@Ally ***********

Sounds like something they’ve made up!

@Jeff ******

It’s a 170 km round trip for me. Don’t drive so it’s two skylabs and a bus/van.

Mine was OK until recently. Have tried all permutations but can only conclude they’ve changed something (wrongly) at their end, hence I can no longer match my input with their records.

Thais don’t need passport for Laos. Three day visitors pass costs 50 baht, obtainable at border.

@John ********

Retirement involves less paperwork, no home visit (at least I’ve never had one) and only one trip per annum to immigration as there is no ‘under consideration’ period. Another benefit is if you split up you don’t need to change anything. You do, however, need 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account instead of only 400,000.

If 50 or over, retirement visa is the simplest. Only requires one annual visit to immigration. I didn’t exit Thailand for six years so only cost was 1,900 baht per annum. If you wish to exit Thailand a reentry permit is required. Single exit/reentry costs 1,000 baht. Multiple 3,800 baht.

@Ray ****

OP says his starting point is Bangkok so he hasn’t got a long journey to a provincial airport then another flight leg to Bangkok. Makes good sense!

@James *******

My personal experience is the degree of difficulty with ‘required’ documents varies depending upon to whom you speak at the immigration office………..

Assuming you’re not at the 360 day point, have you thought of applying for an extension at your local immigration office? There are reports of this being very difficult/virtually impossible. However, we don’t know what is true or not. Plus, it can all depend upon how you go about it. Taking a Thai person with you always helps to obtain results IMHO.

@Paul ******

You tell me. It was you who brought up backpackers to dis low cost airlines. Need more medication?