2 hours ago, FlyingThai said:

 

Serious criminals who are on some kind of Interpol watchlist won't be able to travel to Thailand anymore, at least not by air. .

 

In the last few years, new systems were developed, including but not limited to APIS, SLTD & I-Checkit. Paired with biometrics and live checks of the Interpol database upon entry. Yes, there will always be ways, but the major holes have been plugged.

 

The schools simply don't want problem customers, especially if they have to issue a guarantee letter that is being used to vouch for the student at immigration. They also want to gauge if you actually intend to pay the bill and attend the class.

 

FWIW, if anyone doesn't want to use the class, I can gladly attend for you, eat, and learn more cooking.😆

Can’t fault the cooking school for being cautious!
 

I’ve had my visa approved but not worried about serious criminals using it who are likely to be a tiny minority.

I am more nervous it will be abused by lots of petty criminals or people doing things a little bit naughty so instead of young / middle aged professionals that do work remotely, it will attract people who work in illegal casinos, scam call centres, sell drugs, etc. or even work illegally in bars, restaurants, tour operators, etc.
 

The entry criteria is quite low and sure it won’t be long before stories come out and all DTV holders will be looked at with suspicion.

16 hours ago, bbi1 said:

For those who have applied and had your DTV approved, did you book your flights before submitting your DTV application?

 

Did you also have to submit your application at least a month prior to your travel date?

 

I emailed the Australian Embassy (Canberra) asking this question and they said:

 

"You should book your flight before submit visa and please apply 1-2 months before your travel date."

Not so......I didn't book any flight, just gave them a TG flight number for the day I was going to Thailand (got from the Thai Airways website)

13 hours ago, bbi1 said:

That's good to know. So we are able to proceed with the online application by skipping the question about uploading a Travel Booking Confirmation which seemed to be compulsory with a red asterisks as per Page 31of: https://www.thaievisa.go.th/static/English-Manual.pdf

When I applied via Canberra I DID NOT have to upload a travel booking confirmation.

 

PS: This was 15 days ago....was approved in 8 days (including the weekend) 

It was sooooo straight forward i thought it was a glitch....5555

6 hours ago, Chalky0w said:

Can’t fault the cooking school for being cautious!
 

I’ve had my visa approved but not worried about serious criminals using it who are likely to be a tiny minority.

I am more nervous it will be abused by lots of petty criminals or people doing things a little bit naughty so instead of young / middle aged professionals that do work remotely, it will attract people who work in illegal casinos, scam call centres, sell drugs, etc. or even work illegally in bars, restaurants, tour operators, etc.
 

The entry criteria is quite low and sure it won’t be long before stories come out and all DTV holders will be looked at with suspicion.

 

Thailand is always a magnet for all sorts of shady people, especially those who were dropped a few times too often as children. That will probably never change, but I leave that to the authorities as it's none of my business and a waste of time to worry about these things.

I've decided I prefer to avoid the cooking class option. I don't want to take or pay for cooking classes. 

And it seems impossible to claim you're taking cooking classes for several years. 

 

But I don't work for an online company nor do I have an online business.

However, I inquired if it's possible to register an online business and then use that to apply for a DTV even though I don't have any clients and am not generating any income yet. 

 

And the response so far is positive. As long as none of the clients are based in Thailand and no one in Thailand is paying you. 

 

Edit: So if you're working online and getting paid on PayPal, how can they even check if some of the payments are coming from Thailand? They will track PayPal payments? Wow!

 

 

5 hours ago, save the frogs said:

I've decided I prefer to avoid the cooking class option. I don't want to take or pay for cooking classes. 

And it seems impossible to claim you're taking cooking classes for several years. 

 

But I don't work for an online company nor do I have an online business.

However, I inquired if it's possible to register an online business and then use that to apply for a DTV even though I don't have any clients and am not generating any income yet. 

 

Why bother with making up a business you don't have? Just use the medical tourism option, get an appointment from a hospital or clinic and use that. Thailand is keen to promote itself as a medical hub.

On 9/18/2024 at 7:13 AM, Dart12 said:

Anyone know exactly what the DTV visa is classified as officially?

