@Damodar *******

aah!!! For training, you can no longer be considered a tourist. If you just said holiday it would have been smooth sailing. Man, they are really cracking down.

Happy ending! Crazy they wouldn't let you in as a regular tourist. Why isn't it possible after having learned 9 months and away a month you are just coming to chill? And with a US visa yet, not a suspect country where you are sneeking for freedom or anything. Scary stuff.

Make sure the course is more than 3 months, that other tourist visas can't accommodate

My thought is they prefer retired people wishing to stay an extended time to apply for the retirement visa. They'll make it hard on you to try to do otherwise.

Get a non-immigrant O for 3 months, or come as a tourist 2 months and extend for one. You can only get 3 months away from her. If she comes to thailand within the 3 months, and you are on a non-immigrant O, you can apply for a marriage visa for a year. If she doesn't come, you have to leave after 3 months for a while, then re-enter.

@Alex ********

unfortunately, yes, these were all potential red flags, as well as any border runs without multiple days in other countries. It looks like a lot of scrambling to figure out ways to stay in the country, rather than anything completely legit.

So sorry to hear. They haven't ironed out the kinks yet, and who knows if they ever will.

@Δημήτρης ******

I paid 58? Canadian a long time ago. I don't remember the exchange rate at the time. Anyway..

@Elías *******

You need a visa there, but can get it right at the border. About 50 USD.

Thank you for posting. We all need to hear this info. 🙏 I definitely plan to leave every six months. Please let us know how the re-entry goes: which port of entry and if there were any questions. Have a good holiday! Penang Malaysia is fun and delicious if you need a cheap, closeby recommendation. Siem rieap Anchor Wat is a jaw dropping piece of history standing close by as well. 😃