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Answered4 months ago

Why is there an increased scrutiny on DTV visa holders for attending training in Thailand?

DTV Visa Thai Immigration Visa Enforcement Muay Thai Training Soft Power Visa Rules

Bashir *******

OP

asked Jun 29, 2026

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147

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Immigration officer called my gym

A notice for everyone. I own a gym that is popular for those looking to train Muay Thai and apply for the DTV (Tiger Eye)

For the first time since the launch of the DTV we got a call from an immigration officer at the airport (not sure which airport as my staff answered the phone)asking to confirm someone's attendance. 

For context, the person in question came via an agency, an agency we stopped working with because we suspect they are forging people's bank statements after I reached out to the agency incognito as a potential client.

The person was from a former Soviet bloc country. 

The staff member told the immigration officer the truth that this person hasnt come in yet and it was a short matter of fact call.

Answer summary

A gym owner reported a call from an immigration officer verifying the attendance of a person applying for the DTV (Tiger Eye) visa, which requires training in Muay Thai. The call raised concerns about potential fraud related to visa applications, particularly regarding an agency the gym had previously worked with, which the owner suspects was forging financial documents. Community members commented on the implications of such enforcement, noting that it could affect students genuinely seeking to participate in the DTV program, and discussed the consequences of agencies misrepresenting visa qualifications.

147 repliesnewest first

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SincereG********

SincereG********

there's alot of immigration fraud in Thailand. its such a popular place so alot of people look to game the system. When you offer a 5 yr stay if you take a few cooking classes and go to a gym for a few months, thats about as easy as you can get. Yet people still look to defraud the system.

0

Elena ***********

Elena ***********

It seems there are now strict checks at Bangkok airports, recommending you enter through other routes. Especially if you're traveling on a soft power. And in any case, there will be intense questioning.

0

Christopher ***********

Christopher ***********

Thanks for reporting this Bashir. As you know, troublemakers regularly post on this page. How could your staff (or even yourself) be certain that the call came from Thai Immigration? If a number of undated lessons had been issued for a current course, could it not be that the student might still attend at a later date? Therefore, to report that the student has yet to attend is unfairly dropping them in it. Obviously, if the course has already ended that cannot apply. Would it not be safer for staff to confirm that the student was/is enrolled but that they don't have access to attendance records?

0

Bashir *******

Bashir *******

OP

@Christopher **********

while our staff didnt get an immigration officers badge number the fact that they had the specific persons name - if it wasn't immigration calling was it a prank call? From who? I cant even speculate where the call may have come from. Also, I feel we are obligated to tell the truth. We have a member app so we know who has come in and who hasn't ever showed up. If this person had even showed up once it would be a different story. They said they trained here but had no evidence for the immigration officer. Why are we supposed to step in and cover for someone when we dont know why they were stopped by immigration? What if this person had an interpol notice or had a red flag and the check with the gym was just one part of the IO case against this persons entry. We don't know that and by omitting information or not being forthright to cover for someone we don't know just puts the other members at risk.

The person was supposed to show up in September and this is likely a reentry, simply stating that they havent been here yet is in my opinion, the appropriate response

0

Michael ********

Michael ********

@Christopher **********

exactly, it's also illegal to call and asking about someone. The gym has no rights to talk about customers by phonecall.

1

LongTimeLivi************

LongTimeLivi************

Likely an untrue story

1

Luit *****************

Luit *****************

Likely not true because you don't want to hear?

0

พี่ *****

พี่ *****

Banned from thailand

0

Marius *********

Marius *********

Dtv soft power is so cheap to get anyway, not strange if they start to tighten things up. Although once you have a visa it cant just be cancelled for nothing. I dont think they would refuse his entry even if he hadnt been there, if he says he is going there... Just my guess. It takes them a lot more work to cancel someone than to let them in, after all the initial check up is done at embassy level.

0

Gary **********

Gary **********

Immigration have always done random checks.

Not sure exactly what your point is mate?

0

Dave *******

Dave *******

They have always had the option to follow up where you are training/learning, just more vigilant now.

