Do I need to extend my 20-Year Elite Visa in Thailand after one year?

@Mike *****

like you could have ignored the post

@Mike *****

Why waste that money on a visa, it cost me only 5,000 baht for Citizenship 😉 which lasts for life.

@Johnny *****

that would be nice, but I have only been here 1 year and it takes 5 years to apply.

@Mike *****

only 3 if you marry a Thai 🙂

@Mike *****

why do you care about other people's decisions?

@Ruth ******

I care that you people keep pushing it on Facebook in all the groups I am in.

@Mike *****

No one is pushing anything. He asked a question and you could have scrolled by. I don't have an elite visa nor do I plan to have one. However, this is an advice group. He should be able to ask his question without numerous people attacking him.

@Mike *****

and still less convenient

@Ruth ******

I read what the Elite Visa provides and it isn't much more convenient

@Mike *****

for your lifestyle, so, again...why do you care about other people's decisions?

@Evg****

it's particularly bad advice to suggest to an Elite holder to relax and that Elite can just fix anything. They can't and they won't. A number of Elite holders have ended up banned from Thailand because having a 5-year VISA they didn't realise that they had to do the annual extension and ended up on overstay. These people were then deported and banned for five years and there was nothing Elite could do.

You still need to follow all the immigration rules on Elite and it's on you to make sure you do this, Elite will not even remind you you have to do an extension.

@Ivan ***********

ouch really? I'm so sorry, didnt know about it. So, something was changed for those 2 years... thanks for showing my mistake.

@Evg****

it wasn't any different 2 years ago. Since the programme started, Elite members have had to do 90 day reports and extend their visas annually. The first generation of lifetime Elite visa, they had to actually extend as well every 90 days, but there are not very many of them left, most are now 1-year stamps.

90 day reports do not need to be done in person (although it's easier to do them yourself), extensions do need to be done in person.

@Ivan ***********

oh, you're right, I'm sorry for disinformation, didnt update my own information in post-covid time. Have a nice evening, mister EXPERT!

@Evg****

when you are giving advice that if followed could result in arrest, deportation and ban for 5 years, it is worth correcting.

Too many people do have this misconception about Elite, that with it you can just relax and don't have to worry about immigration any more. This is a dangerous misconception.

With Elite, it does mean extensions are basically automatic and don't require financial or other proofs but you still have to take care that you do go and apply for them.

@Ivan ***********

yep, that's my fault. How can I do? To remove my advice or ?

@Evg****

it's no big deal, the thread is there, I corrected it, you accept this. Many people do have this misconception about Elite, you are not the only one. I think enough people told OP he needs to do and extension that he realizes he needs to do an extension.

@Ivan ***********

thanks a lot 🙏

@Evg****

you are misinformed, it doesn't work like that.

It is true that Elite can help you open a bank account, that is a service they explicitly do.

Elite will do the short list of things they explicitly promise. You do get the visa, you get what is explicitly promised. You often have to jump through a lot of hoops for this, like you have to book with them way in advance to get their assistance.

For example, if you do want their assistance in getting an extension, you need to book this with them five WORKING days in advance, and if you don't do this, they will not do it and you will go on overstay and have to pay fines, and that's just tough luck.

Now luckily, you can just do it yourself, you don't actually NEED their assistance. You still need to get the letter but they will issue this with only 24 hours in advance and email it to you.

They are not particularly flexible and cannot and will not bend rules to help out members. They do what is explicitly agreed and that's it.

@Ivan ***********

for holders of Thai Elite it can't be the same with other visa holders. Please ask your personal manager about it. May be (MAY BE) you should be in the imm office by yourself but you shouldn't pay smth.

@Evgenia ************

You are thinking of 90 day reporting. An agent can do that for you. But if you stay in Thailand 1 year on an elite, you need to go to immigration in-person (cannot be done through a agent), pay 1900 baht, get another 1 year stamp. Source: I have this visa

@Alan *********

if go out to Laos for a holiday trip in 6.month and come back what happens i want to know that

@Evg****

you both need to go in person to the immigration office and pay 1,900. The advantage I guess over other long terms visas is you don't need any other documentation of finances, job, etc. Just a letter from Elite confirming you are still a member.

You can get Elite to go with you to immigration if you like but this isn't particularly necessary and you still have to go and still have to pay. Also, if you do have Elite go with you, that's an extra 2,000 you have to pay them as well, you only get ONE free "Elite Personal Liaison" and most members use this for the initial visa sticker.

