@Greg *******

I don't know if immigration will have much say in the DTV. I do know that historically immigration try to make life very difficult for expats, but generally border control is a little different. It's easy for them to just stamp another 180 days. It's my intention to never apply for an extension.

@Greg *******

Haha! Foreigners flooding in is already happening in Australia! Bit late for that now! But sentiments for other countries is irrelevant. We're discussing the ease of obtaining the DTV and how it suits retirees. I can see you're losing your temper. I don't actually know anyone in On Nut, so I think you're referring to someone else!

@Greg *******

I don't use either of those "services" so I don't have to be careful at all. It's pretty common knowledge that there's a plethora of agents out there paying bribes to immigration officials to avoid the 800k requirement!! If someone has a schedule from a Thai hospital for a hip replacement what's dodgy about that? If the person ultimately decides to reschedule further down the track or to cancel altogether isn't that their prerogative? And I don't think I mentioned any dodgy company documents anywhere! I think you're overthinking my comments too much!

No limit

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

Yes I agree I should reword my sentiments to make sure people understand it's merely my viewpoint. However, there's nothing will convince me that the DTV is not here to stay. In time we will see how it's added to the economy by flooding Thailand with foreigners, all of whom are spending money. In a bad dream, Thailand believed by creating Elite and LTR it would encourage the "wealthy" to come here and spend money. They didn't really work, so they went the other way and opened the doors to everyone. Now it seems to be working. And sure there will be a lot of cheap Charlies in there living on toasted sandwiches and 7-11 coffee, but there's also going to be a lot of mid-rangers pumping money into the economy. You also have to remember there's an estimated more than 50% of retirees who skip the 800k by using an agent to bribe a government official, so that missing 800k isn't making much for the government. The DTV can eliminate that scam. I know of two people who have already switched to DTV and sacked their agents. So they're already k better off per year. I'm guessing (and it's just my opinion) many thousands more will follow. If (and it's a big if) the tax office start going after retirees, the DTV offers an excellent vehicle to avoid taxation. You have to remember that retirees aren't making money as such anymore so they're more careful with their existing savings. DTV offers retirees immense advantages. Many haven't seen it yet, but they will

@Greg *******

The guys I hang out with are predominantly Australian, so I guess you don't know how Australian Superannuation works. Many Australians amass large sums of superannuation savings through their lifetime, often amounting to $500k to $800k. On reaching 60 all withdrawals and defined pensions are paid totally tax free. Consider most super funds pay between 8 and 11% per annum tax free. Now work out how much interest people would lose by withdrawing 800,000 baht equivalent. Even at the lower end that's 64,000 baht per annum LOST. These guys are far from cheap Charlies. It seems you love to throw out the insults if people see things a different way. Yes I can only comment on a small demographic, but that small sector has gone 100% in favour of the DTV. And my Thai landlord is very happy with it (and I'm guessing he's not the only one!)

@Greg *******

Classic example of where words are manipulated. Nowhere did I say retirees would move upmarket in accommodation. This is your rigid approach to the DTV which is making you think this way. My landlord is letting to long-term foreigners and digital nomads (groups who previously had to rely on perpetual border bouncing to stay in the country can now confidently sign 12-month leases. You are probably from a younger age group, but the crusty old farts I hang around with are all 65+. Many view the DTV as a way out of the agent scam of paying /30 k each year for a dodgy extension. To register a company name in Australia is cheap and easy, and work contract templates are available on the web. As nothing has to be signed, countersigned, notarised, stamped or verified, the DTV represents the biggest game changer in Thailand visa history. It's just so easy to obtain. It works brilliantly for those who travel frequently with so many advantages. Cheaper over five years than non-O. Zero visits to immigration required. Opportunity to avoid the "expat income tax" net. Flexibility in travel insurance not having to be in the country at a specific time to apply for extension (as the non-O requires). No minimum funds requirement in Thailand (800k or 65k/month). Any retiree who cannot see these obvious advantages needs to "go to Specsavers" 😂.

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

I stated a definitive based on my own observations. The DTV is selling like the proverbial hot cakes. Within my own social circle, over half those people are on DTV. I know that's not representative of the whole country but it's pretty good market sampling. The landlord (Thai) I rent my condo from has eight such rental properties in the "Sukhumvit Area" from Thong Lor to Bang Na, many of which have been sitting empty since covid. In the last six months, he's filled all the empty condos with DTV'ers. He reckons it's the greatest government initiative to help Thai investors in history. Seeing as government officials and high ranking police are big condo investors I really cannot see the DTV fading into obscurity. But only time will tell. You believe the government will kill the goose which lays the golden egg, I beg to differ, but we'll see!

@Greg *******

Agreed there's no official figures, but going by these forums you have to admit there's been an avalanche of applications to embassies all over the world. Posts about DTV across these forums has been very high, dwarfing most other visa queries. I know these forums represent only a small percentage of visa applications, but even you'd know market research is carried out with samples of the population. The thing that does amuse me with the DTV is that it's one of the easiest visas to obtain. The number of retirees I personally know who have switched from non-O to DTV is now 15, ranging from remote working (and you would laugh yourself silly if you knew some of these guys, who haven't worked for years, let alone remotely), a dental treatment plan, a fictitious "hip replacement" and so on. Even with the easy process, these forums are filled with notes of "congratulations" to those who have been "successful". Some people find it more time and labour consuming to extend a 12-month non-O than to obtain a brand spanking new 5-year DTV. The whole thing is quite funny. It was designed to get foreigners into the country to put money into the economy and it's working. Too many government officials and high-ranking police have investment condos sitting empty but now slowly filling due to the waves of DTV'ers entering the country no longer scared to sign a 12-month lease. They're not official figures, but it's a pretty good yardstick. In my condo building alone I've several new neighbours all on the DTV. It's the biggest upsurge in new arrivals since covid.

@Tim ********

Yes. Thai Police Officer. Always work strictly in accordance with "the book". Took me a while to write that sentence, I was laughing so much.