@Nigel *******

No. Technically, I am still within the 20 working days (due to public holidays and their APEC leave) they initially stated the process could take.

@Nigel *******

Thanks. I see. Received a similar mail, but the name part was a generic designation. Maybe the intern. 😅

@Brandon ***********

One thing I hope is, that when entering on another visa exemption, presenting the qualification endorsement to the immigration officer (explaining to her / him that the purpose of yet another entry is to collect the LTR visa) might smooth things over. But who knows. Would be much nicer to get the LTR into ones passport before leaving.

@Nigel *******

Out of interest: How did you learn the name of your case manager? In their online portal the "staff name" column only changed from generic things like BOI008 to BOI001 and now Screen1. And the one email I got (a whooping two weeks after initial submission) requesting one of the documents to be "translated by notary" (machine translated version by Google wasn't good enough) also did not contain any name. Also, may I ask what category you applied for?

@Brandon ***********

I see. There should really be an option to extend the / or issue another qualification endorsement without having to start the whole process all over again. Fingers crossed all works out for you. I hope I will get it before I go home over Christmas myself. Would prefer not having to risk entering on visa exemption or TR visa again (after having been shaken down on my last entry due to many stamps in my passport).

@Brandon ***********

I feel you. The "qualification endorsement" is valid for 60 days, right? So, with some luck, you won't receive it before another week or two have passed and then will be able to use it after your return. Or you would have to pay the inflated rate at a foreign consulate.

Yes, the LTR team at BOI seems committed to the cause. However, in general, many flaws remain: 1) The criteria - over the top in almost all categories (not reflecting the realities of the people to be attracted). 2) The amount of required documents to be submitted (had to upload 9 different documents, some of which had to be costly translated and notarized, first). 3) The length of the process (started my submission October 28, yet still the process is pending). 4) The issuing of the new visa (a: in-country still only possible at their HQ in Bangkok and not at major immigration offices like Chiang Mai and b: issuing at consulates outside of the country at a significantly more expensive rate of up to 130% of those 50k THB). Overall they set out to attract 1 million people, while currently only receiving about a mere 1000 applications / month - most of which in the retirement category (so from people who had it easy before already). So quite some things to be improved, yet. But certainly a welcomed step in the right direction.

@Stuart ********

Nice one. Would have never thought about applying a second time for a regular extension that is only granted once in order to get additional 7 days. Edge case, but interesting.

Although I am usually not a big fan of that organization, in your edge-case of having cash in a foreign currency that you want to wire in that foreign currency, WesternUnion might do the trick for you.

In their dreams maybe. Watch me travel to another province without it. 😅 But seriously, the only scenario I could think of where this would make sense and would be appreciated is while being under consideration. Cause so far one would have to return to the original immigration office in that case - which is highly inconvenient.