What are the realities of living in Thailand on a DTV visa, and how does it differ from other visa categories?

@Tim ****************

I am still considering DTV too. The BOI Smart "S" probably was a better option but that has changed in the last month or so. One other indication on how quickly visas and immigration can change in Thailand

@Greg *******

yes they can. They’re dropping 60-day entry I see.

Tbh I thought the DTV might disappear in a couple of years, but less so now I’ve talked to them. They have retained a lot of control by being a bit vague.

@Greg *******

Tim won’t respond to me because I’ve dropped too many facts and straight proof. Unbelievable. I think I’m at my wits end with this group. You can literally show concrete proof, you can literally interview an official at MFA, you can literally go to immigration yourself and ask the same questions, and yet people continue to make up complete and utter nonsense that you “have to leave Thailand for weeks at a time.”

This group was awesome in 2024 when it was about the facts and nothing else, now it’s filled with complete random nonsense like this…

TAT apparently makes visas now 😂

@Michael *******

actually I thought I did reply but it must not have sent. I’m in dodgy WiFi so maybe that, but bit annoying to write it again! I’ve got nothing to gain by lying dude, I was just at the latest event about DTVs so thought I’d share what they told me. This one was more for local businesses so they can learn about what it is, and in Thai which I didn’t realise, but it was worth hanging around to speak to them afterwards.

I gave an example of leaving for a few weeks, not saying you had to, as that was the specific question I asked the lead of the DTV who was at the event as one of the other guys there had the DTV and wanted to know.

I’m just recommending people go along so they can hear them answer their specific questions that’s all. We’ve all seen the YouTube vid from months ago with the generic questions, it’s just useful to hear an up to date voice answering specific case questions now it’s been around for long enough for extensions and bounces.

TAT designed the visa as it was born from the TR visas, and they floated it and now report the data to MFA. The MFA had to rubber stamp it as that is their domain. They have run all the official events in Chiang Mai (I haven’t been to any anywhere else) and are the conduit that are reaching out as the public voice of it. Not many countries do that tbf. Again, this is what I’ve been told on several occasion by TAT. If you’ve heard different from talking with MFA then one of us is being told porkies, and sure it could be me! Unlike you it seems I’m totally open to hearing about what others are being told by the authorities. I’m just reporting what I’ve been told, more than once.

I totally agree that the group is filled with people’s opinions and random interpretations. I don’t monitor this group, a post just popped up on my feed and thought I’d share what they told me that pertained to the post. You don’t have to believe it, but if you’re going to shoot people down because their experience is different to yours then you’re part of the social media problem bud. I’m sure you’re a reasonable guy in person, though it’d be interesting if this is how you’d talk to me in person in a discussion.

@Tim ****************

same problem for me, rewriting a comment right now. Annoying Facebook.

All I’m saying is that “I heard it at some event,” when plenty of us have gone through immigration, is not a credible source. It seems like you were implying (especially on the previous post) that we must leave Thailand for weeks or months at a time and can’t stay almost continuously (following the right procedures) for 5 years.

IF there is some requirement to leave for weeks or months at a time it will be made known publicly and widely similar to the requirements of the visa. You’ll be able to link directly to a Thai government website or an interview with an official.

“Unlike you it seems I’m totally open to hearing about what others are being told by authorities.”

What a weird thing to say... I opened the discussion with you on the previous post because you were implying that we couldn’t stay here for 5 years but instead had to leave for weeks or months at a time. You left the discussion as soon as I provided counter evidence. Again, “I heard it at some event maybe you should go” isn’t proper journalism/evidence. IF there is a proper requirement to do that, it will be made widely known direct from the government, not mentioned at some event. I was open to what you had to say because I have this visa, but you left the moment I provided counter evidence.

I’m not shooting YOU down or attacking YOU personally. It’s your message, that you’re implying we can’t be here almost continuously for 5 years (again following proper bounce and extension procedures). Your source of “there’s some event, go to it, I heard something there,” doesn’t stand up against those of us that actually went to immigration. You can ask these same questions to immigration, a higher authority, and I’m certain you’ll get the right response.

“You’re part of the social media problem bud”

What? Man stay on topic.. We are discussing the DTV and the legality of remaining here for the duration of 5 years following bounce and extension procedures. This is 0% personal. 0% malice against you. This isn’t a “social media problem” it’s a “let’s get to the bottom of the truth of this visa” problem. I’m not sure why you’re making this about “what if we met in real life” either. I have questioned people’s opinions in real life too…

In short we met on your comment in another post where you heavily implied that we should spend weeks or months at a time out of the country. All I’m asking is for a proper source or interview. No a random TAT event isn’t a qualifying source. It’s the embassies and consulates that issue the visa and immigration that lets us in and handles extensions. I’ve gone through the process and the interview. I’ve told the guy I’m living in Thailand for 4-5 years prior, continuously, and he had 0 issue with it. He had 0 issue with me continuing to live here, as long as I follow proper procedure. He interviewed me in Thai too.

So I’m very curious why people are now suggesting we “must” leave for weeks or months at a time on the DTV. There’s not one single reputable source that says that, and the thousands of us that are in the know aren’t commenting on these Facebook posts because we’ve gone through the immigration process and asked our questions directly at immigration…

@Michael *******

I was just messaging someone else about some of the taxation posts. Complete lies and rubbish posted.