0

Alyssen ********

Alyssen ********

Whats crazy is the amount of agencies and schools that do this and get away with it no issue. This is what allows people to abuse the system and then makes it harder for People like us who want to stay and are doing everything right, only time we missed our class (thai language school) was when i was in the ER and during recovery.

1

Miyamoto *********

Miyamoto *********

Good 👍

1

EfficientF***********

EfficientF***********

So you stopped working with the agency. Which means you took their money and when you got this call you denied that the person had ever come into the gym? How is that ethical on your end? The guy was probably just following the advice of the agency. You also made an incognito call posing as a potential customer but it was really just to steal confidential information from the agency. So that makes you a superhero? How does this make people want to train at your gym and be confident if they get a DTV with your name on it they are safe? Makes zero logical sense.

1

Bashir *******

Bashir *******

OP

EfficientFlamingo6288 1. The person has not been to the gym yet. So what are we supposed to say? The staff member told the IO the person signed up but hasnt been yet. Where is the lie?

2. This agency had a slew of rejections at the end of 2025 while everyone else applying was doing fine. This got me concerned and suspicious they were forging documents and from my interaction with them, my suspicions are correct. And thats why we stopped working with them months ago. If this person had suspect financial documents and got caught by an IO, then people who are qualified for the DTV and doing the dtv the proper way have nothing to be concerned of.

I am under no obligation to lie for anyone. And definitely not to an IO

7

EfficientF***********

EfficientF***********

The problem is you accepted the money and enrolled the student. Those are the parts that are unethical and underhanded. Also, if the student had to apply for the DTV outside of the country and this was their first time coming into the country what would be the reason that they would have never been to your school before. You or your staff could have said that the student was enrolled in your program. But instead you threw the student under the bus and cost them hundreds if not thousands of dollars down the drain.

Update: OK, so you said that the student was enrolled but hadn’t been to the school yet. So what ended up happening? Were they rejected? Sent back?

0

Russell ********

Russell ********

don't waste your time replying to nickname accounts. There's zero accountability. The member seems to just be baiting you. It was good that you followed up once you realized something might be amiss with that agency. I think some businesses might not have cared as long as the money kept coming in.

0

JoyfulPe*********

JoyfulPe*********

EfficientFlamingo6288 when a gym accepts money and enrols a student, they assume the student will show up. If the students decides not to attend, that’s their fault, not the gym’s. Asking a gym to lie for you is straight up fraud.

0

Bashir *******

Bashir *******

OP

EfficientFlamingo6288 it was not their first time entering the country because the IO said the person said they were already training Muay Thai but had no evidence, no photos or evidence of training history and the the IO was confirming with us.

Staff member told IO that person was enrolled but hadn't shown up yet. Very straightforward.

I dont know what happened with the person unfortunately.

I really don't understand what is unethical about enrolling someone at the gym though. Isn't that what a gym does?

1

EfficientF***********

EfficientF***********

@Jason Gruss Yes, from his own admission, it sounds like he took the money, enrolled the students, and wants to skirt responsibility for it and play up some kind of nonsensical ethical superiority card. It isn’t a good look for the gym or for those thinking about doing DTV.

0

Jason *******

Jason *******

EfficientFlamingo6288 I was wondering the same thing. He must have accepted the money at one point

1

EfficientF***********

EfficientF***********

The more I think about it then it really sounds like “the gym” lied. It doesn’t matter if it was the owner or the staff member, whoever is representing the gym is responsible for the information given out. It sounds like the gym just didn’t like the agency they originally agreed to do business with and as a result the expats that got their DTVs through this agency and the gym are going to suffer due to the owner of the gym NOT liking the agency and being racist and prejudiced against Soviet bloc countries. That is what it really sounds like to me as an impartial observer from the outside with nothing to gain from this.

1

Mikolai ********

Mikolai ********

EfficientFlamingo6288 "The staff member told the immigration officer the truth"

1

Zino **********

Zino **********

it’s funny how everyone complains about freedom but agree to separate the country and support to needs to have a visa why you can’t go everywhere and try to start a living where you like it ,it’s very funny how everyone is complaining and criticizing other people you are al a joke and yes for me the Thai people can go to Europe also it’s a joke how they make the visa difficult

4

Peter **********

Peter **********

Iam say only : Take the Fast Track, 3.5k at BKK

0

Brian ****

Brian ****

But but but people said a 2 week cooking class gets you a 5 year visa.😂

1

Ciarán *******

Ciarán *******

If 2 people go to immigration with cooking course soft power they have a cook off and the winner gets a stamp.

