@John ********

if you just arrive in Thailand with no Visa, you'll get a 60 day Visa Exempt entry, which doesn't cost you anything. You can, if you want to, get a 30 day 'extension' on top of that for a cost of 1900 Thai Baht, which means you can spend up to 90 days in Thailand. I don't know what country you're from, so I can't convert to your currency.

If you get a 60 day Tourist Visa, that on it's own, would cost you a little less than the cost of an 'extension', mentioned previously. If you want to get an 'extension' on top of the Tourist Visa, that will cost 1900 Baht on top of the TV cost.

There's definitely no advantages of the Tourist Visa, except that perhaps Thai Immigration might not be so strict on the number of times you can enter the country with the Visa, compared to entering Visa Exempt.

@Max ************

what if he stays 'about' 6 months, then doesn't want to return until say, 6 to 12 months later? Your plan is fine if

@Darren *******

wants to return and keep his Extensions 'alive' but if he's leaving Thailand and returning irregularly, your suggestion might not be suitable 🤔

@Chrisna *********

ohh noooo... don't start everyone off again 🤫🙄🤪😂

@Nicolas *******

sorry, I don't know, if you're referring to the 60 day Tourist Visa that you apply for as it stands right now. On my one visit to Thailand, I just booked my flight and accommodation, flew there and had a stamp placed in my passport allowing me 30 days in country. If you're talking about the Visa Exempt entry, you don't need to apply for that. It's just a case of booking your flight and accommodation, flying there as I did and when you arrive at the airport in Thailand, they will put a stamp in your passport.

@Nicolas *******

look out for YouTube channels "The Thaiger", or Aussie Tim Newton's "TNT". I haven't watched the video yet, but this was on "TNT" channel today

@Nicolas *******

, wait until early next week, 15th or 16th I believe. There's an update to the Visa Exempt entry that was just announced today. Currently, Visa Exempt entry is 30 days, which can be extended at an Immigration Office in Thailand to get a further 30 days at a cost of 1900 Thai Baht, roughly $AU77. As of early next week, it's been confirmed, the Visa Exempt entry has been announced to be changing to 60 days. It hasn't announced yet, if a 30 day extension will be available on top of the 60 days. If that does happen (60 + 30 days), then a 90 day visit 'may' only mean paying the cost of the extension (currently about $77)...unless they increase the cost of an extension. Currently, to apply for a 60 day Tourist Visa, the cost is $60, then add about $77 for the extension. Possibly 90 days for maybe about $77 instead of $137 which a Tourist Visa and extension is right now. The announcement will be official once it's published in Thailand's Royal Gazette.

@Lynnette ******

that would be typical of the way a Law Firm charges. Maybe inflated to discourage requests for a service that there's plenty of 'Agents' helping foreigners perform a task that's apparently fairly easy to do provided you have the right visa.

@Sharron ******

might be interested to know this, though Siam Legal might ( 🤔🤷🏼 ) give a reasonable discount if she did her first Extension of Stay and/or help her with purchasing a Condo.

@Vijay ****

it's the airlines that might be the problem when it comes to a one way ticket. It's not Thai Immigration at the airports

@Lynnette ******

"checked their fees?" who's fees? Siam Legal? Is 14,000 what they quoted you to open a bank account? If that's the case, was 14k just for helping with opening a bank account?

@Brandon ***********

just advised me that Siam Legal don't provide help with opening bank accounts unless also using them for help with a Visa or Extension. So far,

@Sharron ******

hasn't mentioned needing help with a Visa, but it seems that she might use Siam Legal to help purchase a Condo at some point. Going through them and also for her first Extension of Stay, they might help with the bank account. I wouldn't pay 14k for help opening a bank account. Most seem to say that using an Agent costs between 4k and 7.5k. When I get to that point, I'll ask my Thai ladyfriend to help me open an account with the bank she's with. That shouldn't be difficult if the initial Visa is obtained before arriving in Thailand.

@Brandon ***********

,

@Sharron ******

plans to use Siam Legal to help her purchase a Condo in Thailand, from one comment she made. She has stated that she doesn't want to open a bank account on her own, though she's acknowledged that some, or many find it easy to do themselves. If she uses Siam Legal for the Condo and maybe also for her first annual "Extension of Stay", then she should be able to get their help with opening a bank account. She might have to commit to do at least 2 out of 3 with them to get the bank account service, which would be the first thing that she needs to do.

Sharron, an agent may charge around $US200 (about 7200 Baht) to open a bank account, but not $2000 for that service alone. Just for that service alone, I've seen people say between 4000 and 7500 Baht this year, depending perhaps on location and Agent's varying charges.