If money is not an issue is the Thai Elite Visa still available and working?

[steve73]

Am I correct in understanding that the TEV lasts for 5 years from issue and each entry gives a 12 month permission to stay.. so effectively can allow almost 6 years in T/L.

What would happen if you didn't leave T/L for more than 12 months, and then "forgot" to extend it...?

Would you be on overstay and then fined or subjected to all the bans if you got picked up or when you eventually did leave the country.?

And would the TEV be cancelled, or simply roll over for the next 12 month period?

I assume there is no financial proof required if you do need to extend it.

 

Also, I recall there was talk of introducing a 10 year "retirement" visa earlier this year requiring around 3MM in the bank... Did anything ever come of that?
 

Edited November 24, 2018 by steve73

[Travelanimal]

2 hours ago, moogradod said:

Thank you Rat Thai !

 

Worry free - this would be nice. I hope we have a tube..

Sometimes you will be transfered by bus to the terminal.

 

On the T.M.6 what purpose should I choose ? Retirement, Tourist (TE is a tourist visa, although a very long stay one) or Getting a TE Visa). This seemingly stupid question is for the case that I cannot meet the TE staff for whatever reason. If then with "Retirement" on my Arrival Card and without any visa I would not even be allowed to enter the country. And this would be disastrous.

 

I will just leave the purpose blank and fill it in after meeting the EPA.

 

My enquiry is based on the sad background of not so nice stories about immigration at the Bangkok Airports and my personal experience of mistakes that can happen in Thailand (as everywhere) - on all levels.

How many days it took for approval letter ? After you applied 

 

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, steve73 said:

Am I correct in understanding that the TEV lasts for 5 years from issue and each entry gives a 12 month permission to stay.. so effectively can allow almost 6 years in T/L.

Correct

 

3 hours ago, steve73 said:

 What would happen if you didn't leave T/L for more than 12 months, and then "forgot" to extend it...?

You would be subject to the same penalties as anyone else overstaying their permission to stay.

 

3 hours ago, steve73 said:

I assume there is no financial proof required if you do need to extend it.

Correct

 

3 hours ago, steve73 said:

Also, I recall there was talk of introducing a 10 year "retirement" visa earlier this year requiring around 3MM in the bank... Did anything ever come of that?

A few embassies have published conditions under which the O-X visa will be issued. For example, see http://thaiembdc.org/non-immigrant-visa-category-o-x-long-stay/. Contact the Royal Thai Embassy in your home country to see if they can issue O-X visas.

[galt67]

6 hours ago, Travelanimal said:

How many days it took for approval letter ? After you applied 

 

From my experience, in 2017, it was about three or four days after applying that I received the 'approval' letter.

 

From start to finish, it was about 10-14 days total.

 

TE was flexible and easy to work with.

[moogradod]

17 hours ago, Travelanimal said:

How many days it took for approval letter ? After you applied 

 

It took 5 business days to get the "Approval Letter".

Overall it took 2 weeks from application to the "Welcome Letter", this is including weekends.

 

Very quick overall.

[Ratt Thai]

21 hours ago, moogradod said:

Thank you Rat Thai !

 

Worry free - this would be nice. I hope we have a tube..

Sometimes you will be transfered by bus to the terminal.

 

On the T.M.6 what purpose should I choose ? Retirement, Tourist (TE is a tourist visa, although a very long stay one) or Getting a TE Visa). This seemingly stupid question is for the case that I cannot meet the TE staff for whatever reason. If then with "Retirement" on my Arrival Card and without any visa I would not even be allowed to enter the country. And this would be disastrous.

 

I will just leave the purpose blank and fill it in after meeting the EPA.

 

My enquiry is based on the sad background of not so nice stories about immigration at the Bangkok Airports and my personal experience of mistakes that can happen in Thailand (as everywhere) - on all levels.

With TE you can forget about all those sad story's and the bad experiences...

