Why "save $20k"? Is an anual student visa free? He'd still have to pay for either visa anyway.You can achieve the same goal with annual student visa and save 20k. Best deal is still annual retirement visa for over 50yo, $2.5k income or $25k bank deposit.
@rainy I am intrigued by your faith in the system.a student visa requires you to actually visit the classes. Otherwise they'll find out and invalidate it.
Firstly you're talking about a fake visa. Of course, with a fake student visa one won't have to visit the classes. But try not visit them with a real one.If you're living a backpacker lifestyle. Small income, small remittances. Then yes you can get some fake student or business visa and not get in trouble. I met plenty of these people.
Do you have a lawyer recommendation by any chance? Thanks.If you're in the Big Leagues, just get a top Bangkok lawyer and let them sort it all out. They know what to do. A few million $ gets you a crazy lifestyle in Bangkok, compared to London, Singaapore or New York.
I don't know about the continent but UK investigations have uncovered tens of thousands of visas given for attendance at dodgy further education colleges in the UK.I can understand that schools in Europe have some moral high ground and will report that a student never showed up, but a school in Thailand? really?
Alright. But an average Joe who doesn't know Thai language - will this work?@rainy I should have been more specific when I wrote "fake visa". A forged visa won't do you much good and I suspect unless you're living in the forest and somehow cross the border illegally you'll get caught. Thai bureaucracy is frustrating, but capable. They rigorously match up visas, entries, exits, hotel and apartment stays, etc. Farang former colleagues were questioned by the police because they previously checked into a hotel for a weekend and didn't register with immigration when they moved back into their house (that they own) two days later.
What I mean is where you have a school that likes to make money from students, but doesn't care about educating. There are some police raids but of course, certain schools are friendly with the local cops. Your visa isn't fake, but your course attendance is. A friend already spoke quite good Thai, so he signed up as a student to learn Thai at some dodgy school. If he was every questioned, he could quite easily describe his lessons and demonstrate that he was learning to speak the language.
No, it will not work over the long term.Alright. But an average Joe who doesn't know Thai language - will this work?
I'd obtain a student if I had no obligation to visit classes. Or visit them once in 1-2 weeks, for 1-3 hours. Can it be done? And I neirner speak Thai, nor have intentation to lean it. I'd rather learn other things I see worth and on my own - not in those classes, regardless of what they teach.
Man, learn to read.No, it will not work over the long term.
You should speak thai anyway if you wanna live there. They will give you a hard time if you visit for 4 years thai language classes but can only say sawatdee lol.
chill bro. But with your attitude you better not go to thailand unless you like bangkok hilton as your preferred five star lodging option.Man, learn to read.
I've not asked about long term. And I said "not thai language classes"
What do you mean "paid visa the police were offering"? Is it a legit and official visa and classes? $1k for year, that is?Chiang Mai police offered a 12 month ED visa for a "self defense course". Classes scheduled every Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. Over THB 30k for the course. Obviously this was a paid visa that the police were offering publicly. They even allowed "flexibility" regarding attendance if you need to travel. Thailand can be very strict and very flexible at the same time.