What are the best options for extending my stay in Thailand after giving up my "O" visa?

@Kenny *****************

Thank you very much for taking the time to provide such a detailed response. Forgive me, if I appear obtuse, but are the above costs inclusive of average agency fees or are they predicated on a do-it-yourself basis? Also, have I read it correctly in that each following year currently stands at around an ongoing 15k payment per annum? Thanks again.

@Jay ******

The do-it-yourself costs are the same as were in 2018, when I renewed my O Visa at the Chiang Wattana office. At that time, all was neeed was an affidavit from the U.S. Embassy, in which I stated in writing that my monthly income was more than 65k per/month. I paid 1900 Baht for the 12. But in 2019, the law changed, and affidavits from most embassies were no longer accepted by immigration. Reasoning is I guess is that immigration finally caught onto the fact that embassies (except the German Embassy) do not verify income. I knew some retirees who lied on those affidavits about their true income. So now, for 1900 Baht, plus around 3-4k Baht for the multisple entry, you can do yourself, in person at immigration. But if first time applying for the O visa, you'll still need to pay 18k Baht for the conversion from tourist to Non-immigrant 90-day visa. If you have already transferred 800k Baht from your home country, electronically via international wire transfter into your Thai bank account, then you can do on your own for a mere 1,900 Baht plus 3-4k for the multiple entry permit stamp in your passport. Here is the catch 22 that forced me to go to an agent nowadays. If your application is based on monthly income, you will have to present to immigration 12 consecutive Thai bank statements, showing that you have had deposited by international wire trasnfer at least 65k Baht each month. Well, for first time applicants, you don't even have a Thai bank account. In my case, I had an account, but I didn't want to wait in Cambodia or Philippines for 12 months, while I had my pensions going into a my Thai bank account. Rather awkward. That is why, in 2019, I decided not to pursue a Thai extension based on retirement. I could have gone to an agency, but I decided to move to the Philippines at the time. The way this is set up I believe is a major reason most expats have to use an agency. Using an agency brings in more revenue for immigration district offices, that is, unofffdical money that isnt' included in the official accounting books for general revenue record keeping. Baht. The high demand for extensions here in Thailand allows for such policy. People are more willing to pay a higher fee to stay in Thaialand. If the demand wasn't so high, visa agencies would be out of business, and immigration officials would have to live within their government salaries.

Thanks again for all the information. Currently I and my Thai lady live in the UK and have been together for over twenty years. We visit quite frequently and I opened a Thai bank account just under ten years ago but, due to work and other commitments I haven't had chance to visit Thailand for the past few years. We are now here for three months or so (I'm since retired, technically although still keep a toe in the workplace waters). A couple of months ago I transferred a million baht into her Thai account as I had lost track of my online protocols in respect of my own Thai account. We went to the bank last week (same bank) to transfer that million into my account. The cashier informed me my account had "lapsed" through lack of use (relatively low funds had disappeared into the aether) and that I could no longer access it. Also told us I cannot open a new account without a long-term visa and residence certificate. So now I have a million stuck in my lady's account although we could just take the cash out, I suppose. I could transfer another million from the UK into a new account (if I had a new account). Infuriating to know that an agent could do it for me, if I were next to penniless, yet I cannot seem to do it although I'm not. Bureaucracy drives me insane, as "let's take something simple and make it difficult" seems to be the maxim of bureaucrats and snivel-servants.

@Nongnuch *******

Just because they are using the same portal absolutely does not mean that the MFA will run it. It might just have an entry link that ask you if you are applying for E-Visa or ETA. Because if they let the consulates process the ETA it will never work, people can't wait 15 days for an ETA. It will need to be processed centrally in Bangkok which the current e-visa portal cannot support.

So that still leaves the question open of who will be processing the ETA applications. And what happens if you are in a country that doesn't have e-visa but you need to apply for an ETA? The current e-visa system cannot handle the ETA system.

@Brandon ***********

well spotted 🙂

@Chris******

yes, next time you need to extend with immigration, which can be 5 years away in this case as it's a multi entry 5 year visa and you don't have to extend in Thailand at all if you leave every 180 days.

