I am very much enjoying my dtv. No need for frequent board runs; every 6 months is just perfect. However i still have to do 90 days reports so in that respect immigration knows my whereabouts. The thought of going to immigration at 180 days to prove my dtv status is still valid is just not worth the time/effort/stress so i will just exit and re-enter and have a nice holiday somewhere.
appreciate the video. I’m going to Laos to apply for the visa in a few days. I meet all the requirements and work remotely legitimately, have the legitimate required funds and everything. In the 7 years I’ve been in Thailand, your videos have always been a great help to stay on your toes about the realistic approach to immigration. When COVID happened I definitely took to heart the risks you shed light on but deciding to stay during that time proved to be a good decision. I’ll take a chance on the DTV but there are things we just have yet to see unfold with it
You don't understand, many of these issues are grey areas in thailand. The best you are going to get is an informed opinion which is what he is presenting. In thailand the right hand of government often has no coordination with the left hand, this is what Ben is accurately talking about. I have personal experience to prove his point. You are likely using your own country's frame of reference for your unqualified opinion.
Exactly and in the philippines they start interviews with people now when they see those with 12 months much more searching questions and some have been 12 years on tourist visas just a visa run every 3 years then back again now things will change.
This situation is becoming increasingly puzzling to me. I understand your perspective, Ben. The Thai Immigration’s hesitance to comment raises some concerns. Personally, I believe the DTV is still the best option for me as a 32-year-old remote worker. I guess we'll just need to wait and see how things unfold after the first 180 days, particularly regarding visa extensions for applicants. Thank you for your videos mate, they're invaluable and have been extremely helpful over the years. Keep it up!
@@stefanlouw6395 there is no reason to not pursue the DTV if you meet the requirements. It’d be a real shame if this channel was responsible for discouraging people from traveling to Thailand based on pure speculation. I mean the video title says it all, they haven’t said a word. That doesn’t mean it’s a forgone conclusion that they don’t like it. In fact, it’s just as likely that they don’t have any issues given everything they’ve said about it. Glass half full or half empty. This channel it’s empty. And yea, I’m upset because good upstanding DTV holders like myself are being run through the dirt on this channel.
I’m just trying to train Muay Thai, go back to my country get some fights and then come back to Thailand for more training, I hope that’s not viewed as me living and taking advantage of Thailand, but if it is I would love to do things the right way
@@modsix4612 I mean what is living here? We are living every day. To some, living might be 30 days. For me, I’m staying the length of the stamp on my passport, and twice this year, they gave me 180 days. No questions asked.
I think you're wrong :) I asked about extensions at the main immigration office and they said that DTV holders can have unlimited extensions for 5 years, but have to leave the country after 360 days and come back. But we'll see..
@@steveb7600 Sure you're right, but I trust someone from Thai immigration and what the actual official visa pages say more than a random TH-cam channel who has no info and clearly dislikes DTV because "it's too easy to get" like he said on this video.
So basically its a 5 year multiple entry with the compulsory 180 day exit required with no re-entry additional fee. Not too bad i guess. I think i'm getting it. I'm gonna ponder over it with a cigar n a bottle 🤣🤣🤣
Why is it necessary to mention anything? This visa permits travelers to stay for the duration specified on the visa. They may never say anything about it.
"This visa permits travelers to stay for the duration specified on the visa." No it doesn't, it permits those using it to request permission to enter and stay for 6 months at a time. Such requests may be made throughout the 5 year period of issuance, but it does not guarantee entry to the Kingdom. Neither are foregone conclusions and MFA is placing MOI in an awkward position, perhaps intentionally perhaps unintentionally, as the way this has been done creates unreasonable expectations in the mind of the foreign public, as with your own misconception, that they have some sort of right to remain in Thailand long term. This entire initiative is in line with the WEF tactics of destroying national stability by bringing in loads of outsiders with no appreciable reason for remaining in the country long term. In the West they are calling them "migrants" in the East they are now being called "nomads" apparently. They could both have an extremely detrimental impact on their respective societies if nothing is done about it. The West can do as they like, but out here national immigration laws emanate from the Immigration Act of 1979. How this plays out remains to be seen, but I expect there will be a lot happening with this issue in Q1 2025. --BWH
@ my stamp game me 180 days. There was no discussions when I presented my passport and visa to immigration. To suggest that I’ll be turned away in the future given the importance the RTG has placed on improving the economy through tourism seems unlikely. It’s not a forgone conclusion that DTV is here to stay. There have been for more issues under the privilege elite visa and they haven’t canned that one yet.
