Can I switch categories while using a DTV visa in Thailand?

@Luit ****************

Different organisations, different requirements. Plus, depends on the individual officer upon that day. Nothing guaranteed.

GrayWallaby8130 Trolls post anonymously, inventing situations, spreading doom and gloom. People need to know how to recognise fact from fiction.

GrayWallaby8130 Even 4 pages is quite long I think 😉

@Christopher **********

Did I suggest something different? What is your point?

GrayWallaby8130 No idea what was submitted or how many 'documents' were involved. Probably the same for many other people. If you're not a digital nomad, hardly likely to be a Muay Thai Boxer, don't need regular medical treatment etc. there are people who can help.

@James *******

this Kilcourse guy is just an old troll who thinks he knows everything and like to mock other peoples posts

@Christopher **********

why? You submitted a briefcase full of documents for your DTV visa? My whole DTV documentation is 4 pages long

@Christopher **********

agreed 👍 scanned docs are 🆗

@Luit ****************

As you and others are keen to point out, DTVs are issued by Embassies. It is the Royal Thai Police Immigration Division which decides who is permitted entry into Thailand.

@Christopher **********

Theoretical that might be necessary, but since embassy also accepted copies it is not very likely.

@Luit ****************

Unless the officer insists upon sight of original documents with wet signatures. Maybe embossed certification stamped? Such documents exist and can (are) required by some organisations.

@Christopher **********

Is your description "have access to" that much better, that you have to joke about it?

A lot of people nowadays see having digital information also as carrying and in fact they are right.

When they don't want to have the risk of not being able to get it from the cloud, they just have it inside the device they are carrying.

@James *******

I read; 'carry with you all the documentation just in case' as a joke. It conjures up images of ring binders, lever arch files and briefcases. Scanned images in the cloud would, in my book, be described as; 'have access to'.

chooserich007 What exactly are you saying? That as foreigners we should buy their visas and then stay out of their country because they only want us here some of the time? If it is your opinion that permitting stays of up to 360 days was a mistake and not what they intended then you need to write to the Thai MFA. I'm sure they'll be most interested!

@Christopher **********

I not forget anything, if you apply for a visa to visit Thailand for Muay Thai training that means when the training is over you don't need to enter the country again, unless you of course did choose the wrong visa.

If you want to visit for other reasons you just should have choosen another visa.

There are a lot of visa to choose from, when you did not choose the most appropriate visa that is your own stupidness.

If you need to have everyday life in Thailand, just choose a visa for that every day life and not a special purpose visa.

On that visa for everyday life you can do all the soft power activities without any problem, because they don't need you to have DTV.

@Luit ****************

You forget that nobody works . Nor does anyone attend a Soft Power course every day. Both come to an end at some point and there is no requirement to be currently engaged in either. Everyone likes leisure breaks and most of us have family activities. Some have regular medical checkups, others go for a decade or longer without seeing a doctor. Normal everyday life goes on around Workcation and Soft Power. Not possible to separate. Unless there are exhaustive lists of both permitted and unacceptable reasons for entry by DTV holders then there are no restrictions.

@Christopher **********

Nowhere is any official information specifying you can exchange different types of DTV visa when it is convenient for you.

Entering Thailand for medical reasons is bot a valid reason when you have a softpower DTV without a softpower activity, nor is a vacation a valid reason for entry on a DTV.

That is just trying to bend the rules for your convenience, but nowhere this is allowed in offical documents.

If you prefer to stay in Thailand for normal everyday life as you call it, you just should apply for a visa that is for normal everyday life and not a visa for a special purpose like DTV.

I don't understand what is so difficult to understand about that.

@Luit ****************

Special means it differs from other tourist visas. Special purposes of stay are listed as regards the application process. They don't have to apply at all times throughout the five year validity and neither do they have to apply to permit entry. You have previously been advised that Workcation and Soft Power are interchangeable. You appear confused about the medical purposes aspect. For DTV application purposes you need medical history and a treatment plan going forward. If you already hold a DTV you must use it for entry. I'm referring to a 'one off' entry where neither Workcation nor Soft Power currenly apply and I'm entering Thailand to seek medical attention. That would be as equally permissable as vacation would be as a genuine reason for entry under my DTV. In other words, part of normal everyday life.

@Christopher **********

Where did you find that definition of "special"?

I did not see it anywhere else, so I think it is just your opinion.

In MfA documentation you can read the special purposes of stay and the extra requirements compared with other tourist visa, not that it permits you to perform remote work, which also is not true for all types of DTV.

The medical purposes you mention can make you eligible for a DTV visa, but can also be done without any visa at all, so what is your point?

A DTV is issued for a special purpose of visit, and IO can check at any entry if your purpose of visit matches your visa.

Most times they will not check, but they just can do so and when it not matches they can deny entry, up to you if you want to take that risk, but I guess you take the risk and trust bribing the officer will work.

P.S. Did you ever get a document with terms and conditions with your visa?

You just are expected to have knowledge of Immigratiion rules.

@Luit ****************

DTV remains valid for use until the end of it's five year term despite employment being terminated or course ending. Otherwise, it would be explicitly stated in the terms and conditions.

