@Jarek ***********

Never going to happen. Social media crap supplemented by tax "experts" touting for business. Fact remains only "assessable income" can be taxed. Savings which have accrued over a lifetime cannot be taxed and never will be

@Paul ******

You don't have to tell me about the pedantic practices at immigration offices. They are the 80% reason I'm switching to DTV. Although for me there's several other reasons, including much cheaper over the five year period but the opportunity to not visit an immigration office for five years is too good to pass over

@Paul ******

I didn't say they didn't. I said there were many who didn't see their families for long periods. There's no way there could be a blanket citizenship for all those married to a Thai. This would create an unwieldy situation for Thai immigration as there would be an avalanche of bogus marriages

@Paul ******

The DTV was a covid initiative, the same as the "covid extensions" and 45 days visa exempt. When introduced they all had an expiry date, unlike the DTV which doesn't. The 90-day marriage visa wasn't widely available and enabled by passing financial criteria. Surely if you're supporting a family in Thailand you should show you have the funds to do this. I don't know much about elite visas, but these are not administered by MFA or RTP so are a different topic altogether. I'm merely referring to the more popular and widely available visas. I don't see much change to DTV and I do see more retirees and marrieds moving onto this in the future

@Paul ******

It's true what you say, but as I said before, many foreigners with Thai families don't spend that much time in the country. There would have to be some sort of residency "test". One guy I know has a wife and two kids here, but only sees them for three months of the year. So I don't believe 15 months over a five year period should qualify someone for citizenship. No foreigner has any "right" to be here, it's whether they meet the requirements of the respective visa surely?

@Paul ******

Now we've entered the "should" zone instead of the "might" category. Yes, there's obviously scope to make things easier for long-term expats but these clunky old visas have been in place for many years with their pedantic requirements. The OX and LTR visas have made life easier for many, but I agree there's scope for more. As far as the "family" visas go, why should they be offering citizenship? How solid are many of these marriages. I know of guys who come to Thailand maybe three months of the year to visit their families. They spend more time away from them than with them. I'm sure Thai immigration is well aware of these strange situations and why offer citizenship to someone who's spent probably no more than 15 months in a five year period in the country, has never worked in Thailand, and never paid tax in Thailand. I can't see that ever happening

@Paul ******

"Might"? They "might" make it easier. They "might" make the visa 10-years. The world "might" end next week. I was going by past experience with Thai visas. They've never brought in a visa and then made widespread changes. A few have had minor "tweaks". Having said that it's so easy to be a digital nomad I'm surprised that everyone is not becoming a "remote worker". I know three guys personally who were previously on non-O retirement visas and hadn't worked in ten years or more, and are suddenly now digital nomads at 75+ years of age. We had to show one guy how to upload a video to YouTube so he could claim being a "content creator". It's just so funny!

@Todd ********

I was pointing out what COULD happen under the present Thai immigration laws. Chances of anyone getting caught randomly are extremely remote. I've lived in Thailand 15 years, never ONCE have I been requested to show my visa status, and only twice have I had to show driver's licence at road checkpoints and both of those during covid. But......

Unlikely to change. Thailand sometimes "tweaks" visa requirements but not any great degree.

@Pete ******

I was stating the small change to the tax rules is targeting wealthy Thai citizens, not the non-taxable retirees. Sadly, like many on Facebook you twisted what I said and inferred I was applying it to all expats. Many expats work in Thailand so if course they pay tax, many are digital nomads who, should they bring in untaxed money, will have to pay tax. I was referring to one category of expat. If you have full tax residency in Thailand and nowhere else, of course you must pay tax, that's the same everywhere in the world.