3

Chelsea ********

Chelsea ********

@Ciarán ******

oh. Yes 👏🏼 this is how all soft power visas should be determined in the end 😂

Cook off.

Muay Thai battle it out.

Thai language competition TO THE DEATH

😂😅

1

Brian ********

Brian ********

Ive seen IO’s in training centre - chatted to one myself - im here under medical so no pressure - but they were taking pictures and checking attendance records.

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Bashir *******

Bashir *******

OP

where? And did the training center also offer ED visas because the ED Visa has always had immigration enforcement

1

Tim *******

Tim *******

ffs how gullible are you?

0

Michael ********

Michael ********

Another fairy tale and a lot of white knights in comments. Boring.

13

Anonymous ******************

Anonymous ******************

@Michael *******

the gym I go in Bangkok started to do assistance checklists just two weeks ago. I assume they wouldn't do it if there's no need for it.

0

Kamran *********

Kamran *********

@Michael *******

I met Bashir in his Gym when I was considering to join Tiger Eye. He is straight guy. I believe he is being 💯 truthful. And what does he has to gain to make up a fairy tale?

2

LongTimeLivi************

LongTimeLivi************

@Kamran ********

more customers?

1

Bashir *******

Bashir *******

OP

Why do you think its a fairy tale

1

Michael ********

Michael ********

Because you don't have to attend training for the entire period of your visa. And no one has the right to check that. Once you receive your visa, the conditions are met. Nowhere does it say they must last for 5 years. Besides that, every DTV visa is the same.

0

Positive********

Positive********

Because it goes against his dream of a red-carpet visa that isn’t subject to any checks.

3

Michael ********

Michael ********

PositiveLynx7934 go away loser

0

Hal ***********

Hal ***********

cockroaches

1

Anonymous ******************

Anonymous ******************

Finally! There's too much trash tourists, especially the Russians!

2

Zino **********

Zino **********

Anonymous participant 824 the Brit’s are more a problem when they are drunk and in a group

0

Anonymous ******************

Anonymous ******************

Zino Esseling Okay, but the Russians are worst with or without alcohol. They should just go back in their country and make a mess there, not in Thailand

0

Jack ********

Jack ********

If this was 100% enforced, Thailand would likely lose 50%+ of all their Russians

2

Jonny *********

Jonny *********

you don't know the agreement with Russia and Thailand then. It will never happen to Russians.

1

John ********

John ********

Jonny Malcolm You are talking rubbish one thing Russia desperately needs is russians to fight this pointless war

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Jack ********

Jack ********

Jonny Malcolm then educate us

0

Carl ********

Carl ********

Watch out! Watch out! You better Watch out because The Thai Visa Gatekeepers are about! 😆

2

Daz ********

Daz ********

We are all trying to make it in the world and be honest in the wonderful pace that is Thailand.

I’m sure if there’s enough to show you don’t pump out DTVs to everyone, you’ll be sound.

0

Trustworth**********

Trustworth**********

Some people got DTV in the beginning with 2 weeks medical and I think soft power too.

Why they didn’t just issue a METV instead

You can’t even get a 5 year retirement visa without renewing every year. If digital nomads need to be working. I think soft power should require 6 months of classes every 12 months. I agree with another post. It was not well thought out the soft power. If I wanted to take 3 months of cooking I could apply for METV. Plus, someone under DTV soft power can add like 3 dependent’s. You can’t add dependents on non o. The non oa can but has a lot of extra requirements. We are at the 2 year anniversary of the DTV. Time for changes. Just like the eventual change to visa exempt.

