Since you are an Indian passport holder, you should avoid entering from Suvarnabhumi, or make sure that you can call an agent to bribe your way in if you are denied entry. Some Indians and Pakistanis get quizzed heavily in Suvarhabhumi upon entry, they get ask documents after documents, and again, its at the discretion of IO which in BKK airport will give you hell a lot of the time. They are "afraid" that you might become illegal immigrant... or wtv, you know, its some kind of discrimination.

It will be extended until border reopens, and by reopen I mean being able to go to a neighboring country by land and do a tourist visa, Non-O, etc. Right now, its not possible, so the Covid Extension will most likely be extended until this is possible.

@Maxime ********

I don't want to be pessimistic but you might have to wait a few years to have this option available. Thailand is always making such changes at a very slow pace.

@Stuart ********

Well, yeah, ofc, most people who use an agent for retirement or marriage dont have the funds. Its the only reason why agent exist related to such cases. If you have enough money where 1 million baht for 5 years + 15 years extension doesnt hurt you if all the sudden you leave after 8 years, then do it, if not, don't, its a lot of money.

600k for 5 years isn't worth it, but for an extra 400k (so 1M total) you get 15 years extension so 20 years total, now, this is 50k baht per year instead of 120k, so 20 years is worth it. But only do this if you are really set in staying long term and have the cash. p.s: But I personally dont see the point. If you want to stay long term, you most likely have a Thai GF, so just married her and extend one more year every year. Its not more hassle than the elite visa and its much cheaper.

@Maxime ********

Ive been here 10 years... and never had an elite visa, only 1 volunteer visa, no ed visa nor marriage visa, so yeah, its possible. Now im getting on marriage extension so im pretty much set from now on. Pre-covid it was obv easier, all u had to do is visa run to another country, or border bounce.

@Kay **********

Its not cheaper compare to under the table visa, but I get your point. Elite visa make sense but its a big chunk of money so u need to be sure.

@Stuart ********

Well, if you dont meet requirement for marriage you dont have the cash for elite visa either. The only requirement for marriage that people stuggle with is the 400k baht.

@Lisa *******************

You do not need a passport to get bus tickets. My GF always buy tickets and I never get asked anything ever. For hotel reservation they need the passport for tm30, a passport copy is probably fine because the hotel make a copy anyways so you are basically giving them what they need.

From experience, even if its book under her name, they will ask for your passport because the hotel is legally oblige to fill the tm30. I would say cheaper and bad rating hotel might dont give a bleep, but any hotel with good ratings are probably going by the book.