What are the pros and cons of extending a DTV Visa versus leaving the country when reaching the 180-day mark?

Leave the country 100%

Just bounce out and back to get a new 180 day entry stamp.

At this time <- meaning right NOW, not one of the officers at most of the immigration offices have the slightest idea what the requirements will be for getting the ONE 180 day extension you're allowed to get per entry.

- Will you have to show the 500K again?

no one knows

- Will you have to show you're still enrolled in what ever it was you used to get the visa?

no one knows

- Will you have to re-enroll in what ever it was if the course was too short to show you're still NEEDING the visa?

no one knows

- Will you need a new letter from the doc/hospital saying you're still undergoing medical treatment?

No one knows

Leave and enjoy SE Asia for a trip 😁

Depending on which immigration office you go to (it must be the one you register a TM30 at) you can expect a variety of experiences ranging from; No, just leave and come back. Sit down for nine hours we'll call you to show 63 copies of every piece of evidence you originally submitted but we might reject the whole thing if your 500k is still in your home country's bank. Please have a seat and we'll deal with you in an hour (still show all your documents but quicker). You need to transfer your money to a Thai bank account (that you will struggle to get) come back when you have.

If you bounce out and come back you can expect; a 180 day stamp and no questions, a 180 day stamp and a few questions.

It's all a bit up in the air at the moment though. I think those questioned on entry had something on their immigration record that piqued the IO's interest so if you applied, stayed where you were till you got the visa, weren't pretending to be a student whilst working remotely in Thailand for a year previously, you'll just get a stamp and no questions.

Out of the two options, I think the bounce out/in looks favourite at the moment.

Its basically just a longer multi entry tourist visa.

It’s not a 5 year straight visa for a reason. They want you to leave.

The consensus is to fly in and fly out. Extensions in country have just started. Wait and see how it pans out. Exit and return

in favour of leave and return . Even if you extend after the extension expires it MUST be leave.

wait for the experiences people post about the extension. dont worry now, you have plenty of time.

Who knows what might happen by the time you’re needing an extension

Leave and come back. No issues reported so far

Extension you just have to show everything again at your immigration office

I’ve herd a few people (visa people) saying that if you get an extension that you have to “re qualify” eg re submit or show documents again like bank etc and income if you are a remote worker. Or if soft power bookings from Muay Thai etc.

I’d say for the amount of headaches it would save book a cheap flight out for the day and come back