0

Zino **********

Zino **********

TrustworthyFerret454 it’s funny how everyone complains about freedom but agree to separate the country and support to needs to have a visa why you can’t go everywhere and try to start a living where you like it ,it’s very funny how everyone is complaining and criticizing other people you are al a joke and yes for me the Thai people can go to Europe also it’s a joke how they make the visa difficult

0

Michael ********

Michael ********

TrustworthyFerret454 try to open account on Facebook first

2

Paul ****

Paul ****

Told ya it’s happening and you’re required to hold course during the full stay on soft power, nobody believed lol 😅

1

Shandy ********

Shandy ********

To be fair, this story only suggests that this person never showed up at all. Going a few times to a six-month course would get a positive answer from the gym owner.

0

Paul ****

Paul ****

@Shandy *******

sure, but it doesn't change the fact that they will eventually check on you, and if you lost your visa eligibility, you will lose your visa.

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DeterminedE***********

DeterminedE***********

So what? There are gyms offering yearly passes for 10k or 20k.

2 trips in neighbor country and 10k for a gym per year.

0

James ********

James ********

is there anything wrong with that? As you obtained the DTV visa for Muay Thai training...

2

Paul ****

Paul ****

Totally not, and you misunderstood. In the above comment I meant that nobody believed me, and I was being mocked here by people saying that the training is required only on approval while I kept saying that your visa eligibility is based on the course whether on approval or during the visa and nobody believed.

3

James ********

James ********

thank you for your helpful reply 👍

0

Nick ********

Nick ********

Can someone clarify for me , as I've got mixed messages. If i have decent passive income from rental properties in my home country , can I get a dtv visa based off that only? Im unsure of the difference between that and someone who is a "digital creator" , or something like that

0

John **********

John **********

depends if you actively manage the properties or not. Pure passive income doesn't qualify for a DTV

1

Nick ********

Nick ********

@John *********

thanks mate

0

Wannikea *********

Wannikea *********

don't hijack threads, start your own

2

Nick ********

Nick ********

@Wannikea ********

he's literally not even asking anything.... in the same time you took to type that , I could've had an answer and been done with it. But ok 👍

1

Wannikea *********

Wannikea *********

Well obviously the immigration officer had good instincts because he outed somebody who never attended. Don't forget to practice your elbow smashes and hammer fists boys and girls.

1

Banks ********************

Banks ********************

And for cooking classes, don’t forget to carry a wok, gas stove and ingredients for pad kra Pao.

1

Michael ********

Michael ********

@Wannikea ********

lol

0

Zee ******

Zee ******

Since you are permitted to change gyms after your initial commitment of 6 months, I imagine the IO will call the gym you'll say you are currently training at.

6

Positive********

Positive********

Right. It shouldn't be an issue for the ones who keep training under their 5 years Muay Thai DTV and are prepared to prove it.

1

Michael ********

Michael ********

PositiveLynx7934 you no need to train Muay Thai 5 years lol

This is only the reason to apply dtv. DTV doesn't force you to do it 5 years.

3

Michael ********

Michael ********

Anonimowy uczestnik 234 lol 😂 you're totally wrong

1

Anonymous ******************

Anonymous ******************

@Michael *******

the visa is intended to train muay thai. So, as long as you enter thailand under that visa immigration obviously expects you to do what the visa states. You also can not just flip from muay thai to cooking classes without changing the dtv visa subtype.

1

Positive********

Positive********

@Michael *******

Have you red the original post or? 🤣

0

Incognia **********

Incognia **********

i really dont understand stupid people dont use fast track service just 3000 4000 baht 6 months 3000 4000 baht too much??

0

YrMomsF*******

YrMomsF*******

@Incognia *********

because they already paid for the course and DTV visa?

1

Incognia **********

Incognia **********

YrMomsFavGuest can you see now getting stricker why taking risk just for 3 4K baht??Nobody paid for course 5 years.They only paid for 6 months

1

Incognia **********

Incognia **********

there are many denied.Also some of them shared here.But people dont believe them

0

Zess ********

Zess ********

@Incognia *********

we are still yet to see any reports of people being denied. Just questioned. Which is normal.

1

Anonymous ******************

Anonymous ******************

Is this individual currently enrolled in Tiger Eye?

