DTV or retirement visa ?

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Although I'm British and my contracts are issued out of Australia, it may be possible for the visa support letter to be issued by their UK office. I would apply while I am in the UK, just after my passport renewal.

Thinking your best option is to apply in UK.

Currently seems low threshold of documents re proof of employment working remotely. 

[Nemises]

On 11/10/2024 at 12:45 AM, tgw said:

What would you say are the pros and cons of each ?

Health insurance is needed for DTV. No thanks, prefer to stay Non O

[Everyman]

30 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Health insurance is needed for DTV. No thanks, prefer to stay Non O

 

Health insurance is not required for the DTV.

[Scouse123]

2 hours ago, Nemises said:

Health insurance is needed for DTV. No thanks, prefer to stay Non O

 

 

I have Health insurance but do not believe it is a requirement for DTV.

[itsari]

19 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

 

 

You seem bitter and very quick to trash ideas when there is an overwhelming amount of information pointing to the opposite of what you are saying.

 

That includes people on retirement extensions who have already switched, so where is your proof that it is wishful thinking?

 

Or is it just sour grapes?

 

Recently, a woman got one for a week-long intensive cookery course!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I am purely making a comment what the requirements for a DTV  state.

If the Thai authorities choose to ignore the requirements so be it.

[Phillip9]

On 11/11/2024 at 10:42 AM, itsari said:

Ok, interesting hard evidence you have.

Surprising all the same.

 

If you look at the bottom of your screenshot you will see the Thai soft power category of the DTV.  If you select that category you will see there is no requirement for work of any kind.

 

 

[itsari]

I have read the Thai soft power requirements.

It seems the requirements are not being followed as they are written. 

That applies to the first section as well after reading of people making successful applications for the DTV .

[tgw]

On 11/11/2024 at 10:48 AM, Scouse123 said:

A Thai driving license is of no consequence to me either, I've just renewed for five years.

 

 

Yes.

My question is about other potential restrictions a DTV holder could face vs. a Non-Imm visa holder.

 

For example, possibly, opening a bank account ?

 

What important administrative or legal processes require a Non-Imm visa ?

[DrJack54]

37 minutes ago, tgw said:

For example, possibly, opening a bank account ?

Agent will open a bank account.

4.5-5k depending on age (insurance related reason) 

[Scouse123]

4 hours ago, tgw said:

 

Yes.

My question is about other potential restrictions a DTV holder could face vs. a Non-Imm visa holder.

 

For example, possibly, opening a bank account ?

 

What important administrative or legal processes require a Non-Imm visa ?

 

Hi,

 

Yeah, I understand you.

 

Fortunately from my point of view, because I would be moving from Non Imm-O extension, I have all that stuff in place.

 

I've had Non Imm-O for many years, got DL, yellow book, Pink ID, bank account, I can't think of much else it would be required. Even my bank, when doing transactions that require ID, accept pink ID.

[tgw]

5 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

Hi,

 

Yeah, I understand you.

 

Fortunately from my point of view, because I would be moving from Non Imm-O extension, I have all that stuff in place.

 

I've had Non Imm-O for many years, got DL, yellow book, Pink ID, bank account, I can't think of much else it would be required. Even my bank, when doing transactions that require ID, accept pink ID.

 

yes, I got everything set up too.

my upcoming DL renewal next year is the only issue I have spotted, I'm on the lookout for more potential issues.

[Caldera]

14 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

I've had Non Imm-O for many years, got DL, yellow book, Pink ID, bank account, I can't think of much else it would be required. Even my bank, when doing transactions that require ID, accept pink ID.

 

Okay, so in your particular situation, the only potential downside of switching to a DTV is that the requirements for marriage and retirement extensions might change for the worse and you won't be grandfathered in. Other than that and assuming that you will still qualify, you could always just switch back when and if you choose to.

