Thailand Elite Long Stay Visa Membership Privileges

[Ronuk]

Thank you for the update anotheruser.

[anotheruser]

Was thinking about people that suggested a 100K per annum with no benefits would be attractive. Normally when you do not pay for something in cash up front there is interest or additional fees. So what about an annual card with no limos, banking assistance and other help, and costs 120,000K a year? This would seem to me a fair deal for those that don't have the lump sum. 24 limos per calendar year has to be worth around 24,000 Baht if you use them all. So I can understand why they wouldn't want to offer that service based upon a base fee of 120,000 Baht per annum.

I think I heard that the elite program is or may be accepting credit card payments so it seems that you can pay the membership and finance it on your own anyway. Just a few random thoughts. You could get hotel rewards and FF miles using a card. Maybe TE doesn't need to offer another plan and they can just let your credit card company handle it in this sense.

Maybe this is a win-win for everybody?

[Ronuk]

Was thinking about people that suggested a 100K per annum with no benefits would be attractive. Normally when you do not pay for something in cash up front there is interest or additional fees. So what about an annual card with no limos, banking assistance and other help, and costs 120,000K a year? This would seem to me a fair deal for those that don't have the lump sum. 24 limos per calendar year has to be worth around 24,000 Baht if you use them all. So I can understand why they wouldn't want to offer that service based upon a base fee of 120,000 Baht per annum.

I think I heard that the elite program is or may be accepting credit card payments so it seems that you can pay the membership and finance it on your own anyway. Just a few random thoughts. You could get hotel rewards and FF miles using a card. Maybe TE doesn't need to offer another plan and they can just let your credit card company handle it in this sense.

Maybe this is a win-win for everybody?

I am pretty sure the credit card payment option is only for renewals and other services offered by TE.

[anotheruser]

You could be right I can't find exactly where I saw the credit card details now.

[Ronuk]

It's here. Looking though, it is for bank transfers only and not a credit card payment facility.

http://www.thailandelite.com/payment/

[anotheruser]

Okay it seems I was mistaken, thanks.

[Ronuk]

Okay it seems I was mistaken, thanks.

Me too. I also assumed it was a credit card payment facility

[DUS]

To me, who has not yet reached "the magic" 50 years of age, the visa "function" of TE membership is well worth the money. Being able to avoid visa runs at least once a quarter is a boon. If I wen´t on bi-monthly or quarterly "visa runs" I would not only lose time but given the way I want to travel and spend my time in any of the neighbouring countries, I would not expect paying significantly less than the 100k a year.

So once my METV runs out, I will sign up for TE.

[DUS]

Even if I did all the runs on the cheap (for what I would personally consider cheap as chips no-thrills trips), I would at least spend 50k for 4 runs. If I then ad the cost for the extensions and, most importantly, the time and (subjectively perceived) hassle of doing so many extensions and visits to regional embassies and consulates then the remaining 50k for TE is a no-brainer and money well spent. And I don´t take into consideration any of the other perks which TE brings with it, since I have no idea if and when I will take advantage of those.

But this discussion about individually perceived value is taking us back to "the dark ages" of the TE discussion and I will try to refrain from making more comments on why I personally regard 100k p.a. as good value.

[gerry1011]

Uhm Uhm...

[Ronuk]

I like the fact that I will fly in to Bangkok Sunday afternoon from London with no issues regarding how long I might stay and if I have a return ticket etc. I maybe staying a week or I maybe staying 6 weeks or more, not sure yet but I know I need to be in the US mid October before needing to be back in Bangkok mid November. A quick email last Tuesday and a reply within 15 minutes (They are available 24/7) ensures the people at TE will be waiting for me to whisk me through immigration and in to a waiting BMW 7 series to my address in Bangkok. That's the service, we as members, enjoy. Come and go as we please without all the hastles of arranging Visa's, extension of stays or border hops.
I love this programme. Its great. The knockers can knock it as much as they like but before they do that, they should really try it. I doubt any of them would revert back to other ways of staying in Thailand.
I have yet to see (Although of course I may of missed it) any members saying they wished they had never joined. IMO, unlike a lot of things in this life, with the TE programme,you get exactly what you pay for, and all at a very reasonable cost

