Immigration problems with DTV?

[ChristianPFC]

I think of getting a DTV and would like to know if anyone here has ever had problems at immigration with a DTV.

 

In 2019, I was entering Thailand on a METV and immigration pulled me aside and asked for a flight out. The nice thing about METV is that you don't have to provide proof of leaving; once I'm in Thailand I can take my time to figure out where and when I want to go. However I didn't discuss this point with IO, she would have found another requirement that is more difficult to fulfill. On my phone, I booked a flight out and got stamped in. My point is that visa does not guarantee entry. But then what's the point of a visa? I submit more documents when applying, and the embassy takes more time to check, and still an IO can deny me entry.

 

Before Covid, I have been up to 8 months per year in Thailand on TV. Since Covid, I have been in Thailand mostly on VE, up to 180 days per year in Thailand with visa runs in SEAsia of 1-2 months each and 2-4 months in summer in Germany. I have been taken aside a few times (on average five entries no problem, one entry some questions) and would rather get a DTV or use safe entry before I ever get denied entry.

 

I am here purely for holiday, have the money fund my stay, but don't qualify for any of the visas. Not even for DTV (I'm not remote working and not interested in soft skills), but I'm sure an agency can help me with that.

 

I realize the absurdity of the situation: I come here with money to spend on hotels, restaurants, travel, museums, national parks, temples. If you asked the last 10 Thai I interacted with, 11 would say: Mr Christian, please come again. Yet I have to worry about problems at immigration.

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, ChristianPFC said:

. Not even for DTV (I'm not remote working and not interested in soft skills), but I'm sure an agency can help me with that.

So what's your question or you are just venting? 

DTV is an option however you indicate not going to obtain one. 

DTV is obtained outside of Thailand. 

Agents can assist however not cheap 

[impulse]

The issue with DTV today seems to be that it's a new enough program that we haven't seen yet whether there will be future issues. 

 

I recall reading that some holders have been asked to confirm on re-entry that they still meet the criteria under which they initially qualified.  So they theoretically may have a 5 year ME visa, or they may have a 6 month visa that they have to requalify for each time.  Hard to tell from on-the-ground reports so far.

 

I'm following it because it's an option for me if I decide to get away from monthly VE entries of a week or so each month.  So far, I'm not convinced...  I was actually looking at DTV more as a stopgap to give me time to roll the funds and fill out the foreign account forms for US tax purposes.  I may just go the full route since I do qualify for a retirement extension if I roll the funds from overseas into a Thai bank account. 

Of course, I'm interested in any first person experiences...  Not so interested in guesses or interweb links.

 

[ChaiyaTH]

Stories go around it might be much more difficult to apply in the near future hence many now try to obtain it. The 5 year sticker or visa is whatever that is worth, at the end it is still just 6 months per extension regardless. I would not think that having obtained the 5 year one earlier changes or adds any value if it otherwise is dodgy already.

[Upnotover]

Ellie visa is still available. Would seem to fit your needs quite well.

[Jake44]

I've had a DTV almost a year now.  I've been in and out of the country 3 times and never had any question on entry.  So far, I love the visa.  It suits me perfectly because I leave the country a few times a year anyway.   I never need to visit immigration or worry about extensions, 90 day reports, or TM30 that all the guys with other long term visas have to deal with.

[farang51]

32 minutes ago, Jake44 said:

I've had a DTV almost a year now.  ...   I never need to visit immigration or worry about extensions, 90 day reports, or TM30 that all the guys with other long term visas have to deal with.

The 90 day report is as needed for the DTV as it is for the other long term visas.

[Jake44]

3 minutes ago, farang51 said:

The 90 day report is as needed for the DTV as it is for the other long term visas.

It's technically required, but why would I bother doing it?  There is no consequence of not doing it if you never visit immigration.  Many  of us with DTVs simply don't do it.

[Jack1988]

If immigration at the airport can ask you to show again all the requirements papers for getting another 180 days stamp so it doesn't make sense to use a visa agency and pay a lot of money to get this DTV 

[JoseThailand]

30 minutes ago, Jake44 said:

It's technically required, but why would I bother doing it?  There is no consequence of not doing it if you never visit immigration.  Many  of us with DTVs simply don't do it.

 

I don't do it either.

[NorthernRyland]

1 hour ago, impulse said:

I recall reading that some holders have been asked to confirm on re-entry that they still meet the criteria under which they initially qualified.  So they theoretically may have a 5 year ME visa, or they may have a 6 month visa that they have to requalify for each time.  Hard to tell from on-the-ground reports so far.

 

 

The OP can go the "soft power" route and sign up a cooking class provided he has the 500k baht in his bank but I see this like you. Is immigration really going to let people come in and out of the country for multiple years just because they signed up for a cooking class? I would expect to get questioned eventually. There's no reason they wouldn't give the full 5 year term to a remote worker but for those other categories it's hard to say.

[impulse]

1 hour ago, Jake44 said:

I've had a DTV almost a year now.  I've been in and out of the country 3 times and never had any question on entry.  So far, I love the visa.  It suits me perfectly because I leave the country a few times a year anyway.   I never need to visit immigration or worry about extensions, 90 day reports, or TM30 that all the guys with other long term visas have to deal with.

 

That's a great 1st person data point.  Thanks! 

 

Which category did you apply under?  I was planning to apply under health tourism since I visit Bumrungrad and Samitivej (with receipts) just about every month because they have my health records and scan images since my bypass surgery 10 years ago in Bangkok.

 

[farang51]

1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

Is immigration really going to let people come in and out of the country for multiple years just because they signed up for a cooking class? I would expect to get questioned eventually. There's no reason they wouldn't give the full 5 year term to a remote worker but for those other categories it's hard to say.

On the DTV, it doesn't say whether you got it for a cooking class or for remote work. It only says DTV. So, unless they have that information on their screen, they wouldn't know if they should ask for proof or not.