@Damo **********

And what exactly was your point supposed to be? The requirements stand regardless of your personal impatience with accuracy. Adding one sentence to ensure correct terminology is simply called being precise — something you might try sometime. But sure, there’s always someone who thinks their guesswork outweighs clarity.”

@Paul ******

There have in fact been changes. Border bounces are now limited to two, and you will only receive 30 days on your first extension and 7 days on your second, and Immigration is apparently counting from January this year when it comes to extensions. For general visa-exempt entry there is no change.

You cannot convert a Non O visa into a retirement visa, which you already hold, but you can apply for a one-year extension of stay based on retirement by showing 800,000 baht in a Thai bank for two months, or by providing an income affidavit from your embassy if it still issues one.

@Bart *************

He already has a METV. The point, however, is that the Lao land border has been closed on both sides for a period, and people have been advised to enter Thailand through an airport. That really shouldn’t be difficult to grasp.

@Bart *************

The logic is a border crossing or an entry via an airport from Laos on an METV.

@Honza *******

It will most likely be completely fine. I have a friend who was recently refused entry when arriving from Laos and was told to get a flight ticket and enter Thailand via an airport instead.

@Steven ********

People are refused entry all the time, but there are no formal guidelines that limit travellers to only two exempt entries per year. Everything is subject to the discretion of the immigration officer and the total amount of time you have previously spent in Thailand. There are reports of individuals being admitted for a third and even fourth time this week without any questions.

@Nongnuch *******

All right, we will have to wait and see until this is clarified through actual practice. Two consecutive visa-exempt entries, regardless of whether you arrive by air or by land, appear to be acceptable. However, as I understand it, extensions are reserved for entries by air only — although I certainly hope you turn out to be correct.

@Daniela *****

Correct regarding visa exemption, but you’re only entitled to extensions if you arrive by air.

@Tod ********

Yes, of course, but what I meant is that the solution itself is, from a technical and system-level perspective, more or less a hybrid setup where you formally apply for a visa but are stamped directly in on a stay permit. Naturally, under the same conditions as those who enter on a visa.