 

Many people who have Thai bank accounts and a driving license in place switch to even being just a visitor on visa exempt at some point, which doesn't cause them to lose them - they just wouldn't qualify for a new bank account or for a 5-year driving license renewal for the time being. So even if the DTV will be treated more like a tourist visa by banks and the DLT, that's not really an immediate concern if you're all set up already. 

[Liquorice]

4 hours ago, Caldera said:

Okay, so in your particular situation, the only potential downside of switching to a DTV is that the requirements for marriage and retirement extensions might change for the worse and you won't be grandfathered in. Other than that and assuming that you will still qualify, you could always just switch back when and if you choose to.

Just to add to that good advice, you couldn't apply for an extension based on retirement or Thai spouse from a DTV.
You'd have to start afresh, obtaining the Non Imm O visa first.

[NanLaew]

Since the 5-year Thai DL makes for a very easy UK car rental, having that change to a 2-year license that's NOT acceptable for a car rental, would be challenging on my regular visits back home. I could use my UK DL but you also need a bunch of secondary identify stuff like a PIN from the UK licensing office so the rental company can check your license for points or bans. They will also need a UK utility bill or tax statement if you're using a UK DL to rent a car and some companies want to see a second charge card in the renters name.

[GroveHillWanderer]

On 11/12/2024 at 11:54 AM, itsari said:

I am purely making a comment what the requirements for a DTV  state.

If the Thai authorities choose to ignore the requirements so be it.

Which requirements are being ignored? All the available documentation for the DTV that I've seen indicates it can be obtained based on coming for medical reasons. And, as attested to by more than one person in the 'long thread' on this topic, even a single doctor's or dentist's appointment has proved sufficient.

 

You seem to be implying that getting a DTV in this manner is somehow against the regulations. If that's not what you're saying, I apologise but if it is, perhaps you could provide the wording from any official DTV announcement that backs that up.

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

You seem to be implying that getting a DTV in this manner is somehow against the regulations.

Time will tell. 

The "soft options" for DTV (not my term) seem ridiculous.

Stay 5 years to learn how to cook Pad Thai or have a tooth capped. Seriously!

The option of online work is very different 

Recently met with young guy that indeed works completely online and has a UK company employer and obtained DTV in few days (eVisa)

Personally view the 3 soft options ridiculous.

As stated "time will tell" 

 

[bigt3116]

On 11/12/2024 at 6:52 PM, DrJack54 said:

4.5-5k depending on age (insurance related reason)

 

First time I have ever heard of age being a factor, not one person as far as I am aware has ever mentioned that before?

[DrJack54]

25 minutes ago, bigt3116 said:

 

First time I have ever heard of age being a factor, not one person as far as I am aware has ever mentioned that before?

You haven't heard of it. I'm not surprised.

From agent: 

 

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

The term in the visa application is "soft power", which, of course, has a very different meaning and tone to 'soft options'.

And someone can take 5 years to learn make an omelette. Please.

Granted "soft power" correct thermology 

[Caldera]

55 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

The point of my post was to show that the visas had been designed using positive language and you altered the wording to make it sound negative and then stated that that was the original wording from the MFA.

 

Yes of course, they use positive language and the stated goal is to use the DTV as one way to promote Thai soft power.

 

That is an interesting idea in principle, but history tells us that visas that are easy to get are also easily abused by too many, which will then result in a reaction by the Thai authorities (crackdowns by immigration, tightening of rules by the MFA). I don't think the DTV will be an exception.

 

How the MFA will then make it harder to get a DTV, for example by removing the "soft options" (I think this term used by @DrJack54 is catchy to describe them) altogether or by adding requirements, remains to be seen, but I think it's likely that we will see some changes. Just look at how easy language school Non-Ed visas could be obtained first and how much of a pain it became later.

[bigt3116]

1 hour ago, Caldera said:

How the MFA will then make it harder to get a DTV, for example by removing the "soft options" (I think this term used by @DrJack54 is catchy to describe them) altogether or by adding requirements, remains to be seen, but I think it's likely that we will see some changes. Just look at how easy language school Non-Ed visas could be obtained first and how much of a pain it became later.

