General Reports

[Stykler]

Less expensive than maintaining a Thai wife for 5 years

That's a good point.

[Stykler]

https://www.thailand-elite.net/easy-...-5-years1.html

Thanks for that. I wouldn't have thought it would be that expensive. Ouch.

[MonkeyPaw]

Right now, it seems that the best way to get to Thailand this year is to get an Elite visa, 500 K THB for 5 years.

We are in a world pandemic still. Just like Airlines and Hotels and travel agencies still trying to maintain cash flow, so are governments who depend on tourism. But they can change their minds all of sudden, so proceed with caution.

I know of someone who applied, approved, and bank transferred the fee. Then contacted the Thai Embassy in Houston for an appointment only to be told because of COVID-19, no appointments until situation clears. Sounds very oh so special, privileged and elite?

Just look at this like a hot Thai GoGo bar girl at Baccara. You want to pay all upfront without knowing her actual services and performance? Don't get mad if you get a CBJ and hand job to finish when the fine print includes limited quotas on repatriation flights.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Thailand/co...y_to_thailand/

I still recommend the "fake" medical tourist route with the ability to go step by step, no commitment, and ability to charge back your credit card for services not rendered. Does anybody know if the Elite Visa means you get to bypass the Thai Embassy approval process? If not, then there are many uncertainties.

[Downandup]

https://www.thailand-elite.net/easy-...-5-years1.html

There are a number of agents offering this visa, https://www.thai-elite.com/ it costs 2 million for 20 years, 1 million for 10 years and obviously 500 K for five years. Note that each one gives you a five year visa which on the longer cards, you still need to reapply for.

The elite visa seems to be the best option to get into Thailand if you are not already a resident with family or one of the very few small groups allowed to enter. You still need to go through the entry process.

[GettingFedUp]

Not having a crack at you here, but do you have a source for this? I can't find one.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...-allowed-entry However, whilst the Government has announced it, I notice Immigration has not updated their website as yet. It was mooted that the change would be effective 1 August.

500 K Thai Baht is US $16000 and for 5 years this means its around $3000 per year. A bit steep?

Less expensive than maintaining a Thai wife for 5 years or buying a business that will entitle you to a work permit (which I think you can only obtain in country but have to have the work permit to enter the country so catch 22 on that one). Other alternatives are a getting appointed to an Embassy or Consulate, bringing a film crew with you or getting a Myanmar, Laotian or Cambodian passport and working in a food factory.

I think the OP maybe meant that the Elite Visa is about the ONLY way for a tourist to get into Thailand at present. And even then you'll have to pay for 14 days quarantine (which is not self-isolation, "stay at home notice"" or similar but 2 weeks licking the windows of a hotel room).

[Tugga27]

Not having a crack at you here, but do you have a source for this? I can't find one. 500 K Thai Baht is US $16000 and for 5 years this means its around $3000 per year. A bit steep?

https://www.thailand-elite.net/easy-...-5-years1.html

[Stykler]

Right now, it seems that the best way to get to Thailand this year is to get an Elite visa, 500 K THB for 5 years.

Not having a crack at you here, but do you have a source for this? I can't find one. 500 K Thai Baht is US $16000 and for 5 years this means its around $3000 per year. A bit steep?

[Downandup]

Right now, it seems that the best way to get to Thailand this year is to get an Elite visa, 500 K THB for 5 years.

[MonkeyPaw]

I thought about doing breast augmentation because I still have hair, my teeth are good and I'm not very keen on changing genders.

On the other hand I read somewhere that in the case of a surgical intervention you had to stay 14 days in the hospital and that it served as quarantine but I'm afraid that I will serve as a Guinea pig as in The Island of Dr Moreau ((Island Of Lost Souls) Erle C. Kenton (1932) version).

And noooooo I know what you're going to say, I don't need a penis enlargement either.

Otherwise you're right I'm looking for a way to get in (before the end of the world).

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Health-Care/Thailand-attracts-hordes-of-Chinese-patients-despite-COVID

In case of actual surgery, you will have to stay for post operation care. But the level of care is dependent on the type of surgery and where you had the surgery. This is a bribe system. The list of ASQs are out. These are all Thai brands hotels and businesses. This is just a big scheme to bring in foreign dollars and foreigners under those nose of the Thai locals who do not want them here because of COVID fears. They range from 30,000 to 150,000 I believe for 14 days. 30,000 is closer to the hospital rates. So what does that tell you?

https://thaiest.com/blog/list-of-alt...otels-thailand

If you have real surgery, less of a bribe. If you are using this to sneak in, they want you to stay at more posh hotels. Nobody can force you to have a surgery after consultation. Good time for dental work because it has to be done in steps. Cleaning X-ray and exam. Consult. Root canals. Then crowns. But you can stop at any point while you are already here as you are already committed to at least 30,000 baht spending for your first 14 days. Change your mind after cleaning, exam, x day and then use your deposit for a teeth whitening. My advice is drop 5,000 for a deposit via credit card that you can always charge back if they don't approve your certification of entry. Go dental. I even have a buddy that's using the sex change route to drum up Thai sympathy at the Embassy in Houston for his return. What they want to hear is that "previously you have stayed in Thailand and so most of your medical records and rapport is here. You need to come back. Or you want to spend big bucks to do procedures in Thailand because their hospitals are well reknown as tops in the world. They want you to act like you know they've rebranded their country and it's working.

