Do I need to cancel my METV visa before paying for my Thai Elite visa?

Thai Elite Visa METV Thailand Visa Rules Visa Application Process Immigration Process Expat Visa Information

Oct 27, 2023

a year ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello everyone. I have a question, I applied for the Thai elite visa, and I just received the acceptance letter. I am in the payment process. I also currently hold a METV visa still valid for 3 months. I am currently outside in Thailand with my last completed METV stamp without oberstay. Do I need to cancel my METV visa before the payment process for the Thai elite visa? thank you for your answers

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user seeking guidance on whether they need to cancel their existing METV visa before paying for their newly accepted Thai Elite visa received mixed responses from the community. Key points raised included the possibility of entering Thailand on either visa by informing immigration upon entry, and suggestions to consult with Thai Elite representatives for clarity. Some comments cautioned against holding two valid stay permits simultaneously, emphasizing the need to invalidate one before activating the other. Overall, it's advised to seek official guidance to navigate this situation properly.

Alex *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you for all your responses 👍

a year ago

Nongnuch ********

@Alex ********

I strongly doubt that it works like

@Mahesh ********

thinks. . . . you just cannot be on a valid stay permit and a new visa at the same time. You need to invalidate your current stay permit before you can activate the Elite stay permit. however it is like

@Brandon ***********

proposed: Ask the ELITE agents, they get paid for knowing on how you must proceed, you are probably not the first one with this kind of situation

a year ago

Alex *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nongnuch *******

ok, thank you for your response, I will ask again with the staff of the élite visa in order to cancel the METV 👍

a year ago

Mahesh *********

@Nongnuch *******

You can indeed have both a work permit or another kind of visa and the Elite visa on your passport at the same time. Some Elite holders get a work permit or different visa while their Elite visa is still going on. If they're in Thailand, they visit an immigration office and get themselves stamped for their new visa. If they're outside of Thailand, when they enter Thailand, they tell immigration what visa they'd like to be stamped on.

a year ago

Nongnuch ********

@Mahesh ********

why do you dare to write things up, you apparently pull them out of your nose in a random manner. . . hold your breath, man

a year ago

Mahesh *********

@Nongnuch *******

Hence I mentioned visiting the immigration office to cancel the current stamp and get a new stamp for your preferred visa. You can have two valid Thai visas on your passport, but you can only be stamped for one of those visas at a time.

a year ago

Nongnuch ********

@Mahesh ********

you cannot hold two valid stays when entering Thailand. You need to invalidate at least ONE of the stay permits. You CANNOT ask the Immigration officer to "can you please ignore my existing stay permit and stamp me in on my new ELITE visa" You CANNOT do that. YOU are wrong

a year ago

Nongnuch ********

@Mahesh ********

he is OUTSIDE of Thailand and CANNOT visit an Immigration office. AGAIN: you need to stop posting because you are ignorant

a year ago

Nongnuch ********

@Mahesh ********

you are confusing things, you get your wires crossed! He doesn't have a work permit He still holds valid STAY PERMIT from an old expired Multi Entry Tourist visa. You cannot have TWO stay permit at the same time. Imigration will refure entry, until at least the still existing stay permit from the METV is invalidated

a year ago

Reply to

Nongnuch ********

Mahesh *********

You don't have to cancel your METV. When you enter Thailand and get the Elite visa affixed at the airport, you have the option to choose which visa you'd like to enter the country on. Let the immigration officer know your preference.

a year ago

Alex *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Mahesh ********

ok, so there will be no problem in that case

a year ago

Reply to

Alex *********

Graham ******

Why not activate your Elite Visa after your METV has expired? How long do you have before the Elite has to be paid for?

a year ago

Alex *********