Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Destination Thailand Visas. And look I've been hearing some anecdotal evidence from folks about heightened scrutiny associated with both extension and re-entry on the DTV. Now to be clear, I'm not trying to engage in doom porn here or fear-mongering as folks have said I do in the past, I'm simply trying to give out the information. As of yet, I have not heard from anybody that has told me they have been denied entry to Thailand on their DTV, nor have I heard that any scrutiny at an immigration checkpoint has resulted in somebody being turned away. 

We are receiving correspondence from folks that are saying they are being denied in their application for a DTV likely associated with - sometimes it's the financial side of it, sometimes it's the category, sometimes folks are having more problems with the soft power side of the DTV, as opposed to the working remote side of the DTV and things - again, I really chalk this up to the way this thing was created. Because it was not created with full consensus from the entire immigration apparatus, it was basically the creation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that then sort of just left the internal Immigration apparatus to deal with. However there is one data point that I think is worth pointing out. Again, not doing this to fear-monger or scare the DTV holders, I'm doing it as a data point, so you are prepared in the future in case something happens; chance favours the prepared mind as they say. Look at the end of the day, we have seen heightened screening now on Elite Visa holders. These are people that paid in to get these visas. They paid a significant amount of money to be in the Elite Visa System, to be in the Thailand Privilege system and then they are seeing their situation being heavily scrutinized when they are looking to affix their later 5-year sticker. 

Now I bring this up because I think it has possible ramifications especially moving forward with regard to scrutiny being applied to DTV Visa holders, because the Elite Visa folks are being told, "look, your funds and your essentially the accoutrement of your circumstances - basically the evidence of your life in Thailand - needs to look like somebody who has basically 'tourist intent', and the issue being that they aren't work authorized for Thailand; that seems to be the underlying issue. It's important to point out. The DTV is not work authorized as well. And then on top of that, it doesn't have even banking facilities associated with it, so it could be an issue in the future of proving up that one is in fact a true nomad, especially if one consistently is coming back into Thailand on Border Runs, or is trying to extend. 

It is my understanding, and this is what was said when the DTV rolled out, there's only one in-country extension allowed on the DTV, otherwise, basically it's kind of like a really long multi-entry Visa. Back in the old days, especially with the Honorary Consulates overseas they would issue a number of what were called multi-entry B, multi entry O Visas, they had a one-year validity, but you got stamped in for 90 days every time you came in; the DTV is similar. Now the difference being and I think there probably will be heightened scrutiny in the future on the DTV of ascertaining whether someone is truly a "nomad", meaning, again this DTV was created on the notion that people would be moving around Southeast Asia - again they tried to create a Pan-ASEAN Visa with the sort of cooperation of other Immigration Authorities in the region, that didn't really pan out, so they created the DTV on the thinking that well you are a Nomad in Southeast Asia, you have this Visa that allows you to bounce in, and yes, you are stamped for 6 months but again I think as time goes on, that scrutiny as to whether or not you are actually living in Thailand using the that Visa may be applied because again, it was created under the premise that again you're not permanently here; that's the meaning of “nomad”. Destination Thailand was sort of in a tourist-like rubric, rather than you are coming here to live. I think that that opacity and I think that that nebulousness is going to emerge more and more as a point of maybe contention when trying to re-enter Thailand after multiple border runs utilizing this Visa. 

It remains to be seen, but something to think about, and we will certainly be keeping folks updated on this channel as the situation evolves.