https://www.thailand-business-news.c...lness-hub.html

Remember to cancel that COVID-19 insurance once you test negative. So the expensive policy is for only a day or two. You will be tested on arrival. Your effective date starts day of travel. I heard there are repatriation flights leaving from only a few parts of the USA, so coordinate your flights to the departing airport. This all about the haves and the have nots. I'm not even sure if the extension until 26 of September is an extension or Grace Period. If it's an extension, then that means they are in not rush to kick anybody out who has money to live here. COVID is not going away even with a vaccine.

[Pimpampoumpipo]

I mentioned before. All it takes is a letter from a medical provider to be given to the local Thai Embassy for that certification or travel. It's what called a bribe even if it represents a down payment. Nobody can force you to undergo a medical treatment or surgical procedure "once you arrive. " You will still have to pay at the minimum 30,000 baht for quarantine at an ASQ which gave kick backs to the Thai government. You only mission is to get into the country. You can cancel COVID insurance at any time. Once here, you can apply for extensions or a O volunteer visa, unless you already have another type of visa on file. How much do you do for want to be here for the end of the world?

One mission: Just get in.

I thought about doing breast augmentation because I still have hair, my teeth are good and I'm not very keen on changing genders.

On the other hand I read somewhere that in the case of a surgical intervention you had to stay 14 days in the hospital and that it served as quarantine but I'm afraid that I will serve as a Guinea pig as in The Island of Dr Moreau ((Island Of Lost Souls) Erle C. Kenton (1932) version).

And noooooo I know what you're going to say, I don't need a penis enlargement either.

Otherwise you're right I'm looking for a way to get in (before the end of the world).

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Health-Care/Thailand-attracts-hordes-of-Chinese-patients-despite-COVID

[DanCee]

Specially for conspiracy theory enthusiasts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiMysGHKe9U&t=61s.

At least it shows that my posts interest you and it makes me happy.

Thanks, that one works fine for me.

Yes of course I'm interested. Maybe a bit grumpy from time to time and less appreciative than I should be. Must remember that it's nice to be nice (not a common trait on here it seems from some posters).

[Pimpampoumpipo]

Your link does not work (for me on more than one IP address and hardware). Maybe geospecific, but a waste of time and bandwidth for those of us lured into clickbait and your enigmatic introduction.

Is this deliberate or coincidence?

Specially for conspiracy theory enthusiasts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiMysGHKe9U&t=61s.

At least it shows that my posts interest you and it makes me happy.

[PinkPearl]

Well, I don't know where your sympathies lie and I don't care. Ha Ha. But you do seem to ignore some very relevant recent HK history. I wonder why?

As far as Fun in Shanghai goes: you can have that town. It is over priced and unsafe. Enjoy! It can't hold a candle to BKK, Pat, CGK, MNL or even Singapore or Macau. I wouldn't spend a night in Shanghai let alone punt there under the pre-Corona laws and I can't imagine the place getting any better post Corona or should I say post-Wuhan.

BTW, the Mainland totalitarians have already fucked up HKG mongering. That city was still pretty good for our mutual past time only 8 or 9 years ago. But it really sucks now and I am talking pre-freedom demonstrations back in fall 2018 and earlier. Read my trip report in HKG thread as of that November 2018 date.

Thanks for your many great reports, Natty.

I was surprised you said that about HKG. I'll have to check out your Hong Kong HKG November 2018 post.

BKK Bangkok.

Pat Pattaya?

CGK?

MNL Manilla?

What are your thoughts about Angeles City, PI? Cambodia? Vietnam? Taiwan? Malaysia? Indonesia? India? Napal? South Korea? Tokyo? Phuket, Thailand?

I'd guess all of China is relatively unsafe, getting worse & perhaps Hong Kong is also. And should we not add in Macau as well, since it also is under China's feet?

[PinkPearl]

Evidently the Nana Hotel freelancers were still there as recently as earlier this year. It seems only the names & faces have changed since I was last in Bangkok around 2014. Earlier today while watching a half dozen youtube videos of the location from 2015 to early 2020 I didn't recognize a single lady. Oh, and there's this place called Hooters that wasn't there before. In one video there were some sex workers standing in front of it.

In another video there were not many freelancers on lower sukhumvit from the NEP road to soi 5. While in the past there used to be many there, including Africans.

From relatively recent reviews of the Nana Hotel I've read, there were several reports of people finding the WiFi poor, something I had not previously experienced. I may have to reside elsewhere should I visit later this year, or in 2021 if LOS remains closed to farangs till the end of 2020. Which hotels have you found to have excellent WiFi?

Have you guys noticed any other changes in the NEP area in the past 5 years? Or in Thailand in general that people should be aware of?

[Balimassage]

I thought this was a sex board. Not a history and political board. Boring!

I second and third the motion. If there isn't a vagina in the post, don't post it.