[elcidcampeador]

What exactly does this visa provide other than priority immigration?

Most business airfares provide priority lane passes for BKK, although only Thai F class will provide the golf cart service. I've even been offered them when flying Cathay in economy as an economy class flyer with elite status.

[Cheetah]

Quote:

I got some friends who use tourist visas, and they start to get questioned after 3 or 4 consecutive entries.

You mean visa waivers?

Did your friends have any problem to gain entry after being questioned?

[Rawmeo]

Especially visa waivers, but it also happens with tourist visas. Immigration officers start saying that you're not a real tourist. Even if you have a valid tourist visa in your passport, after 4 times, you can start to get questioned. A friend had to argue a bit to be able to enter, and how he's afraid of his next visa run.

[Satoshi]

(07-26-2016 10:23 PM)Rawmeo Wrote:  

Especially visa waivers, but it also happens with tourist visas. Immigration officers start saying that you're not a real tourist. Even if you have a valid tourist visa in your passport, after 4 times, you can start to get questioned. A friend had to argue a bit to be able to enter, and how he's afraid of his next visa run.

Why don't he have the elit visa? Problem solved.

[zatara]

That elite visa is a great deal. The concierge services alone would probably be worth 1k a year, nevermind the actual visa.

Makes sense from Thailand's point of view too since they get a decent bit of cash, and it no doubt helps attract/keep wealthy western expats there.

[booshala]

First I've heard of the elite visa... granted it's a pretty big up-front cost, but compared to a lot of other countries that require 6 figure US bank balances 500k baht isn't totally unreasonable. I'm likely going to try and get in on an education visa at first, but this might be a great way to lock in something solid. Good looking out as usual, Rawmeo.

[Kdog]

I plan on getting the Hiso Royal Visa. It's only $250,000 USD for 5 years, it's super good value though as there are no visa runs. They pick you up from the airport in an H2 Hummer, and even have an ass wiping service included. You also get 3 Go Go Bar fuck vouchers per year!

[GlobalMan]

(07-28-2016 04:16 AM)Kdog Wrote:  

I plan on getting the Hiso Royal Visa

[Satoshi]

(07-28-2016 04:16 AM)Kdog Wrote:  

I plan on getting the Hiso Royal Visa. It's only $250,000 USD for 5 years, it's super good value though as there are no visa runs. They pick you up from the airport in an H2 Hummer, and even have an ass wiping service included. You also get 3 Go Go Bar fuck vouchers per year!

Like getting your ass bungunned wasn't enough! Would you share a vouchers bro?

[Kdog]

Absolutely man. I don't need them anyway. I bang Hiso models that drive Lambo's and hangout in Thonglor.

[Pestano]

That visa is currently sold out. DVY has bought them all

[Lechon]

VIP meet and greet, immigration fast track and golf cart is available to anyone, but it costs ฿2848 one way.

https://www.limousine.in.th/fast-track-immigration.html

The real benefit is you don't need to travel in and out of the country for 5 years, which probably isn't even possible anymore now. Add up 4x5 visa runs, which need to be by plane, and it's expensive. Now they have 6 month tourist visas, but you need to go back to your home country for them, so then it's even worse.

The hassle of having to get out of the country really wears on you after a while. Why live somewhere that throws you out every 3rd month or forces you to go home twice a year? Better to stay somewhere else.

Last time I looked language schools were the best alternative for most longstayers, they give visas as long as you're a student there. If you want to stay in Thailand you should learn Thai anyway.

[WalkingMan]

(07-26-2016 04:00 AM)Rawmeo Wrote:  

I've always been a huge fan of the Thailand Elite visa. Pay 500,000 baht (around USD $16,000) and you just bought peace of mind for the next 5 years. No questioning, priority entry. That was one of my best moves here.

I am honestly considering this once I have 16k to spend.

[Kamaki4]

(07-28-2016 10:14 AM)Lechon Wrote:  

The real benefit is you don't need to travel in and out of the country for 5 years, which probably isn't even possible anymore now. Add up 4x5 visa runs, which need to be by plane, and it's expensive. Now they have 6 month tourist visas, but you need to go back to your home country for them, so then it's even worse.

The hassle of having to get out of the country really wears on you after a while. Why live somewhere that throws you out every 3rd month or forces you to go home twice a year?

With almost all of the long stay visas, no need to leave the country, so I don't know what you're talking about. Once the 1 yr visa expires, just go to immigration and extend it for another year. I know one married guy who hasn't physicaly left Thailand in 9 years, although why anyone would want to stay in any country that long without leaving, escapes me.

