Why let your passport get to this late stage and then blame the IO for being unfair. Take responsibility for your own actions and when you are down to the last 2 pages or page, order a new passport. Asking them to squeeze stamps in between other ones is not a reasonable request.

What mistake did they make 2 years ago?? If you got banned for 5 years, did they consider you as overstay or an illegal stamp..? or what..? Sounds like a strange situation. I hope it all works out.

David there is not a lot of hassle IF you qualify for a long term visa or extension of stay. If you are not 50, not married, no thai children, not a condo owner, not a business owner.....maybe an option. Most people pay visa fees, flight tickets, taxi fares, extension fees, get hassled at the airport, have to leave the country when they don't want to, ie every 90 days....If you are not in the right visa categories....or you want a semi normal life in Thailand without feeling like an illegal alien....I think the TE would be very useful....

agree....'never been asked' is not a predictor of the future...as the rule is there...

If you regularly enter the country many times on visa exemptions then you are are not really a 'tourist'. So the Immigration Officer may be suspicious....and probably rightly so. If you are going to use the exemption scheme long term.....consider getting a visa at least some of the time.

Be carefull with your wording. This is very confusing.

This is ONLY Chonburi immigration I have experience with. Others may be different....and BKK don't care about TM30 at all

Opt 1...short stay and no contract (ie AIR BNB) Opt long term rental Contract. Option 3 Hotel.

If you as the tenant wants an extension and they can fine you, they will not try to involve the Landlord. The Landlord or host's involvement is USUALLY only required when there is no contract....such as AIR BNB or private short stay. It is the renters responsibility to report the TM30 and not the Landlord...I have come to understand.....They MAY as for Landlord ID though, wheb you do it yourself.

Yes that is correct. It is the skimmed down version which gives you only discounts on spas, etc, which is why it is cheaper. Still a good deal though. If you need the benefits then the 10 year for 1 mill is better.