Can I use a travel agency to apply for a Thailand Elite Visa?

Jan 5, 2018
7 years ago
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello !

We are going to buy a Thai Elite visa for 10 years.

We were in contact with an agent who sent us the form and requested our passport size photos.

The problem is when I asked him to which address I should send the original documents, he gave me a different postal address from the one on the official Thailand Elite website (at Bhiraj Tower). Then I realized that I was actually dealing with a travel agency called Discover Thailand Co.,Ltd. The agent is using a Thailand Elite signature in all of his emails...but he's working in a travel agency... Their website says that they are ''authorized thailand elite visa sellers''.

I'm suspicious: can elite visa appliance be made by any other company than the official Thailand Elite visa company?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user initially expressed concern about applying for a Thailand Elite visa through a travel agency, questioning the legitimacy of the process when the agent provided a different address than stated on the official Thailand Elite website. After community feedback and confirmation from Thailand Elite, it was clarified that travel agencies, like Discover Thailand Co., Ltd., are authorized sellers of the visa and can handle the application process, provided that payments are made directly to Thailand Elite.
Edward ******
Go to main office on SATHORN ROAD AND DO IT YOURSELF.
Tino ************
Maybe READ the post.
Joe ***********
Several levels - most recent is 5 years for 500,000 Baht
Michael ********
David there is not a lot of hassle IF you qualify for a long term visa or extension of stay. If you are not 50, not married, no thai children, not a condo owner, not a business owner.....maybe an option. Most people pay visa fees, flight tickets, taxi fares, extension fees, get hassled at the airport, have to leave the country when they don't want to, ie every 90 days....If you are not in the right visa categories....or you want a semi normal life in Thailand without feeling like an illegal alien....I think the TE would be very useful....
Joe ***********
It is one of those personal choice and evaluation of benefits that fits one's personality and size of bank account - disposible income
David ************
So what’s the hassle of a yearly extension f stay. It’s pretty simple. So I hear you get free airport pickups. Sure doesn’t seem worth that kind of cash.
Joe ***********
No hassle and VIP treatment and services. Front of the queue, ushered through, telephone problem resolution.... Etc.
Yvonne *********
Interested to know what do you get to be elite
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
All benefits depends on the type of elite visa you select. For the family elite: vip limousine at the airport, special lane at the immigration, concierge, they can also help you to get your driving license or set up a company (even if, again, this elite visa doesn’t give you the right to work in Thailand. However, being investor is allowed)
David ************
Live outside Bangkok and you already get the vip treatment
David ************
So what’s so beneficial about this visa to just throw half million baht away forever.
Jeremy ********
@Lopez ****
yes as long as your Bank keys you withdraw that...me for example I have security on my card where the max I can withdraw is $400....I do that so I don’t go broke
Jason ******
@Jeremy *******
How about the max amount to wihdraw is it also 30,000฿?
Jeremy ********
@Tod ********
I only try to take out of Aeon ATM’s they still only charge ฿150 per transaction...
Tod *********
@Lo***
, my cards are like that too :/ I always withdraw the max as well :)
Jeremy ********
@Lopez ****
it’s still cheaper than wiring money via WU or MG
Jason ******
@Victoria ********
Yeah. I've been trying to figure out other options but failed so just a heads up. I have 1 American Express credit card and 1 Mastercard Debit card and Banks do not accept cash advance from Amex. And for my Mastercard, it denies cash advance over the counter. So my only option is withdrawing from ATM and paying a total of about $20 in fees for each transaction. But I always withdraw the max amount of 30,000฿.
Tod *********
@Ma**
, you can't upgrade, you'd BUY an O-X visa just like you bought the O-A one.

***************************************************************
Mark ********
Tod *********
@Mark *******
, where did you get your O-A visa?
Victoria *********
yikes
@Lo***
that's a lot of extra fees! i havent been back to Thailand for ages so I'm not sure...I'll be there next month so will see what happens. Thanks for the warning though - I will maybe not put as much stock in those cards if they charge so much every time you use at an ATM!
Jason ******
@Victoria ********
does the prepaid visa which used as an ATM still charge you the fees? whenever I use my ATM to withdraw I get charged 220 baht plus $5 from my bank plus about $10 from mastercard for their conversion rate
Mark ********
Can I upgrade from the 0 A visa to the new ten year visa since I pull in well over
*****
0 thb monthly. Ive seen conflicting info and Thai immigration here is under informed.
Victoria *********
@Jeremy *******
i actually already use those when im in Thailand, perfect XD
Jeremy ********
@Victoria ********
there its a workaround for this...get a prepaid Visa/Mastercard/American Express that can be topped up then use as your ATM card....
Victoria *********
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
You're welcome! Actually, we faced the same problem: the major point would be more about how to explain to your thai bank that you're getting money from abroad freelance work... This might rise some questions as they will potentially suspect you from doing a kind of money laundry :P
Victoria *********
@Sean *********
okay thank you, that's super helpful! i have been thinking of doing the basic elite visa but wouldn't want to get in trouble if every once in a while i pick up a contract from Canada because I help charities write grants on the side from time to time :)
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Victoria ********
Yes. When you have to fill up the form from Thai elite visa, they recommend you to tick ''occupation: other'' and then, write down ''freelance''.