[Lechon]

(07-28-2016 07:25 PM)Kamaki4 Wrote:  

With almost all of the long stay visas, no need to leave the country, so I don't know what you're talking about. Once the 1 yr visa expires, just go to immigration and extend it for another year. I know one married guy who hasn't physicaly left Thailand in 9 years, although why anyone would want to stay in any country that long without leaving, escapes me.

So you're suggesting people should get married so they can stay long term? In Thailand, unlike other SEA-countries, you need a good reason to get a long stay visa. And they make it hard to get one to limit the amount of broke-assed farang loitering in Thailand without spending enough money. If you want a long stay visa, you need to

- be over 50 and have a combination of a ฿65k/month pension and ฿800k bank deposits
- be married to a Thai national and have a declared, combined income of ฿40k/month
- study at a university/language school
- work at a Thai sponsored place of employment (usually hard to get and the salary sucks)
- get a Thai Elite card

So unless you're a coffin-dodger or plan to get married, it's usually language school or Thai Elite unless you want to go on visa runs every 3/6 months (or it used to be, when they allowed it). And generally the former is better if you're not too wealthy and busy, and the latter is better if you're a high roller with a busy schedule.

[RagnarLothbrok]

Quick question:

I just got my Non-Immigrant visa in Phnom Penh. Do I have to enter Thailand by air or can I just take a bus?

[Lechon]

(07-29-2016 04:28 AM)RagnarLothbrok Wrote:  

Quick question:

I just got my Non-Immigrant visa in Phnom Penh. Do I have to enter Thailand by air or can I just take a bus?

The problem with entering by land is if you're entering on visa exemption (you don't have a visa in advance). In that case you won't get the full 30 days. If you already have a visa and just need it stamped, you should be fine.

However, if you're travelling on back-to-back tourist visas (ie. you just made a visa run), who knows, maybe you're more likely to get one of those nasty stamps in your passport if you're going by land. But if not, no problem.

[Bushido]

^^ Not true. I got 30 days last time entering on land via Poipet.

[Lechon]

(07-29-2016 05:36 PM)Bushido Wrote:  

^^ Not true. I got 30 days last time entering on land via Poipet.

The rule says the 52 countries covered by the visa exemption agreement get 15 days by land, not 30 days like they do by air. However, some countries are exempt from the general rule, and get 30 days both ways. Some even get 90 days on visa exemption both by land and air.

Visa Exemption (Bilateral Agreement)

Passport Holders who can enter Thailand without a Visa

The VISA EXEMPTION RULE allows tourists from 52 countries to enter without a visa. They are granted a stay of maximum 30 days but only if entering Thailand via an international airport. However, persons, entering through a land border checkpoint from neighboring countries will be granted a maximum stay of 15 days.

[...]

UK, USA, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Macau, Hong Kong, Laos, Vietnam will receive 30 days in both airport or land border.

Korea, Brazil, Peru, Argentina and Chile will get 90 days in both airport and land border.

[Kdog]

90 days. For fuck sakes.

[Vronski]

As a side note, Ukrainians just get 15 days by air - if you go to Thailand with your Ukrainian GF and plan to stay 1 month, you'll have to leave the country once.

[Kamaki4]

(07-29-2016 05:36 PM)Bushido Wrote:  

^^ Not true. I got 30 days last time entering on land via Poipet.

All the G7 nations plus Russia, get 30 days at a land crossing.

[Kamaki4]

(07-29-2016 04:28 AM)RagnarLothbrok Wrote:  

Quick question:

I just got my Non-Immigrant visa in Phnom Penh. Do I have to enter Thailand by air or can I just take a bus?

With a Non Immigrant visa,, you can enter by air or land. I got my Non Immigrant visa in Laos and just crossed over by land.

[Kamaki4]

(07-30-2016 12:51 AM)Kdog Wrote:  

90 days. For fuck sakes.

Those are bilateral agreements. Thais also get 90 day visa free travel to those countries as well.

[Kamaki4]

(07-28-2016 11:07 PM)Lechon Wrote:  

(07-28-2016 07:25 PM)Kamaki4 Wrote:  

With almost all of the long stay visas, no need to leave the country, so I don't know what you're talking about. Once the 1 yr visa expires, just go to immigration and extend it for another year. I know one married guy who hasn't physicaly left Thailand in 9 years, although why anyone would want to stay in any country that long without leaving, escapes me.

In Thailand, unlike other SEA-countries, you need a good reason to get a long stay visa.

From a Thai perspective, having a good reason to stay long term seems logical.