???? 

Gimme a cold beer and a grab taxi any day of the week bud! 

Each to their own. I would consider it if it meant not having to extend and report. But it don't.