Best way to achieve a 6 or 9 month Visa/Stay in Thailand taking in other countries.

Will be retiring soon and thinking about spending just under 6 months a year in Thailand. Wondering what the best options are in regards to the best visa for 6 months each year. Many thanks in advance for your advice.

Approved!

My case is a bit unusual, as I had an active METV issued by the Chicago embassy in early November (valid until early May). I was a bit worried after reading some posts here that stated I couldn't have two visas active at the same time, but in November had entered Thailand with both a single entry and multiple entry tourist visa. Upon arrival at BKK, the immigration officer simply asked which one I wanted to use. I'm assuming he canceled the single entry visa after I told him I wanted to use the METV. Because of this and reports from others that their applications were not denied, but basically postponed due to existing METVs, I decided to give the DTV application a shot.

I still have no idea why I was approved despite others with active METVs being told they have to wait for theirs to expire.

Details:

Applied 6/1/25 from Da Nang via HCMC Embassy. Soft Power route with Botany/Cooking seminars from Discover Thai Nature. 5 years of monthly seminars for $9999 baht.

In addition to filling out a flight date/number and my Da Nang hotel address on the short-form page, I submitted the following documents with my application:

* Passport data/photo page

* Photo taken in Da Nang 5 months ago (used on previous visa applications)

* Current checking account statement (dated 2/1/25) from US-based bank showing around $19,000.

* Documents sent to me by Discover Thai Nature - letter of invitation, confirmation of enrollment, payment and participation, business registration documents

* Photo of my Vietnam entry stamp

On Thurs, 9/1, I received a request for extra documents (see photo).

This time I submitted:

* Merged PDFs of one of my brokerage accounts and two checking accounts, all of which showed 6 months of financial activity. I used [members only] to merge documents on PC.

* A new photo taken 10/1 in Da Nang (total cost was 40,000 VND or around US$2 for picture and JPEG sent to my email).

* Merged PDFs of my hotel confirmations in Da Nang, matching the address I submitted on the short form page.

* The same documents submitted initially from Discover Thai Nature, but this time with a cover letter stating my intent to attend seminars and a description/explanation of the other documents I was submitting. I also stated that I intend to participate in professional cooking classes with Bangkok Thai Cooking Academy later this year, but hadn't yet enrolled (I fully plan on taking their four-week course).

I received my approval e-mail at around 1:30 PM today. I plan on staying in Vietnam until mid-February but will update on whether or not there are issues with immigration and my two active visas (I don't expect there will be) when I fly back to Bangkok.

Has anyone successfully obtained a DTV from the London embassy whilst holding a METV. I know somebody was denied in Hanoi but each embassy is different. Thanks.

Hi all... I arrived in Thailand in July on a Tourist TR six-month multi-entry visa (DTV wasn't yet available). I just flew to Penang to apply for my DTV. I was asked for additional documents which I provided. I now have this request, which I assume is asking me to cancel my Tourist Visa and upload proof...

Other request documents: Please cancel your previous visa no. Fxxxxxx

I've logged into the E-Visa portal and there is no obvious option to cancel - it expires on Jan 10. Any ideas on what to do?

I've been coming to Thailand for many years staying in our house in Chiang rai with my wife who is dual nationality UK/Thai for 5 months from October to march .I have always used a 6 month METV..we have over the last 3 years gone across to Laos at the golden triangle resort and spent a few hours looking around the new place they are building then coming back into Thailand and starting my next 60 days.. I will be doing the same routine next week with my wife but I'm being told that I will have to stay in Laos for at least one night.. can you confirm this .I will be with my wife who is a Thai...thank you

Hello! I am wanting to extend my 6 month METV for myself and 1 year old daughter. Our final stamp expires on the 24 December so want to get it done soon I suppose! Is it just a matter of filling out the form I have seen online and heading to immigration ? Do they need to see an onward ticket for an extension? Is there any chance we could be denied (have never had an extension before) thanks!

Can someone tell me if I can stay for 90 days with this visa

I applied for 1 year visa I go on 27th November doesn't give you any details

I'm taking its a 1 year visa and starts when I fly.last time I had stamped in my passport and everything was clear

Hello all,

stayed in Thailand this year on a METV from January until July (6 months). Planning to come back in November on a SETV.

Is there any valid reason that immigration could pull me over or should that not be the case since I stayed out of Thailand for over 3 months?

(one immigration officer some time ago told me: staying out of Thailand for min 3 month gives no space to assume one living in Thailand as a Tourist anymore... ?)

Good afternoon everyone.

I did a research here on previous posts about the METV, my visa application just got granted and wanted to make sure few things before I fly to Thailand in order to plan my entries well. If I have understood correctly, with the METV:

1) Every time you land in Thailand you are getting STAMPED on your passport (60 days + 30 if you extend at local IO) - I’m asking this because my passport is running out of pages.

2) If arriving a day before the “valid until” date, you are still eligible to be stamped 60 days - I’m asking these to be clear if what mentioned in previous posts is still the general rule.

Thanks again for your kind help, if you don’t wanna post this, I would just appreciate your kind advice, as you all have been very helpful throughout these years. ขอบคุณมากครับ