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[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2487279]So here's the latest if you want to get in to Thailand.
Those who have an Elite Visa and invest 1 million can stay in Thailand long term and get a work permit.[/QUOTE]That's not right. The Thai Elite visa is 500,000 Baht for a 5 year stay, 1,000,000 for 10 years amd 2,000,000 for 20 years. There is absolutely no requirement to invest in anything and it is not a work permit. You seem to be merging the visa program with the work permit?
[QUOTE=Downandup;2487334]That's not right. The Thai Elite visa is 500,000 Baht for a 5 year stay, 1,000,000 for 10 years amd 2,000,000 for 20 years. There is absolutely no requirement to invest in anything and it is not a work permit. You seem to be merging the visa program with the work permit?[/QUOTE]It was just announced that if you join the Thai elite program and invest $1 million in Thailand you will get a work permit.
[QUOTE=Goatscrot;2487339]It was just announced that if you join the Thai elite program and invest $1 million in Thailand you will get a work permit.[/QUOTE][URL]https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1989351/work-permits-for-thai-elite[/URL]
Firstly, as with everything announced in Thailand, it has to pass cabinet approval. Time will tell and the Tourism Authority of Thailand has an even worse record than the Minister of Tourism on delivering on announcements (it was they who announced Elite Card would be allowed entry from July. Never happened and still hasn't).
Even then for THB 1 m you get a 10 year visa, for an extra THB 30 m investment you get a work permit thrown in. Alternatively you can set up a business employing 4 Thais on minimum wage (about THB 300 to 330 a day depending upon province) and get a work permit. Of course after the 10 years the investment may have appreciated but then again it may not or have become almost unsaleable because the sea or river view condo by then has one or more bigger developments blocking both the view and all daylight from it.
Caveat Emptor.
[QUOTE=GettingFedUp;2487394][URL]https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1989351/work-permits-for-thai-elite[/URL]
Even then for THB 1 m you get a 10 year visa, for an extra THB 30 m investment you get a work permit thrown in.r.[/QUOTE]31 million baht or $980,000 US allows you work in Thailand.
At $100 a Western bonk, that is 9,800 bonks.
Thais think Isaan pu$$ies are more valuable than gold.
[QUOTE=Goatscrot;2487339]It was just announced that if you join the Thai elite program and invest $1 million in Thailand you will get a work permit.[/QUOTE]Maybe this will help in clarifying the new expanded Elite program.
[URL]https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2020/09/25/rejigged-thailand-elite-card-promoting-country-as-an-oasis-for-the-wealthy/[/URL]
[QUOTE=Downandup;2487334]That's not right. The Thai Elite visa is 500,000 Baht for a 5 year stay, 1,000,000 for 10 years amd 2,000,000 for 20 years. There is absolutely no requirement to invest in anything and it is not a work permit. You seem to be merging the visa program with the work permit?[/QUOTE]Sure but AFAIK you can't actually get in to Thailand right now or in the foreseeable future with a Thai Elite Visa alone. The ONLY way Thailand will consider you to enter their country at this time is if you invest $1 M US. Even this is still at the proposal stage. Let me know if things are different because if all it takes is to buy a Thai Elite visa to guarantee entry to Thailand I've decided I will buy one. Have saved a ton of money not going to gogo bars, FKK clubs, and Las Vegas strip clubs in 2020. Not waiting another year and then another year to enter Thailand after the 2nd wave then the 3rd wave and 4th wave. Too many covidiots out there.
Getting a work permit would be nice. I would open up a good somtam shop where hot girls eat for free.
[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2487586]if all it takes is to buy a Thai Elite visa to guarantee entry to Thailand I've decided I will buy one. Have saved a ton of money not going to gogo bars, FKK clubs, and Las Vegas strip clubs in 2020. Not waiting another year and then another year to enter Thailand after the 2nd wave then the 3rd wave and 4th wave. Too many covidiots out there.
Getting a work permit would be nice. I would open up a good somtam shop where hot girls eat for free.[/QUOTE]And you can hire my Mini to be your sous-chef at the new restaurant. She makes a great som tam. It's her specialty.
