Should I apply for the DTV visa now, or will the rules become more restrictive later?

@Phil **********

Savannakhet is developing a pretty bad reputation these days. It used to be the "go to" place, especially for multiple entry marriage visas, but in the space of a few months, they went from not requiring financials (the status quo that had been in effect for many years), to requiring financials but deposited recently being OK, to requiring them to be deposited in a Thai account for 2 months prior to application. This all happened between late October 2023 and early 2024.

They're proving to be tough as nails for the DTV as well, requesting lengthy periods of funds being banked, notarized documents and a whole list of other things.

@Phil **********

should have done an Evisa perhaps? I got approved on dental through Hanoi using an evisa. A friend went to the embassy itself in Hanoi & was told evisa approval was done in Bangkok.

@Paul ******

I didn't say they didn't. I said there were many who didn't see their families for long periods. There's no way there could be a blanket citizenship for all those married to a Thai. This would create an unwieldy situation for Thai immigration as there would be an avalanche of bogus marriages

@Andy ***********

You're making a strange assumption. I know of many foreigners married to Thais who live with their families in Thailand as they should.

@Paul ******

The DTV was a covid initiative, the same as the "covid extensions" and 45 days visa exempt. When introduced they all had an expiry date, unlike the DTV which doesn't. The 90-day marriage visa wasn't widely available and enabled by passing financial criteria. Surely if you're supporting a family in Thailand you should show you have the funds to do this. I don't know much about elite visas, but these are not administered by MFA or RTP so are a different topic altogether. I'm merely referring to the more popular and widely available visas. I don't see much change to DTV and I do see more retirees and marrieds moving onto this in the future

@Andy ***********

And just on the visa matter - there are many schemes that are temporary or no longer available. Don't make the assumption they can't or won't do this to the DTV.

In no particular order, the following has happened over the years:

1. Special tourist visa - only available from late 2021 to late 2022 (for one year) in order to boost tourism as Thailand slowly started reopening at the end of the Covid restrictions.

2. Privilege visas- still available but their validity has been changed and prices increased.

3. Permanent residency visas- you used to be able to request one from a Thai mission abroad. This is no longer possible.

4. Multiple entry business and marriage visas - being phased out with the introduction of e-visas. Now only Laos (and a couple of others) remaining. Once they transition to the e-visa, it will be single entry only, meaning in country extensions of stay, which for some of those married to Thais can be complicated if they don't have 400,000 sitting around in a Thai account for 2 months before application. They can always use an agent but that comes with its own set of risks.

5. 45 day visa free entry- reverted back to 30 days after 6 months. Is now at 60 days since July, but this won't last either. They'll change it back to the old status quo, probably sometime next year.

@Luit ****************

It's the most useless word in the English language, because it's totally misleading

@Andy ***********

might is a mighty word

@Luit ****************

There's that word again, "might" - I've got another one "might not" 😂😂😂😂😂

@Andy ***********

And exactly that practice of remote workers not really working applying for this visa might make it necessary to have some tweaks, allthough not easy, but they might ask to show foreign income.