Will a Elite PE last for 6 years?

[gk10002000]

This “Privilege Entry Visa” is a multiple entry visa which is valid for five years - and is renewable as long as the Membership is valid. The Members are also granted an exclusive length of stay for each stay from regular 90 days to 1 year.

http://www.thailandelite.com/tpc_news_view.php?id=6

• According to the website each stay is 1 year and the visa is valid for 5 years. So if you enter just before the end of the visas validity you should be given a 1 year stay.
• If you don't renew your membership at the end of 5 years they don't issue a new visa and the membership benefits end.

I spoke Thailand Elite staff about this last year and they confirmed that a 6th year was possible, however, it was like getting blood from a stone. They will not advertise the fact because they want people to renew the membership at the end of 5 years. I suspect that without new money rolling in the scheme would struggle to exist.

If an actual visa is issued with a 5 year validity I can't see how it can be taken away even if the scheme folds. If someone enters anytime during the 5th year they should be granted a 1 year stay and I can't see how the stay can be revoked if the scheme ends or the member doesn't renew their membership.

I can see them dating the last stay as valid only as long as 5 years from the sign up date. Not saying they will or won't.

[elviajero]

This “Privilege Entry Visa” is a multiple entry visa which is valid for five years - and is renewable as long as the Membership is valid. The Members are also granted an exclusive length of stay for each stay from regular 90 days to 1 year.

http://www.thailandelite.com/tpc_news_view.php?id=6

• According to the website each stay is 1 year and the visa is valid for 5 years. So if you enter just before the end of the visas validity you should be given a 1 year stay.
• If you don't renew your membership at the end of 5 years they don't issue a new visa and the membership benefits end.

I spoke Thailand Elite staff about this last year and they confirmed that a 6th year was possible, however, it was like getting blood from a stone. They will not advertise the fact because they want people to renew the membership at the end of 5 years. I suspect that without new money rolling in the scheme would struggle to exist.

If an actual visa is issued with a 5 year validity I can't see how it can be taken away even if the scheme folds. If someone enters anytime during the 5th year they should be granted a 1 year stay and I can't see how the stay can be revoked if the scheme ends or the member doesn't renew their membership.

I can see them dating the last stay as valid only as long as 5 years from the sign up date. Not saying they will or won't.

It is possible that an entry in year 5 is granted a permit to stay until the expiry date of the visa, but I doubt that very much. It would go against the advertised terms, and it would also force, those that do renew, into having to exit/re-enter or apply for an extension of stay within the advertised 1 year stay.

[elviajero]

Could someone that has the 5 year visa post it? It would be useful to see whats actually written on the visa.

[IMA_FARANG]

Probably not.

Why should you expect to get a free year if you only pay for 5 years?

In my case IF I choose to go with the Thai Elite program I would do it because I have every reasonable expectation that 5 years would be enough for me to accumulate enough savings to qualify for a normal retirement visa/extension from my monthly pension during that 5 year period.

In other words, even though a 5 year visa on the Thai Elite card program would cost me 500K up front, I can expect to get that back during those 5 years from my pension over that 5 year period, and more.

Of course, not everyone might be in such a situation.

Anyhow, for myself, the Thai Elite Card visa program is just one of a number of options I have right now.

[lkv]

It is possible that an entry in year 5 is granted a permit to stay until the expiry date of the visa, but I doubt that very much. It would go against the advertised terms, and it would also force, those that do renew, into having to exit/re-enter or apply for an extension of stay within the advertised 1 year stay.

Against the advertised terms? Yeah...I bet.

People should read the T&C's of this word by word. It is subject to Immigration changes.

You are not paying for a visa, you are paying for access to a membership programme that just so happens it has this visa included. Subject to adjustments.

If they don't want to go out, they can always upgrade their membership for 1.5M VAT excluded (1.605 M total).

This easy access is just a trial, to test if you're happy with the service.

Going from Elite to retirement is like going from using an agent to get your extension in some places to doing it all by yourselves.

If ya all know what I mean.

[elviajero]

Probably not.

Why should you expect to get a free year if you only pay for 5 years?

Because someone that pays for a 1 year non 'O-A' can get nearly 2 years; a 1 year non immigrant visa nearly 15 months; a 6 month METV nearly 8 months.

Visas are valid for entry up to a certain date and any entry on or before that date should receive the permit to stay allowed for that visa. In the case of the elite visa it is 1 year.

[elviajero]

It is possible that an entry in year 5 is granted a permit to stay until the expiry date of the visa, but I doubt that very much. It would go against the advertised terms, and it would also force, those that do renew, into having to exit/re-enter or apply for an extension of stay within the advertised 1 year stay.

Against the advertised terms? Yeah...I bet.

People should read the T&C's of this word by word. It is subject to Immigration changes.

So is every visa and the associated permit to stay.

[sunnyjim5]

Probably not.

Why should you expect to get a free year if you only pay for 5 years?

In my case IF I choose to go with the Thai Elite program I would do it because I have every reasonable expectation that 5 years would be enough for me to accumulate enough savings to qualify for a normal retirement visa/extension from my monthly pension during that 5 year period.

In other words, even though a 5 year visa on the Thai Elite card program would cost me 500K up front, I can expect to get that back during those 5 years from my pension over that 5 year period, and more.

