Do you really need the assistance of elite staff when you cross a border ?

[Florian42]

Hello Thai visa
Do you really need the assistance of elite staff when you cross a border ?
I mean, can you have some issues if they are not present when you enter the Kingdom at the airport ? 
I found that their assistance is more annoying than usefull, I prefer to enter the kingdom myself, without call them first.
Any experiences ?

Cheers, 
Florian 

[Maestro]

1. No.
2. No.
3. No personal experience.


Sent from my Nexus 5X using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

[yellowboat]

"I found that their assistance is more annoying than useful" .   Not a resounding accolade for the governments main product.

[maoro2013]

What is/are elite staff?

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, maoro2013 said:

What is/are elite staff?

It is a special service for those that have a Thai Elite membership.

Info can be found here. http://www.thailandelite.com/glimpse.php

[Florian42]

When you enrole for the elite program, you get a 5 years visa, as well as the assistance of their staff when you need to pass the immigration at the airport.
For me they are annoying because : 
- they wait for you with a mini-car to do the 100 meters from the gate to the immigration desks, ridiculous
- they insist to carry my little bag, as if I was a 5 years old child or unable to carry my own luggage
- they dress in gold, yes
- they are over-extremely-polite (not enough words in english to describe this kind of attitude), like if I was a ***cking billionair or a VIP guy.
- but the best is : They just do nothing, and stick with me like glue, I need to go to toilet : they follow me, I buy a bottle of water : they follow me
- They try their best to DO SOMETHING, but there is really nothing to do, so it is a bit ridiculous
exple : Last time I had to go to the VAT refund, the staff really insist to help me, so finally I stand 1 meter from the desk, and pass my items to the staff, which pass the items to the officer at the desk (who was speaking to me), people in the queue start to laugh about me and they were very right ;-)

To be clear : The one and only one thing that we buy in this package is the visa, and I am really happy with that.
The rest of the package is a bunch of useless services, and let's be honest : this is ridiculous and everyone know that we just bought a visa, so why not let's be honest with each others and stop pretending we are VIP people ?
I hope elite staff will read this post.

Cheers 
 

[Florian42]

In case the elite program read this post, this is my advice for a better service : 
This service is for foreigners right ? Sorry to say that but if you want to look like a VIP service, you should maybe comply with foreigners standards, It look like this service is made for very rich thai people

- remove the gold suit, dress black, simple but professional, billionaires like something discreet, this is not a show ;-)
- assistance can be useful for some peoples, but sometimes it is better to do nothing than to pretend to
- When you deliver the visa at immigration, you gave me a very nice gift, this is a well designed red box (the same that we use for jewellery, big format), what is inside ? : a key-ring, I feel insulted by this gift, honestly, it's better to give nothing than that to a guy that just paid 500 000 bahts.

Something positive :
- Each time I send you an email, you reply in hours, and this is something I really appreciate.
- The car service is great, and on-time

Cheers

[Asiang]

Thank you for your report, but do they also have cute girls dress in gold ?

 

And why do you have to meet them more than the first time when you got your visa ? It seems that the problem is you calling them each time you enter the country, not them, as they just do their job !

 

Is the Elite Benz taxi also gold ?

 

 

[Florian42]

Haha, no, the taxi is not gold
Actually I used their service 2 times to enter and exit the country, because they asked me to do so, and because I asked for the car service, the staff was automatically informed.
So next time I will call them for the car service, and tell them that I don't want that their staff to be there at the airport, a bit weird but ok

[Grubster]

I only see this as an option for someone who is under 50 and wants to live here full time and not travel much. I would rather do the 90 day reports than be embarrassed at the airport like that.

[Ronuk]

1 hour ago, Florian42 said:

In case the elite program read this post, this is my advice for a better service : 
This service is for foreigners right ? Sorry to say that but if you want to look like a VIP service, you should maybe comply with foreigners standards, It look like this service is made for very rich thai people

- remove the gold suit, dress black, simple but professional, billionaires like something discreet, this is not a show ;-)
- assistance can be useful for some peoples, but sometimes it is better to do nothing than to pretend to
- When you deliver the visa at immigration, you gave me a very nice gift, this is a well designed red box (the same that we use for jewellery, big format), what is inside ? : a key-ring, I feel insulted by this gift, honestly, it's better to give nothing than that to a guy that just paid 500 000 bahts.