[moogradod]

3 minutes ago, Ratt Thai said:

With TE you can forget about all those sad story's and the bad experiences...

Here we go ! You made my day (again) Ratt Thai !

I thank you very much.

[James2020]

I received my TE visa today at Suvarnabhumi Airport as we returned from a week in Laos.  I could have done this a lot sooner, but we were waiting for my Non-Immigrant visa extension to expire, which it did yesterday.  We deplaned and went by bus to a gate, where the EPA (Elite Personal Assistant) was waiting for us with a sign with my name.  She recognized me from my picture.  She spoke excellent English and we walked the short distance to the Priority Entrance of Immigration.  She explained that we did not need the buggy today since it was a short walk.  We went to the same entrance as an airline crew, to a small waiting area, where my 5 year PE visa was affixed to my passport in about 5 minutes. My Thai wife and a friend accompanied me, although it was pointed out that only my wife or family could go with me through the Priority Immigration entrance, but today they made an exception for our friend (they were not busy at all).  With my new visa, we went to a smiling IO at a gate inside the Priority Entrance.  He stamped us in and our EPA took us to a small TE lounge where our luggage was waiting for us.  A new person brought me the TE welcome package (membership card, luggage tags, description of services, etc.).  The EPA took us to the AOT desk, where we rented a car and driver, and then escorted us out to the car.  In all it was a very efficient process that took about 20 minutes.

 

[moogradod]

Congratulations James2020 !

 

Good to know that meeting the EPA works if arriving by bus to the terminal as you have proven. Now it needs to be confirmed that it will work using a tube directly to the terminal. But some other member said it will and they will be waiting directly at the exit of the plane. Just worried a bit that the EPA will miss us for whatever reason when we disembark.

 

May I just ask you how you pass through customs if they bring you the check in luggage and escorted you out ? We will bring some minor things worth about less than 40KTHB (2 persons) and always feel good to pass through the red channel only to be told that it is OK.

 

And then: TE is a tourist visa, although used for retirement purposes. Therefore on the arrival card: Purpose of visit = Tourist or Retirement ?

 

Nice you have the visa now. We will arrive in late January 2019 and hope to have a similar positive experience.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

5 minutes ago, moogradod said:

 

 

May I just ask you how you pass through customs if they bring you the check in luggage and escorted you out ? We will bring some minor things worth about less than 40KTHB (2 persons) and always feel good to pass through the red channel only to be told that it is OK.

 

And then: TE is a tourist visa, although used for retirement purposes. Therefore on the arrival card: Purpose of visit = Tourist or Retirement ?

 

 

 

 

Pass through customs as anyone else does... the only difference is that someone else (a porter) and the GiG (Girl in Gold - EPA) is also walking with you. 

 

I've had my bag x-rayed at the customs checkpoint once in over 10 years (as a TE member).

 

Go through the green lane unless you are actually carrying an items in excess of your allowance (booze etc) - if its just your personal belongings which exceed 40k baht there's not point whatsoever in going through the red lane - unless its your preference to pay import tax on your belongings. 

 

Purpose of entry - Tourism... I don't actually think its ever checked anyway (just don't put work or business).

[James2020]

8 minutes ago, moogradod said:

Congratulations James2020 !

 

Good to know that meeting the EPA works if arriving by bus to the terminal as you have proven. Now it needs to be confirmed that it will work using a tube directly to the terminal. But some other member said it will and they will be waiting directly at the exit of the plane. Just worried a bit that the EPA will miss us for whatever reason when we disembark.

 

May I just ask you how you pass through customs if they bring you the check in luggage and escorted you out ? We will bring some minor things worth about less than 40KTHB (2 persons) and always feel good to pass through the red channel only to be told that it is OK.

 

And then: TE is a tourist visa, although used for retirement purposes. Therefore on the arrival card: Purpose of visit = Tourist or Retirement ?

 

Nice you have the visa now. We will arrive in late January 2019 and hope to have a similar positive experience.

 

 

Sure, Moogradod, happy to help.

