Unanswered7 days ago
Are there new requirements for the Thailand Elite Visa renewal related to bank statements and proof of income?
I just found out about a supposed new rule with Thailand Elite Visa and I want to see if anyone knows about it? After going through the process of applying and paying for the 15-year extension they say we now have to provide bank statements and proof of income statements! As well as a few other things that were not on the renewal application! Through all my emails this was never mentioned! Last week when I asked how I go about getting the new visa affixed they gave me two options, at the airport if I fly into Thailand, or at immigration. Once again, no mention of these new requirements. Yesterday I told them I wanted to do it at BKK as I am leaving Thailand for a few days! Then all of a sudden they tell me if these new rules! I can find nothing online about these new rules online, and even on new applications there is no mention of this! Has anyone here heard of this new rule? Thank you for any information!
Summary so far
The user expresses concern over reportedly new requirements for the Thailand Elite Visa renewal process, including the need to provide bank statements and proof of income, which were not mentioned in prior communications. Other commenters speculate on the legitimacy of the requirements, with some suggesting the possibility of a scam, given that many recent applicants have not encountered these new demands. There's also mention of stricter screening processes recently implemented for visa applicants. The discussion notes the potential for changing regulations and emphasizes the challenge of navigating the visa system in Thailand.
52 repliesnewest first
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Chris *********
Eh. I don't even bother trying to deal with immigration. I use an agent that's what their paid to do; push my stuff through.
Sam *********
Yo, maybe they want to make sure for the 5yr milestone. ?Pay to play or game over?
Gerar ********
For the Elite visa you never had to submit bank statements and so far I know nothing has changed.
The people I spoke to recently (who did their renewal) never mentioned this supposedly new requirement. 😳
The people I spoke to recently (who did their renewal) never mentioned this supposedly new requirement. 😳
Jonathan ************
Follow
Jonathan ************
After 30 years dealing with hundreds of visas we concluded that thailand thinks that fairness is like constantly moving the goal post in football!
Curtis *******
OPJonathan A Vickers Yes, and something I never thought Thai people could be, deceitful! I just got a message from the Thailand Privelege office about changing my affixation to the Immigration office and they told me I would need to do another background check! I messaged back that I have in writing that my background check is valid until December 17, and I was appalled at how deceitful they have been throughout this process!
Jonathan ************
Curtis Darby Baton down the hatches. Having watched the current PM over a couple of decades, he has demonstrated one continuous trait… xenophobia. He has consistently shown to detest foreigners and only want the very rich ones to live in thailand. Thais have a saying, never let the foreigners get the upper hand.
Curtis *******
OPJonathan A Vickers Yes, I have seen this too! Started with banking when they limited us to only 10,000 baht per day withdrawals forcing us to go in and fill out a shitload of paperwork and take our nug shot!
Cale *******
Thailand is going to fall if they continue this way.
Cale *******
Sounds like a scam to be honest.
Cale *******
Always ask for financial proof with Visas of any sort especially wealth visas.
Lynn ***********
Cale Hoare It is because certain types of earning such as bribery, trafficking, tea money, advance commission and bank or crypto hacking, etc., are not legally recognized here.
Cale *******
Lynn Bhongsiri well it should not be
Chris **********
A stark warning for the "Elitists"
Chris **********
A stark warning for the "Elitists" 😂
Cris ******
Welcome to Thailand. Sadly where rules and regulations can change on a whim.
Cris ******
Welcome to Thailand. Sadly where rules and regulations can change on a whim.
Luke *********
Maybe a good agent could help?
Graham *********
How much does it cost for the 15 year Thai Visa
Curtis *******
OPGraham Hayward It is a fifteen year extension to the original Elite Visa! I paid 600,000 baht almost five years ago! It was 400,000 baht for an extra 15 years! The only perk you lose is the transport to and from the airport!
Garry *********
I did the same renewal 3 months ago at Thailand Elite office in Chiang Mai and was not asked for that. So, it must be within the last 3 months.
Jazi ********
Garry Ronalds Thailand Elite office in Chiang Mai? I suppose you still had to go to Bangkok Chang Wattana to get the sticker right?
Garry *********
@Jazi *******
YesCurtis *******
OP@Jazi *******
You can go to the immigration and have it done! You will not need the financial statements, just some copies of a few things!
Potpon******
Thailand Privilege (former Elite Visa) now uses an expanded multi-agency background check involving the Department of Consular Affairs, Immigration Bureau, INTERPOL, Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO).
How it works:
Every applicant is screened from day one.
Members are re-checked roughly every 90 days.
Additional reviews happen at annual renewals and at each five-year endorsement.
If something irregular appears, membership can be moved to “Pending” status immediately.
The checks focus on immigration history (overstays, blacklists, prior violations), criminal records, financial crime and money-laundering indicators, passport consistency, and international watchlists.