See article - Thailand Eases Visa Rules To Boost Economy Khaosod English and they list the DTV as a short measure along with extending the visa exemption from 30 days to 60 days so it could disappear as fast as it appeared. Going forward I think extensions on the visa would be where increased scrutiny could apply. For those of us on retirement visas they keep asking for more e.g. it was last 6 month bank statement now it is last 12 months. Those on marriage visas they get more scrutiny such as visits from immigration. So for visa extensions they want to see you still meet the visa conditions and somebody who got a DTV because they had a few dental appointments or doing a 1 year course then they might be in for a surprise if they think they can stay in Thailand for 360 days a year for 5 years.
@ while the DTV may have been introduced alongside short-term measures to boost tourism, it’s designed with specific criteria and a clear structure, distinguishing it from simple visa exemptions. The DTV’s purpose is not only to promote longer stays but also to cater to a demographic that contributes economically-such as those pursuing healthcare, long-term education, or lifestyle adjustments in Thailand. Comparing it to retirement or marriage visas, which naturally involve more ongoing compliance checks due to their different purposes, may not be entirely fair. Each visa type targets distinct groups and purposes, so the level of scrutiny or likelihood of extension criteria changes may differ. For DTV holders meeting the original criteria, regular visa extensions should not be a “surprise” since the DTV is explicitly structured to allow long-term stays based on predictable, transparent requirements. Therefore, it’s not clear why extensions for DTV holders would necessarily face the same tightening scrutiny as retirement or marriage visas, which are subject to different conditions.
@@MyNewTH-camAccount You are saying you got a stamp for 180 days visa on arrival at the airport? New York is in the USA, you now get 60 days on arrival not 180 days. You are confused.
@@steveb7600 i’m not as optimistic as you. people had all that covid money and they still couldn’t catch 2019. now the money has dried out, credit cards maxed out, china in serious economic decline … can see why they panic introduced DTV
Thumbs up 👍 Hart
I am very much enjoying my dtv. No need for frequent board runs; every 6 months is just perfect. However i still have to do 90 days reports so in that respect immigration knows my whereabouts. The thought of going to immigration at 180 days to prove my dtv status is still valid is just not worth the time/effort/stress so i will just exit and re-enter and have a nice holiday somewhere.
so aside from going to extend every 180 days you also have to do 90 day report?
@@ether91333 Correct. Stil need to report every 90 days. First one in person or by post (i did post), then online .
appreciate the video. I’m going to Laos to apply for the visa in a few days. I meet all the requirements and work remotely legitimately, have the legitimate required funds and everything. In the 7 years I’ve been in Thailand, your videos have always been a great help to stay on your toes about the realistic approach to immigration. When COVID happened I definitely took to heart the risks you shed light on but deciding to stay during that time proved to be a good decision. I’ll take a chance on the DTV but there are things we just have yet to see unfold with it
Give facts, not your opinions!
You don't understand, many of these issues are grey areas in thailand. The best you are going to get is an informed opinion which is what he is presenting. In thailand the right hand of government often has no coordination with the left hand, this is what Ben is accurately talking about. I have personal experience to prove his point. You are likely using your own country's frame of reference for your unqualified opinion.
What Ben is (laboriously) pointing out is that as yet there are no facts.
Exactly and in the philippines they start interviews with people now when they see those with 12 months much more searching questions and some have been 12 years on tourist visas just a visa run every 3 years then back again now things will change.
This situation is becoming increasingly puzzling to me. I understand your perspective, Ben. The Thai Immigration’s hesitance to comment raises some concerns. Personally, I believe the DTV is still the best option for me as a 32-year-old remote worker. I guess we'll just need to wait and see how things unfold after the first 180 days, particularly regarding visa extensions for applicants. Thank you for your videos mate, they're invaluable and have been extremely helpful over the years. Keep it up!
@@stefanlouw6395 there is no reason to not pursue the DTV if you meet the requirements. It’d be a real shame if this channel was responsible for discouraging people from traveling to Thailand based on pure speculation. I mean the video title says it all, they haven’t said a word. That doesn’t mean it’s a forgone conclusion that they don’t like it. In fact, it’s just as likely that they don’t have any issues given everything they’ve said about it. Glass half full or half empty. This channel it’s empty. And yea, I’m upset because good upstanding DTV holders like myself are being run through the dirt on this channel.
I’m just trying to train Muay Thai, go back to my country get some fights and then come back to Thailand for more training, I hope that’s not viewed as me living and taking advantage of Thailand, but if it is I would love to do things the right way
@@modsix4612 I mean what is living here? We are living every day. To some, living might be 30 days. For me, I’m staying the length of the stamp on my passport, and twice this year, they gave me 180 days. No questions asked.
