It’s very difficult for a Thai woman to get a tourist visa. We’ve tried two times now and my girlfriend was denied twice. She had all the docs necessary to prove she would be going back to Thailand and they refused to even look at them. Useless people who can’t even do their job.
yes, customs can be a nightmare, and not only the fee. I had a friend who ordered a bathroom scale from Amazon and customs told him it was classified as a “medical device” and he needed an import license for it.
I’ve never done it myself but before the pandemic a friend came to visit on visa exempt. He went to get an extension and he told me they only gave him 15 more days. So, I don’t know.