Something positive :
- Each time I send you an email, you reply in hours, and this is something I really appreciate.
- The car service is great, and on-time

Cheers

It's not a 'Gift' or key rings. It's 2 luggage tags and the information booklet. The luggage tags are used to identify your luggage so the Elite staff can collect your luggage for you, if you ask them too. If you don't want the airport service, don't email and ask for it.

[Ronuk]

6 minutes ago, Grubster said:

I only see this as an option for someone who is under 50 and wants to live here full time and not travel much. I would rather do the 90 day reports than be embarrassed at the airport like that.

You still do 90 day reports or the TE staff will do them for you. I would rather use the PE visa option than be embarrassed at immigration when your refused an extension for a whole host of possible reasons.

Edited November 8, 2016 by Ronuk
Spelling

[john_bkk919]

Lol, the two times I used it they made me walk (at a pretty fast pace).  

 

Anyway as a fellow member I can confirm you don't need to use their service or book anything with them.  You can still use the Elite lane at immigration if you want to.   It's totally up to you. 

 

I agree with all of your points.   I don't know why you're surprised, though.  The cringe-y website definitely sets the tone from the moment you apply. 

 

Personally the long wait to schedule the visa + bumbling (and argumentative excuses about 'internal processes' when I mildly criticized this) was more of an issue than the behavior of staff at the airport. 

 

The whole operation is set up to appeal to the mentality of the people who made it.  It's not really about what we want, it's about their show.  So just enjoy the visa and pass on the stuff you find ridiculous.

 

[john_bkk919]

16 minutes ago, Florian42 said:

So next time I will call them for the car service, and tell them that I don't want that their staff to be there at the airport, a bit weird but ok

 

You can definitely do this.

[Florian42]

Thanks a lot john_bkk919
Topic closed

[Grubster]

10 minutes ago, Ronuk said:

You still do 90 day reports or the TE staff will do them for you. I would rather use the PE visa option than be embarrassed at immigration when your refused an extension for a whole host of possible reasons.

I agree with that if you have issues that may black ball you, I don't. My extension renewals take 1/2 hour on my way to town, very convenient. Not same for all I'm sure. I wonder if elite visa overlooks foreign criminal record. I had a friend get deported for that when he switched from marriage to retirement extension. Brutal, they gave him 48 hours and escorted him to Laos, He lost everything. 

[Ronuk]

Just now, Grubster said:

I agree with that if you have issues that may black ball you, I don't. My extension renewals take 1/2 hour on my way to town, very convenient. Not same for all I'm sure. I wonder if elite visa overlooks foreign criminal record. I had a friend get deported for that when he switched from marriage to retirement extension. Brutal, they gave him 48 hours and escorted him to Laos, He lost everything. 

I have no issues. I can afford the PE option and it suits me nicely even though I qualify for a retirement extension.  

It takes 7 to 10 days after applying for the visa to get an answer, yes or no so I doubt they over look previous history.

[Grubster]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It is a special service for those that have a Thai Elite membership.

Info can be found here. http://www.thailandelite.com/glimpse.php

Interesting site Ubon. I guess its very hard to see the benefit of it. I built a nice three bed one bath home for 600,000 baht four years ago. I understand that it included unlimited golf greens fees at its inception years ago, I would bite on that.

[Grubster]

8 minutes ago, Ronuk said:

I have no issues. I can afford the PE option and it suits me nicely even though I qualify for a retirement extension.  

It takes 7 to 10 days after applying for the visa to get an answer, yes or no so I doubt they over look previous history.

I don't know about now but five years ago I did my original extension in one day, I had all the info they needed as I looked on the net to find out. I didn't have enough pictures or copies of documents so I waived three hundred baht and they took the pictures and made copies there for me. I tip 300 baht for each extension. Now they will only take tip after the fact as to show it is not a bribe. They do not and will not forget you if you have a smile. Don't show up with your battle face on or you will be doing hand stands before finished. Bring a friendly lady along, even if she is not yours.

              I have been told they are checking for criminal past and the US is complying, don't know about others, UK etc. I fear for many who have drunk driving offenses back home if they ever decide that will get you tossed. Take care and if I see the men in gold I will be sure to say hi.

