My husband and I are coming to Thailand in October. We are retired. We are planning to come in on a tourist visa and then explore longer term options. I thought we needed to get a tourist visa. The Thai government eVisa site is selling them. Now I see that US citizens are eligible for a 60 day visa exemption extendable another 30 days. Is there any advantage to paying for a tourist visa when apparently we need no visa at all?

My conversation with Benjamin Hays on acquiring an "out of Thailand visa" at Argentina (US passport/Argentina residency) was paused until today. Visited the Thai Embassy Argentina and they require a US Passport holder to apply in the US for visa, regardless of having Argentina residency. So, avoiding a return to US, have the goal of living Thailand long term and going through the in country hoops to do so. Starting with entering on a 'Thai Pass', would appreciate advice on a scheme of the necessaries to make extensions and conversions to reach a Non Immigrant Visa, as a retired person. Am prepared to live with short term stays, extensions, and If necessary leaving and re-entering the country. From earlier advice it looks possible, just not stitched together yet into a plan. Thanks in advance your advice.

I have a friend from the States wanting to come and visit me here in CM for three months this fall before returning home. Does she need to get a visa in the States before coming or is it easy enough to try and extend things once she gets here? (We do plan to visit Penang once while she's here, if that's helpful info.)