Correct. But they still harassed people coming by air.

A few people did get sent back from where they came from by airport immigration. I think one even had a visa obtained in a neighboring country.

I’m not trying to fear monger and I hope I’m not spreading misinformation. Thailand immigration was super strict before Covid.

Even with retirees. One friend couldn’t get his visa renewed because he failed to make a deposit in July despite not being in Thailand the entire month. Little things like that.

Families were leaving. Packed up the wife and kids and left for partner’s home country.

Other retirees were seen as undesirable and pushed out. Many of them landed in Cambodia.

Post Covid the illegal Chinese gambling dens being cracked down on made it extremely hard to get ED and volunteer visas. Not just the back door ones but the fully legit ones.

The new DTV is shocking in its ambiguity, easiness to obtain, length of stay, and duration of visa.

It almost doesn’t make sense… except all the other half-thought out initiatives didn’t work (attract anywhere close to the number of applicants they hoped for) so it’s time for something new.

It sure is a lot easier to stay/work/live in Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos.

We are in this group and don’t want to live in those places.

Legally yes. In practice, we will see.

Before Covid even offshore workers coming here every 6 weeks by plane were being hassled.

Googled it, read it, still not convinced they’ll have the coordination here to enforce it.

Who is going to make me apply for a TIN?

The only taxes I’ve paid are VAT and a tax on earned interest in my Thai bank accounts.

@Gra***

you keep saying that all of the time. Is it a scare tactic? Is it trolling? I’m not paying anyone any tax until I’m told to do so.

Pulling money out of an ATM with a foreign card is somehow going to be linked to my resident status and coordinated with another ministry of whatever to issue a tax bill. That involves no less than 3 departments sharing information and working together.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

One source tells me the extension fee is 1900฿ not 10,000฿.

And yes, if you extended at immigration you would need to show all/most of the paperwork you used to get the visa including financial evidence.

Roundtrip airfares to Malaysia and Vietnam are 3000-6000฿.

Also, depending on where you are based in Thailand there are easy land border crossings with Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

Thanks for your help.

@S**

these things are good to know. I reported what I found.

Is it significantly more than 10,000฿ or is it 10,000฿ done at a poor exchange rate?

How many months of statements is it supposed to be? Would you advise having 6 and submitting 3 unless more are requested?

What places are specifically NOT accepting the sponsorship letter?

Yes.

Savings

Retirement

Brokerage

@S**

but what about the art and music festivals?

You wrote in another post ongoing medical treatment.

But festivals might be only once per year, so how does it work?

Thanks for clarity.

Is someone organizing the details by consulate?

That would be a helpful resource for this group.

The workcation people will apply from their respective countries but I suspect there are a lot of people already in Thailand who would visit Laos, Vietnam, or Malaysia to apply for a DTV.