Asked on your requirements, elite is a good choice, but again still at a higher cost than an non o.

The least amount of admin/paperwork. They help you with everything immigration related and 90 days reports. Elite can assist you with even non-immigration matters too, like drivers license, banking, atc.

You get vip entry at airport into the country and on the 5 year get private car to and from your hotel or home.

Never have to worry reentry permits. Each time you enter you get one year stamp. But if you stay continously can extend at immigration.. But if you travel a few times a year then never have to worry.

Elite doesn't require health insurance either. So you are free to do what you want.

I should mention I am in my 30s though. You should of course consider the retirement visa. Elite is a lot easier though... So it's up to you determine if the convenience and prestige is worth it.

Elite is good option. I have the 5 right now.

I did stay in Thailand for about a year with an STV and then ED just to make sure I like it first.

The 5 year is a pretty bad value, but you can upgrade to the 20 year which comes out to 50k baht a year. I think that's a good value. I got the 5 only with a strong intention of upgrading to the 20.

What you are looking for a is a tourist visa. Use your visa exempt up or plus 30 day extension, then pop over to a neighboring country and apply for a 60 day visa that then can be extended 30 days more for the 3 months you want. You might have some trouble doing so, but probably not if you have not abused the system in the past.

There stuff going on with the Ed visa due to all the abuse. If you are going to a legitimate school you can ask them questions.

@Harry *********

I don't know my opinion matters much... But I do not think so. Seems like Ed visa are probably going to be much stricker going forward. Thailand is trying to bring the high value people, Ed abuser are not what they want so their no incentive for them.

Get elite or ltr if you want to stay here. Your school is probably just trying to follow the law now as they are reviewing all these fake Ed visa.

For a legitimate Thai Ed visa, the requirement is 100 or 110 (I can't remember) hours per 90 day period.... That is legal requirement. The school may require more. If you do anything less you are in violation of the visa.

Some schools do not require you to attend that much or at all. Some don't even have schedules that meet the actual minimum. We call these visa mills, as the school only exists to get you a visa. You need to contact your school for their requirement.

I certainly encourage you to attend a school that fulfilling the requirements and you take full advantage of the opportunity to learn thai.

You can get a reentry permit for an informal Ed visa, but don't expect to be out of the country too often since that will show immigration you are not attending class. You also need a reentry permit for each extension as most Thai Ed are usually 60 day extension.

I attend ala for 8 months. 2 hours per day 5 days a weeks. I finished speaking a lower intermediate level and no reading skills.

@James *************

It's going to be about duration of each stay and how often in Thailand.

You keep thinking about people trying to live in Thailand on tourist visa, which is illegal... But we are talking about tourist coming here for tourists things...

You come once a month for 1 week, not really going to set a red flag. You spend more than 50% of your time in thailand will be a flag, because you living here.

You fly in to Thailand for Friday Saturday and Sunday 24 times a year, no a problem. You do 3 tourist visa with extention, that is a problem.

@James *************

that's 2 land border crossing on visa exempt. There is no limit by air. What you call bounce though is not okay.. What we are talking about is duration. Come via plane for 12 short trips or even more frequent weekends trips, not likely a problem with immigration because it still a tourist timeframe.

What Brandon said. Just letter from school and you be stamped to the date they put on the letter.

In Bangkok you could not make an appointment for that counter at immigration, had to take a queue. Vary depending on what office you go to.