Non Imm Visa

[AZwanderer]

Hoping someone wiser in the business of visa can give me some advice...Im a 32 yr old retired (sounds funny but what i mean is i dont have to work) american thats been coming to thailand for years... Ive stayed almost continuously for the last year, going back to america only one time... Ive got 2 tourist visas from the Los angeles Consulate and just previously one from penang in this last year...When I picked up my passport they had stamped my new tourist visa REMARK: THE HOLDER OF THIS PASSPORT TRAVELS TO THAILAND UNDER A TOURIST VISA SEVERAL TIMES WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE REFUSAL OF A VISA IN THE FUTURE. What does this mean... No more toursit visas??? Im going back to america in September and would like to try and get a 1 yr Non immigrant? What are my chances? I dont really qualify for anything but retirement visa except that im only 32??? HELP!!!

[astral]

The writing is on the wall??

You could try Houston consulate, who may be able to help you the next time.

[AZwanderer]

The writing is on the wall??

You could try Houston consulate, who may be able to help you the next time.

Astral,

Why Houston??? Do u have experience that they are an easier consulate for visa??? Should I apply for Non imm O visa saying im visiting friends and family... Apparently that works in Hull in England...

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Houston is the US version of Hull

[siam2007]

AZwanderer,

did u ever consider to join the THAIELITE program ? As what i learn from your posting, u seem to be well-off and could afford that.

its not a bargain at 1 Million Baht, but it gives u life-long Visa-rights (for 90 days-stays only, though, which means u would have to join the infamous POIPET-connection every 3 months), and is in my opinion the only way for a "not-married-to-Thai" / "non-working" person under 50 to have some SECURITY about staying in Thailand for a long period.

and that is despite some arrogant comments in this board (probably made by people who are not in need of such a Visa or cannot afford it).

there were some TV-members in a similar position as u, and they were VERY HAPPY to join that program and gave GOOD comments about it.

The membership-price is expected to rise dramatically in the near future (to about 1.8 million), as they didnt manage to attract enough members (Khun THAKSIN was dreaming of 1 million members, in fact there are around 3.000, as far as I know).

[ratcatcher]

The membership-price is expected to rise dramatically in the near future (to about 1.8 million), as they didnt manage to attract enough members

Is this the typical Thai reaction to lack of customers? Raise the price.

Surely they might attract more customers if they halved the price to B500,000.

It is after all no longer truly an "ELITE" club.

Nobody who really belongs to the true elite would dream of being so crass as to want membership in this club. BUT... for people who live in Thailand and maybe can afford B500,000 for this one time deal, it might make more sense. Or would it?

Edited June 19, 2007 by Maestro
Reduced quoted text. No need to quote the entire, lenghty post. Also undid modifications made to quoted text, as this is bad netiquette.

[puuchai299]

hi,doe's anyone have any information about this visa???? i thought it was a lot more money to join it.thanks

[siam2007]

www.thailandelite.com

[sriracha john]

and for a proper balance, a good read of the thread

Elite Card Could Face Closure

is recommended.

[puuchai299]

Thanks for the imformaton....very helpful......

[Firefan]

As per Johns article I would personally wait things out before joining the Elite program. Looks like the card is on shaky ground. "Pyramid"-style financing.

With the investment visa stopped the Elite card was the only longterm option the not working below 50 year olds had.

I have seen several posts here from satisfied Elite-card holders. Some have used the priviledges for years by now, and one can argue that they have gotten a decent return on investment already. For ME it is too much money (and I have my visa covered), but I fully understand that for others it is only pocket change.

Even if card should get stopped I would expect that the visa-priviledge will be continued. Also: one does not have to leave the country every 3 months. Extension can be done in Thailand.

Cheers!