@Darren ********

yeah, I am living in bkk now for the future.

If you are only staying 90 days, then the tr60 plus 30 day extention is probably easier....but there are pros and cons with both. If you planning on staying 6-9 months the stv is definitely the easy way to do that.

@Darren ********

I felt like wanting to visit my family, I was gone for 5 weeks. Came back in visa exempt and then switched to legitimate Thai ed visa.

@Darren ********

I left on my first extention and then came back on a different visa.

There is a guy I know who is stay in Chang Mai that did the visa same time as me and was able to get covid extension a few months ago and is still in Thailand. But it probably a long shot at your local office or with the more sticker covid extension rules. Never hurts to ask though.

@Darren ********

proof of accommodation, background check, and health check. In Taipei though, they did not require background check or health check, so it was a breeze.

@Darren ********

yes, possibly even a second stv if they extend the program again. I consider it for the second time, and had I been in Taipei where I applied for it the first time I probably would have. I came back via visa exempt and then switch to Ed visa. There are a lot stv nay sayers, but it was alright.

If you think of living here and want to learn Thai, then ed visa learning Thai is also good option. I don't regret doing the stv first though.

I formerly did the STV. It's an okay visa, but a few annoying requirements.

In general you can't convert the STV to anything else, but in 9 months a border run should be easy. I came on stv and left and came back with different visa in 2021, not too big of deal even with covid restrictions. I do know a friend that did successful get the covid extension from the stv in Chang mai, but I doubt the covid extension would be around for another 9 months.

The cut off date last year just meant you needed to get your last extension before that date, but not all offices followed that, phuket was reported to cutting people off on that date.

You only need 90 day accommodation at a time. Your friend can give you lease documents or just a letter, people have got the visa issued and extended using it.. But can been hard than simply booking a hotel. Consider booking a hotel you can cancel and refund for the visa and see if embassy gives you visa.

I came in STV in 2021, I used agoda and the embassy in Taipei gave me some trouble but was okay. Rented a condo when I got here and canceled the hotel.

I was there last week.

I had to fill out a form, show vaccine proof, and pictures of self atk on my phone. I am not saying all that was required, but they did ask and check.

@Myron *********

for the initial visa yes, I used agoda and prepaid and then canceled during the 2 week quarantine at the time and found a condo to lease. On the extention in bkk they accepted lease only with no proof of payment.

I did the STV in 2021...it was fine... Yes a few extra and annoying requirements but it was fine. Most (all?) of the naysayers did not use the visa.

I ended up extending once, then left for personal reasons, and came back on a different visa.