[Franky Bear]

I like the fact that I will fly in to Bangkok Sunday afternoon from London with no issues regarding how long I might stay and if I have a return ticket etc. I maybe staying a week or I maybe staying 6 weeks or more, not sure yet but I know I need to be in the US mid October before needing to be back in Bangkok mid November. A quick email last Tuesday and a reply within 15 minutes (They are available 24/7) ensures the people at TE will be waiting for me to whisk me through immigration and in to a waiting BMW 7 series to my address in Bangkok. That's the service, we as members, enjoy. Come and go as we please without all the hastles of arranging Visa's, extension of stays or border hops.

I love this programme. Its great. The knockers can knock it as much as they like but before they do that, they should really try it. I doubt any of them would revert back to other ways of staying in Thailand.

I have yet to see (Although of course I may of missed it) any members saying they wished they had never joined. IMO, unlike a lot of things in this life, with the TE programme,you get exactly what you pay for, and all at a very reasonable cost

And good luck to you too. If i could justify it i would join it. I have a marriage visa thingy and i'm rarely in country more than 3 months.

From what i see, from posts like this, it's a brilliant stamp to have in your passport.

[LawrenceChee]

Looking at these perks....this is a card marketed at a group that likes the hassle free entry, if you live within the Bangkok area the perks that come along with the transfers etc. Looking at the price, it has been priced well to ensure the group that heads into this is not going to make a fairy unicorn out of the program by being overcrowded or those road bus visa warriors that enjoy comparing baht for value and being proud of how they have survived it.

I am not being critical or condescending....anyone that enjoys comparing saving some money over a hard bargain in a taxi ride queue / tolls and all / route versus appearing at the airport and having a limo waiting is not understanding the program. I have flown 72 times this year already and there are those who does not understand what clearing an expedited immigration line means and also paying for lounge access if you don't have the cards for them.

This card is not for everyone. I don't have one yet as my APECBT card works well for me now, Chiangmai is home so I wont use any of the perks and my trips around the world globally gives me more benefits on my FF cards...as such I can live with a little craziness at the airport in CM.

Once these perks end with my job / business , then yes TE card is one of my consideration as I do like a hassle free entry and skip all the formalities where possible.

Edited July 7, 2016 by LawrenceChee

[anotheruser]

Here is the reply from the member service center...

"Greetings from Thailand Elite Member Contact Center.

Please be informed that Thailand Elite Visa Holders are able to claim VAT Refund at the airport before leaving the country. Please kindly see conditions as in the link provided below:

http://vrtweb.rd.go.th/index.php/en/component/vrt/main/30?layout=detail

Should you need to do VAT refund on your departure, please kindly inform us as well. Therefore we cann arrange the car to drop you at Gate 10 for Vat Refund.

Any further inquiry you may have, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Best Regards,"

So hold onto your receipts because if you have stayed in the country for a long time, you may be able to get a bit of money back. I normally don't bother with doing this but if I am in the country for a year this might be worth my time. For example I just bought a 100,000 Baht MacbookPro and a 27,000 Baht s7 Edge. So that theoretically is 8,890 back right there. If I start to hold the receipt for every purchase I buy that qualifies over here, this could get interesting.

Can this be done on other types of visas such as retirement, marriage or for people with work permits?

[anotheruser]

I also just asked about fixed term deposits and they simply gave me the original information about opening accounts. so am not sure if this is a definite yes, but they certainly are not saying no.

[Ronuk]

Thank you anotheruser for the information your finding out. TE members appreciate it.

You should know by now how the Haters hate the TE program and how easy we live and travel to and from LOS.
They would love to see it stopped as they need fresh blood on them 12hr minibus visa runs and the stimulating conversation of how they saved 32bt by shopping in 7/11

[JayBird]

Thank you anotheruser for the information your finding out. TE members appreciate it.

You should know by now how the Haters hate the TE program and how easy we live and travel to and from LOS.