But what about the Wuhan vaccine? It is coming soon and I think it will be the game changer. But in the extraordinary circumstance that the Thai Government chooses not to allow vaccine certified tourists into their country, a possibility I guess, then so be it. It will be their loss. Remember a couple of weeks ago we were discussing Cambodian entry requirements and it was shot down on account of the difficulty of obtaining a Cambodian visa, but I am almost 100% sure that Cambodia allow vaccine certified tourists back in even if Thailand says no and I will be happy to spend a couple months in Cambodia. The longest amount of time I ever spent in Cambodia was 2. 5 weeks and that included side trips to Angkor and Kep, but I think a 2 month visit might be very interesting. It would give me the opportunity to get to know the girls really good.
And of course the back up, back up plan is still Sao Paulo. Brazil is open NOW! No quarantine. I could fly down tomorrow if I were willing to chance it. The SP clubs are open and according to various reports doing good business (lots of girls and customers). That says a lot to me about the country and I am warming up to the idea of a SA trip even though it has been over 16 years since I was last there. I stopped going because I prefer the Thai culture and Thai girls, but a change might be real good I know I will just have to accept wading through a lot of silly cones and butt enhancements. Ha ha, but the bottom line is SP definitely has what I like. No question about that.
[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2487586]Sure but AFAIK you can't actually get in to Thailand right now or in the foreseeable future with a Thai Elite Visa alone. The ONLY way Thailand will consider you to enter their country at this time is if you invest $1 M US. Even this is still at the proposal stage. Let me know if things are different because if all it takes is to buy a Thai Elite visa to guarantee entry to Thailand I've decided I will buy one. Have saved a ton of money not going to gogo bars, FKK clubs, and Las Vegas strip clubs in 2020. Not waiting another year and then another year to enter Thailand after the 2nd wave then the 3rd wave and 4th wave. Too many covidiots out there.
Getting a work permit would be nice. I would open up a good somtam shop where hot girls eat for free.[/QUOTE]You can get in if you already have an elite visa.
[QUOTE=Downandup;2487334]That's not right. The Thai Elite visa is 500,000 Baht for a 5 year stay, 1,000,000 for 10 years amd 2,000,000 for 20 years. There is absolutely no requirement to invest in anything and it is not a work permit. You seem to be merging the visa program with the work permit?[/QUOTE]It seems that Thailand is merging them together: [URL]https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1989351/work-permits-for-thai-elite[/URL].
[QUOTE=Goatscrot;2487672]You can get in if you already have an elite visa.[/QUOTE]Goat,
It's certainly not on the lists of those eligible which are on the Immigration, Ministry of Public Health or the (admittedly few) Thai Embassy websites and Facebook pages I've checked.
It was one of the many "announcements" made by the Tourism Minister and / or Tourism Authority of Thailand which didn't make it into the Royal Gazette. Until it's in the Royal Gazette, even if it's "announced" as agreed by the Cabinet it means bugger all. This one didn't even make it through Cabinet from anything I have read.
I have heard from a fairly reliable source that for those in country affected by the ending of the visa amnesty they will allow the purchase of a shiny new Elite Card "for the usual fee, plus expenses" (Private Investigations, Dire Straits, 1982) of THB 500 k for a 5 year visa.
There's still a lot of Retirement or Business Visa holders (who didn't need a Work Permit) who aren't allowed in. I also hear anecdotally that both Thais and those with work permits / spouses are waiting significant periods for their turn to get on repatriation flights from some countries. Certainly there was a post on the Thai Embassy Washington Facebook page back in August that they were reopening the waiting list for people to return. It said that capacity for September was 2,400 but there were already nearly 5,000 registered to return.
[QUOTE=Goatscrot;2487672]You can get in if you already have an elite visa.[/QUOTE]This seems to contradict everything I am reading. From what I read even those with TE Visas have been unable to re-enter Thailand. Hopefully I'm wrong but unless I start hearing actually success stories of guys getting in I will hang on to my 500k baht.
[QUOTE=Natty Bumpo;2487671]And of course the back up, back up plan is still Sao Paulo. Brazil is open NOW! No quarantine. [/QUOTE]
Not sure many of us want to go to a country with 530,000 active REPORTED COVID cases.
[QUOTE=GettingFedUp;2487694]Goat,
It's certainly not on the lists of those eligible which are on the Immigration, Ministry of Public Health or the (admittedly few) Thai Embassy websites and Facebook pages I've checked.
