Tod actually phoned me, when I arrived last April with my family & needed visa advice, then recently didn't approve a post question of mine & helped me directly on DM instead. I therefore wholeheartedly agree with everyone's commments, and that we've having the wrong vote.

Thanks Tod, very helpful as always! We will be trying soon for the 90 day for my wife in Phuket & will update accordingly

@T**

- could you please clarify your 1st paragraph? This is the advice I recently received from Phuket Immigration Volunteers about this same issue, plus their website link - "Thank you for contacting Phuket Immigration Volunteers.

Your wife can do the process of obtaining the Non-O visa and the 1 year extension based on retirement dependency inside the country as long she has 15 days left on her entry (this can be done via the normal 30 day extension) and she has the other required papers."

They took my passport, told me to come back after 4pm…all good, thanks Tod

Ok, thx…on my way

@Tod ********

Does this say when I should go back?

@Tod ********

Thanks for the info! We all arrived on /22 with 30 day VOA & I applied for my non-O (retirement) visa /22 & been advised to come back on /22, when hopefully I will get my passport stamped. Admittedly, I'ma bit confused about 90 day reference (by them/you), as Ithought it was for 1yr (or is it for rolling 90 days with reporting, up to a year?). For my wife & kids, it looks like we'll need to extend their tourist visas here first, before us all going to (likely) KL, to apply for their 'trailing' visas. Could you please advise as to whether there are options for extensions (e.g. 7, 14, 21 days etc.) with different costs, or just carte blanch 30days? Are you aware of the documentation requirements for applying for their visas in KL? Particularly in respect of any financial requirements & difficulty obtaining same day bank letters for Bangkok Bank in Malaysia. Thanks for all your (Ellie's) help, as being a first-timer family that doesnt really 'fit the box is a little bit challenging intially'

PPS....we already have a joint account with Bangkok Bank for the last 2-3yrs, with >THB1.6M sitting in it, earning virtually nothing & also own a villa freehold in Phuket.

Thanks Ellie, we really appreciate the time/effort that you've taken to provide advice. So you're saying that although my Czech wife can apply in Dubai for the Non-O visa (& therefore allow our household items to be shipped....they won't ship unless she has a visa), that she actually needs to get the visa AFTER me, to obtain the trailing dependent one. PS...I've asked the Thai embassy in NZ whether we can apply thru them, though as we aren't residents there either, it may not be an option.

Unfortunately, as our twins & I don't hold a UAE residence visa, we were advised by the Thai embassy here that they can't accept our applications. Would the feasible Plan B, be to enter Phuket on tourist visa on arrival & then apply in-country? As my wife can apply here (as she holds a residence visa), she will apply, which will also allow our household effects to be shipped there.