What challenges do expats face when re-entering Thailand on a long-term visa?

@Sean ******

Do us and yourself a big favor: stop sitting on Facebook all day and make nonsense comments all day long . Get a life dude and give us a break

Anonymous participant 806 You too darkling, enjoy your holiday.

@Sean ******

Nonsense. Tourist visa ?? On holiday every entry ?? When there is a category of DTV called “remote work “ … stop your nonsense and stop fooling people

Anonymous participant 806 That's just for applying, all DTVs are the same. Yes the DTV is a tourist visa, that's a fact.

Anonieme deelnemer 107 When you mean 1 year non-oa/x multi entry I cannot find anywhere that a stay is limited to 90 days.

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

a 1 year multi entry non O is 90 day stamps , multi entry as with with the DTV means as many times as you want

Anonieme deelnemer 107 Please show me info about that visa, I do not find multi entry non-o, only multi entry non-oa and non-ox and they are just valid 1 year without the need to exit after 90 days.

For non-o I only know the 90 day single entry version which you can extend in country with a 1 year extension, also no need to exit the country every 90 days.

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

it's not very common and not all consulates issue it but there is a non-O multiple entry 1 year visa that gives 90 day stamps. Example from Poland:

SH3tgjzaB/Visa_Information/7.pdf

This is correct , I was getting this visa from ho chi Minh city embassy every year for around 10 years until I got the DTV

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

it seems like he may be confusing the 90-day reporting with having to leave.

I think the DTV when they were advertising it for soft power probably was just meant for them to take their classes and leave whether it was a 6-12 month boxing class or somebody spending a couple of years learning the language.

BUT on the digital nomad side, I would have to imagine that they assumed people would be living here for a long time.... unless they had a diminished view about their own country and thought people wouldn't want to stay.

@Stephen *********

not confusing anything, with a 1 year multi entry you have to leave every 90 days , I did this for years. I'm just making the point that the DTV is a 5 year multi entry , end of story

Anonieme deelnemer 107 Who said the DTV not is multi entry or not valid for 5 year? It just has stays less than a year

Mr 5 Bank Accounts Does this mean it is an old visa not existing anymore? I cannot find it on the evisa site and now all visa have to be applied for at the same evisa site.

@Daniel *********

That's typical for DMK in my experience

@Daniel *********

That's strange. I've only entered three times though on the DTV, and once was with an agent. I haven't had any questions.

@Shandy *******

It’s coming for you too. Just be patient .

@Shandy *******

many people report they enter many times without questions asked. Guess I’m just unlucky two times.

Anonieme deelnemer 185 Just ask this to Google: "is DTV meant to live year round in Thailand"

Anonieme deelnemer 185 believe what you want, but the way you think they designed it just does not make sense.

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

I think you're applying European logic where it doesn't belong.

Also, you are projecting your views/interpretations on this.

Also, you're requesting proof "where did they say this exact same" = burden of proof fallacy.

Just bc they made it 6 months instead of 1 year ≠ they didn't plan on people staying year round.

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

sure it does. Because that's how it works. If you just wanted to come a couple times per year, that's what normal tourist visas are for. You can use it how you think it was intended. I'll use it how it actually works. Thanks.

@Brian *******

I don't see that mentioned anywhere, and it would not make any sense.

When they really designed it that way they would not have limited it to 180 days with one extension.

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

so from that statement, you are making an assumptions about intent - derived from the published rules.

Watch the interview (RWFU youtube channel) - head of immigration specifically discussed people using it to stay year round - with extension and border runs.

Its why i picked the DTV as i was looking at other options - im here on medical - and knew i’d need to be here for ongoing support.

In terms of thailand making sense - as much as im sure both you and I are love it here, it doesnt always make sense….

@Brian *******

Just show me where it is talking about borderruns.

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

RWFU youtube channel dude.

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

I think the 180 limit is more for having checkpoints to validate that your terms are met.

Doesn’t make sense they give a 5 year no limit visa based on one interview. Even marriage visa have to get renewed and rechecked every year.

@Daniel *********

Why should 180 days be to have checkpoints? You hardly can call entering the country a checkpoint, allthough it is allowed for IO to check.

