@Jim *******

I think I am the OP 😉

@Ben **************

If you have enough money to also afford to book a “Thai Soft Power” recreational course like boxing or language course … yes.

@Johannes ****

I think it will talke more than just days to have tax related aspects answered. Quite a bit unclear regarding tax at this point. From what I gathered so far: if taxable - only on foreign income actually transferred into Thailand (bang transfers to Thai bank account in own name). Cash / credit card deductions can’t be tracked. Practical issue: right now it would not even be possible to get a Thai tax id without work permit or passive income from within Thailand. I am diving deeper into that.

@Johannes ****

Very good questions. I have the same.

@Klaus **********

Yes. We are all still a bit in the dark regarding what kind of supporting documents actually will be accepted. I hope the consulates will update their takes on that within the next days. It is more open than just a strict employment contract, as freelancers and the like are also invited. But there would need to be some kind of prove of an income from abroad.

@Lee **********

Thanks. I am trying. I just still saw so much confusion even after the law was published in the Royal Gazette - so I thought I explain it with this analogy to the METV which some people know and understand already.

@Klaus **********

No indication so far that it needs to be in a Thai bank account. Highly unlikely this will be required, as this visa is geard towards people outside of Thailand. A savings account in your home country will do. A screemshot or something won't - send a real account statement with your name on it.

@Puja ********

Within the E-Visa system, while the form asks for your arriving border and plane and for an address in Thailand, there is no more actual prove of that required in terms of uploading flight tickets or hotel bookings. Why some consulates still ask for that is beyond me ... but that is what they tend to do ... each cook their own soup at times.

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

Feel free to do so 😉 I never dove deep into the Elite visa. I never considered to pay that kind of visa fees for the mere "benefit" of being allowed to spend more of my foreign money for longer in Thailand. I think with both the LTR and the DTV in place now, the Elite visa should be dead. The Elite would have made sense at the time, if it came with better benefits, like tax exemption, work permit, or right for personal land ownership - but it didn't.

@Tom *******

I wish 😃 That is the Thai governments wording. I never quite got it. They mean attending leisure activities like boxing or language courses. But it is unclear of how long or extensive such a course would need to be to qualify.