Whatever Tod Daniels says is usually true. He knows this shit better than anyone

my 2 cents. You should visit Chiang Mai immigration and ask. It seems that it will be much more convenient to process visa and extension closer to where you live as it often involves more than one visit. Same for the bank.

@Tod ********

yes, I already had my 1 year extension based on retirement and Chiang Mai as well yourself had recommended that course of action. Should have gone to Savannakhet, maybe a different outcome. Vientiane is a no no.

@Lee ******

there is a lot of contradictory info about these Non O for trailing spouses. We did what Chiang Mai immigration had suggested. Upon return to Chiang Mai, immigration suggested we try to get the trailing spouse Non O in another country such as Cambodia or Malaysia

please note that the Thai embassy in Vientiane refused to give a Non O for my wife, 2-3 weeks ago. Instead they gave a TR tourist visa which is not what we wanted.

Hi Tod, allow me to pick your brain again please. I would like to know if going to Chiang Kong, Laos for a border bounce, if I need to get a Laos visa if I am to turn back into Thailand immediately with the fresh visa exempt 30 days entry.

@Tod ********

Thank you so much. Clear and precise advice.

@Tod ********

Thank you Tod. Your advice makes sense. I trust your expertise. One more consideration please. My wife, Burmese, can enter the kingdom on a 15 days visa waiver as a citizen of ASEAN. At the moment, she still has until the end of July on her COVID extension. Would you recommend she travels with me to Chiang Kong and get a new tourist visa or better stay in Chiang Mai and take it from step 3 of your advice ?

following

I do not recommend the Special Tourist Visa(STV) as it is impossible to change into any other visa while in Thailand. Yes, it has a maximum validity of 9 months but after that ? What if you like to stay longer, find a job and need a working permit ? I have been trapped with this visa and until land borders open up and going out the country and back is easy, the Covid extension helps but it's a roulette, source of much anxiety. And buy a printer-photocopier, you will make a lot of copies.