For those of you have or considering getting an Elite visa you may want to know that prices are going up substantially. if you have an existing Elite visa and want to extend at existing prices you have until 15 August
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the recent significant price increases for Thailand's Elite visa, urging current holders to extend their visas before August 15 to retain existing pricing. Commenters share their views on this change, expressing concerns about the rising costs and the perceived lack of respect for expatriates. Discussions also touch on the Elite visa's impact on the Thai economy, comparisons to other visa options like retirement visas, and speculation about immigration policy changes, particularly regarding the LTR visa.
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High season half a year. Half a year the Thais who work in the tourist towns sit around begging for money with little or no money. not a smart move and many Westerners looking at other countries now, me included.
even if it was "immigration news", it's far from common knowledge. I found the article here at last, no thanks to this diligent genius Paul fellow. It was an offhand comment from Big Joke:
Oh I'm definitely lazy, but not as lazy as you! You can't even back up a simple assertion on a group which is devoted towards helping people find answers to visa questions! That's almost surely because you are incorrect. However, I'd be happy for you to prove me wrong. If you're so smart and hard working it should be no problem for you to find a simple link to an article!
you are on a forum where people ask questions about Thai Visa issues. Someone asks you a question about something you've written. Your response is "I don't have time to explain the latest Thai immigration news to you." So either you have no idea what you're talking about, or you're a terrible person. Which is it?
I never offered to explain the Thai immigration system. I just made a comment on someone's post about the current situation. You expect everyone to find out for you because your too lazy to do your own homework? Your either dumb or lazy. Which one is it?
and after reading the Bangkok Post article about the motorcycle gangs and ways to rid Thailand from them would be to increase the cost for the retirement extension substantially, I guess thinking motorcycle gang members don’t have much money lol makes me wonder 🤔
They jumped the prices after covid started, offering a promotion of anadditional 6 months @ 500,000 baht starting price. Then afterwards it was raised to 600,000 baht and reverted back to the normal five year visa term.
If I had to pay this I'd go live in another Asian country because forginers are not respected by the government or rich Thai people, only by the every day Thai. We have saved Thailand from hell by our huge ongoing financial conrubution to the Thai economy. We are NOT respected properly. Backward thinking still prevails.
that’s not what happened - the additional 6 months was given to Existing members because of Covid / subsequent difficulty of traveling in and out of Thailand therefore not being able to utilize our visa’s
It never reverted back to 5 years simply because had never been increased to 5.5 years
You are correct that the price was increased to 600,000 b ( for the TE Easy Access Visa )
Jo **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Derek Lode Vietnam has been colonized too many times so they are bitter. fact
Indonesia is a mainly Muslim country that has strict laws concerning religion. Some provinces even follow Sharia Law. I think I will stay away from living there, lol.
they're not interested in foreigners who think their money is the greatest thing Thailand has ever seen and should bend over backwards for it. Thailand would get along just fine without them if they needed to.
not at all. When your business relies 75% on alcohol sales and alcohol is banned for months, foreigners don't matter. When most of your customers eat at your restaurant and that becomes illegal for months, foreigners don't matter. Sure there is an impact without foreigners but it's nowhere near the primary impact caused by covid.
This is factually expressed through other countries and non touristic communities. In the Netherlands there was a covid impact study. Businesses closed because they lost customers mainly National not from abroad. However, consider certain businesses were overly reliant on Chinese tourists and they were wiped out. So people form conclusions from this.
yes. Sure some businesses that rely only on tourists suffered. But the general business malaise had a lot more to do with the closing of all restaurant dining rooms, closing of all malls, closing of all gyms, etc. Thailand can survive without foreigners, they would adapt. Foreigners thinking they're the only thing keeping the economy is going is laughable and assanine.
I agree, but the subtle point is that there were nearly 30 million chinese tourists in 2019.but still In 2021, Thailand generated around 5.28 billion US dollars in the tourism sector alone. This corresponds to 1.1 percent of its the gross domestic product and approximately 47 percent of all international tourism receipts in Southeast Asia. So yes I agree. But the people who are effected are the poor
sorry for continuing but your comment inspired me. the problem is that Covid decimated the poorest people in Thailand. I saw business people who lived off the tourists take up immigrant work in Sweden picking blueberries. I agree with you the overall impact is minimal. Thailand is a successful export nation. I saw a lot of businesses close. From a humanitarian perspective the impacts were massive
not saying foreigners are the only lifeline for Thailand but they are ripple effects. No tourist, some restaurants close, hair and nail salons, massage parlors, bars, hotels, etc. Why do you think Vietnam is trying to attract more pensioners and tourist. Even a poor pensioner contributes to the local economy spending on food, rent or whatever. Yes Thai people just like the rest of the world can adapt for sure. There were places in the US that have had to close when tourism died. How many restaurants and small store still remain closed because of lack of tourist.
not true. Thailand needs tourists, well off pensioners and foreigners to invest in Thailand whether it be a small business or larger. Without these Thailand would struggle as you seen during and after Covid. The amount of tourist is still not up to pre-covid levels but it is slowly improving. I don't think most foreigners are asking for any special treatment just want to be seen as equals and not just cash cows by the government.