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

@Dave ****

Immigration cannot change the fundamental requirements of this visa which are set by the government. This visa has proved astronomically successful. If immigration start meddling with their OCD requirements, the government will in all likelihood tell them to "back off". Five years is five years

@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. :-)

@James *******

certainly, but if they decide to expand the scope of the 90 day reporting, to include proof of funds/purpose, then that would change things. I'm not suggesting that will happen, but it could.

@Gerry *******

90-day report is just a confirmation of address. Its format hasn't ever changed and it applies equally to all visas, so extremely unlikely immigration will meddle with it. If anything, an in-country extension *might* need 500k funds showing in a Thai bank account, but all this will do is push people to use the border bounce facility

@Roberto ********

not to be taken as gospel, but in the youtube interview by RWFU, it is mentioned that and in-country extension will be subjected to the same scrutiny as the initial visa application:



That's fine for me, but others who are there, without solid reason for staying in Thailand, will probably need to do 180-day border runs, which is still a good deal.

@Gerry *******

highly unlikely. Totally conflicts with the 90 day report requirements. However, if one obtained from inside Thailand the 180 day extension of stay, then the extension requirements could vary between the Thai Immigration offices nationwide. We don't know yet those requirements as it's too soon.

That's why doing a border bounce will get a new 180 day stamp on entry.

@Marek **********

Hello mate. For questionable ED visas, they pull people aside, go into a separate area and asked them questions like “can you speak Thai”? “What is the name of your teacher?” etc. Failing this, they would not grant permission. This was very common and I know few people who got rejected this way.

@Dave ****

Please re-read and explain DTV. Put aside all? How does officer know what DTV visa sub-type you have? If it's a random check -> no difference to ED. You simply cannot expect people to have all documents at entry point neither you can expect institutions to answer immigration calls . If it's a requirement -> thailand government will change the rules but at the moment nothing is official.

@Marek **********

Verify what you are telling them? The onus is on you to prove your visa requirements are valid.

@Marek **********

The naivety is strong here.How did they do it with the ED Visa then? Why do they now question people with many back to back entries? BTW They are literally called "The Royal Thai Police Immigration Bureau". 5

@Greg *******

So you want to create immigration queue? Please EXPLAIN how the immigration officer in the booth know what DTV visa you have. Either he has to inspect all or none. ED -> people study thai and cannot answer basic thai. DTV what do you want to ask them? To show 500k in bank account? You are naive. You want all of them to put aside and question them on their documents? They can check outgoing flight genuinity on the spot but you really think they can call gym and ask if it's genuine document. What if the gym doesn't answer the call? You are not allowed entry? Please EXPLAIN

@Marek **********

I know you are a newbie to Thailand so I will ignore your ignorance. Bye