To start off, check with your airline if your son would be considered unaccompanied minor. They may ask for notarised letters from parent(s), that parent gives permission to travel, and proof of round trip ticket.

@Henrik ****

so you do understand that some Thai homeowner/landlords will not give a TM30? Some AirBnB hosts admit they won’t, right up front. So that being the case, you suggest I go to immigration, sit around for who knows how long, explain my case, get some paperwork to get filled out, then go get the extension? No thanks. For 1.900 Baht I’d gladly pay an agent’s salary; saving my time. Because it’s worth it to me. Up to me. 😅

@Henrik ****

not entirely true. I needed a TM30 from my accommodation in order to get a 30 day extension. I wasn’t given a TM30 and wasn’t going to get one from the jerk (obviously hiding his business/rent $). So an agent took care of that problem. And the line of people sitting in the immigration office, waiting their turn inside, and the line going outdoors, I felt a guilty pleasure of being escorted straight up to the front of the line and got my 30 day extension in minutes. So, in my case, the agent was well worth my money and time.

@Yorgos *************

that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 20 some years. But Thai immigration told me to stop using tourist exemptions and extensions and told me to get a “proper visa”. To do that, I had to match my financial/legal name I’m using (married name) to my passport name (maiden name). Banks won’t/can’t add my maiden name to their records so it looks like I’ll have to change my passport name. It’s just ironic to do that, I have to show passport people my marriage license to support the name change. But I’ve been divorced for over 20 years. Oh well. It just seems ironic, but I’ll do that because I definitely want to return to Thailand with a proper visa.

@Bob *******

that was exactly what I asked the banks to do. Both said no; not possible. 😨

@John ********

yep. I should have.

@Andy *********

the banks would let me change my name as long as I have a legal document backing up my request, like a marriage or a legal, formal name change. I don’t have a legal procedure or document. I just have a matter of convenience to add or change my name to match my passport so I can obtain a visa to stay minimum 60 days or retire in Thailand. The bank said they completely understand why I am asking to open an account in the same name on my passport. But in today’s rules of banking, that’s not possible. Because the name on my passport is not my legal name used in everyday usual transactions. It’s much easier to change the name on my passport (said the bank manager) My thought then was to apply for the longer visa in the Thai consulate, say, in Malaysia, where perhaps a visa agent could help. But can’t do that either so I’m left with option to change my passport.

@Ruth ******

🙏thank you you!

@Greta ****

🤣🤣👌

@Greta ****

or never ! change your name other than the one given to you at birth😅🙏👏