This is a service that has been available for a while, but it is now being marketed to people that are living on tourist visas. I don't think the fast track immigration officers are going to ignore your history just because you paid to skip the line. Just know that if you are denied entry, you are probably not getting a refund...

I do not understand the need for a Thai bank statement for a SETV. What is that all about?

If you do the math at 5, 10, or 20 years increments, the Thai Elite visa is way cheaper than marriage.

A fresh passport would not help or hurt. They maintain a database of your activity. Waiting a year to come back is probably good, but if you plan a series of different visas back to back to live here long term, you may run in to an IO that determines your activity to be questionable.

Was not trying to say that there was a black list that they would put anyone on, but that they have made that determination that these two spent too much time in the kingdom or were back to back or whatever, noted it in their passport, and the next IO will see that and their history and make a determination... The way things have been for folks on multiple tourist entries, it would likely be a risk to attempt another back to back entry... The good news is, they can probably get the extension and that should allow them the time to finish their scuba classes.. all’s well that ends well. 🙂

If the IO that let them in said they spent too much time in Thailand and stamped their passports and made a note with In+Out, or whatever they put in there, it is up to the next IO to make a determination to let them in or not let them in when they return. There is no set amount of time and it is arbitrary based on the next IO they encounter. I’m not sure what you are referencing above, but I’m pretty sure we are saying the same thing.

I didn’t say anything about an assessment made on exit. I was referencing the OP where she explicitly stated they made a note on her passport when she last entered.

“but last time my boyfriend and I entered (by flight in Bangkok) they said we had been here too long and next to our visa stamp we got ”in+out” written. Not 100% sure what this means...”

Ok... maybe I don’t see the distinction between what you are saying and what I am saying. The stamp is the IO making a specific note on the passport that says “I think this person has had too many entries, but I’m letting them in anyway.”

The next IO, then makes their own determination. 1 week, 6 months, 5 years... they assess the situation and make a decision. “Probably 6 months” is speculative, but is the rest incorrect? Is there a specific amount of time, or is there something definitive that the stamp states?

You have to leave by the date on the stamp. If you get an extension, then you have to leave by the date of the extension. What they were telling you, and what they will enforce, is that when you leave, you can not come back for an arbitrary amount of time that the next IO deems acceptable. Probably 6 months, but it isn't written explicitly in to the law, so it is difficult to advise on.

The best bet is to go to the immigration office and apply before the 30 day visa waiver expires. Apply for the extension. If you get it, then be sure to leave before it expires. Also important to note, you can not have multiple extensions on the same visa/visa waiver. One and done.

Same for Canadian. Most western countries, actually...