The muay thai learning visa has a set term, it isn't one of these ambiguous new visas, you shouldn't be confused at this point
I think you're wrong :) I asked about extensions at the main immigration office and they said that DTV holders can have unlimited extensions for 5 years, but have to leave the country after 360 days and come back. But we'll see..
In thailand you will often get countervailing opinions depending on who you talk to in government. Don't assume
@@steveb7600 Sure you're right, but I trust someone from Thai immigration and what the actual official visa pages say more than a random TH-cam channel who has no info and clearly dislikes DTV because "it's too easy to get" like he said on this video.
So basically its a 5 year multiple entry with the compulsory 180 day exit required with no re-entry additional fee. Not too bad i guess. I think i'm getting it. I'm gonna ponder over it with a cigar n a bottle 🤣🤣🤣
Why is it necessary to mention anything? This visa permits travelers to stay for the duration specified on the visa. They may never say anything about it.
"This visa permits travelers to stay for the duration specified on the visa." No it doesn't, it permits those using it to request permission to enter and stay for 6 months at a time. Such requests may be made throughout the 5 year period of issuance, but it does not guarantee entry to the Kingdom. Neither are foregone conclusions and MFA is placing MOI in an awkward position, perhaps intentionally perhaps unintentionally, as the way this has been done creates unreasonable expectations in the mind of the foreign public, as with your own misconception, that they have some sort of right to remain in Thailand long term. This entire initiative is in line with the WEF tactics of destroying national stability by bringing in loads of outsiders with no appreciable reason for remaining in the country long term. In the West they are calling them "migrants" in the East they are now being called "nomads" apparently. They could both have an extremely detrimental impact on their respective societies if nothing is done about it. The West can do as they like, but out here national immigration laws emanate from the Immigration Act of 1979. How this plays out remains to be seen, but I expect there will be a lot happening with this issue in Q1 2025.
--BWH
@ my stamp game me 180 days. There was no discussions when I presented my passport and visa to immigration. To suggest that I’ll be turned away in the future given the importance the RTG has placed on improving the economy through tourism seems unlikely. It’s not a forgone conclusion that DTV is here to stay. There have been for more issues under the privilege elite visa and they haven’t canned that one yet.
See article - Thailand Eases Visa Rules To Boost Economy Khaosod English and they list the DTV as a short measure along with extending the visa exemption from 30 days to 60 days so it could disappear as fast as it appeared. Going forward I think extensions on the visa would be where increased scrutiny could apply. For those of us on retirement visas they keep asking for more e.g. it was last 6 month bank statement now it is last 12 months. Those on marriage visas they get more scrutiny such as visits from immigration. So for visa extensions they want to see you still meet the visa conditions and somebody who got a DTV because they had a few dental appointments or doing a 1 year course then they might be in for a surprise if they think they can stay in Thailand for 360 days a year for 5 years.
@ while the DTV may have been introduced alongside short-term measures to boost tourism, it’s designed with specific criteria and a clear structure, distinguishing it from simple visa exemptions. The DTV’s purpose is not only to promote longer stays but also to cater to a demographic that contributes economically-such as those pursuing healthcare, long-term education, or lifestyle adjustments in Thailand. Comparing it to retirement or marriage visas, which naturally involve more ongoing compliance checks due to their different purposes, may not be entirely fair. Each visa type targets distinct groups and purposes, so the level of scrutiny or likelihood of extension criteria changes may differ. For DTV holders meeting the original criteria, regular visa extensions should not be a “surprise” since the DTV is explicitly structured to allow long-term stays based on predictable, transparent requirements. Therefore, it’s not clear why extensions for DTV holders would necessarily face the same tightening scrutiny as retirement or marriage visas, which are subject to different conditions.
@@MyNewTH-camAccount You are saying you got a stamp for 180 days visa on arrival at the airport? New York is in the USA, you now get 60 days on arrival not 180 days. You are confused.
How much business do you guestimate the DTV has cost you Ben?
Pad the numbers for high season then rug pull ?
There really is no high or low season anymore, Thailand has booming year round tourist numbers which will continue barring another Covid like event
@ i’m not seeing it. would like to see it borne out in numbers. still haven’t passed 2019 levels
@@tambourinedmb may be another year or two until it rebounds that far post-covid
@@steveb7600 i’m not as optimistic as you. people had all that covid money and they still couldn’t catch 2019. now the money has dried out, credit cards maxed out, china in serious economic decline … can see why they panic introduced DTV