@Semyon *******

It takes 10 working days now. Shouldn't book a flight ticket with such a short window. Next time enter by land or fly back after 2 weeks. Don't rush.

@Steve ********

Did your letter have a hospital stamp on it?

@Paras *******

You can't transfer a visa. You travel with both passports. Immigration only transfers extensions of stay.

@John ********

Nope, they won't do that. You can only move an in country extension of stay NOT a visa. You travel with both passports.

No

@Deepak ******

Bad idea. Even without fines, they still incur an overstay stamp and this could affect visa applications for foreign countries. Not to mention the stress you undergo at the airport or Port of departure when caught.

@Justin *******

There was a second 45 day visa waiver lasting 6 months between October 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. As you say, I believe the 60 day visa waiver will revert to 30 (or maybe they'll make it a permanent 45 days) after 6-12 months.

After all, I don't believe they'd allow Cambodians to enter for 60 days forever, while Thais can still only enter Cambodia for 14 days without a visa. In the spirit of Asean reciprocity, such schemes as the 60 day visa waiver can only be temporary. Also, Thais receive 30 days visa free for China while Chinese temporarily receive 60 days. Again, this won't be permanent. Eventually, it will revert back to 30 days in both directions as the agreement intended.

I believe they will keep the current "unlimited" land border entries but like with air entries, the idea is to facilitate actual travel, not to help border runners.

In other words, a genuine tourist who happens to cross into Thailand by land 4 or 5 times, but who spends anywhere from 1-3 weeks in Thailand during each of these entries will continue to be afforded this privilege. Meanwhile, a border runner who has spent 180 days in Thailand on visa exempt stamps with no time outside the country except for a 5 minute border run after 90 days may be denied entry on their 3rd try.

@Justin *******

Also, I totally agree that a DTV is worth getting even if you're staying say 2 x 90 days in the country per year.

Why? Because on a tourist visa or exemption, you might be asked questions or could even be denied entry.

The DTV isn't designed for ongoing residence in Thailand over 5 years. While it could be used that way, it's actually for nomads who might want to spend up to 180 days in the country, then travel to other countries and come back again a few times during the validity of their visa

That's how it is supposed to be used and the assumption is that DTVers will doing that.

However, many entitled farang believe it's a de facto residency visa and that you shouldn't get it, won't get it or don't need it unless you're spending all your time in Thailand.

That's nonsense. For those who want to live in Thailand permanently, you get a non O or non B plus work permit and work towards permanent residency or citizenship.

A DTV is a great visa to have, I mean, it will probably be automatically renewed during a future Covid like crisis. Meaning that assuming you come back in before the borders close, you have essentially 6 months in the country where you have no dealings with immigration (other than doing a 90 day report that you can mail in) and once the 180 days have elapsed either you're put on an automatic extension or they allow you to do continuous 180 day in country extensions until the crisis ends and the border reopens.

This is much better than any 1 year multiple entry visa, where after a year, you were scrambling to convert to a different visa or get on the Covid extensions.

Thus, a DTV is a safeguard and is one reason why I chose it (for now) as I can assume that during a crisis where borders are closed, I can get a trouble free in country extension as the visa is likely to outlast the crisis.

@Justin *******

Indeed. According to the official 1979 immigration regulations, technically, ALL foreigners are supposed to show proof of smallpox vaccination to enter Thailand and entry is refused, without this proof.

They never bothered to eliminate this clause from the immigration regulations, despite routine smallpox vaccination ending in 1980, just one year later, when the WHO declared smallpox to be over.

@Jonathan **********

Or he may never be audited. You make a good point though; it's about filing a tax return not so much about paying taxes.