1)  I wouldn't worry much about missing the EPA.  As long as you make a reservation in advance, TE will email you a confirmation, and you can double check the flight number, expected time of arrival, etc.  If your flight is delayed, TE will know about it.

2)  We just followed the porter and our EPA out of the luggage area and they went through the 'Nothing to Declare' lane like everyone else, and never asked us.  We were just trying to keep up with them.  We weren't carrying anything anyway.

3)  I checked 'Tourist' on the arrival card, since I was getting a tourist visa (but I really don't think anyone reads it...).  My EPA didn't say anything about it and neither did the IO.

[moogradod]

1 hour ago, James2020 said:

1)  I wouldn't worry much about missing the EPA.  As long as you make a reservation in advance, TE will email you a confirmation, and you can double check the flight number, expected time of arrival, etc.  If your flight is delayed, TE will know about it.

You are right, maybe I am too much sensitive. I trust them to meet me and I received a confirmation letter for my appointment. However, if for some reason they still miss me I would be in a bit of trouble having no visa at all.

1 hour ago, James2020 said:

2)  We just followed the porter and our EPA out of the luggage area and they went through the 'Nothing to Declare' lane like everyone else, and never asked us.  We were just trying to keep up with them.  We weren't carrying anything anyway.

My wife and myself will bring some brand new items but worth below 40 KTHB. Personal belongings will include a video camera, a laptop, 2 iPADs 4 mobile phones and some portable computer discs. I have never paid any import tax on personal items in more than 40 years, but it feels good to show them the new items, they wont be taxed either I suppose.

 

1 hour ago, James2020 said:

3)  I checked 'Tourist' on the arrival card, since I was getting a tourist visa (but I really don't think anyone reads it...).  My EPA didn't say anything about it and neither did the IO.

I will ask the EPA, altough "Tourist" is logical. I am actually retiring (as indicated on my TEV application). I am not sure if this important if you need to obtain a residence certificate (extension of driving license etc.). If you have a 20 year membership for example you would really be a Very Long Time Tourist ????

[huberthammer]

Small nuisance (and it is really minor compared to all other visa issues) is that at immigration points outside BKK/Phuket with no TE staff some of the Immigration officers get confused by this rare visa. It seems to take 3 times as long for them to stamp me than it does for regular tourists and quite often one of them has to go and ask a colleague what this is all about. 

[KhunFred]

Wow, what a bargain. Perfect for the Warren Buffetts of the world.

[Anythingleft?]

I received my TE visa today at Suvarnabhumi Airport as we returned from a week in Laos.  I could have done this a lot sooner, but we were waiting for my Non-Immigrant visa extension to expire, which it did yesterday.  We deplaned and went by bus to a gate, where the EPA (Elite Personal Assistant) was waiting for us with a sign with my name.  She recognized me from my picture.  She spoke excellent English and we walked the short distance to the Priority Entrance of Immigration.  She explained that we did not need the buggy today since it was a short walk.  We went to the same entrance as an airline crew, to a small waiting area, where my 5 year PE visa was affixed to my passport in about 5 minutes. My Thai wife and a friend accompanied me, although it was pointed out that only my wife or family could go with me through the Priority Immigration entrance, but today they made an exception for our friend (they were not busy at all).  With my new visa, we went to a smiling IO at a gate inside the Priority Entrance.  He stamped us in and our EPA took us to a small TE lounge where our luggage was waiting for us.  A new person brought me the TE welcome package (membership card, luggage tags, description of services, etc.).  The EPA took us to the AOT desk, where we rented a car and driver, and then escorted us out to the car.  In all it was a very efficient process that took about 20 minutes.
 

Do you have any idea how flexible they are with the annual stamp date, for instance being out of the country when the extension is due would they do it in advance or wait until you returned to restamp?
Asking because with other visa's, ie marriage visa, they are or at least in my case have been, completely inflexible....


Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

[BritTim]

45 minutes ago, Anythingleft? said:

Do you have any idea how flexible they are with the annual stamp date, for instance being out of the country when the extension is due would they do it in advance or wait until you returned to restamp?
Asking because with other visa's, ie marriage visa, they are or at least in my case have been, completely inflexible....

The Thailand Elite PE visa is a 5-year multiple entry visa. In general, there is no need for extensions of stay when using it. You simply enter the country and get a fresh one-year permission to stay. The only time an extension comes into the picture is if you do not travel at all for a year, and your one-year permission to stay is expiring without an international trip.

[Anythingleft?]

The Thailand Elite PE visa is a 5-year multiple entry visa. In general, there is no need for extensions of stay when using it. You simply enter the country and get a fresh one-year permission to stay. The only time an extension comes into the picture is if you do not travel at all for a year, and your one-year permission to stay is expiring without an international trip.

Thanks for that...

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

[jpinx]

The PE is becoming more of an option as the rules and complications about extensions become more hassle and expensive. I suppose it's like using an agent to do your extensions, reporting, etc.

[farangx]

54 minutes ago, jpinx said:

The PE is becoming more of an option as the rules and complications about extensions become more hassle and expensive. I suppose it's like using an agent to do your extensions, reporting, etc.

PE is long term. Extensions as in retirement and marriage are short term.

 

[jpinx]

14 hours ago, farangx said:

PE is long term. Extensions as in retirement and marriage are short term.

 

Without going into "How long is long-term?", 1, 5, or 10 years makes little odds since the rules, policies and requirements change more frequently than that.  The system has grown like Topsy, without a cohesive structure.  It's too late to change things fundamentally, so we are presented with these modified rules as circumstances arise.  Health/travel/accident insurance keeps raising it's head, but it's just too difficult to deal with for all nationalities and visa-types.

 

Happy Xmas! :)

[huberthammer]

On 12/25/2018 at 2:11 AM, jpinx said:

The PE is becoming more of an option as the rules and complications about extensions become more hassle and expensive. I suppose it's like using an agent to do your extensions, reporting, etc.

If it survives for 20 years I would even argue it is a cheaper option than many others. The lower level business visa which have to do a border bounce certainly cost a lot of money if you factor in travel cost and the time it takes. Time will tell if it was a good economic decision or not. Certainly over the last 2 years it became a lot more viable with all the changes, hassle and added cost for many of the other options. 

[fusion58]

On 12/24/2018 at 11:36 PM, BritTim said:

The Thailand Elite PE visa is a 5-year multiple entry visa. In general, there is no need for extensions of stay when using it. You simply enter the country and get a fresh one-year permission to stay. The only time an extension comes into the picture is if you do not travel at all for a year, and your one-year permission to stay is expiring without an international trip.

 

In that case, do you have to go to the immigration office to do the extension yourself, or will the TE office handle it for you?

 

Another question: Have any U.S. citizens here paid the membership fee via wire transfer once approved? The stipulation that the money needs to be in TE’s account within seven days makes me nervous: given the time transfers can take, it seems like seven days might be cutting it close.

[galt67]

6 hours ago, fusion58 said:

 

In that case, do you have to go to the immigration office to do the extension yourself, or will the TE office handle it for you?

 

Another question: Have any U.S. citizens here paid the membership fee via wire transfer once approved? The stipulation that the money needs to be in TE’s account within seven days makes me nervous: given the time transfers can take, it seems like seven days might be cutting it close.

The VISA is added to your passport EITHER incoming at BKK or done by appointment at Chaneng Wattanga Imm, Bangkok. I did mine at CW.

 

Regarding a wire, although I'm an American, I already had the money in Thai bank. Incoming wires from US banks, though, are VERY quick. Mine have been within one business day thus should not be an issue.

[BritTim]

8 hours ago, fusion58 said:

In that case, do you have to go to the immigration office to do the extension yourself, or will the TE office handle it for you?

