Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the new Thailand Elite Visa. I have just talked about this in another video made contemporaneously with this one where we discussed, they have rolled out this Bronze Package which allows someone starting December 15th to get into the Elite Visa program with a 5-year membership and therefore a 5-year Elite Visa, total cost Bt650,000. This is noteworthy in my opinion because it might be something of an omen if you will for the DTV. 

What am I talking about? Well let's look at the timing of this thing. It's coming out December 15th; it's going to run until I believe June, July of 2025. What will be happening then? Well as discussed in prior videos, they created the DTV in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the Ministry of Interior has been completely silent about it. My thinking on it is Ministry Foreign Affairs wanted to try to spike the high season this year, creating a new Visa that would create a lot of hype. They did that, they created the DTV. It initially has a lawful status of six months that is basically not subject to review but at the sixth month mark, it is subject to review as I have discussed in other videos. The Interior Ministry specifically probably has something to say about it and it remains to be seen how they're going to treat it

What we do know is they are trying to roll out the new Electronic Travel Authorization System as well as the TIS, Thailand’s Immigration System at the same time, sort of automating all of this together. I think what we are seeing is the possibility that as I have discussed in other videos, the DTV may not be exactly what it's cracked up to be insofar as, “it's easy, you have just got 5 years from the outset”. As we have discussed, as a practical matter you don't. So again, what does that have to do with this Elite Visa? Well, this Elite Visa is rolling out for a cheaper purchase at exactly the window of time where people are going to figure out the sort of nuts and bolts of the DTV to begin with okay? That leads me to believe that they are at least, I have to think Thailand Privilege, the folks that issue or put people into the Elite Visa system if you will, I have to think they are at least send me aware of what's going on with the Immigration apparatus. Again, I think the timing of this rolling out is rather telling.

So, whether or not it's the best option for different people, again it all depends on your relative circumstances. For folks who are overwhelmed by all of this, it may not be a terrible idea to contact a legal professional, gain some insight and guidance into how best to proceed.