@John *****

you can transfer it back but there would then be nothing to live off. Normally you'd be spending the money you send. 65k isn't all that much.

@John *****

Of course you can recycle it, but I'm struggling to understand what money do you actually live on? You'd have to be bringing some money in surely? I go through about 70-75k baht per month, so it suits me to transfer 75k or 80k and that covers my living expenses and satisfies immigration.

@John *****

Yes the 65k can be recycled because as soon as it's received it can be withdrawn or forwarded on/back

@John *****

Interest rates cuts are coming in the US. The dollar already peaked for the foreseeable future, all other things being equal. If the Thai economy abslutely crashes or something even more dramatic than the two wars already underway happens, all bets are off, though.

@John *****

thailand increased its visa exemption from 30 days to 60days in July, this is not a visa. As a USA citizen you can use the 60 day visa exemption it costs nothing and then if you want to stay an extra 30days you can if you get the extension for 1900 baht.

@John *****

you can until the guy who stamps you in doesn't let you any longer. There is no official limit although I am sure if it looked like you were trying to live in thailand on visa exempt then you would be pulled aside and spoken to

@John *****

You can until you can't which won't be very long especially in your case coming off a Non-O extension which tells Immigration you live in Thailand

@John *****

You talk about traveling around SE Asia but you completely disregarded my suggestion of the DTV which lasts for 5 years for only 10,000 baht, and you get 180 days every time you enter Thailand. But you are entertaining the suggestion of people telling you to try and abuse the visa exempt program and leaving and returning every 60 days? Makes no sense.

@John *****

60 days Visa exemption is free, 30 days extension is 1900 baht.

@John *****

Yes, but no one can tell how many times you can do it this way as everything is in the discretion of the IO you’re standing in front of. At one point you’ll be pulled aside and told to get a proper visa.

@Jan *****************

I've been in and out 9 times in 2 years.. no one at immigration cares .. I have Australian passport tho

@Marky ******

and for completeness sake, because a serious question was asked and a serious answer is owed (I wouldn't help you if you were the one asking but that is someone else).

The advice that you provided is wrong. Using visa exemption does not provide you the longest time in Thailand. Amongst all the things you could do, this one gives you the shortest. But that makes sense right, an arrangement for tourists. If only you had any common sense 💁

@Bart *************

are u bored? Go have a beer 🍺

@Marky ******

It depends also how long time you stay in total on each stay. If you maximise two visa exemptions in a row and stay for 180 days, you might get a way with a third buy at one point it also becomes a gamble.

@Marky ******

I'm afraid for you that the guy you're talking to knows perfectly well what he's talking about. You on the other hand have no clue. Yet you're the one using "no rocket science" first. Dunning Kruger at its finest 🤟

@Marky ******

As said, I understand, but it’s not VOA.

@John *****

If you have income/pension and can meet the required 65K baht a month you can switch to the income method and free the 800K baht you have in your bank.

@John *****

what kind of visa are you paying $1500 for??

@John *****

the DTV lets you stay for 5 years. It costs a fee of 10.000 THB (some embassies take 400.- USD or 350.- Euros). You only have to exit and re-enter every 180 days

@John *****

I do this every year since 17 years - pay 1900.- THB and apply for the next Extension of stay based on retirement. However this needs 800.000.- THB in my Thai bank account

@Nongnuch *******

you don’t have to exit every 180 days. You can extend for another 180 days making it 1 year in-country.

@John *****

they you don't have any other options unless you want to buy the elite visa for 900,000 baht. You're good up the visa the lets you stay for a year. That's your choice. Then you have to make do with less simple options

@Brandon ***********

This electronic travel authorisation (ETA) they are talking about introducing might change things a bit for people who rely on visa exempt entry?

@Ron *****

Don’t listen to rumors.

Of no importance until woted through Parlament, and posted in Royal Gazette.

@Ron *****

too early to tell. There have been hundreds of proposals that were never heard about again after they were reported. There's still no details or indication if it will actually happen.

@John *****

180 days plus 180 days extension is 360 days