[darrendsd]

Some people like the kind of service you have received at the Airport some people don't

 

Instead of posting here why don't you just email TE and tell them to put a note on your account stating that you require no service whatsoever at the Airport

 

Then just before the next time you are about to enter again call them to remind them, maybe get them to email you something you can show to the TE staff at the Airport stating that you require no assistance and a number for the staff to call to confirm this

[Ronuk]

6 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

Some people like the kind of service you have received at the Airport some people don't

 

Instead of posting here why don't you just email TE and tell them to put a note on your account stating that you require no service whatsoever at the Airport

 

Then just before the next time you are about to enter again call them to remind them, maybe get them to email you something you can show to the TE staff at the Airport stating that you require no assistance and a number for the staff to call to confirm this

You only get assistance if you email them and request it in advance. ?

[darrendsd]

1 minute ago, Ronuk said:

You only get assistance if you email them and request it in advance. ?

 

So surely the solution for the OP is not to tell them he is coming 

[Ronuk]

5 minutes ago, darrendsd said:

 

So surely the solution for the OP is not to tell them he is coming 

Yes, exactly that. There is nothing to be gained from telling them your coming unless you want the service. Even if he just books the car service, he will still have people running around for him. That's how the whole thing works.

[Suradit69]

5 hours ago, Florian42 said:

When you enrole for the elite program, you get a 5 years visa, as well as the assistance of their staff when you need to pass the immigration at the airport.
For me they are annoying because : 
- they wait for you with a mini-car to do the 100 meters from the gate to the immigration desks, ridiculous
- they insist to carry my little bag, as if I was a 5 years old child or unable to carry my own luggage
- they dress in gold, yes
- they are over-extremely-polite (not enough words in english to describe this kind of attitude), like if I was a ***cking billionair or a VIP guy.
- but the best is : They just do nothing, and stick with me like glue, I need to go to toilet : they follow me, I buy a bottle of water : they follow me
- They try their best to DO SOMETHING, but there is really nothing to do, so it is a bit ridiculous
exple : Last time I had to go to the VAT refund, the staff really insist to help me, so finally I stand 1 meter from the desk, and pass my items to the staff, which pass the items to the officer at the desk (who was speaking to me), people in the queue start to laugh about me and they were very right ;-)

To be clear : The one and only one thing that we buy in this package is the visa, and I am really happy with that.
The rest of the package is a bunch of useless services, and let's be honest : this is ridiculous and everyone know that we just bought a visa, so why not let's be honest with each others and stop pretending we are VIP people ?
I hope elite staff will read this post.

Cheers 
 

 

"  so why not let's be honest with each others and stop pretending we are VIP people ? "

 

I think you're the only one pretending to be a VIP and complaining about it in minute detail.

[Moonmoon]

sounds good can u transfer the service to me? i dont need the visa lol

[Sooo Upto Me]

23 hours ago, Maestro said:

1. No.
2. No.
3. No personal experience.


Sent from my Nexus 5X using Thaivisa Connect mobile app
 

 

Wot sort of answer is that?

[Upnotover]

4 minutes ago, Sooo Upto Me said:

 

Wot sort of answer is that?

 

I'd say accurate, although 3. is a bit more long winded than needed.

[Maestro]

2 minutes ago, Sooo Upto Me said:

 

Wot sort of answer is that?

 

My post was the answer to the three questions in the post that immediately preceded mine, ie in the opening post of this topic, in the same sequence as the questions were listed.

[Asiang]

9 hours ago, Grubster said:

I agree with that if you have issues that may black ball you, I don't. My extension renewals take 1/2 hour on my way to town, very convenient. Not same for all I'm sure. I wonder if elite visa overlooks foreign criminal record. I had a friend get deported for that when he switched from marriage to retirement extension. Brutal, they gave him 48 hours and escorted him to Laos, He lost everything. 

 

 

How impossible is this story... you really like to repeat this kind of nonsense ?

 

 

[Grubster]

1 hour ago, Asiang said:

 

 

How impossible is this story... you really like to repeat this kind of nonsense ?

 

 

Which part don't you believe? Why would I lie about any of that? would I gain something.  What is impossible.