Of course, not everyone might be in such a situation.

Anyhow, for myself, the Thai Elite Card visa program is just one of a number of options I have right now.

Apply the same "logic" to the O/A visa which valid for 12 months.

Why/How can an "unpaid for" second year of stay be obtained with that O/A visa ?

Why should an "Elite" visa work differently ?

[gerry1011]

Could someone that has the 5 year visa post it? It would be useful to see whats actually written on the visa.

Here you go...

Not so long ago, some on this forum were pretending that the Thailand Elite visa never existed... while it exists since 2003

[lkv]

So is every visa and the associated permit to stay.

I totally agree, it's good to know we are on the same page and nobody knows what's gonna happen tomorrow, never mind in five years

[elviajero]

Could someone that has the 5 year visa post it? It would be useful to see whats actually written on the visa.

Here you go...

ImageUploadedByThaivisa Connect PRO1457761719.046520.jpg

Thanks Gerry.

Looks like a typical Thai visa to me. Multiple entries (M) until the visa expires (Sep 9). If I arrived on Sep 9 I would expect to get a 1 year permit to stay regardless of whether or not I have renewed Thailand Elite membership.

[gerry1011]

Could someone that has the 5 year visa post it? It would be useful to see whats actually written on the visa.

Here you go...

ImageUploadedByThaivisa Connect PRO1457761719.046520.jpg

Thanks Gerry.

Looks like a typical Thai visa to me. Multiple entries (M) until the visa expires (Sep 9). If I arrived on Sep 9 I would expect to get a 1 year permit to stay regardless of whether or not I have renewed Thailand Elite membership.

Yes I think so too.

The last stamp would be valid for one year, while all other services attached to the membership would stop. But to be confirmed in about 3 years, when the first Easy Access members will be able to report to others about their experience about this.

[descc71]

Has anyone successfully obtained the "6th year" after the expiry of the 5 year elite visa? My own 5 year elite visa expires in April 2020 next year a month before I turn 49. My hope is to use the "6th year" to get me close to 50 and then to switch to a retirement visa.

[simon43]

Just now, descc71 said:

Has anyone successfully obtained the "6th year" after the expiry of the 5 year elite visa? My own 5 year elite visa expires in April 2020 next year a month before I turn 49. My hope is to use the "6th year" to get me close to 50 and then to switch to a retirement visa.

My 5 year visa expired in mid-September, a week after I relocated to live in Laos.  But in the weeks prior to that expiry, I exited and re-entered Thailand 4 times at Nong Khai land/bridge crossing, (as I moved boxes of personal items from my rented house in Bueng Kan and up to Luang Prabang.

 

On each occasion that I re-entered Thailand, I was stamped in for 1 year, including m,y last entry into Thailand just 5 days before my Elite visa expired.

[wasabi]

I wonder if the benefits of Thai immigration not hassling you would disappear if they noticed you were staying a year beyond the original TE visa duration, particularly if you exited and reentered the country... even with a reentry permit. I could see the, "Why are you spending so much time in Thailand?" Questions restarting. Can anyone attest to the experience getting the extra year and going through immigration AFTER the original TE had expired?

[jacko45k]

5 hours ago, wasabi said:

Can anyone attest to the experience getting the extra year and going through immigration AFTER the original TE had expired?

I do recall a post where someone had received a one year permit to stay on entry, just prior to their TE expiry. When they tried to procure a re-entry permit based on that entry, after an argument between a couple of IOs with varying  opinions, it was not issued.

 

Sorry, not what you asked but perhaps a consideration. 

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

When they tried to procure a re-entry permit based on that entry, after an argument between a couple of IOs with varying  opinions, it was not issued.

But if I recall correctly he got one at an airport on departure from thee country.

[jacko45k]

Just now, ubonjoe said:

But if I recall correctly he got one at an airport on departure from thee country.

Good correction..... 

[ubonjoe]

10 hours ago, descc71 said:

Has anyone successfully obtained the "6th year" after the expiry of the 5 year elite visa? My own 5 year elite visa expires in April 2020 next year a month before I turn 49. My hope is to use the "6th year" to get me close to 50 and then to switch to a retirement visa.

Yes they have. There are many people here on their 6th year.

[ubonjoe]

5 hours ago, wasabi said:

I wonder if the benefits of Thai immigration not hassling you would disappear if they noticed you were staying a year beyond the original TE visa duration, particularly if you exited and reentered the country... even with a reentry permit. I could see the, "Why are you spending so much time in Thailand?" Questions restarting. Can anyone attest to the experience getting the extra year and going through immigration AFTER the original TE had expired?

I doubt very much you would have a problem when using a re-entry permit for the last year. 

You would not be getting a new entry since re-entry permit is keeping a previous permit to stay that was granted valid.

[descc71]

12 hours ago, simon43 said:

My 5 year visa expired in mid-September, a week after I relocated to live in Laos.  But in the weeks prior to that expiry, I exited and re-entered Thailand 4 times at Nong Khai land/bridge crossing, (as I moved boxes of personal items from my rented house in Bueng Kan and up to Luang Prabang.

 

On each occasion that I re-entered Thailand, I was stamped in for 1 year, including m,y last entry into Thailand just 5 days before my Elite visa expired.

THis was really helpful info. Thank you.