 

On the visa and the arrival stamp, it says DTV.

35 minutes ago, Maestro said:

 

On the visa and the arrival stamp, it says DTV.

Well, I have 2 answers , make that 3, with your answer.

Thai Visa center helper told me it's NOT considered a long term visa as a non immigrant visa  is.

But is considered a long term tourist visa...

but the caveate was that we were also chatting about retirement visas and they lose that income if I go DTV route.  So best to keep me buying a product they sell

I just used Gemini AI for google and it comes back that DTV is a Non immigrant visa and would be very easy to transfer over to a retirement visa unlike a tourist visa requires the extra step of conversion to Non O.  And I had it double check several ways.


 

2 hours ago, Dart12 said:

Thai Visa center helper told me it's NOT considered a long term visa as a non immigrant visa  is.

But is considered a long term tourist visa...

but the caveate was that we were also chatting about retirement visas and they lose that income if I go DTV route.  So best to keep me buying a product they sell

I just used Gemini AI for google and it comes back that DTV is a Non immigrant visa and would be very easy to transfer over to a retirement visa unlike a tourist visa requires the extra step of conversion to Non O.  And I had it double check several ways.

It's just a different type of visa, like the Smart visa.
It's neither a Non Immigrant nor Tourist type visa.

 

You cannot apply for a 1 year extension of stay (retirement or Thai family) from a DTV. You would first have to obtain a Non O visa from a Thai Embassy/Consulate.

(Already asked the question). Unfortunately, Gemini AI doesn't handle extension applications. 

3 hours ago, Dart12 said:

Well, I have 2 answers , make that 3, with your answer.

Thai Visa center helper told me it's NOT considered a long term visa as a non immigrant visa  is.

But is considered a long term tourist visa...
 

 

It was announced as a type of tourist visa, much like the Elite. No way to get employment in Thailand when you're on it. 

4 hours ago, Caldera said:

 

Why bother with making up a business you don't have? Just use the medical tourism option, get an appointment from a hospital or clinic and use that. Thailand is keen to promote itself as a medical hub.

yeah, forgot about the medical option.

 

8 minutes ago, KhaoNiaw said:

 

It was announced as a type of tourist visa. 

By who, an expat?

Tourist visas are type TR or MT.

 

 

 

The DTV is just a different type of visa, like the Diplomatic visa, LTR visa, Smart Visa, and Elite visa's are.
It neither a Non Immigrant or Tourist visa type.

12 hours ago, Liquorice said:

By who, an expat?

Tourist visas are type TR or MT.

 

 

 

The DTV is just a different type of visa, like the Diplomatic visa, LTR visa, Smart Visa, and Elite visa's are.
It neither a Non Immigrant or Tourist visa type.

The google translation of the Royal Gazette announcement of the DTV called it a "special tourist visa" but that might be down to crappy translation.

On 9/18/2024 at 12:42 PM, cranki said:

Not so......I didn't book any flight, just gave them a TG flight number for the day I was going to Thailand (got from the Thai Airways website)

Thankfully, they don't ask for an official accomodation booking anymore either, so you can put down whatever you want in that form field as well.  That was an annoying requirement when applying for a tourist visa.  Not sure if they still require that with the tourist visa or if they got rid of it for that one too.

3 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

The google translation of the Royal Gazette announcement of the DTV called it a "special tourist visa" but that might be down to crappy translation.

 

No, it's an accurate translation. The Royal Gazette refers to it as ตราประเภทนักท่องเที่ยว ประเภทพิเศษ

Here is a preview of  a new smart visa which is in the pipeline for the next batch of new visas to be announced together with the next drawing of the Thai national lottery. Conditions of the new smart visa will be as follows:

 

1) Having bought 50k baht worth of Thai sandalwood scented candles over the four and a half month preceding the application.

2) Showing a long-term rental agreement of a condo with a swimming pool having at least 160 cm but no more than 180 cm maximal depth. L-shaped swimming pools are accepted.

3) Thai - or Thai accepted - health insurance showing 20k dollars refund against jelly-fish sting treatment (other than box jelly-fish).