When they wanted that they would have used the same system as marriage, elite and retirement, so why did they "invent" something new then?

But I just tried to answer your question why immigration is acting the way they do.

I am aware there is a way you can use DTV to live in Thailand year around, but Immigration does not see it that way, just like the majority does not see it that way, otherwise Google AI would also present it that way.

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

what I mean by check points is - every 180 entry is a check point that allows them to check if you still have your visa requirements. (Money, work/course)

@Daniel *********

I understand what you mean with checkpoints, but if they wanted to do that it was much easier to do that the same way as non-o visa.

Checks at country entry are not practical and only a small percentage will be checked.

But I don't want to discuss this any further, the original question was why immigration made people feel unwelcome while they complied with the rules.

I tried to answer that question, and gave the most common sense answer and now it looks like I have to defend that I have the same ideas as the majority in the world.

When people use someting a visain a way it was not intended, they can expect immigration does not like that, but as long as they comply with all visa rules at the moment of entry it is unlikely they will stop you.

When they don't want so, they should close the loopholes.

I did not say the visa does not work that way, the discussion was about if it was intended that way.

I know you can influence AI to give the answer you prefer.

With the simple questions I showed you find which visa are intended for long term use and which are not.

But to be honest I am not interested in your ideas about this, they are totally irrelevant for me.

You started this by being wondered why immigration makes people using the loopholes in the DTV feel unwelcome, and I made clear why this is.

If you don;t want to hear an answer on your question, just don't ask.

In no way I want to say people should or should not use this kind of loopholes, but just don't be surprised some might not like the use of loopholes.

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

if it was only intended to be used for a 6 month stay, it would have been created as a single entry visa. Or they could have made it a 1 year visa. Instead it was created as a 5 year multiple entry visa. Leaving and re-entering as many times as you want in that 5 year period is EXACTLY what they intended the visa to be used for.

Anonieme deelnemer 443 Some here seem not to understand that leaving and re-entering as many times is not the same as living in the country and only leaving for a few minutes or days. Wen that was the intention they would not make it necessary to leave the country at all.

Your remark about the single entry for 6 months as an alternative shows you really don't understand anything about visa.

They want to have digital nomads to visit the country several times in a 5 year period, that cannot be done with a single entry visa.

For foreigners that want to live in Thailand they already have the appropriate visa for a long time.

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

I just think you have one wrong assumption - the world don’t have such ideas, and even Thai high rank officials answer completely the opposite.

And about Google Ai, I just asked him the following question: “if i go on few trips every year but want to stay and base mostly on thailand as remote worker, is the dtv workaction visa for me? answer shortly yes or no.

(for example staying in Thailand 11 months out of the year)”.

Which he answered: Yes!

@Daniel *********

this interview was with the Department of Internal Affairs. The other department that this equally involves Thai Immigration wasn't consulted, and werent happy with it. Its similar when one kid gets permission from Mom to go on some trip, but then later Dad lays down the law and and says the kid can't go even though mom signed the consent form.

@Shaughn **********

hmm so basically the left hand and right hand don’t communicate.

Is there any statement from immigration that doesn’t allow DTV for long stays?

@Daniel ****

their statement is through their actions being louder than words. Ie forever changing requirements for extension process making it extremely difficult to extend in country. They simply don’t like the visa, not happy with the visa so just seem to be holding people up at the airport with questions before eventually following the law as this visa was written.

@Shaughn **********

I see, I guess I can live with that and if it will get worse I’ll just change to elite.

They making the requirement of keeping 500K in the checking account at all times, so it’s almost the same as spending 650K for elite since I can’t invest the 500K

@Daniel *********

Where it says what? All official information says 180 days, one possibility to extend and then leave the country.

No official information suggests you can reenter the country the same day for another year.

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

elite visa also have a limit of 360 day per entry, doesn’t mean that it’s not intended to long term stay.

Unless you’re Thai government official or immigration officer, it’s simply your opinion/interception of the visa terms. It’s not said or written anywhere, and their own officials said exactly the opposite

@Daniel *********

Please show me where an official is saying DTV is to live continuously in Thailand like you suggest, I have not seen such thing.

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

watch the video please. He says that in other words.

If what you said was true i think they would limit the visa to 180 days PER calendar year.

