Will renewing my passport help reduce entry issues when traveling to Thailand?

Can you show income from overseas? If you are legally living here and in the Grey area you should have proof of income to show them. If not I think you're going to be risky until the crackdown is over....

I suspect the plan by Mr. Redberg to stay out of Thailand for a while - maybe a long while - coupled with taking the advice of one comment to lock down - or change his Facebook page... that he will get back into Thailand without too much hassle - especially if he goes to get a METV - 6 months life - multiple entries of 60 days stay - each of which can be extended ... Mr. Redberg - I suggest you look up and study the METV requirements posted on the Internet by the Thai Enbassy / Consulate in your home country ... see if this will help you. This METV can make a lot of difference as each exit and reentry is expected with the MULTIPLE Entry METV... No hassle at the border - most likely - nor at any Immigration office...

Okay, let's understand how the "new passport" thing works.

Getting a new passport wipes the slate clean as far as your visa and entry history to thailand at the thai consulates scattered around the world when you are applying for a visa to thailand. That's because there is NO data base at the thai consulates and they are NOT tied into the immigration data base. When you get a visa from a thai consulate they page thru your passport looking at entry/exit stamps and visas for thailand.

Now, getting a new passport does NOTHING as far as your exit entry history to thailand when you arrive here to stamp in. Every entry point into the country is tied into the main immigration data base and they can search by DOB, name, nationality, sex, etc. The people at passport control can see ALL your arrival/departure history, all the extensions of stays you've got and if you've ever overstayed when you stamp into the country.

Your FB page clearly states: "Living in Pattaya"....yet you are applying for a tourist visa?

Being out for an extended period of time should help you out in returning to Thailand

Just renewed my passport and my old passport no is clearly wrote on the 1st page. When the lady at the airport put my visa from old to New she brought up on her screen both passport pictures...

Database check: Passport nr, Date of Birth, Nationality, Name, given name and pictures taken as far as I know. Some countries do place a big stamp: This passport has been issued to replace passport number: ......... I heard but not sure of that so if wrong do not shoot me please, some countries has that warning inside the barcode used when the passport get scanned.