@Henry ********

I’ll do it from a neighboring country instead. The cost of traveling to and staying in my home country would be a giant waste. And my current country as a legal resident, no more feasible than a Thai neighboring country. Thanks.

@Tony *********

Retirement visa. I want to live there.

@Henry ********

Understood. Thanks. I WAS planning to do it in-country, or secondarily from another more near if need be, but this just solidifies where I will be home-basing to do it from. Travel and stay in my home (passport) country while trying to get a visa from there would be a colossal waste of $. Thanks for the advice.

@Tom *******

Thank you. Re: driving. I haven’t driven a car in 7 years. That always sounds so odd to me, but I don’t need or want a car where I am, and my US license expired a few years ago. I uber the few places I want to go that are too far to walk, less often than once a month . Further than that, I don’t want to drive anyway, lol. I’ll pay a luxe bus or tour company. Or fly. I’m hoping Siem Reap (or Pnom Phen, but leaning toward Siem Reap) is a “Thailand lite” experience. At least that’s how it looks (though cleaner) and seems in all the vids I’ve seen.

@Wylie ******

makes sense. Then they should just charge what they want for 60 days visa-free entry instead of lowering it to 30 days. Or do both.

@Tom *******

That, I expect. Lol. I’ve spent time in Thailand, and currently live in a Latin-American country. A a visit entry here was lengthy, and a permanent residency visa was very straightforward. Oh, and I won’t be driving any time soon after arrival, at least until I know what you’re talking about. Thanks for the heads-up.

@Henry ********

my point still applies. I am certainly not going to go to Thailand and try to get a visa while on a shorter-term stay, and worry about whether I’ll be able to get back in until an actual visa is approved. I’ll do it from next-door.

@Davis *****

In short, I don’t need to if I want to make an observation otherwise.

TBH, I’ve had it with Thailand’s wish-washy ways and lack of consistency from one immigration office to the next. Still on-track with moving, but to Cambodia now, where getting a decent-length visa is more straightforward. I’ll travel to visit Thailand from there to figure out getting a retirement visa for Thailand without all the stress of wondering what could happen next. I will not actually move to Thailand until my visa is settled and set. In the meantime, I’ll have a stress-free (visa-wise, at least) stay in a country I’ve always wanted to visit (Angkor Wat and other, more natural, wonders). And who knows, I may fall in love with Cambodia the same way I fell in love with Thailand. Meh. Life is too short for BS.

All of this to say “know the law.” Not knowing it is taking a chance. Knowing the law and breaking it is also taking a chance. No shade to anyone who takes their chances; we all do it. Just don’t be surprised at the consequences.