@Sefton *******

I know a guy who imports machinery. He says it is easier to go and negotiate yourself and often cheaper than an agent if anything gets stuck :-)

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@Tim ****************

Agree on the Business side. They could make the visa and ownership of companies easier. They could limit it to or totally exclude certain sectors like entertainment and tourism but allow easier set up for digital, IT, AI etc.

@Andy ***********

We know the initial DTV is easily available with medical appointments. what happens if Immigration want to see ongoing requirements and/or improvement. Remember the ED Visa and what happened there.

@Sefton *******

Exactly - at least i Singapore there was a process to follow and you had some indication. In Singapore it was nearly always our colleagues with "Weaker" passports applied for PR. Then certain nationals were using it as a bridge to other countries like USA in the main or UK to a lesser extent Singapore cracked down. A good pal of mine could not get it in Singapore after 10 years in a priority segment as a senior manager. He got a UK Visa easily and is on his way to settlement. In fact I know two guys very well in this situation.

@Andy ***********

A hip replacement per year? :-)

@Andy ***********

In the group I know (small sample, anecdotal) I do not think I can name one person who has not travelled each year. If the only advantages are saving 25-30k a year in agents fee's that may be critical for some if they do not have 800k at hand. They need 500k for the DTV????

@Tim ****************

I was in Clinical Research for well over a decade then ran projects and large PMO's - I am very much a data guy 🙂 Unless I want to do some remote work in Thailand I cannot see advantages of going from "O" to DTV. The Smart "S" Startup is attractive too for the tax advantages. Dealing with BOI is much easier than any other department I have had dealings with here - they actually encourage business. Then again that is their role :-)

@Sefton *******

Many of my colleagues in Singapore were incredulous that a few of us would not go for PR. It was pretty much guaranteed in our industry (Pharma) you would get it after a minimum qualifying period. This was 20 years ago - within a few years it was very difficult to get unless you were Chinese heritage. At the BOI company were were at the foreigners were on the flat 15% tax - people were worried PR would effect that :-)

@Tim ****************

If the 800k Agents are suffering then so are Immigration. This is a very nice little earner for many Immigration Offices. As they say, "Never break a mans rice bowl". Good point about extra numbers. Yes, there will be some new people and many already here on visa runs or Ed etc will find it easier to stay longer. As for retirees switching switching - I do not know anyone doing it. Then again anecdotes do not make data but they do make cognitive bias for some :-)