0

BravePers*********

BravePers*********

It's not just soft power, digital nomad is looked at with deep scrutiny too, just a general crack down. Plus, the fact it's the only check for this guy, sketchy agent, Soviet bloc, is very telling

2

Guy ******

Guy ******

I bet it’s Phuket airport they are clamping down on all types of DTV.

1

Illya ********

Illya ********

Went through immigration recently. Not a single ask about my attendance

6

Positive********

Positive********

Imagine if they would question each single entry. 😏

0

Michael ********

Michael ********

because it's just another fairy tale

3

Banks ********************

Banks ********************

I’m not surprised immigration is starting to crack down on DTV Soft Power visas. Unfortunately, a lot of people seem to apply with no genuine intention of attending the classes or activities they used to qualify for the visa. Instead, some appear to be using it simply as a way to stay in Thailand, and in some cases, possibly to work illegally.

When people abuse a visa program, it’s inevitable that immigration will respond with stricter enforcement. The unfortunate part is that it makes life harder for those who applied in good faith and genuinely want to use the visa for its intended purpose. A few people abusing the system can end up affecting everyone.

16

Steve ********

Steve ********

Banks freezing accounts the problem is the soft power DTV itself. Why do you issue a Visa for 5 years but only request a course of 6 months. The visa holder can stay, based on the DTV, for another 4

***

years but what are they doing then? Might be nothing and living on the small 500k savings or work (remote) illegally.

5

Michael ********

Michael ********

Steve Wigdel if you got DTV visa you can work remotely. And 500k is enough for 5 years of living in Thailand, many Thais families live for less.

2

La ***************

La ***************

@Michael *******

darling 500k in THB is only $15,000. This money can last a year in Thailand.

0

Michael ********

Michael ********

Banks freezing accounts it's enough. Not for morons but for simply living is enough. A lot of Thais living with less budget.

It's almost 10k baht a month. I know Thais who earning that amount. Also Filipino. They renting a room for 2500 baht (and living 2 of them in 1 room) and usually pay electricity bill less than 1000 baht. So they still have 6k for food what is more than enough. As you can see, it's enough. Not for living what we know but for Thais, Filipino or Indian is definitely enough.

1

Banks ********************

Banks ********************

500k is not enough to live in Thailand for 5 years. Lay out off the weed man 😆

0

Banks ********************

Banks ********************

Steve Wigdel I agree. It doesn't make much sense to issue a 5 year visa based on just 3–6 months of "studying" with no further requirements after that. I think if someone is applying for the DTV through the Soft Power route and is only enrolling in a 3–6 month course, the financial requirement should be increased to at least 2 million THB, or they should be required to sign up anbd pay upfront for a course that lasts the full 5 year duration of the visa.

2

Angelo ***********

Angelo ***********

Banks freezing accounts The problem is not really if they attend or not. But the f-a-k-e-d paper work. So, Immigration is turning it around: your papers look strange, did you ever visit the place? Which MRT/BTS do you exit? Oh you do not even know where your gym is? And so on ...

4

Michael ********

Michael ********

@Angelo **********

bs

0

Christopher ******

Christopher ******

Called this a while ago... Gonna be a whole lotta people getting their visa pulled.

Cooking is next.

13

Matthew *******

Matthew *******

if you say so

I know plenty of people in a certain part of the country who have manipulated it for years

Never went to class at all

0

Banks ********************

Banks ********************

@Christopher *****

Agree. Getting a five year visa by taking just three months of cooking classes was always an unsustainable loophole. The writing was on the wall from the very beginning.

7

Matthew *******

Matthew *******

Banks freezing accounts how many people have been on ed visas for years and never gone to a single class ?

It’s never ending

All these crack downs we hear about never seem to happen or last long if they do

4

Christopher ******

Christopher ******

Im on a legit Digital Nomad visa. I dont have a bank account though... I usually just take out 25k at a time.

0

Dany ********

Dany ********

@Matthew ******

plenty of checks on ED actually. and one course you can only do once on ED. crackdowns happen significantly on that visa

0

David *******

David *******

Good

0

Anonymous ******************

Anonymous ******************

The confusing part here , for me, is you can change gyms at any time during the 5 year visa . So was the call ,from the IO, to confirm the paper paper work naming Tiger Eye or was it to confirm this person had been training at Tiger Eye.