They would love to see it stopped as they need fresh blood on them 12hr minibus visa runs and the stimulating conversation of how they saved 32bt by shopping in 7/11

Well, there are faults on both sides. Some of those who 'hate' TE are irrational. And some of those who hate the haters have some grave misconceptions. Such as the continuous impression that those who do not choose TE must be poor or cheap and will endure any levels of uncomfort to save a few baht.

That's simply not the case.

Also, it could simply be pointed out that those who have TE are too poor to get investment visas or fly chartered planes.

I encourage discussions on TE that are fair from *both* sides (those who have and those who do not have). But jumping to the position of 'If you don't have it you must be poor' is not a very contributive stance.

And given that this is Thailand, its also useful to understand the true costs and reasons behind the TE visa versus other options, and trying to understand the rationale behind those decisions.

It is a fair point, especially in this thread, to understand the privileges afforded to TE members especially beyond the PE aspect and to frame that into the context of its cost.

For example, you could purchase 10M THB 30-Year bond with about 2.5% return (enough to cover inflation). This would also mean after 5 or 20 years you could sell back the bond and get your original 10M back. Since this would grant you a visa it would actually have a total net cost less than a TE visa.

Of course, for those who can not afford to invest 10M into Thailand there is the TE visa option.

[Ronuk]

Thank you anotheruser for the information your finding out. TE members appreciate it.

You should know by now how the Haters hate the TE program and how easy we live and travel to and from LOS.

They would love to see it stopped as they need fresh blood on them 12hr minibus visa runs and the stimulating conversation of how they saved 32bt by shopping in 7/11

Well, there are faults on both sides. Some of those who 'hate' TE are irrational. And some of those who hate the haters have some grave misconceptions. Such as the continuous impression that those who do not choose TE must be poor or cheap and will endure any levels of uncomfort to save a few baht.

That's simply not the case.

Also, it could simply be pointed out that those who have TE are too poor to get investment visas or fly chartered planes.

I encourage discussions on TE that are fair from *both* sides (those who have and those who do not have). But jumping to the position of 'If you don't have it you must be poor' is not a very contributive stance.

And given that this is Thailand, its also useful to understand the true costs and reasons behind the TE visa versus other options, and trying to understand the rationale behind those decisions.

It is a fair point, especially in this thread, to understand the privileges afforded to TE members especially beyond the PE aspect and to frame that into the context of its cost.

For example, you could purchase 10M THB 30-Year bond with about 2.5% return (enough to cover inflation). This would also mean after 5 or 20 years you could sell back the bond and get your original 10M back. Since this would grant you a visa it would actually have a total net cost less than a TE visa.

Of course, for those who can not afford to invest 10M into Thailand there is the TE visa option.

All very good information and a further choice to stay long term in Thailand. Is a long term Bond for me? No. Can I afford it? Yes, very easily. Would I knock anybody for choosing that option? No, up to them. Fact is, I see the TE Program as doing what I want it to do for me. I don't see it as being expensive but I do it see it as an easy way to live with no hassle and no problems. Good luck to the Visa runners if that is how they choose to live but again, it isn't for me but don't knock the program at every given opportunity for sake of doing it. I pay my money and I am sorted. That's how I like to roll.

[anotheruser]

http://www.customs.go.th/wps/wcm/connect/custen/travellers/tourist+refund+scheme/touristrefundscheme

60 days to reclaim, leaving by airport only with the goods on you. So it seems that pretty much only people on tourist visas (via an airport therefore eliminating all visa hoppers going via land borders) or TE would in theory be able to claim it. Everybody working, retired or married is likely to be in the country more than 180 days in a year. Obviously it is likely anybody on a TE visa would also be in Thailand more than 180 per year as well, but the possibility exists that some may not be.

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Theguy you are certainly welcome to post anywhere you want but your posts are borderline trolling and not intended to continue a meaningful discussion of any kind here. You are a mere hinderance to some of the meaningful posters that have enriched this topic through their input. Much in the way an unruly child is a nuisance when speaking at the adult's dinner table.