 

Very true, I can see them wanting to see the 500k in the bank again if you want to extend in country, though of course they could just border bounce.

 

 

The soft option DTV seems to have been poorly thought out.

[Rimmer]

Argumentative bickering posts removed

[Rob Browder]

6 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

 

Very true, I can see them wanting to see the 500k in the bank again if you want to extend in country, though of course they could just border bounce.

 

The soft option DTV seems to have been poorly thought out.

The goal is people with money come/stay in Thailand more/longer = how it was "thought out" by the MFA.  For every one of those, multiple Thai jobs are funded with their spending.

How immigration "react" is another story, since they obviously don't care about the well-being of Thais with employment funded by foreign money (see their past actions). 

I agree in-country renewals could involve who knows what "undocumented" paperwork. 

Border bounces seem smarter, though this often involves a payoff of some kind for "no hassle" re-entry at known-bad entry points.  Those using the DTV should factor this into their expected costs, or plan to border bounce at good/safe entry points like Nong Khai - at worst, stay a night out before returning.

[GroveHillWanderer]

20 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Time will tell. 

The "soft options" for DTV (not my term) seem ridiculous.

Stay 5 years to learn how to cook Pad Thai or have a tooth capped. Seriously!

The option of online work is very different 

Recently met with young guy that indeed works completely online and has a UK company employer and obtained DTV in few days (eVisa)

Personally view the 3 soft options ridiculous.

As stated "time will tell" 

I totally agree it's somewhat ridiculous that you can get a 5 year, multiple entry visa simply on the strength of a single doctor's or dentist's appointment but that's not the question I was raising. My question was whether it's actually against the regulations as currently written, given that the experience of multiple people seems to be that it is not.

[DrJack54]

4 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

My question was whether it's actually against the regulations as currently written, given that the experience of multiple people seems to be that it is not.

The DTV seems great option for those under 50 not married to Thai.

Especially if can choose option working online.

For anyone currently living in Thailand from extensions based on marriage or retirement.,.I would not jump ship just yet. 

[GroveHillWanderer]

45 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

The DTV seems great option for those under 50 not married to Thai.

Especially if can choose option working online.

For anyone currently living in Thailand from extensions based on marriage or retirement.,.I would not jump ship just yet. 

Totally agree, again. I'm on extensions based on marriage and haven't got the slightest inclination to change to a DTV. It really doesn't suit me, since I usually only leave Thailand about once every 365 days, among other issues (such as the uncertainty over 5 year driving licences).

 

Having said that they, I still don't quite understand some of the negativity about DTV's that I keep reading on here.

 

For those whose lifestyle it suits, it seems like pretty much of a godsend. Maybe that's the problem - it almost seems too good to be true, for some at least.

[tgw]

3 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Having said that they, I still don't quite understand some of the negativity about DTV's that I keep reading on here.

 

it's jealousy over young people getting long stay visas...

[Scouse123]

3 hours ago, tgw said:

 

it's jealousy over young people getting long stay visas...

 

I have no jealousy, and I am contemplating getting one.

 

My issue, same as other long term expats is that once it gets abused, which it will, how swift and what sweeping changes will come into effect, changing the criteria in obtaining one.

 

If I was to get the soft power under medical reasons, I have the ability to prove, I need to get a medical procedure done by an ENT surgeon every 4–6 months, so it could work for me.

 

Leaving every six months? I already do that on retirement visa.

[Phillip9]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

My issue, same as other long term expats is that once it gets abused, which it will, how swift and what sweeping changes will come into effect, changing the criteria in obtaining one.

 

So just change back to a retirement visa if that ever happens.  No big deal.  

 

[Thingamabob]

I am a retired on a retirement visa. Extensions cost me 1900 baht and around 2 hours time, once a year. I leave 800k baht permanently in a bank account, and I do not, and will not, travel outside Thailand. I have no reason to apply for a DTV.