The visa exemp stamp is only for tourists. Works until the Immigration Officer who greets you on arrival tells you that he considers that the time you have spent in Thailand indicates that you are no longer a tourist. He can the tell you to next time obtain a visa appropriate to your reason for staying in Thailand or he can deny you entry.

@Colin *******

Mot bullshit. I live in Thailand for the past 12 years and pay 35% tax to ATO on my Australian pension.

Correct. If you retire to Thailand or anywhere overseas, you become a non-resident of Australia and you pay tax on your pension at non resident rate of 35%. Thailand may also want to tax you.

Larry Far. There has never been a 30 day visa on arrival. Passport holder from select countrys can pay for a 14 day visa on arrival. Many other passport holders can receive a "Visa Exempt Stamp" when they arrive. This is not a visa at all.

Live in maid = 15,000 thb per month. Gardener 500 thb per day or part.

Yes, at the end of your 12 month visa you to to an Immigration Office inside Thailand and apply for an extension of stay based on being over 50 years. as lomg as you meet the stated requirements (different at each office). 1,900 thb.

@Bob ******************

Proof of relationship: 3 or more stat Decs (preferably at least one from a professional person: lawyer, bank manager, police officer etc) confirming that you are a couple to the deterriment of all others.

You should be able to open a bank account yourself, even if you are on a tourist visa or visa exempt stamp. All banks have different requirements. All branches have different requirements. Even within a branch two staff members may give very different answers. Find a branch of the bank you want (I use Bangkok Bank in Doi Saket), in an area with lots of foreigners. Go to the bank with your passport and a friend who holds an account at that branch. Have 100,000 thb to deposit. Should work but many banks/branches will also require a certificate of residence from Immigration. But instead, you could offer a letter from your hotel/ hostel/ Airbnb/ friends house stating that you stay there. Doi Saket Bangkok will work with that.

@Phil *****

What about the UNO card game?

There is no extension for your visa on arrival. If you apply for and pay for an extention you will be denyed and given a stamp with gives you 7 gays to leave the Kingdom.