I don’t know why they would - but that was their own very claim at the launch of the LTR. I would agree that 1m was too ambitious to begin with - but not even 5000 after 2 years clearly shows that the requirements don’t align with people’s realities.
It seems that is their approach, yes. An approach of looking at the labor market as if the world would still be in the 1980ies. Happy you enjoy your LTR. Maybe some day I will apply again. I could easily get a big client to give me a work contract. Just don’t feel like changing my tax optimized income just to please some bureaucrats in brown uniforms at the moment. 😅
No doubt. It is a good visa to have. But it’s underlying requirements need to be improved and adjusted to realities of a big part of people that would also be the target group.
As I said: I feel you. Having moved around Thailand quite a bit over the years, I was always so turned off by the fact that what should be the same in all immigration offices is usually handled most inconsistently - sometimes to a point where I felt they are making things up on the go, office by office.
Wasn't aware of that. I hear you. Overregulating the tiniest details to a point where in the end people won't be eligible anymore is what they keep doing over and over again, sadly. And yes on your comment: but people can lose their jobs both in big companies or in SME. No difference. And similar to that: People can spend or lose all their assets after applying for a LTR. That is why the LTR is issued for 5 years first - and then new proof of requirements must be presented for the other 5 years. Their requirements do not make sense in both cases / categories.
It has been quiet around the DTV for a good while. But ... there are some sparks of activity. There is one Thai consulate, that already lists a visa price for the DTV ... did you know that? Doesn't mean anything ... but could mean that things are moving forward 😉:
Sounds familiar. The LTR was supposed to come with that one rai promise, too. And it would make so much sense. Just one rai to build a private residence on. Would be easy to manage and control.