0

Dennis *********

Dennis *********

Anonymous participant 780 i would imagine you would want to inform immigration as a specific school what the visa is attached to, and if this person actually is registered and attending another school they can show this to thai immigration when asked.

0

James ********

James ********

Anonymous participant 780 you are expected to train at the Muay Thai training gym that you submitted with your DTV visa application for the number of months submitted and approved by the Thai Embassy or Consulate.

After you have completed that length of course you are Free to train wherever you want.

7

Matty ****

Matty ****

There's people on tiktok openly admitting that they use AI to get the bank statements for their DTV. Not to mention the random Nigerians they find that have overatay visa by like 12 years and they never got caught.

Your gym should be the least of their concerns .

Probably trying to weed out people with the DTV. They set the qualifications too low and they know it.

That's why you're seeing a rise in the number of homeless Expats

I have one friend that qualified for the DTV that has hundreds of thousands of dollars in his checking account..

Most of the people that qualify for the DTV are barely along the borderline of having 15 grand which is not enough to move overseas.. I've lived for almost a decade and I can tell you if you move over there with 15 grand you're going home sooner or later.

DTV set the bar too low. And the government knows that now. .

Finding reasons to cancel is what I would do too. They were looking for Big spenders and they didn't get them..

9

Rick ****

Rick ****

Setting the bar high just keeps the honest people out. The reality is that there is no real way to verify what you say on your application.

0

Ashton **********

Ashton **********

interesting to single out Nigerians.

2

Sam ********

Sam ********

@Ashton *********

interesting that you're so ignorant of the fact that Nigerians are some of the world's worst scammers and drug dealers. They are a parasitic infestation on every country they invade.

0

Zess ********

Zess ********

I originally came out here with around 15k a few years ago. Still going strong. I didn’t plan to. Came on holiday and decided to never go home. I don’t think I’ll ever be moving back home tbh.

2

Banks ********************

Banks ********************

I think the bar was set way too low, especially for the Soft Power route. All you needed was 500,000 THB in a bank account, which could easily have been transferred by a family member, and then a 3- to 6 month cooking class with virtually no ongoing requirements for a 5 year visa lol

1

Matty ****

Matty ****

Banks freezing accounts I've seen one expat get evicted from our building that came over here for $30,000

First off the the whole story that people do on YouTube that you can live here comfortably on 700 dollars a month is a lie.

.

But yeah a cooking class in 15 grand is not a qualification to move to another country 😂

1

Zane **************

Zane **************

i came here with just 500 bucks to my name and that was 6 years ago. Found a job switched my Visa had two kids and still going strong..... Definitely possible

0

Ciarán *******

Ciarán *******

yea you can. Easily.

1

Greg ********

Greg ********

Good info and confirmation it can happen. I know of one definite other case as the person posted himself it happened. I have met the person too at events in Chiang Mai. In his case the gym confirmed he was a member.

6

James ********

James ********

Thank you

for sharing this with us...👍

This has happened before ...a month ago to two fellas from a "former Soviet bloc country" with the DTV visa were questioned by Thai Immigration officers as they arrived for their 3rd entry into Thailand since their DTV visa was issued.

The Thai Immigration Officer asked which DTV they had... Muay Thai was their answer. Officer then called the Muay Thai training gym... Gym said they never had trained there.... DENIED entry AND they had to buy one way ticket to return to where their flight ✈️ was from in Vietnam.

5

Oliver ********

Oliver ********

just say it, they are from Russia.

1

James ********

James ********

@Oliver *******

they were not from Russia. Close to it though 🤗

0

Anonymous ******************

Anonymous ******************

Which agency did you use to get your DTV Visa?

0

Relaxing********

Relaxing********

Well what are soft power meant to do then if there 6 month course expired already?

1

Wannikea *********

Wannikea *********

RelaxingFrog7053 the expectation isn't that you're going to have back to back courses etc for the next five years. A lot of people are asked by the embassy what their plan is over the course of the visa, So I would expect that some would be exploring, some be relaxing, some be learning, some be participating in something informal, and some just deciding what's next.

