Is a one-day paid cooking class sufficient to obtain the DTV visa in Thailand?

@Dave ****

Exactly! The MFA sets foreign policy and hence visas. Immigration cannot interfere with the issuing of these visas

@Roberto ********

my only concern is the number of obvious 'chancers' who don't have the funds (they've borrowed them), nor a real purpose for the DTV. Good luck to them if they get it, but if enough of them fall foul of the system (run out of money, or get caught working illegally) then the visa requirements might be tightened up, or the whole thing cancelled in the future, which wouldn't be a good thing.

Anyway, we shall see.

@Gerry *******

For decades people have used agents to get retirement visas to by-pass requirements. These are the most abused visas in Thailand with some mugs paying + baht for a dodgy visa. Immigration haven't ever "looked into" these scams, and no-one has "fallen foul of the system". If you think suddenly Immigration is going to get serious about the DTV you've got your eyes closed!

@Roberto ********

dodgy agents do get caught and shut down from time to time, just as more and more illegal workers are being found and deported these days. This is usually triggered by locals who get fed up with clandestine foreign businesses taking business away from them. There have been many case in Ko Pha Ngan recently, as well as Phuket.

There are plenty of broke/homeless/illegally-working expats in Thailand and if they start finding lots of them with a DTV, then it will become hard to ignore.

@Gerry *******

I can't see it. Tens of thousands of retirees use visa agents who openly advertise their corrupt services. Nothing has ever been done by immigration to investigate these services. They're not going to pump man-hours into trying to unveil any "fraudulent" soft power or medical DTV when these people have been issued with a totally legitimate visa by an Embassy

@Roberto ********

yes indeed, regarding the retiree visa agents. There are definitely networks of folks in on the whole game though, so it's unlikely to change, and fair enough. I think the track record of retirees is generally good, in any case, so nobodies eyebrows are raised.

The same can't be said for some tourists, who fully intend to live, work and overstay.

In any case, I'm just a bit defensive because the DTV is perfect for my situation (and as we have discussed in another post, yours too!). I could get a retirement visa, but DTV suits better at the moment.

Thailand have opened the door very wide on this one and I'd hate them to feel the need to repeal it down the road, because of issues of overstay, illegal working, etc. I don't care what folks do in Thailand. I just care about the future of this visa and hope that it will remain available to me.

My beer is currently more than half full, so I'll try to remain optimistic! 🙏

@Gerry *******

I intend switching from non-O to DTV next year, because it's an ideal visa for retirees, with minimal requirements in comparison. I don't think there will be many overstayers on DTV. A simple border bounce gives another 180 days, so why would anyone risk it?

@Roberto ********

"why would anyone risk it?" - This is Thailand! 555

it'll sort itself out. :-)