Answered7 months ago
Are there any DTV-approved 6-month cooking courses in Chiang Mai for under 20,000 THB?
Any DTV-approved, 6 month cooking courses in Chiang Mai for no more than 20k? Found several in Bangkok but can’t seem to find any online in Chiang Mai 🙏
Answer summary
The original inquiry pertains to finding DTV-approved cooking courses in Chiang Mai priced under 20,000 THB. Several users contributed to the discussion by sharing experiences with visa regulations, the necessity of continuous engagement in soft power activities, and the subjective nature of immigration enforcement in Thailand. One participant outlined that while a 6-month course may suffice, others suggested that longer commitments might provide better assurance for visa stability. Additionally, information on alternative programs and personal contacts within the DTV administrative community was shared, potentially aiding users in their search for suitable cooking courses.
43 repliesnewest first
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Matt *******
Happy to introduce you to a great local Samui agent who specializes in DTV and also generously donates part of their fees to the Samui Surf Lifesaving club (to help local Kids to learn to swim in the ocean). I can send you their details
Tiffany *****
Yes! I just found one. If you’re still looking, feel free to PM me.
Anonymous *************
OP@Tiffany ****
can you mention here 🙏 maybe it can help others
Sky ***************
You do not have to renew the course. The course simply makes the processing faster and makes it easier to obtain the 5-year DTV visa.
This way, you can use both reasons for entry: workation (if you have proof of remote work and income) or the Soft Power course. Even after completing the course, more than 50 of our former students have entered Thailand as tourists without being asked any questions or required to show any proof. In most cases, immigration officers did not ask anything.
The only situations where questions may arise are when a person has a long visa history in Thailand, such as many years staying on multiple ED visas or visa-exempt entries. In such cases, immigration officers may question the person not about the current visit, but about their past stays in Thailand and what they were doing, because they might suspect illegal work. This situation can happen with any type of visa.
This way, you can use both reasons for entry: workation (if you have proof of remote work and income) or the Soft Power course. Even after completing the course, more than 50 of our former students have entered Thailand as tourists without being asked any questions or required to show any proof. In most cases, immigration officers did not ask anything.
The only situations where questions may arise are when a person has a long visa history in Thailand, such as many years staying on multiple ED visas or visa-exempt entries. In such cases, immigration officers may question the person not about the current visit, but about their past stays in Thailand and what they were doing, because they might suspect illegal work. This situation can happen with any type of visa.
Lin *******************
SmilingDuck33 I second Cook Venture. I learnt under her. She's a very experienced and patient chef. Her team will also help with DTV but more if you prefer to do yourself, also will be easy as she provides all necessary documents for submission.
Anonymous *************
OPSmilingDuck33 thanks 🙏 this is the only one I’ve found so guess I’ll go for it
Smilin*******
Anonymous participant you specified under 20k.
This one is the only other school in allow chiang mai that I found that offers the DTV, but its much more
This one is the only other school in allow chiang mai that I found that offers the DTV, but its much more
Phil ******
No dont think so also go for 12 months to lock your visa in
Anonymous *************
OP@Phil *****
I’ve been assured 6 months is enoughPhil ******
Anonymous participant ok I've seen a few posts saying the person applied for a dtv and as it was a shorter course were issued with a METV. You knoe better than me
Konstantin ***********
If you don't renew your "soft power" activity regularly, you could be denied re-entry after just six months. Has anyone told you about this?
Greg ********
@Konstantin **********
For those doing MT easy solution from gyms. After 6 months can buy a yearly pass for about 10kAnonymous *************
OP@Greg *******
if they ask why I’m returning to Thailand “to use the gym” is a good enough answer? 🙃Anonymous *************
OP@Greg *******
no idea but try it.. that’s not the most reassuring answer 😅 cheers anywayGreg ********
Anonymous participant No idea but I would certainly try it. I think many providers should offer these ongoing memberships for SP. It is revenue for them and a service to their customers.
André ******************
@Konstantin **********
nonsenseDavid ******
@André *****************
Actually it's not nonsense, It's just that the rules for the visa are often not enforced. I can see that changing fairly soon though.Greg ********
@David *****
It is a crap shoot as the Yanks like to say. I was invited to my best friends daughter's wedding in the UK. He is a British Ambassador and he would have supplied an invite letter. I wanted to take my Thai friend as my plus1. In the end we did not bother as too much hassle. She has her own successful business and travels frequently in the region but still too much of a feck around.David ******
@Greg *******
If your big enough you can move mountains, If your small fry the hoops you have to jump through get smaller and smaller.James ********
@Vir ******
Correct 👍Greg ********
@David *****
When DTV first came out I was having lunch with ex colleagues. Thai professionals at a global MNC. Engineers and Project Managers. It was that group who came up with the min income thing. They were not happy about a 5 year visa when they have to jump through hoops to go to UK etc. I can understand their frustration. At my previous company, a British Big Pharma, they all got UK visas easily enough though.David ******
@Greg *******
Agree totally GregJames ********
@Vir ******
that's what is TRUE now.Greg ********
@David *****
PS: I have said from the start Thailand missed a trick on both Workaytion and SP. They coukd have at min income into Thailand and taxed it. Align with say WP salary required. For SP they could have made it that for visa lasts as long as you are partaking in activities. The DTV was cooked up without input of all stakeholders though.Greg ********
@David *****
Of course it is possible. Until they do change policy it is just speculation though. I have found in Thailand changes do not come gradually. They tend to reach some form of tipping point before a u-turn. It never seems to be gradualist. Never say never.David ******
@Greg *******
As we all know it doesn't take much to have a policy change in Thailand lol. My daughter is a lawyer and also has her own visa company. She has said she believes there may be some changes in the near future for DTV, As to what she can only speculate. But it wouldn't surprise me if they start checking the validity of said visa.
