@Tony *********

Ok but I disagree. IP numbers can be detected with modern fraud prevention technology. A cellular# becomes an IP phone# after it's ported, hence it is then treated as an IP phone#. Also, some 2FA systems will happily accept the number that's configured but the text or phone call may never be successfully received.

@Tony *********

Main advice - no need to port THEN test. Just create a Gvoice# and test what's needed beforehand. Superfluous info - I've used Gvoice since it's inception (15-20+ yrs?). I lived in Thailand . I access too many things to recall which had a problem but from experience, I no longer rely 100% on my Gvoice for success with all 2FA. Easy to set up and test everything in advance. The actual # doesn't matter, it's whether that company detects that it's an IP# and/or allows that type of #.

@Tony *********

IP phone numbers (ex. Google Voice) are hit and miss. Some institutions work, some don't. Don't setup 2FA then port to Gvoice. Test 2FA using Gvoice on everything you need it for.

@Baz ********

I forgot about visa rules. Thx for adding that.

As far as I know, the cheapest out/in flight is to go to Vietnam either Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or DaNang. I've seen flights as cheap as $40USD each way so it's super cheap and you could even stay a night or 2 to check it out if u want. As for 5500b for a 30 day extension?? - you should just go to immigration in Jomptien and do it yourself for 1900b. The agency right next to the lineup area will fill out the forms for you and give you the proper pics and their help only costs a few hundred baht So add on Bolt taxi cost, and it comes in less than half of what you're paying and it's one of your basic Thailand experiences. Just make sure you arrive before they open to get agency help right away and get in line so you're done in just an hour or 2.

@Chris ******

Got anything better to do? Or is bitching at people in FB Groups (created to ask questions) it?

Whether someone researched in advance or not, this group is still a valid source for information.

@Sean *******

Gvoice is a great backup option regardless. It's free, accepts text, calls and VM. It also forwards texts to email and even transcribed VM to email. And it works around the world for voice calls on wifi (call quality is not the best though but for free it's great).

Only reason some institutions won't be successful with using it for 2FA is because there's so much fraud and they're tightening their security.

Sometimes 2-Factor works with gvoice, sometimes not.

Depends on the institution.

You'll want to set up a gvoice number in advance to test.

@Zev ******

Hopefully that fee covers you for a full year. Typical agent fee to handle everything needed for a retirement visa (incl not having to lock up 800k baht in bank) is 35k-42k. The one year actually ends up being 15 mos and it's done when you're already in Thailand.

@Mark *********

And apparently, you don't have to be from america to share a pompous @ss comment.