Also if I may point out this thread has been started by a paying sponsor to TV about membership privileges. I am sure ThaiElite is delighted at the current discussion designed to sabotage what is their right as a paying sponsor to discuss and advertise their product here without basically being heckled. These kind of threads in the past have chased away advertisers and dissuaded potential people from advertising on this website.

Edited July 7, 2016 by anotheruser

[lkn]

60 days to reclaim, leaving by airport only with the goods on you […]

I’ve been denied a refund once because it was 61 days. Another time they forgot to stamp all my receipts, so after immigration (where you get the money) they only paid me for the stamped receipts and would do nothing to help me get the missing stamps (I couldn’t go back myself due to having passed immigration).

I’ve had friends on the first vacation to Thailand being denied stamps because the items (for which they had receipts) had already been checked in (they did not know they had to get the stamps before checking in their stuff).

So be sure to get the stamps before you check in your luggage, check they actually stamp all of your receipts, and don’t bother with receipts older than 60 days.

[gerry1011]

Concerning the VAT refund.

Just another angle... As a Thailand Elite member, I cannot get a refund in Thailand because I registered with my embassy and my passport is issued in Bangkok.

However, for those who do the same, the advantage is that when you buy something abroad, you can get the refund on the way back to Bangkok.

Same same but reverse.

[jphasia]

Concerning the VAT refund.

Just another angle... As a Thailand Elite member, I cannot get a refund in Thailand because I registered with my embassy and my passport is issued in Bangkok.

However, for those who do the same, the advantage is that when you buy something abroad, you can get the refund on the way back to Bangkok.

Same same but reverse.

Well I am not elite member, I am on Non O 1 year multiple entries visa, I am registered with my embassy in Bangkok and my passports have always been issued in Bangkok for the last 20 years. My residence address which is in Thailand is on my main passport page and I have a notification of alien registration attached in my passport. I am not much concerned about VAT claims but I do it sometime especially when I purchase some expensive items in Thailand such as laptop...and I get VAT refund at the airport without any question. The last time was few weeks ago when I purchased a 30+k phone in Thailand and got VAT refund in Phuket airport while I was on my way to Myanmar. I got back few tousand bahts.

[anotheruser]

If you actually reside in Thailand what you are doing is illegal. I am trying to keep this discussion to what membership privileges are legal. There are many things said in this thread about dodgy work arounds. I think we should actually limit the discussion to what is actually legal under the TE program.

[jphasia]

If you actually reside in Thailand what you are doing is illegal. I am trying to keep this discussion to what membership privileges are legal. There are many things said in this thread about dodgy work arounds. I think we should actually limit the discussion to what is actually legal under the TE program.

You are right. I am not a TE program hater. I am following this thread because I believe TE program has some good point. For me the main point is that it give the option of hassle free when you are stuck to get any others visa option. You pay and you get it. In my opinion, the others perks are not a great value if you are able to get a non O 1 year multi entry such I have. I am travelling a lot, getting my year visa multi entry cost me half day per year and 200USD but I am in a situation that make it easy for me to get my visa. I will switch to the TE program only if 1 day it become more complicate to obtain my current visa or if I decide to stop travelling and go to the extension route.

But my point above was more that by reading all the thread about TE, I don't see much the advantages except the facility to get a long term visa. As long as you can afford the 5 years payment, that's it.

I read about Elite advantages but for me things such as opening a bank account, getting credit cards in Thailand, is something that I am getting easily without TE.

As for the VAT refund, yes probably illegal. But for me, it started 1 time when i purchased something and the shop was asking me if I want the VAT refund. I explained that I didn't believe i was eligible for that showing my visa, my address in Thailand...but they insisted. I thought no problem. I filled the docs and will be most probably denied when i will present it at the airport. But no questions asked and they just refund it. But as I said earlier, i don't really bother about that.

