@Steven ******

but that would only mean no longer offering new ones. They would not cancel existing ones.

Look at the Thai visa pages, decide which visa suits your circumstances best, go through the requirements and make sure you can provide what is required, and then apply.

@Kevin ******

that’s interesting, as it wasn’t on them a few months ago - at least not on the ones I saw, which had been issued in Phnom Penh and Vientiene.

Sounds like the IO was assuming you were on a Soft Power DTV, and wondering how you can leave if you have registered for a course.

There is nothing on the passport or visa to distinguish between a Soft Powers one and a Workation option.

It is tricky to get reliable info.

Unless you know and trust the agent, it is hard to know if what they say is true, or is merely propaganda to drive you to using the other visas where they make more money.

On the other hand, this forum has plenty of know-alls who rubbish anything anyone says re issues with DTVs after they have been issued.

For my own personal opinion, based on living here in Thailand for many years, is that the Thais underestimated the popularity of DTVs, AND as usual, pressed ahead with launching them without fully thinking though the whole thing. Let’s be honest, getting a 5 year ME visa on the back of a 6 month Muay Thai course, really makes no sense, and is pretty much too good to be true. So, I do expect some reaction from the Thais at some point, but it is hard to say if this is already happening or not. The very least they will do is apply more rigorous checks, which they can do to both applications, and already approved visas (double checking on the legitimacy of documents, and the attendance on such courses). Further down the road it would not surprise me to see the Soft Powers option lose the 5 year visa and instead get a 1 year visa or maybe a duration based on the length of the course. But i doubt they would make that retrospective. Just opinion.

@John ******

i don’t have a DTV but am looking at one for my GF. It just seemed to me that the guys was trying to raise awareness on this, and he has nothing to gain, but is copping flak. Seems a bit harsh to me. Anyway, the agent in Pattaya that I mentioned is pulling out of the DTV market, because he does not want anyone using falsified docs coming back on him.

@John ******

I heard the same thing from avery reputable agent in Pattaya - so it’s not bs

@Ian ****

That doesn’t always work mate - the reason (‘Long Term Stay In Thailsnd’) is not always transferred along with the money so doesn’t always appear in the bank statement. Best thing to do is simply print out your Wise transfers to your Thai account, so they can match up the transactions. They are quite happy then.

That’s not a new thing, been happening for years with some IOs. All you need to do is print out your Wise transfers statement and bring that long with your bank statement, so that they can match up the transactions. Once you provide that, I’ve never had an issue.

A thai girlfriend