You don't know what the final changes will be. One can choose to be a wealthy global citizen or a wealthy pensioner, if one has enough moolah. Its an artificial distinction. And the Thai definition of a OAP doesn't match most Western definitions.
There are changes afoot. The $80k income requirement may be abolished if you meet an investment threshold. Cabinet approves easing of conditions for long-term resident visas
so you are screwed with patreon, if your subscribers are sozzled expats in Pattaya enjoying commentary free but creepy people watching videos on walking street.
How many times you can enter on a visa extension is not the same how long you can cumulatively stay in Thailand on tourist visa exempt entries. If you are staying 180 days a year in Thailand, that suggests you are not a tourist, and there might be reasons you are avoiding applying for a visa, perhaps reasons that that includes grounds fir refusal.
Geoff Carter posted a video on this. It looked a mess. I suppose if you are an old gipper with nothing else to do but stand around in a queue, I can see why one wouldn't want to use an agent
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