What are the key changes in Thailand's new visa rules regarding visa-free entry?

Correct. But they still harassed people coming by air.

A few people did get sent back from where they came from by airport immigration. I think one even had a visa obtained in a neighboring country.

I’m not trying to fear monger and I hope I’m not spreading misinformation. Thailand immigration was super strict before Covid.

Even with retirees. One friend couldn’t get his visa renewed because he failed to make a deposit in July despite not being in Thailand the entire month. Little things like that.

Families were leaving. Packed up the wife and kids and left for partner’s home country.

Other retirees were seen as undesirable and pushed out. Many of them landed in Cambodia.

Post Covid the illegal Chinese gambling dens being cracked down on made it extremely hard to get ED and volunteer visas. Not just the back door ones but the fully legit ones.

The new DTV is shocking in its ambiguity, easiness to obtain, length of stay, and duration of visa.

It almost doesn’t make sense… except all the other half-thought out initiatives didn’t work (attract anywhere close to the number of applicants they hoped for) so it’s time for something new.

It sure is a lot easier to stay/work/live in Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, or Laos.

We are in this group and don’t want to live in those places.

Legally yes. In practice, we will see.

Before Covid even offshore workers coming here every 6 weeks by plane were being hassled.