Where you drunk when you last checked that 1 year is 360 days?

On earth normally a year is 365 days, sometimes even 366 days.

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

You’re nitpicking. Every 365 then.

@Daniel *********

He does not say so, you want to interpret his "other words" in that way.

Limiting it to 180 days a calender year might be a possibility, some countries do this, but it gives a lot of restrictions for people using the visa in the way it was meant, such as not usable for any course or treatment longer than 180 days.

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

I’m pretty sure he said around 8:00-9:00 that you can come get 180 days, extend another 180 days, go out, come back and get another 180 days. And he finishes with the exact sentence “and it goes on for 5 years”.

Maybe I’m stupid or something, but to me it’s seems like he literally said you can stay how many times you want during 5 years, only thing your visa terms must be met.

@Daniel *********

you're not stupid. That's what it is. Some people just want to decide for themselves what the intentions of the visa actually are and make this widely known so they can feel authoritative in a Facebook group. It's weird. The terms of the visa are clear. It's to be used in whatever way people want within those terms.

Anonieme deelnemer 185 Nobody says you cannot or should not use tricks to use DTV as a long term visa.

But use tricks like border runs and they think it is weird immigration does not like it is just starting to believe in your own dream world.

As said before, use Google AI and see what is a common sense in this case, or do you think Google AI also tries to spread own ideas to feel authoritive in a facebook group.

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

you say the weirdest stuff. Bringing up border runs and Google AI? I'm starting to see why you're confused about simple things.

Anonieme deelnemer 185 What is weird about border runs and Google AI?

And why should I get normal TR when I stay 4 or 5 months a year in Thailand like you suggest? I know I can get normal TR and extention and the visa exempt if I am lucky to cover such a period, but the TR visa and extension each year will cost me more than DTV will cost, and saves me the hassle of a border run and extension.

And you can use it to the max as long as the loophole is not closed, no problem, but don't try to tell it was intended as a long stay visa while at the moment all signs show different.

@Daniel *********

In daily live when are talking about leaving and coming back they mean they go somewhere else and stay there until they return for another stay. The useless trip to the border and back, only to get another 180 days is completely legal, but cannot be seen as normal use.

You seem to be focussed on border runs somehow, but the official does not mention that.

When you ask Google AI for "visa live in Thailand" or "visa expat Thailand" you will see that DTV is not one of the options, so obviously it is not my personal interpretation that DTV is not meant to live in Thailand.

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

by the way, I never did border runs. I always went on long trips of few weeks in other countries, most of times I didn’t even reach my 180 day limit.

Sadly, got very uncomfortable welcome in last two times. I have 2 more trips in the next 3 months, let’s see if I was just unlucky.

@Daniel *********

Elite has a limit of 1 year, not 360 days, but can be extended without leaving the country for another year as many times you want.

Elite visa is advertised offically as a way to stay long term.

I tjhink the difference is very clear to see for everybody, but when I see your remarks some people don't see this difference somehow.

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

DTV has a limit of 363 in-country days. Technically it could be 365 if the holder does a quick border run. Maybe you are confusing having to renew every 180 days to the Visa limit.

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

as I see it, Elite visa is - pay us, stay long term, no terms, no questions, we don’t care if you have 1 million dollar or 10 dollars in your bank.

DTV - pay us little, prove that you will spend money in Thailand and not be a liability, questions will be asked, and you will need to prove that you still have the initial terms (remote work, 500K, etc)

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

last time I checked 1 year = 360 days 😅

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

I’m not making things up, Thai official literally said word by word, you can come and go, unlimited number of times during 5 years.

Yes, but come and go an unlimited number of times does not actually say the intention is you live in Thailand, that is just your interpretation.

Why do you think they say come and GO?

They want you to go, not just travel to the border and get in which only does make sense to exploit rules that just allow this.

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

that's not true they made it so his wife can piggyback on his dtv visa that's exactly who they are targeting for this visa people that want to stay larger term stays, extendable for two 180 days without leaving the nation. maybe less reasons for bribes or kick backs to friends in visa services that are useless for the DTV visa .

@Peter *******

If you think 180 days is stay long term I agree with you. But normally when you have a visa wherever in the world to live long term, there is no obligation at all to leave the country