Is it true??

Guys,

I have been here in Thailand quite a long time. My Question is about this Elite Card and VIP Foreigner status. Is it true you can own land with this?? What other benefits are they, if any?? Do you get Thai ID or anything or a passport stamp to say you are an Elite card holder??? Do these cards apply under the present government??? Lastly, who to say, the next Government will not revoke and abolish them!

I believed this was another relic of the previous government, and I certainly read that there were no where near the amount sold that they had forecast and it was, basically, a disaster.

I HAVE certainly heard of 30 year lease options in your own name on Land. That's good enough for me, I think.

I purchased 4 Rai, for Tam, but that was always my intention to put it in his name for family and future, which is indeed what I did.

Guys,

I have been here in Thailand quite a long time. My Question is about this Elite Card and VIP Foreigner status. Is it true you can own land with this?? What other benefits are they, if any?? Do you get Thai ID or anything or a passport stamp to say you are an Elite card holder??? Do these cards apply under the present government??? Lastly, who to say, the next Government will not revoke and abolish them!

I believed this was another relic of the previous government, and I certainly read that there were no where near the amount sold that they had forecast and it was, basically, a disaster.

I HAVE certainly heard of 30 year lease options in your own name on Land. That's good enough for me, I think.

I purchased 4 Rai, for Tam, but that was always my intention to put it in his name for family and future, which is indeed what I did.

Kevin, you could have bought own grounds with the Elite card soon after the card was introduced but not any more. All you get is some privileges with visa proceedings (special counter at airports) and access to the VIP lounge. Otherwise any other typical standard visa regulations apply. For me the Elite Card a big scam.

You can buy a leaseholds in your own name. The leasehold needs to be registered with the Land Department. The maximum is 30 years. Optional extensions (twice) are possible. For further details have a look here: www.samuiforsale.com/leasehold.htm (http://www.samuiforsale.com/leasehold.htm)

A lawyer is Khun Chen, the Bangkok head of international law firm SCM Siam Capital Management, based in Bangkok One Pacific Place (Nana BTS) www.thailandlaw.com (http://www.thailandlaw.com). Khun Chen is a well known specialist in property and business law.

Lawyer’s fees are more or less the same. Having the right one working for you is saving trouble and money on long term.

With Tam as owner of the grounds any you sitting with a very long term lease on it is maximum protection for Tam – and for you. Sublease is possible.

Please be aware the Land Department or others might investigate where Tam gets the founds from in order to buy the grounds. If Tam cannot prove the source if his founds are completely legal, the Land Department can cancel his ownership anytime; for example are “Gift’s” etc. are very suspect. But one source could be i.e. your prepaid lease for. Therefore the complete deal is completely legal.

Cheers ttom,

I'll get onto them ASAP. I thought that was the case with this Elite Card.


Kevin.