 

Visa holders will be allowed to stay in Thailand for 6 months and 23 days each year, with as many re-entries as they like, and their foreign assets* will be exempt of Thai tax.

 

* insofar as they have already been taxed in their home countries.

4 hours ago, KhaoNiaw said:

 

No, it's an accurate translation. The Royal Gazette refers to it as ตราประเภทนักท่องเที่ยว ประเภทพิเศษ

Or the other translation is it's not a Non Immigrant type visa then.

1 hour ago, Liquorice said:

Or the other translation is it's not a Non Immigrant type visa then.

 

It's not Non Immigrant of course. If you go word by word, it says "type tourist, type special". 
 

12 hours ago, KhaoNiaw said:

 

No, it's an accurate translation. The Royal Gazette refers to it as ตราประเภทนักท่องเที่ยว ประเภทพิเศษ

 

Google translation of the relevant paragraph on page 1 of the announcement in the Royal Gazette (highlighting in bold red is mine)

 

Tai text:

Quote

ข้อ ๑ ข้อ ประกาศนี้ ให้ใช้บังคับตั้งแต่วันที่ ๑๕ กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. ๒๕๖๗ เป็นต้นไป

 

ข้อ ๒ คนต่างด้าวดังต่อไปนี้สามารถขออนุญาตเข้ามาอยู่ในราชอาณาจักรเพื่อท่องเที่ยว และทำงานทางไกล เป็นกรณีพิเศษตามประกาศนี้

 

Translation:

Quote

 

Section 1. This announcement shall come into force from July 15, B.E. 2567 onwards.

 

Section 2. The following aliens may apply for permission to reside in the Kingdom for tourism and telework as special cases under this announcement:

…

 

 

 

Google translation of section 3 on page 2 (highlighting in bold red is mine)

 

Thai text:

Quote

 

ข้อ ๓ คนต่างด้าวซึ่งประสงค์จะขออนุญาตเข้ามาอยู่ในราชอาณาจักร เป็นกรณีพิเศษ ตามประกาศนี้ ให้ยื่นคำขอรับการตรวจลงตราประเภทนักท่องเที่ยว ประเภทพิเศษ (Destination Thailand Visa : DTV) โดยสามารถยื่นขอรับการตรวจลงตราได้จากสถานเอกอัครราชทูตหรือ สถานกงสุลใหญ่ของไทยในต่างประเทศ สำหรับใช้ได้ไม่จำกัดจำนวนครั้ง ภายในอายุการใช้งาน การตรวจลงตราห้าปี

…

 

 

Translation:

Quote

 

Section 3. Aliens who wish to apply for permission to reside in the Kingdom on a special occasion, according to this announcement, must submit an application for a special tourist visa (Destination Thailand Visa: DTV). The application can be submitted from the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General abroad. The visa can be used an unlimited number of times within the five-year validity period.

…

 

 

The mention of “special case“ is an obvious reference to section 17 of the Immigration Act:

Quote

 

Section 17. In a special case, the Minister, by the approval of the Council

of Ministers, may permit any alien or any group of aliens to enter and remain in the Kingdom

under certain conditions, or may grant exemption from complying with this Act in any case.

 

 

 

Has anyone managed to get a bank account on the DTV? I saw on Reddit that for many people it was a little problematic. I just applied for the certificate of residence here in Chiang Mai and hope to get it within a few days, so maybe that will make it easier to get an account.

Has anyone gotten a Certificate of Residence in Bangkok with just a DTV?  Is it necessary to wait 90 days after entry?

4 minutes ago, alw22 said:

Has anyone gotten a Certificate of Residence in Bangkok with just a DTV?  Is it necessary to wait 90 days after entry?

 

Read Tod Daniels reply here re COR from CW.
https://aseannow.com/topic/1338727-residence-certificate-with-tourist-visa/#comment-19249409

 

17 hours ago, JimmyTobacco said:

Has anyone managed to get a bank account on the DTV? I saw on Reddit that for many people it was a little problematic. I just applied for the certificate of residence here in Chiang Mai and hope to get it within a few days, so maybe that will make it easier to get an account.

