You don't need a visa, you need a long-term visa. Primarily a non-immigrant visa. Not a tourist visa or DTV visa.

@Steve *******

multiple reports of people getting warnings even with METV

There is no rule that states xx number of days is or is not allowed in a year as a tourist.

That being said, immigration does not look kindly on people trying to stay long-term in Thailand without a long-term visa. The calendar year has nothing to do with it. You will not get away with doing 180 days ending in December only to return for 180 days in January.

No. Must be done in person only.

That's correct. It has to be 2 full calendar months (not 60 days). So money deposited on July 18th would be usable for an extension on September 18th.

And if you have Bangkok Bank, they will also make you sign a form that freezes the money in your account for 4 months from the date they issue your bank letter because the money has not been in your account for 4 months. Other banks do not have this.

So you have the non-OA visa, that was issued by the embassy in October 2024, right?

If that's the case then yes, you can leave and return an unlimited number of times until the expiration date on your visa (NOT the stamp you received when you entered Thailand).

Each time you enter while the visa is valid, you will be stamped in for 1 year, or until the end of your insurance, whichever is sooner.

When you return, it will likely be too soon for you to ask for a re-entry permit. That's because you will still have a valid multiple-entry visa when you return, since that's what you using to enter. You need to wait until the visa expires, and then you can get a re-entry permit. If you want to wait until you fly out (January for your example), you can get it at the airport at that time.

Do note, since you haven't mentioned your location, that Phuket Airport is known for only selling single re-entry permits sometimes. But if Bangkok you should have no issue requesting a multiple re-entry.

Single entry = 1000 baht, multiple re-entry = 3800 baht. 200 baht surcharge at airport for photo and filling out the form.

So unless you are planning to leave and return 4 times, it doesn't make a lot of sense for multiple, but it's your choice.

This is only anecdotal, but when I crossed at Chiang Khong last year, the officer on the Laos side was practically pushing me to do a bounce. I WANTED to go into Laos but the officer asked at least 5 times if I was just going to immediately return to Thailand.

@Robert ****

Agents don't avoid any of those things, because the agents are not getting non-OA visas. Those are only available from Thai embassies in your home country.

Agents are getting non-O visas that only have a financial requirement.

@AJ ***

There is no immigration officer on exit. You go through automated gates. It's all handled when you get back.

@Pornpatcharanan ************

You can apply for an extension when you have 30 days or less at all immigration office, and 45 days or less at some offices. There are no offices that accept an extension application 3 months ahead of time.