@Greg *******

DTV events run by TAT. They’ve done a few up in Chiang Mai where I am. Last one was last Friday.

Well some of us have gone out of our way to attend events put on by the authorities here to ask them the questions that come up in this group. I’ve been to 4 now, including one last week, and don’t plan on getting a DTV, especially after talking to the administrators directly.

Unequivocally they say it is unlikely anyone will be able to stay for 5 years with a few bounces, and potentially not even 2. In their words, it is a tourist visa in essence - it was designed and led by TAT btw, which tells a story in itself - with the ability to work and stay for longer periods. It is not a cheap way to reside here for a year, let alone 5. Act like a digital nomad and spend a few weeks here and there out of the country and you’ll likely stay under the radar, but you are in the hands of immigration who aren’t known to be consistent.

I’d highly recommend anyone to attend their events and ask questions relevant to your situation as the interpretations and gap-filling a lot of people are making are not how they are intended to be by the administrators of the visa. They are very open and are holding events at which people can go along and ask about it and their circumstances, so definitely go along to one.

For many who are genuinely digital nomads it is going to work out fine, for some others possibly not.

@Michael *******

well it defo read as inference. But anyway I’m not arguing with opinion here, just thought it might be helpful sharing what is currently being said by the authorities in direct response to some of the questions being asked. The response to your 180+180 was that you can apply, but there is no guarantee you will get it. Can is the key word - they don’t say will get.

And yep, this was the one on Friday. Took the opportunity to ask Shiv some questions as it’s the second time I’d met him at one of these.

Again, I’d recommend speaking to them directly at these events as some of the assumptions and interpretations being held by a lot of people on the DTV or hoping to be are misleading and in some cases incorrect.

Anyway, I’m out on this thread. People are welcome to accept or not accept what I’m sharing, it’s social media after all. Some might find it useful as not many will make the effort or be able to go.

@Michael *******

there was one in Chiang Mai on Friday at Yellow, and another in January at Alt. They ran several at launch at OneNimman and other venues. TAT run them - they were the authority who developed the visa, which I guess is telling that the tourism authority are the lead.

Just because you haven’t heard of something doesn’t make them a myth, as you seem to be inferring.

I don’t know when the next one will be, maybe contact them or do a Google search.

@Michael *******

as I say, go to a DTV event and have a conversation with them. Watching an interview with generic questions isn’t the same as the answers are being interpreted through an applicants lens, not through how it will be enforced. Just because something isn’t explicitly stated doesn’t mean it’s not how it’s going to be enforced - exactly how it was explained to me on Friday. They - or any country’s visa stipulations really - can’t and won’t cover every eventuality or situation, which I guess is why there are agents.

TAT are running events for people to attend, which most countries wouldn’t, so people can ask the questions they want answered so I would take advantage of it. I report on digital nomad visas, so go to keep up and hear directly from them, not because I plan to get one.

You are correct that it is new for Thailand too - that much they volunteered themselves - so there will be a learning curve for them, but that’s what makes being patient a sensible decision atm.

Anyway, just passing on what answers to my questions were. Honestly, go along to one as the 2 or 3 who were with me that have the DTV were surprised about quite a few answers because they’ve misinterpreted the information - and missing information - that is out there. Plus they put on free food and drink!

@Michael *******

I suggest anyone wanting to find out if how they want to use it will fly goes to a DTV event and speaks to them. I’ve been to 4 (not that I plan on getting one) and spoken to the reps twice afterwards and they will tell you it is based on tourist visas and that it isn’t designed for long term stay. It’s not for remote workers to live here, it’s for digital nomads who will spend time in other places too, even if Thailand is their base. They have the power to manage it how they please because the way they’ve worded it, which they seem quite pleased about.

Anyway, my point being people interested in one should go to an event and speak directly to them about the questions they want answers to as they are not written in the documentation, basically purposely. Most people are choosing to interpret the wording how they want to, rather than consider how immigration will choose to enforce it.

Well worth going along is all I’d say as it would clear up a lot of the different assumptions people are making.

@Paul ******

yep, you’ve nailed it there. If you look like you’re a digital nomad and spending a few weeks here and there out of the country you’re likely to have little issue. Almost word for word what they were telling me.

@Paul ******

@John *********

the METV is exactly the analogy, they have based it on that, and I’ve had it in the same past. The issue a lot of people trying to stay long term on it is that it’s not a guarantee to get back in just because you have the visa. Imm can still deny entry, which they already are it seems - though there is nuance in every case.

The reps on Friday were surprised but also not surprised to hear of so many extensions and re entries being problematic so early, but expect it to be for many trying to stay long term on it going forward.

I offered the example of someone leaving CM for smoky season and going abroad for 3 months to avoid it as one that would probably be ok, and that seemed to be a situation that would fit the intention of the visa. That said, he wasn’t immigration and this is Thailand which has a rep for being a tad inconsistent at the pointy end.

@Paul ******

he’s right. I’ve been to 4 DTV events - including one yesterday where I’ve chatted to the same people who came up with the visa twice now - and they confirm it is effectively tourist rights but you can work remotely on. It is not a visa to stay here for 5 years, or any extended period, it is just usable over a five year period. A couple of people who were there are now very concerned as they decided to interpret it that they can stay for 5 years.

@Paul *******

sounds likely that similar to tourist visas - which this effectively is in terms of rights, and in TATs words - if you try and stay for a couple of years with just border bounces they might well reject. We’ll see of course, but something to be aware of that it has never been intended as a route to stay for 5 years. They’re purposely vague on this in the presentations I’ve been to for it, but you ask them directly it’s advised not to use it for this.