I think you must visit the immigration office for the extension. The way things work these days is that immigration take a photo, at the time of your extension, using a webcam for storage in their system. Possibly, someone from TE might accompany you on request if you are in Bangkok and you asked them to. However, the application is so simple that I cannot see the point when you must attend immigration anyway.

[fusion58]

On 11/7/2018 at 3:52 PM, James2020 said:

I received a letter today by email from TEV that states my application was approved by the Thai Immigration Office.  It's been 5 business days since I submitted my application, so it happened just as TEV told me.  The letter had four options regarding payment, and I chose to pay by credit card.  Their website is a bit fussy, and Verified by Visa required another phone call to them, but eventually after about an hour, I was successful in making a credit card payment.  I had to scan the receipt and email it to them.  Once the TEV Finance Office has verified my payment, I will receive the 'Welcome Letter' and I can have the visa affixed in my passport at CW in Bangkok, or the Suvarnabhumi, Phuket, or Chiang Mai International airports.  I have to give them 5 working days advance notice by email or telephone.  It should all happen well within a month, but I'll continue to post here.

What were the other payment options?

 

 

[SuperTed]

I am on the fence about Thai Elite Visa. I enjoy studying Thai very much. So that is an easy visa source for the next few years.

But I also travel from Thailand at least once a month; doing that on the student visa is a hassle. I pay more for student visa three month renewal, annual trip to Vientiane for new visa, and those monthly re-entry permits than I do for tuition. Some classmates have been interrogated at the airport as to whether they are really students, although I have not had that problem.

I would still study Thai, even if I got the Elite Visa. But I would save THB30,000 -40,000 annually on the Laos trip, three month renewals and re-entry permits. Plus I save the time it takes to do these things. The trip to Laos is a complete fag. Beautiful women and great food, but otherwise a complete dump. And where to meet the beautiful women? I went to the high-end Chinese Karaoke and was not impressed.

I can't use the airport limo services as I am not in BKK. Maybe I will use it once a year. What I will greatly enjoy is being processed through the diplomat channel. It really does make life easier. Having to notify Thai Elite 24 hours before I exit and enter is a bit of a hassle, but I can do it.

So I guess what I need to sort is whether it is worth THB60,000 per year (thinking about the five year visa) to 1. not have to spend time with the Laos trip, renewals and re-entries and 2. Enter and exit through the diplomatic channel on my monthly trips out of LoS. THB5,000 baht/month is more than coffee money.

One thing I do think about is having a small business here. Something to keep me busy, force me to integrate more into Thailand. I wonder if I set up a company, if I will lose the Thai Elite visa. If that is the case, I won't get it. Would not make much sense given their target clientele. I am checking with Thai Elite and will let the group know where I come out.

Not that anyone asked!

Sent from my BBA100-1 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[ubonjoe]

3 hours ago, SuperTed said:

One thing I do think about is having a small business here. Something to keep me busy, force me to integrate more into Thailand. I wonder if I set up a company, if I will lose the Thai Elite visa. If that is the case, I won't get it. Would not make much sense given their target clientele. I am checking with Thai Elite and will let the group know where I come out.

If you want to work you need a work permit that you cannot get with a Thai Elite PE visa entry. If you had a Thai Elite membership it would be still valid for the perks and etc. You would need to get a non-b visa to get the work permit and work but your PE visa would remain valid if you decided that you did not want to work anymore.

[Ratt Thai]

6 hours ago, SuperTed said:

I am on the fence about Thai Elite Visa. I enjoy studying Thai very much. So that is an easy visa source for the next few years.

But I also travel from Thailand at least once a month; doing that on the student visa is a hassle. I pay more for student visa three month renewal, annual trip to Vientiane for new visa, and those monthly re-entry permits than I do for tuition. Some classmates have been interrogated at the airport as to whether they are really students, although I have not had that problem.