@Carl **********

oh, it was supposed to be funny? It looked like childish taunting.

@Ruth ******

o grow up it's a saying in the UK

@Nikki ********

I can afford around 8 elite visa if they 2 million baht so not broke but not got enough to go throwing that kind of money at visas when I can pay $50 for my Non O

And how could I possibly be unhappy with this little guy?

@Anthony ********

if you're so happy with your little one, why did you announce to the world that you are bored and have nothing to do except whine?

@Ruth ******

anyway there is no harm done, lighten up a bit, or don't it's up to you but I like laughing and id recommend you do more of it, but have a nice day I mean it im not a complete dick all the time just now and then ✌️

@Ruth ******

and I'm not whining it's you that's whining about a joke that I said, so funny you say I'm whining when it's actually you 27 people laughed at my comment the only person who's laughing at yours is me 😂

@Anthony ********

I'm aware of the maturity level of many in this group. The fact that they're laughing doesn't mean much. The fact that your number of laughs on social media means so much to you says it all. 🤣🤣

@Ruth ******

you're right most of us are immature as hell, I'm not always doing this sometimes I will be serious and give the right answer to things but if there is an opportunity for a joke I usually take it when I see it, you are clearly a lot more mature than me and that's cool we all different but you could have just ignored me like my wife tends to do when I become a bit silly, you could have just been like this Anthony guy is a bit of a clown but it's not worth my time but instead you unnecessarily brought yourself down to my level 😂

The OP had his question answered and everyone else had a little laugh as part of the ride everyone's happy, well not everyone 😂✌️

@Ruth ******

seems like you're the one that's bored, this was yesterday we've all forgotten and and moved on but you can't seem to stop thinking about it, it's Facebook, unless it's your first day on the internet then you see this all the some people even say sarcastic things to me when I'm posting a question or something and if it's funny I'll have a laugh at it, but like most people did with my original comment yesterday, it made a lot of people laugh when they read it so I spread some happiness whereas you're just spreading miserablenes and bringing people down because you're certainly not making anyone laugh and in the world we live in with life being hard we need a bit more laughter In our lives and less being too serious and stuck up ✌️

@Anthony ********

but that's you and this entire post was not about you. If you're truly happy, why insert yourself and center yourself when something is not about you? It reeks of unhappiness. He posed a question. If you had no response you could have kept scrolling. If you were in need of social time, find a thread to socialize on but to hijack this conversation and project your financial insecurities onto someone else is not the flex you thought it was. Find true happiness and stop spreading your unhappiness.

@Nikki ********

you need to find a sense of humour, it's Facebook and seeing as I got quite a lot of reactions I'd say most people appreciate the little bit of humour that I brought, and we should all Laugh as much as possible even at ourselves instead of just always taking life too seriously. Surely you had a sense of humour once, honestly get over yourself, sounds like you're the one that needs to find some happiness as you can't seem to even take a simple joke and you should have followed your own advice and scrolled past instead of inserting yourself into this, it's hilarious that you're calling me out for this and yet here you are yourself in your official capacity as just some snowflake on the internet 😂

@Anthony ********

laughing at someone else is not humor. It's misery. Carry on.

@Nikki ********

obviously I think it's hilarious and I constantly laugh at myself as well and it seems more people here like it than not, how arrogant to think that everyone should conform to your sense of humour and what you find funny bet your always complaining and bringing people down lok

@Anthony ********

the person you directed it towards was not laughing. How arrogant of YOU to think everyone conformed when the person you literally directed it towards did not. I don't complain. I just like to treat people how I would like to be treated. He asked a question and you poked at him for your own humor not anyone else's. It was selfish. It was rude and it made a useful tool, designed FOR QUESTIONS (not humor), useless to someone. Even if just one other person. Read the room: This forum nor his question is not for humor or jokes. There's a time and place for humor but people use this for concerning things and it wasn't fair for you to hijack the conversation and I'm letting you know how small it makes you look.

@Nikki ********

think everyone has moved on Nikki, don't let it consume you 🤣

@Anthony ********

No one was ever here for it to begin with Anthony. I know this is all the friends and fame you sought but...there was never a show. Take care. Get better. Social media has done a number on people like you.

@Alan *********

what you have just said is showing off lol

@Anthony ********

can you just stop. He asked a question. Get over it. Some of us don't want to read your whining.

@Ricky *****

elitist 😂