This is apparently working for ALL applicants who are getting income from abroad. However, if part of your income comes from Thailand, this is strictly forbidden as again, a working permit is required and you need to declare/register your company :)
Victoria *********
@Jeremy *******
thanks :)
Jeremy ********
@Victoria ********
No the Elite visa is a tourist visa only...you are not allowed to work in Thailand on that visa....that's the official statement...
Victoria *********
@Sean *********
if you can't work in thailand, but you work remotely in another country (ie. i do some contract work for companies overseas just on my computer) is that allowed with the elite visa?
Hugo *********
When you add up the savings in visa runs and airport taxis, and factor in the saved time at immigration and saved hassle of airlines no longer forcing you to have an onward ticket when flying to Thailand (giving you greater flexibility to shop around for cheaper flights), I believe the 5-year Thailand Elite visa is cost-effective. Caveats: you have to know that you want to live in Thailand for five years. And as other have said, if you are over 50 or have Thai family members, then you have cheaper options.
Jeremy ********
In the end it’s just money, you can’t take it with you when you expire...so do what makes you happy..
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
We also checked the possibility to set up a company with our lawyer. The minimum investment is around 40k USD and you have to justify minimum monthly incomes + hire 2 thaï employees per adult just to apply for the 1 year visa which is not even 100% reliable for extension... in the end, the 10 years elite visa (which costs a little bit more) sometimes appears as a better option even if it does not give you the right to work in Thailand 😉
Jason ******
It's beneficial for people who want to live in Thailand without having to apply for Tourist Visas every 3 months.
Joshua *******
Actually I was wrong about that, it’s a bit more...
Joshua *******
I believe it comes out to about 3k THB per month. Seems ok to me if you have the funds up front.
Mark ********
Quite a few people pay for the Elite Visa, even though they can obtain a Non-Imm Visa by way of retirement or marriage. Horses for courses
Tod *********
now, now, we've gone over the advantages of that visa. Not everyone neatly fits into the available long term visa choices and it is a very viable and useful visa to have for people who can afford it while not qualifying for an available long term extension.

your aversion to the Elite visa is noted.
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
------- PROBLEM SOLVED ----------

Thailand Elite certified me that the travel agency who contacted me (Discover Thailand Co.,Ltd) was one of their authorized sellers :D

Actually, these authorized agents can proceed to appliance and collect your original documents but the payment must be done directly to Thailand Elite office.

Thank you everybody for your help
Joshua *******
@Sean *********
I would try at least. They gotta be making a commission otherwise they wouldn’t be doing it. Tell em you only have 90% and see if they take it.
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Well, I don't think you can lol: we requested 3 elite visa and even for our 11 months baby, they told us that we still have to pay 700 000THB which is the same price as for an adult 😂
Joshua *******
@Sean *********
since they are an agent I wonder if you could negotiate them down also
Robert *******
Visit the website of Thai Elite, contact them and do it yourself.
**************************
Tino ************
Sean Exhayate With her, you are definitely in the right hands. Just make sure everything is legit with her... best of luck with your soon new membership.
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Tino Hemmingsen Bingo ! She's actually the one who just contacted me by email ! She certified that the travel agency who contacted me was one of their authorized sellers :D

These agents can proceed to appliance but the payment must be done directly to Thailand Elite office.
Tino ************
Thailand Elite, always answer almost instantly on email and around the clock, at least i never tried anything else or heard anything else, and that was even before i was a member.
Tino ************
Or else get it verified by writing this email:
****************************


They normally answer almost instantly, never had better customer service, than Thailand Elite.

To be honest, I would think an agent should deliver the application form to the official Thailand Elite... Since, what they do with the immigration first, as I understand, is giving them the info to perform a background check on you, and then they accept or not...
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
ok so at least, now I know that agent can apply for it too :D Thanks for your confirmation !
Tino ************
thailandelite.com

This is the official, or at least there I get my Thailand elite newsletters from, as a Thai elite member. The other sites are agents etc i would think, working for them. Haven't heard of a scam.. so think no matter which one you use, its gonna be okay. But better to make sure or visit them then...
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Denla Amata Yes of course :) but the situation is still confusing: they told me that they are aware that an application was done to the immigration. But they can't tell me if it was done by the travel agency or by their own service.

Again, I didn't know that I was dealing with a travel agency as the agent was using the official thai elite logo and email signature...

The travel agency is now chasing me to send the original documents.
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm leaving in Cambodia for work thus I only contact them by email.

They replied only ONE TIME to ask me to send them the copy of my passport. I sent it and then no reply since 1 month ! The control should have taken only 5 days according to their first email...

I tried to contact them using different email address, it did not help.
Steve *******
Hang on! You're using an agent? Now you're complaining they're an agent.
Yu ******
Just go immediately to the Thailand elite office at silom area. Not far from central world.
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
1) I contacted Thailand Elite from their original website.

2) They replied to me by asking to send them the documents for an immigration control.

3) I sent everything and then I wait for 1month

4) I chased them by email and no reply

5) I contacted another Thailand Elite visa page through Facebook (I thought it was the original one because they have the same logo)

6) An agent contacted me by email using the logo in his email signature. He sent me the official application form

7) I send it back to him and when I asked him to which address I should send the hard copy, he gave me a different address

8) I asked him why this address was different: he told me that he was one of the international agents of Thailand Elite but working at the travel agency Discover Thailand Co.,Ltd

9) Now, I'm confused 😅
Jon ********
I would imagine they take a commission from the sign up
Ian *****
Agents get 5% commission for Thailand Elite sales. Same as buying pretty much anything. Price is the same but someone is getting a cut for promoting it.
Tchan *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
note: the price he gave me is the SAME as on the official website.
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