I would still study Thai, even if I got the Elite Visa. But I would save THB30,000 -40,000 annually on the Laos trip, three month renewals and re-entry permits. Plus I save the time it takes to do these things. The trip to Laos is a complete fag. Beautiful women and great food, but otherwise a complete dump. And where to meet the beautiful women? I went to the high-end Chinese Karaoke and was not impressed.

I can't use the airport limo services as I am not in BKK. Maybe I will use it once a year. What I will greatly enjoy is being processed through the diplomat channel. It really does make life easier. Having to notify Thai Elite 24 hours before I exit and enter is a bit of a hassle, but I can do it.

So I guess what I need to sort is whether it is worth THB60,000 per year (thinking about the five year visa) to 1. not have to spend time with the Laos trip, renewals and re-entries and 2. Enter and exit through the diplomatic channel on my monthly trips out of LoS. THB5,000 baht/month is more than coffee money.

One thing I do think about is having a small business here. Something to keep me busy, force me to integrate more into Thailand. I wonder if I set up a company, if I will lose the Thai Elite visa. If that is the case, I won't get it. Would not make much sense given their target clientele. I am checking with Thai Elite and will let the group know where I come out.

Not that anyone asked!

Sent from my BBA100-1 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

If the sole purpose is to keep you busy and not involves "active" money making or doing things that could "annoy" jealous people, then the TE visa is far out the best and cheapest option.
If you are US citizen then you even could setup an Treaty Company, no need for WP anymore and the TE does suffice.

If you do study, the TE does great.

 

At the end, taken all in account, i have taken the 20 year version, i don't regret one moment... ( at the price of 2 beers a day... its a bargain... )

 

[JackThompson]

On 12/27/2018 at 11:20 AM, huberthammer said:

The lower level business visa which have to do a border bounce certainly cost a lot of money if you factor in travel cost and the time it takes.

If including the costs of setting up a business "for a visa" (i.e. "not profitable") - the elite is a much "less bad" deal.  Same for comparisons with working through a BOI like Iglu - elite is cheaper by far. 

 

8 hours ago, SuperTed said:

Some classmates have been interrogated at the airport as to whether they are really students, although I have not had that problem.

If leaving/returning on a re-entry permit + ed-extension at an airport, I would always carry a letter from the school excusing your absence, with contact-info for school personnel. 

 

8 hours ago, SuperTed said:

One thing I do think about is having a small business here. Something to keep me busy, force me to integrate more into Thailand. I wonder if I set up a company, if I will lose the Thai Elite visa. If that is the case, I won't get it.

If the business is aimed to be profitable - or at least break-even on overhead costs (including set-up, annual-accounting / taxes / etc), then there is little point in going the elite-visa route - especially as you do not live in Bangkok.  If the business does not work out, those costs are the same either way, and you can buy the elite at that point, and the "countdown clock" before it expires begins later.

[James2020]

On 1/13/2019 at 1:19 AM, fusion58 said:

What were the other payment options?

Greetings from Thailand Elite ….

 

We would like to inform you that we acquired an approval letter from Thai Immigration Office. Please kindly find the letter and banking details in the attached file herewith. Furthermore, please kindly make your payment after you get this letter. *Please note that the approval letter is valid only 3 months.

 

The value of “Elite Superiority Extension” is THB 1,000,000.

 

Once you already make the payment, please scan and send us the pay in slip via email

 

P.S. Please kindly inform your bank that you would like to transfer THB 1,000,000. excluding the transfer charge.

 

Payment Options

§  Wire Transfer, Transfer from overseas bank account. This could take about 5 working days for us to confirm if the transaction is completed.

§  Transfer from local bank account. This could take 2-3 working days to confirm the payment.

§  Deposit the full amount into Thailand Elite bank account as stated in the Approval Letter. This could take within a day to confirm.

§  Online Payment* Please visit https://www.thailandelite.com/payment/transfer

 

*Please screen capture the full page is shown online payment as a reference once you have completed process.

* Other payment options: Once the payment has been made, please provide proof of payment (Receipt, Details, etc.). We will confirm the payment according to the payment proof.