[Ronuk]

_{Just so we have a cross section of people and situations. I am 58. Retired and prefer to use the TE programme and PE visa rather than the retirement extension.
It's how I prefer to do it and I like the service I get for my money. Pay my money and get a years stamp every time I enter the Kingdom with no worries or issues.}

[anotheruser]

The point about leaving on the dates you want is also important to me. My partner will often travel with me and if he has to take a day or two off work to be able to travel with me, that is the annual savings of the program pretty much just based upon that. I am also not the sort of person that regards being turned away at the Cambodian border for back to back visa waivers, then backtracking all the way up to Laos to apply for visas at Savannaket, after having my passport replaced to hide how many stamps I have as routine and normal.

For some others I suppose it isn't possible to save money you don't have. If you are unable to save more from this program than you spend on it maybe it isn't designed for you. There is a sweet spot between finances and convenience where this program begins to make sense and actually pay off. Although I will probably never be able to drink another Leo without out the expense of it weighing heavily on the back of my mind. I only need to drink 9,125 less 7/11 purchased large bottles of Leo over the course of the next 5 years before I can save myself into the black I guess. Ugh off to buy some Hoegaarden.

[gerry1011]

Yeah there are plenty of threads on all of the alternative options for sure. Also for the record I know how to plan a trip. TE just makes the planning much easier and makes it actually cost less.

I am convinced that you - and all other Thailand Elite members - are indeed very much able to plan whatever trip. We are not as silly as some may want to portray the ones who opt for convenience (at a fee), after all.

The interesting thing is that - and I think you already said that - Thailand Elite members have the great privilege to be able to plan their trip whenever they want, as their schedule is not dictated by any requirement to leave the country.

Some members travel a lot, at their chosen dates, and feel welcome back in the country each time they fly in (with a fresh 1 year stamp in their passport each time they come back).

Other members take full advantage of the 1 year stamp, and extend the stamp once per year as long as they don't feel the need for a vacation abroad... till the end of the 5or 20 years' membership.

That flexibility is priceless.

Edited July 12, 2016 by gerry1011

[anotheruser]

I have taken it upon myself to create a haven for the alternatives of the PE visa to be discussed at length.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/931383-alternatives-to-the-pe-visa/

[LawrenceChee]

Let's just all agree that the visa situation here is one of the most complex to retire in / stay long term and be friends :-)

We all have our ways of trying to stay here...TE Visa / O Visa / Retirement Visa / Visa waiver...all painful but we love Thailand ...Jai Yen Yen :-)

so let's stay happy here in this piece of paradise. I can see myself buying this soon once my work situation stops. I value my time and quietness ...not for everyone but yes i will pay for that piece of mind.

[gerry1011]

Let's just all agree that the visa situation here is one of the most complex to retire in / stay long term and be friends :-)

We all have our ways of trying to stay here...TE Visa / O Visa / Retirement Visa / Visa waiver...all painful but we love Thailand ...Jai Yen Yen :-)

so let's stay happy here in this piece of paradise. I can see myself buying this soon once my work situation stops. I value my time and quietness ...not for everyone but yes i will pay for that piece of mind.

Dear Lawrence.

Your kind and wise words towards Thailand are most welcome. This is indeed a piece of paradise. Posts such as yours should appear more often in these threads.

Let me, if you allow me, just disagree with you on the "complexity" of staying long term in Thailand.

It is actually very easy with a PE visa to stay long term, and the Thailand Elite members don't have to "try" any ways to stay here.

As a member you are free to stay long term, or fly in and out as many times as you wish. It is entirely up to you.

The other options may indeed be a bit painful. From what I read in other threads, some other visa options look very painful to me. Not my cup of tea, if I can say so.

I am also very happy to see you write that "we love Thailand".

It is indeed the case for most of us, even if it does not really show when reading countless negative comments on this forum (A certain survey also seems to contradict this impression that none of the farangs in Thailand are actually happy here).

If, as you say, you value your time and quietness, and you consider the membership fee acceptable, Thailand Elite is certainly for you.

It will make you even happier in Thailand.

Some kind posters may insist that you better select a cheaper visa option and use your money for something better than a Thailand Elite membership... but, what is 100,000b per year nowadays?

So, on my side, I would always advice to take the best package: PE visa + happiness + do plenty of things with your money.

Life is short.

Cheers

Edited July 13, 2016 by gerry1011