If you're in Bangkok the top bodybuilding gym is Muscle Factory.

@Stephan **********

thanks, I do hope you're right and my extension will still be valid if the DTV doesn't work out.

However, I don't follow your logic on embassy vs immigration: the original non-imm-O visa, to which the extensions apply, was issued at immigration in CW, that appears to be pretty standard. Lots of visas are issued in-country, so by definition not issued by an embassy or consulate.

Anyway thanks again for replying, I suppose I will find out soon enough. I'm DTV-eligible but all the paperwork is online-only, so hoping for the best.

@Stephan **********

thanks, I have a multiple re-entry permit and regularly come and go.

My question is whether the current visa+extension is automatically cancelled when applying for the DTV in Lao, or if one has to do something to cancel it first.

And if it's automatic, is that before or after you get the DTV? If you do *not* get the DTV, is your previous visa cancelled anyway?

Sure, but even if some Thais look down on me for my white skin, and even if those same Thais look down on my partner for her darker skin, I find that *most* Thais I run into treat me with respect and kindness. I've heard it's much worse in Japan, Korea, China... SEA being very mixed, race-wise, probably has a lot to do with it.

@Michael *******

whoa, that might be worth the cost of the extra ticket! :-)

@William *******

you're very welcome. Not to be morbid -- I too hope to slip the mortal coil in Thailand, many many years from now -- but if that's your plan you should make arrangements at your local temple in advance, and make sure the people where you are staying know about it. Won't cost you too much and you can avoid being a burden. Too many restless ghosts about as it is.

And back to the visa, lots of people will tell you to do it yourself, and that's a totally valid option. If you qualify and are well organized then it really is cheap and quick. But if you're disorganized, or moslty-qualified, or just strongly dislike dealing with immigration, then keep in mind that many people use agents, it's quite normal here, and we consider it good value for money. Others disagree about the value proposition, and they do without agents, and that's fine -- you should choose the route that makes you happy.

@Stuart ********

thanks, that's what I was hoping for. I've been out and back in since (on the same extension of stay) and it was fine. Just slightly worried that the embassy in Neighbor Country would hear about it when checking my application.

@Greg **********

this is correct, and if you use a (good) agent you will get 15 months the first time you do it -- which you can also do yourself, if your timing is very good and your paperwork karma too and you don't mind going to Immigration twice. Subsequent renewals are for 12 months each.

Bear in mind that for the US, the consular officers are required by law to assume the applicant intends to skip out and live in the US illegally, however irrational that may be. It's not personal, it's a requirement of their job. Your girlfriend has to show them proof that this is not going to happen: a good middle-class job in Thailand, kids she would return to, money in the bank: good reasons to not stay in America. You, as her American boyfriend, work against this narrative: why would she not just stay there with you? There is no US equivalent of the European idea of "sponsorship."

None of this is impossible, but the fact that you're asking on Facebook implies that your GF doesn't have this set up. Plenty of Thais travel to America, with ease, even YouTubers! But you have to be able to honestly, legitimately prove you will come back. I don't see what value the agent adds here, other than making sure your paperwork is correct. Coaching someone on interview questions is a bad idea in my opinion: the person interviewing her will be trained to look for inconsistencies, and lying can get her blacklisted.

I'm on AIS and quite happy with it, I could probably get a cheaper deal but the coverage has been mostly great, with high speeds even out in the boonies. But compared to the US, I don't think there's a "bad option" here. Whenever I go back I'm kinda shocked at how bad the service is, for 3x what I pay in Bangkok.

One sort-of "life hack" here is you can get a very nice prepaid plan at the airport, and use that for the first month while you get settled, unless you really need a stable number from Day One. Which you probably don't because people like to use Line, Messenger and WhatsApp (etc) instead of regular phone.