It was one of the many "announcements" made by the Tourism Minister and / or Tourism Authority of Thailand which didn't make it into the Royal Gazette. Until it's in the Royal Gazette, even if it's "announced" as agreed by the Cabinet it means bugger all. This one didn't even make it through Cabinet from anything I have read.
I have heard from a fairly reliable source that for those in country affected by the ending of the visa amnesty they will allow the purchase of a shiny new Elite Card "for the usual fee, plus expenses" (Private Investigations, Dire Straits, 1982) of THB 500 k for a 5 year visa.
There's still a lot of Retirement or Business Visa holders (who didn't need a Work Permit) who aren't allowed in. I also hear anecdotally that both Thais and those with work permits / spouses are waiting significant periods for their turn to get on repatriation flights from some countries. Certainly there was a post on the Thai Embassy Washington Facebook page back in August that they were reopening the waiting list for people to return. It said that capacity for September was 2,400 but there were already nearly 5,000 registered to return.[/QUOTE]You are right. I read the announcement but it is not official yet. MM2 H visa holders have been able to return Malaysia since May. I would imagine there are some foreigners holding retirement visas from Thailand that own condos here and cannot return. That must be really frustrating.
[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2487850]This seems to contradict everything I am reading. From what I read even those with TE Visas have been unable to re-enter Thailand. Hopefully I'm wrong but unless I start hearing actually success stories of guys getting in I will hang on to my 500k baht.
Not sure many of us want to go to a country with 530,000 active REPORTED COVID cases.[/QUOTE]If I were under 45 and in good health, I wouldn't hesitate to go to SP right now. This is what guys over 60 should understand i.e. that for most healthy young people, the Corona is no more dangerous than the flu. Unfortunately, I am over 60, so yeah, I will wait for the vaccine. All I am saying is that as soon as I receive my vaccine (most likely around March / April 2021) I plan to travel right away. If Thailand still has any entry roadblocks up at that time. Then to hell with Thailand. Cambodia and other SE Asian countries is my 2nd choice and Brazil my third. I must say I respect Brazil's balls to stay open during the pandemic. This has elevated my appreciation of the country quite a lot and I am inclined to go there when the risk is back to normal post my vaccine inoculation. I do not appreciate the immigration visa games Thailand is currently playing. They are toying with you guys. Screw that!
So, I am already thinking about a spring trip assuming most countries will be open for certified vaccine travelers. One major question I have is whose nightlife scene will be back up and running reasonably well. BKK and Pattaya look very likely, Phnom Penh the same. But Jakarta is questionable, and Manila is very problematic especially considering the permanent closing of the EDSA Entertainment Complex and a few of my favorite Burgos Bars. W will have to see about MNL. Meanwhile there is no question about SP's post vaccine nightlife scene. I am taking all this into account before I decide where I will be going. The pandemic has had one positive effect, only one, my cash situation is very, very good. HA HA. So, the next couple of trips are going to be huge events regardless of where I go.
[QUOTE=Goatscrot;2487884]You are right. I read the announcement but it is not official yet. MM2 H visa holders have been able to return Malaysia since May. I would imagine there are some foreigners holding retirement visas from Thailand that own condos here and cannot return. That must be really frustrating.[/QUOTE]Goat,
Yup there's a lot of very frustrated wrinklies in the mid to higher northern latitudes who are looking at a cold dark (and possibly locked down) winter now that October's nearly here and heading to their condo in the tropics until the March equinox is out. The ones I am in contact with are also very jealous.
Many will also have the issue of their annual visa expiring and having to start all over again. Certainly those on Non-Imm O (as opposed to OA) with annual extension ordinarily will not be able to renew outside Thailand.
[URL]https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1993035/thailand-extends-grace-period-for-stranded-foreigners[/URL]
So the visa amnesty ended 31 August but a "grace period" until last Saturday 26 September was allowed. Today they announced (qv) a further grace period to 31 October when quite a few "do the right thing" types bugged out in the last few weeks because the options for staying were silly expensive, be it Elite or Investors visa, or dodgy like the volunteer visa or ED visa from a language school with no classes or customers.
Some might view this as another attempt to flog expensive visa options. Me? I just know This is Thailand (TiT).