The entire process to get a new 5 year visa takes around 90 days to go through the checks
Good luck
How it works:
Every applicant is screened from day one.
Members are re-checked roughly every 90 days.
Additional reviews happen at annual renewals and at each five-year endorsement.
If something irregular appears, membership can be moved to “Pending” status immediately.
The checks focus on immigration history (overstays, blacklists, prior violations), criminal records, financial crime and money-laundering indicators, passport consistency, and international watchlists.
The entire process to get a new 5 year visa takes around 90 days to go through the checks
Good luck
John **********
So you didn't have to show bank statements as part of the application process? For me that's a red flag, why would anyone official approve a 15 year visa when they don't know how you can afford to support yourself? There's lot's of sites that purport to be Thai Privilege that aren't, some are officially agents, some aren't
Lynn ***********
@John *********
I looked through the detail a couple of times, perhaps a month or so ago. I did not see the full details except the wording gave a clear implication that the funds shall come from "taxable income" or investment/work-related earning. I will read the full details again tonight.Gerar ********
@John *********
for the Elite visa where never bank statement required as you pay for the visa a lump sum amount.The Elite is a private company who’s authorised by the Thai government to do this.
Don *******
@John *********
Isn't that the whole point of the Elite visa? You pay an astronomical fee instead of providing paperwork. There are other (much cheaper) visas for people who can easily provide paperwork.It always seemed to me that the Elite visa was designed with bank robbers and tax-evaders in mind.
Curtis *******
OPDon Smith Apparently it is true though! On The Thailand Elite Visa forum members said they had to show proof of income and bank statements! But if you go to immigration and do the affixation you don't need the bank and income documents! And yes, it seemed the whole point of paying the fee was for convenience and not showing all these documents! The website still says you do not need to show proof of income or bank statements! 🙄
Ian **********
@John *********
I don't think income proof has ever been a requirement for an Elite/Privilege visaJohn **********
@Ian *********
yea I think your right. They seem to assume that ones ability to pay the substantial fee is proof enough of financial stabilityCurtis *******
OP@John *********
Oh, I did not have to show these documents when I applied! Even when I asked them the process for getting the new visa affixed it was not mentioned! Doesn't seem legal, but here they change rules and laws on a whim!Curtis *******
OP@John *********
It's the same email and office I have been dealing with for almost five years when I have them do my 90-day reporting and set up EPA service at BKK! Just out of the blue there are new immigration regulations? Got me!
Peter *********
Looking like a scam 😒
Lynn ***********
@Peter ********
Nah, I reckon the government just wants to make sure they have real elites coming to live here and not the dodgy ones. Thailand laws is under the same logic and system as that of the UK and US.Curtis *******
OPGreg Alexander I am dealing directly with Thailand Privelege office! They are saying it is a new immigration regulation! I asked them to see the rule as I cannot find it anywhere! No response after messaging them three hours ago!
Curtis *******
OPWell I have been here five years and paid a lot of money, so obviously I can support myself here! They never mentioned this new rule to me during the whole renewal process! And even on the Thai Privelege website it says they will not require bank statements or proof of income! Did they ask for Thai bank statements, or all of your bank statements? They haven't even made that clear!
Ron **********
Curtis Darby It can't be that new if I had to provide the same info three months ago. Yes.. the immigration office went through it all before affixation. I didn't see any issue.. as they are only wanting to see you can support yourself in their Country.
Bill *****
Ask here Thailand Privilege Members Group (formerly Elite Visa)
Curtis *******
OPBill Cox Thank you! I will do that!
Greg ***********
Maybe you have been scammed and they are not official handlers of the PRIVILEGE Visa. Do they have an adress and bank account and names ?
Curtis *******
OPGreg Alexander They want this information when I fly into BKK and the Thailand Elite Visa representative meets me and I get the visa affixed!
Ron **********
Curtis Darby I had to provide that information to them months ago during Visa affixation. The Elite team stated you really aren't approved until you go through that process. Many are rejected during affix.. but if you have the info they request.. then likely no issues.
Bob **********
Who told you there are new rules??
Curtis *******
OPBob D'Andrea Thailand Elite/Privelege office. They said it was a new rule!
Bob **********
Curtis Darby So ask them to help you out that’s what your paying for isn’t it
Lynn ***********
Curtis Darby It's rather alarming!! But which part are you actually affected? Are you not able to provide certain documents? Would any law firm like..., say, Anglo Siam be happy to give a 10 minutes preliminary advice on this free of charge, I wonder.
Curtis *******
OPBob D'Andrea That wasn't my point, I can get copies myself! My issue is I was never told of these new rules anytime during the renewal process! After they get the money and I make an appointment to get the visa affixed, Thailand Elite springs this on me! After I have been approved and paid for the visa now I'm told I can be denied the visa that was already paid for and approved!
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