@Jeremy *******

you are wrong. The visa-exempt entries have not gotten limited to two times per calendar year. Only extensions on visa-exempt 60 days have been limited to two each calendar year. Actually you can do multiple visa-exempt entries if those stays are just short holidays like 2-4 weeks, and if you went back to your home country in between . . .the total visa-exempt stays in one calendar year should not exceed 157 days (some people would say 180 days)

First, you need an employer who can certify you will work for him. Second is apply for the 90-days Non-Imm-B visa with the documents of the employer. Third is applying for the work permit on the Labour Department before you start to work

@Michael *******

correct, otherwise he would enter a dead-end street. AND additionally, his marriage must be acknowledged and registered inside Thailand, to be able to apply for the 12-months extension

@Jasim *******************

at the age of 43 you cannot apply for a Non-Imm-O retirement visa. You need to be 50 years to be able to obtain it, regardless if you are retired or not

@Simon ******

well, an METV only has a 6-month validity. If it gets issued on January 2, it expires on July 2. He can't use it for anymore entries after July 2. If he applies for another METV by July and tries to enter on it in July, he will be refused entry . . . . tourist visa and visa-exempt entries are not meant for a longstay in Thailand, , , and it doesn't matter if you hold a valid tourist visa or not - eventually after 180 days inside Thailand within a 365-days period, most Immigration officers do not consider you being a "real" tourist any more if you try another touristic entry. What he intends to do, he will not succeed with. If he really stays outside of Thailand for 5 months, his chances are better, and would actually be BEST if he stays outside of Thailand for 6 full months

@Alan ************

no you cannot enter on two consecutive METV . . . you might be issued the visa by the Thai embassy in your country, but when Immigration scans your passport and sees your previous entries, you will most probably be denied entry despite you holding a valid visa

@Luit ****************

it's like the "application for extension denied, you have 7 days to leave the kingdom" stamp. It starts on the same day

@Nick ***********

let's see . . . I am awaiting even more reports that prove that most Immigrations have discontinued to be satisfied with embassy's income affidavits, but additionally want to see real bank transfers from abroad into applicant's Thai bank accounts. In case it becomes a shift in Immigration requirements, it remains a question if these transfers need to be over a sum of a minimum of 65,000 THB, or if they can be less . . . . . despite the fact that an embassy in Thailand certifies that you earn more than 65,000 THB per month. . .I expect this shift, because it seems to be linked to the newly adjusted Thai tax laws for foreigners who stay in Thailand longer than 180 days within a calendar year . . although Thai Immigration is no extended arm of the Thai Tax Revenue Office, I am smelling a rat

@Nick ***********

he is very pissed at me because I made his advice public (advice he shared with me by PM, which he said must stay confidential)

@Wim ***

you are talking about proceedings that were available 10 years ago. You advice is not up-to date, and your numbers on agents fees are grossly underrated - nowadays their service costs twice as much. And some service cannot be had any more - like the "change of visa type" on Immigration is not possible any more without already having a Thai bank account