 

Every bank I've asked said it's not possible without seeing a work permit or a non-immigrant visa.  But the bank employees didn't seem familiar with the DTV, so maybe it will be easier in the future after banks update their guidelines.

3 hours ago, alw22 said:

 

Every bank I've asked said it's not possible without seeing a work permit or a non-immigrant visa.  But the bank employees didn't seem familiar with the DTV, so maybe it will be easier in the future after banks update their guidelines.

 

Thanks for your reply. I wonder if it will be possible if I bring my girlfriend who has an account with their bank as well (she has just about any bank, so that gives us a few options). Or if I state certain reasons for wanting the account, like the intention to buy a condo or something like that.

 

It's a mystery to me though why a bank would refuse a paying customer who is going to keep money in their bank. As long as it doesn't involve creditcards or overdraft, I am not sure what risk the bank would run in this case.

On 9/18/2024 at 9:48 PM, Chalky0w said:

I am more nervous it will be abused by lots of petty criminals or people doing things a little bit naughty so instead of young / middle aged professionals that do work remotely, it will attract people who work in illegal casinos, scam call centres, sell drugs, etc. or even work illegally in bars, restaurants, tour operators, etc.

 

Believe me, criminals have many other ways to stay in Thailand besides the DTV visa

1 hour ago, JoseThailand said:

 

Believe me, criminals have many other ways to stay in Thailand besides the DTV visa

so how do they do it? pay off corrupt I/Os? 

 

On 9/19/2024 at 4:10 PM, Liquorice said:

It's just a different type of visa, like the Smart visa.
It's neither a Non Immigrant nor Tourist type visa.

 

You cannot apply for a 1 year extension of stay (retirement or Thai family) from a DTV. You would first have to obtain a Non O visa from a Thai Embassy/Consulate.

(Already asked the question). Unfortunately, Gemini AI doesn't handle extension applications. 

and can apply of course thru an agent IN Thailand.

Timing of all my requirements seem to make it a wash in what I'm going to spend, but the dTV allows me immediate travel lattitude and $600 less immediate costs.

Only reason I've found to go to retirement quickly is the possibility of the base number requirement in the bank increase and getting grandfathered in.  

Anyone know how often they do this increase?  last was 2004 I researched, from 400k to 800k

On 9/20/2024 at 9:42 PM, JimmyTobacco said:

Has anyone managed to get a bank account on the DTV? I saw on Reddit that for many people it was a little problematic. I just applied for the certificate of residence here in Chiang Mai and hope to get it within a few days, so maybe that will make it easier to get an account.

if not, the new going rate for bank accounts thru Agents is now 5000 or higher, up from 3k just a short time ago.

15 hours ago, JimmyTobacco said:

 

Thanks for your reply. I wonder if it will be possible if I bring my girlfriend who has an account with their bank as well (she has just about any bank, so that gives us a few options). Or if I state certain reasons for wanting the account, like the intention to buy a condo or something like that.

 

It's a mystery to me though why a bank would refuse a paying customer who is going to keep money in their bank. As long as it doesn't involve creditcards or overdraft, I am not sure what risk the bank would run in this case.

It was a change across the board in January.  I went in asking what I needed in Dec. 

I went back in January with the necessaries, and they said they could no longer do it.

My visa was long term ED visa thru language school.  They said they only accept UNIVERSITY based ED visa any longer.

I tried every bank, and a couple different branches and managers with no luck.

ONLY one that would possibly do anything was BKK, but I had one with them alreaady and they would not let me open another even though it was a different branch.

There was one that offered me one if purchased Thai life insurance, but my GF is cambodian so neither of us qualified.

41 minutes ago, Dart12 said:

and can apply of course thru an agent IN Thailand.

For what, a DTV from a Thai Embassy/Consulate?

 

43 minutes ago, Dart12 said:

Timing of all my requirements seem to make it a wash in what I'm going to spend, but the dTV allows me immediate travel lattitude and $600 less immediate costs.

Only reason I've found to go to retirement quickly is the possibility of the base number requirement in the bank increase and getting grandfathered in.  

Totally confusing.
Intending to go the DTV route, or a 'grandfathered' extension based on retirement, which you don't qualify for.