2

Jon **********

Jon **********

RelaxingFrog7053 Get another 6 months or why not another year

5

YrMomsF*******

YrMomsF*******

RelaxingFrog7053 we are meant to pay the Thais because we are cash cows. Ideally just pay and don't even come.

So much for soft power

11

YrMo****

YrMo****

YrMomsFavGuest come back home, and get a job we are struggling over here!

0

YrMomsF*******

YrMomsF*******

YrMom555 why should I get a job if your mom pays all my expenses?

0

Mar***

Mar***

YrMomsFavGuest no one is forcing you to be in thailand

1

Jord ******

Jord ******

Should be thankful you got given a 5 year visa for a 6 month course 😅

2

Anonymous ******************

Anonymous ******************

Which agency are you using that said you were going to the gym ?

0

Khun *********

Khun *********

Unfortunately a massive crackdown is on its way …

1

Luit *****************

Luit *****************

Why unfortunately? Enforcing rules should be no problem for applicants complying with rules.

2

Srey *******

Srey *******

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

the problem is the program was poorly thought out and executed and way too many visas issued

So people who are following the rules will probably get caught up in the mess

Of course the money for applications has already been banked so make of that what you will

1

Luit *****************

Luit *****************

That would indeed prevent the abuse, but punish the people with (very) long medical treatments and long term Muay Thai trainiing.

But as always the good are punished by behaviour of the bad.

0

Khun *********

Khun *********

Absolutely !!! Duration of the visa should equal the duration of the activity. Big open door to abuses of all kinds… Total nonsense.

0

Srey *******

Srey *******

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

whole point is that it makes no sense to offer a 5 year visa for these activities in the first place

If they really want to do this, you make the duration of the visa equal to the duration of the activity i.e. you do 6 months of cooking classes you get a 6 month visa

1

Luit *****************

Luit *****************

Most countries that offer 5 year multi entry visa have more restrictions, like Schengen visa with maximum 90 days in a 180 days period to prevent using it to live in the country.

Not implementing checking mechanisms indeed make abuse predictable.

The problem they have is what to do with somebody who has the intention to do Muay Thai training for lets say 3 years.

Unreasonable to ask for showing a 3 year pre paid contract.

1

Srey *******

Srey *******

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

yes but if we're being honest the problem was obvious from the start

No other country issues a 5 year visa to people who sign up for 6 months at a gym or cooking class

The result was predictable

1

Luit *****************

Luit *****************

I agree it was poorly thought out, especially the softpower part.

Technically it is easy to issue a 5 year visa that only should be used as long as you participate in the softpower activity, but without enforcement a lot of people start using it as a general visa for all kind of other purposes having no connection at all with the purpose for which it was issued.

1

Adnan ***********

Adnan ***********

Probably ru membre

1

James ********

James ********

@Adnan **********

you're getting close 😊

0

Positive********

Positive********

Let’s wait for the usual basic joke about IO asking to perform some Muay Thai at the desk. 😆 Yes IOs have phones.

1

Dany ********

Dany ********

Things are tightening around the Soft Power 👍

11

Rusty ****************

Rusty ****************

nice you must work for the Thai government eh?

4

YrMomsF*******

YrMomsF*******

@Rusty ***************

so much for soft power. Issue a stupid visa and then start enforcing the rules (not written clearly) whenever you feel like. Basically a scam

1

Rusty ****************

Rusty ****************

RelaxingFrog7053 yep agree with this - works great!

0

Relaxing********

Relaxing********

Soft power is great Visa which mainly has supported Muay Thai gyms around Thailand and given attendees basic self defense skills

2

Jeremy **********

Jeremy **********

YrMomsFavGuest it was “create a stupid visa” to make Yingluck look good bringing in more “tourists”. Immigration had no say in it. You don’t step on their toes, and the MFA stepped there.

1

Michael ********

Michael ********

YrMomsFavGuest much more often for workation

0

Darnell ********

Darnell ********

👀

1

Justin **********

Justin **********

Good call don't risk lying for the sake of it in order to cover someone else's a$$. You have a lot more to lose than the student and agency.

For all you know there could be a real crackdown on that agency for whatever reason

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