@Greg *******

I hear it incessantly. Whining about the annual visit to immigration, or whining about how much visa agents are charging to do it for them. Both of those are gone at the stroke of a pen. Organised crime gangs can also come in on a visa exempt and get a dodgy "volunteer" visa, can't they? It's gone on for years, but the pro-agent lobby turn a blind eye. The only difference is now, the visa agents have had their lifeline strangled.

@Tommy *******

I haven't spoken to one person who's against it. The general consensus amongst retirees and those married to Thais is a resounding approval. I only know two digital nomads and they're positively for it. Personally I think it's fantastic. I know the reason government officials are against it. Their "tea money" perks have flown out of the window! Of course they're going to be upset! I'll bet Visa Agents will be crying too! 😂

@Tommy *******

Isn't that what Thailand wants? Saturation of westerners bringing in money? There's more to Thailand than Koh Phangan - what's that? Some kind of elite destination that only certain foreigners can visit?

@Greg *******

How does it differ from "agency visas" and continuously border bouncing? Expats have whined for years about how difficult it is to remain long term in the country, now their whining has been addressed, and what? They're now complaining it's too easy? Come on, WTF do they want?

@Tommy *******

I'm an expat and like many others, we welcome the DTV with open arms. It makes retirement and marriage visas much easier, and negates the need for an ED visa, or paying an agent, or forever scurrying to borders to bounce out and in. I don't see what the problem is

@Greg *******

I'm not denying that, but if Graham Heyes is saying the DTV is throwing up the scams, it's no different to what's been "going on for years" with other visas, surely? That kind of makes them all scams if it involves money under the table. It's a dishonest transaction - that's a scam

@Greg *******

So are visa agents a licensed bank? Or are they in fact paying bribes to immigration offices? And that's not a scam? 😂

@Euan ********

Are you referring to the "digital nomads" who hog free WiFi in coffee shops playing on their computers? They do that on visa exempt entries with continual border bounces already

@Graham ******

Charging baht or so for a 1900 baht visa? 😂. Go on, tell me it's not a scam!

@Graham ******

I said this four weeks ago. ED visas, non-O retirement, marriage and volunteer are all redundant. Who in their right minds would get one of these clunky, overregulated visas when they can get a streamlined DTV at a cheaper price? I'm going to change to DTV from retirement before next extension