thanaka

You are 100% correct but they're probably less likely to check up on someone with a clean passport than someone with a passport full of Thailand stamps. I know of two people who were denied entry on the volunteer visa but got in without any problems when they tried it again a few months later with a new passport. But you are correct if they already have suspicion they can check up on someones past entries, a new passport won't help. A new one may just reduce the inclination to do so

To extend my education visa I would have had to leave the country. I couldn't because all borders were shut due to covid. The government didn't propose any solution for the hundreds of thousands of foreigners in the country in similar situations, therefore many started using agents. It's unrelated to the denial for the Elite visa, at least as far as I know.

Not sure what you mean. Those two are unrelated (at least in my case)

I think there's a lot of us. I found a lot of information on various expat facebook groups. Some regarding the elite application but most about entry problems with a volunteer visa history. I do know of two people who could enter the country again after getting a new passport, but I still wonder if people with a volunteer visa history are now blocked from all sorts of non-o visas or if it's "just" Elite visas

I'm in the exact same spot. I was on ED visa where I was (legitimately) learning Thai and attending school. I even had to go to the provincial school ministry (or however thats called) where I was tested in reading, writing and speaking Thai to get approved to the next level. I passed the test but could never get the visa for the next level (which I already paid for), because I couldn't leave the country at that time due to covid. My visa expired the exact month where the Thai government couldn't decide on what to do with all the foreigners where everyone went on overstay and got a free visa afterwards when the government realized they had hundreds of thousands of foreigners still here. I always tried to do things correctly here so I didn't want to go on overstay, that's when I started using an agent. Had I just sat on my lazy bum I would have not only gotten free visas (that's when covid extension were introduced), but i wouldn't have these kind of problems right now. That being said, I was also rejected at Elite visa. This situation sucks and I also don't know what to do.

Curious too if anyone ever got an update on this

To add to this: As far as I understand, the airline carrying you to Thailand is responsible for you in case you get denied entry. At least that's what they explained to my friend when he once got asked for an onward flight when checking in to a flight to Thailand. He didn't have an onward flight but showed them his bank statement and signed a paper that he would cover the costs himself in case he gets denied entry, basically transferring the responsibility from the airline to himself. That was sufficient enough. Maybe the low cost carriers have a higher probability of asking for entry requirements since they have a higher risk of carrying passengers that may not have the necessary funds to pay for a flight back in case they get denied entry. Personally I only got asked once for an onward flight, and that was not too long ago when I flew in from Manila with Philippine Airlines. Never got asked for anything in Thailand, though I do always keep ~1000 USD with me when traveling internationally in case they will ask for proof of money. At least for Thailand it's part of the entry requirements so better be safe. The same goes for an onward flight, technically you are required to show one if you plan to land on a visa exempt, so better be prepared.

In theory it's an excellent visa for independent remote workers. I would get it in an instant if there wouldn't be the criteria that you need a huge corporation (150m revenue) as an employer, which makes it virtually impossible to get it. Even if you earn above 100k a year for the past 10 years - which should be enough to proof that you have stable income - you will not get it if you're not backed by a huge corporation. Kinda sucks.

I don't mind the word but I don't think it makes a lot of sense whenever it's used. When Thais talk about tourists (in general), they almost always use the word farang. Though, what about Japanese, Chinese or African tourists? I'd prefer the word alien or foreigner. Pretty much anything that makes sense. Farang targets a very specific kind of foreigner (white, western). It's not a catch-all term. For instance, when talking about white European people farang absolutely makes sense. But when talking about entry rules for foreigners (in general), why say farang when what you really mean is foreigner? It's probably easier to say farang for Thai people rather than foreigner, and most probably have never heard the term Alien, so I get it. I still get irritated sometimes when people use it wrongly.

I don't quite get it. So let's say someone is self-independent (registered 1 man company) for 10 years in their home country making 100k/year, but they do not have any academic degree. Would they qualify for this visa? What does intellectual property mean? Does having a company qualify as having intellectual property? Am I technically hired by my own company in their definition? What is the definition of experience in a 'research field'? Also, is having experience in a research field part of the condition when not having a masters degree but own IP? I don't quite get if this a visa only academics can apply for

In the south I get charged the same as Thai people with a pink ID card (fairly easy to get if you stay here longterm). I don't understand the outcry

Interesting because I am in the same province and it's raining almost daily since a few weeks

On the internet you write with ink not with a pencil. Meaning it's not just erasable. How many stories are there where people dug out old stories, comments or posts others posted on their social media or other platforms to cancel them or report them directly to the company where they work at? Not even mentioning the background checks these companies do anyway. You always have to assume that if you write something online, others are able to see it. It can directly impact your real life whether you are in Thailand or in the western world Also, as someone who knows the digital industry very well, I don't know anyone who lets their steam out on facebook because that's exactly the group that is already aware of the consequences. Most of them just want a chill life at the beach, good and comparably cheap infrastructure and proper visa solutions. So yeah I just doubt that censorship regarding Thai politics will be a deciding factor whether or not digital workers want to work from here. Not for the vast majority of them

I fail to understand in what way the current censorship would affect so many digital professionals that justifies saying it could hinder the development of a digital nomad hub. Journalism or opinion pieces sure but I'd argue that's not the vast majority of foreigners they want to attract to become a digital hub Most of these professionals (designers, developers, administration workers) are looking for a fast and reliable infrastructure to work remotely. I don't see how censorship would affect that. Willing to change my opinion though if you provide me with a good reasoning

as soon as there are billions backing up the industry because millions of people are interested in it