@Luit ****************

You can't be a special type of tourist. Special refers to the length of stays, period of validity and permission to perform remote work. In addition to workcation, soft power and vacation there could be other purposes for your visit e.g. needing to seek hospital tests/treatment, dental appointments and family duties. All those functions being part of normal everyday life.

@Christopher **********

Where did you find that when your purpose of stay no longer exist you can use the visa the way you like?

You also think that in case you have a marriage vias you can stay while your marriage ended, or when your job ended your non-b keeps valid or when your study ended, your ED visa stays valid for use?

@Christopher **********

You say it yourself "special type", that means it is only issued for specific situation and not as a generic tourist visa.

You certainly are not free to choose your own purpose of visit with a visa granted to you or specific purposes.

@Luit ****************

Not BS. DTV is a special type of tourist visa. Therefore, by definition, also valid for touristic purpose. As no proportion of time which can be split between Workcation, Soft Power or tourism is specified then you are free to choose which you wish to apply at each entry.

@James *******

I understand there is no further requirement to enrol in subsequent qualifying courses. When not currently participating in the activity for which your DTV was issued (including Workcation) you are free to use your DTV (classed as a special type of tourist visa) for touristic purposes. Length and frequency of breaks/vacations isn't specified therefore they are open-ended.

@James *******

I agree 100 percent it is BS, but I am not surprised, it perfectly matches the previous behaviour of

@Christopher **********

.

@Luit ****************

🤫

chooserich007 How can you 'advise' DTV holders that they could be denied entry and have their DTV cancelled when you don't know why?

@Christopher **********

Again and again, the final authority to entry rest with the Immigration officer not you, me or any visa. Anything else is misleading people. If you are using a DTV to live and work here in Thailand (non remote work), that is ground for denial and cancellation. I am sure you will somehow question this too. You seem to be advising people or worst encouraging people to take advantage of any “vagueness” of the laws.

chooserich007 You made that up, I never said it. However, now you've mentioned it, do you know what are the minimum number of class attendances during the duration of the course? Is one sufficient for authentication purposes? Or, maybe, 50%? Unless you yourself know these things you aren't in a position to criticise anyone's 'line of thought'.

chooserich007 if that's what he is saying... it's poor advice.

chooserich007 Correct. You never offer any advice. Claiming a person could be denied entry and have their DTV cancelled is most certainly calculated to cause uncertainty and unease.

@Christopher **********

Are you also saying once the DTV is issued especially a soft power one, one doesn’t need to attend any classes at all since it’s already issued!? Wow, I really hope you are not encouraging this line of thought here.

@Christopher **********

Look up definition of visa. I am also not the one advising strangers here what to say to immigration since everyone situation is different. Please be specific of which part is uncertain and unease?

chooserich007 Where do you get 'pre-authorised' from? Once it's issued, it's issued, there is no further process involved. We most certainly are entitled to use our DTVs for entry to Thailand within the five year validity period. If requested but we do not wish to provide details of remote employment or current enrolment upon a qualifying course we have the alternative option to enter as a tourist. Why the attempt to cause uncertainty and unease for DTV holders?

@Bob *********

no factual basis for your prediction.

@Bob *********

You know this how?

@Luit ****************

Stop worrying about this man just enjoy your visa like me.

@Mason ******

You did not come wuth any piece of proof what info they can see, and I understand that is difficult to get because they will not tell you, but then just don't tell fiction.

There are reports here they kniw everything about your visa, and that just make sense.

That they do not get access to the documents you send in is a completely different thing.

@Luit ****************

I've posted an abundance of proof you just choose to ignore it. Let's just both enjoy our 5 year multiple entry visas.

@Mason ******

Again I am not concerned, they can have all my information, there are no shady things.

It is just that only reliable information should be posted here, or it should be clear it are only opinions.

You post opinions and present them as facts, but have no proof.

@Luit ****************

Stop worrying about these meaningless things Luity. If you're really concerned just ask the IO on your next holiday.

@Luit ****************

They don't even have access to your visa in their system because it's issued by the MOFA at an overseas mission. That's why you have to show your visa to them on each entry or they'll stamp you in as a tourist. Has happened to me so many times. Officers have consistently confirmed they do NOT have a record of my visa in their system because immigration didn't issue it. They will scan my visa on each re-entry. Only then will it be linked to my passport.

@Mason ******

Discussion was about to which information about the visa Immigration has access. Your screen capture is only telling that they have no access to documents you did send to the embassy, but that is not proof they don't have all other information about your visa.

I am not worried at all, Immigration can have all information.

@Luit ****************

You just refuse to accept the proof and continue to worry for no reason. Just enjoy your 5 year multiple entry visa like me Luity.

@Mason ******

So you cannot explain what was your point with this picture?

@Luit ****************

Relax Luity you will be fine don't worry. Just enjoy your 5 year multiple entry visa like me.

UnforgettableRambutan8343 They can't see it. Except maybe, if you received an in country extension. Officers ask questions, such as "what's your purpose of entry" to ascertain what category you're traveling under (unless visible on the e-visa document you show them).

UnforgettableRambutan8343 Why would that ever be an issue? Is it a secret? Anyone can take a vacation at any time.