@Andie **********

and of course, another good option that doesn't need any agent or any money in your bank account, neither in England nor in Thailand, you also could apply for the multi-entry 6 months Tourist Visa in England every other year. It allows unlimited entries during the 6-month visa validity. On each entry you get stamped in for 60 days. You can either extend them for 1900 THB with 30 more days, or you do a border run and get stamped another 60-days stay permit upon re-entering. If you do a border run shortly before the visa validity expires, you get stamped in for 60 days for a last time - and this would give you almost 8 months of stay. You might reach exact 180 days by this method, because as the 6-month visa validity starts on the day the visa gets issued, people mostly will lose a few days if not a week or two of the visa validity before they fly to Thailand - and you could catch up those days lost by doing a last border run before the visa validity expires.

Every year, you could come on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Family Visa, if you fulfill the financial requirements of the Royal Thai Embassy London. This visa is very easy to apply for. . . . You will get stamped in for a 90-days stay permit. Before these 90 days expire, apply on Immigration for the 60-days "family visit" extension. (for this your marriage needs to be registered in Thailand because Immigration wants to see a Kor Ror 22 marriage registry freshly printout from the Amphur) . . 90 plus 60 = 5 months in Thailand . . while it is not half/half, I thought you maybe like the simplicity of this visa option which doesn't need any money deposit in a Thai bank, you don't need to apply for the 1-year extension (nobody will enforce you do!) and you avoid all the paperwork that would come with applying for an extension

@Tom *******

. . . or you get denied entry because you maximized your first visa-exempt 60 days with 30 days! . . . . . There is no guarantee! For a 60 plus 60, if one doesn't have too many stamps in the passport, there's a better chance of success

@Mikael *********

I just got a confirmation from another guy who uses the embassy affidavit. He said that his Immigration wants additional 3-months proof of transfers from abroad of a minimum of 65,000 THB . . . . I would say this is Immigration specific. Just make sure you comply exactly what your Immigration Saraburi is asking for

@Frank *********

we are witnessing a shift in Immigration policy regarding the income affidavit proof. Mikaels report is not the only one, I have read similar reports before. When somebody uses his embassy's income affidavit, more and more Immigration offices are additionally requiring that the applicant also shows that he has a Thai bank account, and that at least SOME money gets transferred into it, along with a proof that it came from abroad. The question remains, if the monthly transfer actually must be a minimum of 65,000 THB, or if a lesser sum will suffice

@Mikael *********

ah okay, so they officially gave you a leeway and will accept your application, as soon as you not only show the income affidavit of your embassy, but also show that you have a Thai bank account, with at least one or two transfers from abroad having come into it. So everything is okay and you can proceed

@Mikael *********

ah okay . . then it is as

@Mikkel ******

wrote: an income affidavit is NOT enough proof that you are living on a form of income from abroad. You must have a Thai bank account and be able to ACTUALLY show some money getting transferred into it. . . . . . So, I think if you go back to Immigration showing one or two transfers, they will accept your application for the 1-year extension. Have they explicitly told you so?

@Mikael *********

I am rather wondering what was the reason that Immigration refused to acknowledge the "income affidavit" certified by your embassy in Bangkok? Did they ask for a "co-legaliziation" by the Thai MfA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) or was anything missing on the documents? . . . . and I would say

@Mikkel ******

is right, more and more Immigrations will only accept your income affidavit, if you actually have a Thai bank account and if you are actually transferring SOME money into it (it doesn't have to be 65,000+, there just have to be some transfers as proof that you are receiving a form of income from abroad). Recent reports indicate a shift of the rules accordingly.

@Mikael *********

I don't think Immigration will accept your application to the 1-year Extension, unless you have already accumulated 12 months of transfers, coded in your Thai bankbook as having come from abroad, and you are able to show Immigration the 12-months statement of your Thai bank. . . . Starting with those transfers right now will get you nowwhere. All you could do is exit Thailand before the 90-days stay permit expires, and wait until one year has passed

@Wayne *******

contrary to your belief, this is what we were haggling about - wording that can easily be misinterpreted by newbies ! She only said "residing" in the first place. She later added "staying" to the text