Should I switch from my NON O visa to the DTV visa?

@Colin ********

I think you're straying off the topic somewhat!

@Colin ********

Wow! Is there a connection? Or are you smoking some green stuff? 😂😂😂😂😂😂

@Jim *******

who cares? Then I won't care when someone empties out your bank account while you're sleeping 🤣

@Colin ********

Who cares? We live in a "it's all about me" society these days. The guys who have paid bribes for years to get their retirement visas are continually excused. Now we have Muay Thai operators offering the same as what scamming agents have done for years, just in different clothes. It's all the same. It's corruption, but hey, who really cares?

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

so someone does something illegal, then others follow suit, does that make it right? To some extent, these things have occurred throughout human history, but in modern society, it's rampant and one of the causes of a very 'sick' society. Then people wonder why there's so many problems facing them or their friends and families 🤷🏼

@Colin ********

If you're going to talk fraud, let's take a long hard look at visa agents who for years have paid bribes to immigration officers to ignore the 800k financial requirement of a retirement visa. For years, people have said "hey, it's ok, everyone does it!". Let me now add my voice to the Muay Thai 5-year visas "hey, it's ok, everyone does it"! 😂😂😂

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

that's not an excuse for fraud

@Graham *****

Here's the latest. And no obligation to actually participate!

@Graham *****

Dreamers, fraudsters...

@Graham *****

Why not? If a cooking class gets you a DTV, why not a YouTube channel? 😆

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

A YouTube creator posting videos about Thailand qualifies for a DTV, are you sure?

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

Yep. Just wait and see what happens!

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

didn't realize you're a political insider and know what the new government will do before it's even been established

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

It's not going anywhere. The new PM will embrace it. It's a positive change in the visa process in Thailand, and it'll bring millions of dollars into the country, which is its sole aim

@Stephan **********

So many ways to become a remote worker. I'll be doing it by using my registered business which "manages" my property and sharemarket portfolios in Australia. But take a look at most Facebook profiles. Everyone is a "digital creator" or "content creator". Very easy to start a YouTube channel and start uploading gormless videos about Thailand! Thousands already doing it! 😆

@Colin ********

Difference is the 500k can be sitting in a pension fund, or a high interest cash management account in your home country, the 800k has to be in a Thai bank account earning at best 1% interest. Huge difference. I know two retirees who have already obtained the DTV, trust me it was easy for them!

@Ruud *****************

It's not a case of not being able to meet the financial conditions, although it will be a plus for those poor people who always had to use agents, but the other point, for frequent travellers such as myself, it eliminates for five years, the need to ever visit an immigration and is significantly cheaper over five years - a big savings. Not so advantageous for those who just want to sit in Thailand and not travel, but I'm an avid traveller so the DTV fits perfectly

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

So... all these retirees are suddenly digital nomads or remote worker or how they qualify?

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

"Easiest visa ever"? How can you say that? Maybe it is if you fit the criteria for "applying", but down the track when Immigration are fully involved, it might be a different story, they'll be the ones that say 'you can't do this, you can't do that, this is what you must do'. It's only one month since the first applications were lodged and nobody knows how they'll operate day to day. You refer to your friends and "scam agents". Yes, those agents are bribing Immigration Officers to approve Visas and Extensions, so it's a scam, it's dishonesty, it's fraud. Honest people who have the required funds as per the requirements for the Visas and Extensions don't need to participate in fraudulent activities. There's not that much difference between 800k and 500k really, so is it so much easier to meet the requirement?

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

yeah but no one knows the future now that the PM who spearheaded it is out. It could be gone by next week. Impossible to say with such a new thing

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

you want to say : if you cannot meet the financial requirements for an extension for a NON O, it’s a good alternative.