Vir *******
@Greg *******
a lot of you elderly white monkeys talk about the law like it's the word of god or something. The only thing that matters is what happens on the ground. Currently no one is having their visa revoked because their classes ended.Greg ********
@David *****
Exactly. If you no longer have the job your B was issued for it is cancelled. If you divorce your Spousal O is cancelled. However as it stands today they are not checking conditions for the DTV. It would mean a change of policyGreg ********
@André *****************
Your visa is valid as long as you still qualify for it. It is also true that no checks are made at entry as it stands today if you still qualify.David ******
@André *****************
Wrong visa is valid for 5 years provided you fulfill the conditions for having the visa. It's called violating your conditions of stay and you risk having you dtv revokedAndré ******************
@David *****
It is nonsense as your visa is valid for 5 years, regardless of the duration of your courseKonstantin ***********
@André *****************
Before calling something nonsense, perhaps start with reading at least one page of Thai immigration law.James ********
@Konstantin **********
now I do believe that you are scaremongering...André ******************
@Konstantin **********
alright, show me where it says your visa is invalid once your course is finished
Justin ********
@Konstantin **********
How do I renew my soft-power STD test
Johan **************
@Konstantin **********
nice, let's spread some false information.Konstantin ***********
@Johan *************
Unfortunately, many people do not understand very simple things.Having a valid visa does not automatically give you the right to enter the country. The final decision is made each time by the immigration officer at the border. And if the officer questions on what basis you are still using a DTV under the Soft Power category when your activity ended, for example, a couple of years ago, that is something you will have to explain.
That is exactly why the claim that “it is enough to enroll in a course once, and then you can freely travel for five years” is a very dangerous misconception. Yes, the visa itself may still remain valid. But if the immigration officer concludes that you no longer have any real grounds to stay in Thailand under the soft power activity on which that visa was originally issued, they may simply refuse you entry.
At the same time, it is important to understand that even now we are already hearing many complaints like: “Officers at the border asked a lot of strange questions and advised people to change their visa.” They ask those questions and make such recommendations for a reason. Usually, it is because the officer has doubts that the person still genuinely fits the original purpose for which the DTV was issued, or believes that the visa is no longer being used for its actual intended purpose.
Anonymous *************
OP@James *******
I guess showing up for the full course and asking nicely at the end for them to back you up if need be would be a good ideaJames ********
@Konstantin **********
pardon me but you are stretching the reality of entry.Pushing that narrative of possibility is NOT happening in reality. It's rare.
What is the possibility of a requirement to keep active in the DTV visa purpose for its being granted? Unknown at this time.
Exceptions do occur... like when the Immigration Officer recently asked 2 persons seeking reentry into Thailand about their DTV soft power activity... they replied Muay Thai training... The officer ASKED for the name of the Muay Thai gym and its phone number. He called the gym and asked if the 2 were in training in the gym? The gym said they're not and not known by the gym. Resulting in DENIED ENTRY. (The 2 were placed in IDC Immigration Detention Center at BKK Suvarnabhumi Airport and they bought a one way ticket back to Vietnam, with a DENIED ENTRY stamp in their passport). They ONLY paid for the Muay Thai training school course to obtain the documents for the DTV visa and NEVER showed up for the training.
During the prior 12 months they had left and reentered Thailand 3 times. The 4th time caught them out with denied entry.
Greg ********
@Johan *************
One guy claiming at the weekend his wife who is an agent had a client come to them for a solution as DTV cancelled due to not continuing SP. That is the only one where someone has put their name to it.Greg ********
@Konstantin **********
It is true the IO has final say. Those claims from agents are too wide. However, as it stands there is 1 person claiming someone was denied entry on the DTV as they were not continuing a course. Do you know more?Johan **************
@Konstantin **********
There are 0 confirmed reports of people losing their visa because their course was finished. I agree that it would make sense but it is not what happens at this stage, perhaps in the future. If you do have reports of this, please share those instead of your AI text.Activity
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