Thailand Elite - 5 Year Visas Are Back!

[starrdog]

Received yesterday via email:

Dear Valued Members: On behalf of Thailand Elite, we are glad to inform that our members whose Thailand Elite 5 Years Special Entry Visa had expired can start reapplying for it under these following conditions:-

Prior to your preferable date of Thailand Elite 5 Year Special Entry Visa Reapplication at least two weeks, please provide us your certified copy of valid passport (with photo page), expired Thailand Elite 5 Years Special Entry Visa’s page of 1st application and transferring case (if any) for the Immigration checking process. After having the Immigration approval, our Member Contact Centre will reconfirm you the service date accordingly. At that time, the information of your valid passport and Thailand Elite 5 Years Special Entry Visa of 1st application would be written into the official letter that we issue to the Royal Thai Embassy, Royal Thai Consulate-General and the Thai Immigration Bureau to kindly provide you the visa. Without this letter, the visa would not be granted unquestionably.

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There's more to the email, but you get the idea. Finally a little good news for Thailand Elite members!

[BigSnake]

Received yesterday via email:

Dear Valued Members: On behalf of Thailand Elite, we are glad to inform that our members whose Thailand Elite 5 Years Special Entry Visa had expired can start reapplying for it under these following conditions:-

Prior to your preferable date of Thailand Elite 5 Year Special Entry Visa Reapplication at least two weeks, please provide us your certified copy of valid passport (with photo page), expired Thailand Elite 5 Years Special Entry Visa’s page of 1st application and transferring case (if any) for the Immigration checking process. After having the Immigration approval, our Member Contact Centre will reconfirm you the service date accordingly. At that time, the information of your valid passport and Thailand Elite 5 Years Special Entry Visa of 1st application would be written into the official letter that we issue to the Royal Thai Embassy, Royal Thai Consulate-General and the Thai Immigration Bureau to kindly provide you the visa. Without this letter, the visa would not be granted unquestionably.

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There's more to the email, but you get the idea. Finally a little good news for Thailand Elite members!

What is the price tag on this Elite 5 years visa(?), more than this old cowboy can afford Im sure.

[Lite Beer]

1,500,000 Baht. Save your money.

[thaijasmine]

1,500,000 Baht. Save your money.

And if you have an Aussie or New Zealand passport, for only $ 150 Aussie dollars ( i.e.4,200 baht ) , you can get a

3 year visa - bit of a difference between 1,500,000 Baht and 4,200 baht just for the sake of 2 years ?

And you still get to use the same lane as Diplomatic visitors at the airport so its quick passport processing.

[ubonjoe]

1,500,000 Baht. Save your money.

And if you have an Aussie or New Zealand passport, for only $ 150 Aussie dollars ( i.e.4,200 baht ) , you can get a

3 year visa - bit of a difference between 1,500,000 Baht and 4,200 baht just for the sake of 2 years ?

And you still get to use the same lane as Diplomatic visitors at the airport so its quick passport processing.

You are talking about the APEC travel card or the 3 year business visa.

That won't work for everybody unless they can get documents from a company to support the application.

[thaijasmine]

1,500,000 Baht. Save your money.

And if you have an Aussie or New Zealand passport, for only $ 150 Aussie dollars ( i.e.4,200 baht ) , you can get a

3 year visa - bit of a difference between 1,500,000 Baht and 4,200 baht just for the sake of 2 years ?

And you still get to use the same lane as Diplomatic visitors at the airport so its quick passport processing.

You are talking about the APEC travel card or the 3 year business visa.

That won't work for everybody unless they can get documents from a company to support the application.

Yes the APEC card.

But you dont need any documents( other than the application form which you

can download from the web page )

..............I have a card and it was a very simple

procedure just sending it to the Australian Immigration Department.

Dont forget its your home government which processes the application

not the Thai government so you are not viewed the same way as when

applying for a visa with the Thai authorities. In fact the only contact you ever

have with Thai immigration is at the airport.

[trawler]

Not true,you need to show need to travel for business to other APEC countries,such as a letter from your company confirming your need to travel on behalf of the company for business.The APEC card is tied into your current passport so if passport expires you need to reapply.While it is a great advantage to have one it is not so simple,and the other APEC countries have to still approve the application and inform your own government depts who process the application.

[ubonjoe]

And if you have an Aussie or New Zealand passport, for only $ 150 Aussie dollars ( i.e.4,200 baht ) , you can get a

3 year visa - bit of a difference between 1,500,000 Baht and 4,200 baht just for the sake of 2 years ?

And you still get to use the same lane as Diplomatic visitors at the airport so its quick passport processing.

You are talking about the APEC travel card or the 3 year business visa.

That won't work for everybody unless they can get documents from a company to support the application.

Yes the APEC card.

But you dont need any documents( other than the application form which you

can download from the web page )

..............I have a card and it was a very simple

procedure just sending it to the Australian Immigration Department.

Dont forget its your home government which processes the application

not the Thai government so you are not viewed the same way as when

applying for a visa with the Thai authorities. In fact the only contact you ever

have with Thai immigration is at the airport.

Maybe not documents but you still need to show it is for business.

The Australian Business Number (ABN) of your

business, if an Australian business, or registration

details if overseas, and the internet address of your

business website, as requested in Part D Business

details. Should you have difficulties in providing

these details, please contact the department.

From checklist found here: http://www.businessmobility.org/key/apec_application0908.pdf

[thaijasmine]

Not true,you need to show need to travel for business to other APEC countries,such as a letter from your company confirming your need to travel on behalf of the company for business.The APEC card is tied into your current passport so if passport expires you need to reapply.While it is a great advantage to have one it is not so simple,and the other APEC countries have to still approve the application and inform your own government depts who process the application.

Excuse me-which part of my statement are you saying is " not true " ?

I am only saying what has been my personal experience of applying and successfully obtaining an APEC card

and exchanging several e-mails with the Australian immigration department.

Compared to applying for a Visa with the Thai authorities, dealing with the Australian immigration department

is far more relaxed and user-friendly . I think they put far more emphasis on your personal background than

your travel habits- i.e. you cannot have it if you have a criminal record. But dont you even have to prove that

to get the Elite Card also ?

In fact your statement " you need to show need to travel for business to other APEC countries "

is not quite accurate. If you travel regularly anywhere they will favorably consider your application-so it doesn't have to be

other APEC countries.

And my passport expired and all I had to do to get a replacement APEC card was send them my

new passport number and they sent me the replacement card immediately without any further charge .

Yes the other APEC countries do indeed have to apply approve the application but once they had done so,

you also have the incredible benefit of having a three-year Visa to those countries also such as China and Vietnam for example

( 17 countries ) for the same $150 so now you can see why it's much better value than paying 1,500,000 just for a Visa to Thailand.

Some people have said how difficult it is for some people now to get a Visa to China so it's not just saving the money

but also the time and the hassle.