@Cole ********

the METV has a 6 months validation period, if you want to get 8 or 9 months out of it, you need to do a border bounce just before the expiry date, along with a 30 day extension at your local immigration office.

There is a use by/expiry date on a METV, what is it??

In reality, most expats especially those that live in Thailand on a modest government pension, unless forced into it by making it a requirement for a visa extension for example, simply won't do anything, and just stay under the radar so to speak.

@Ralph ******

it depends on the Immigration office, some require a TM 30 to be filed for a 30 day extension, and some don't bother, I find it very strange how requirements from one immigration office to another can vary, it's the same with land and transport offices.

@Ralph ******

you visit the immigration office that you want to do the extension at, and ask for a list of requirements for a 30 day extension, if you submit all the required documents it will get approved, the only problem I've heard of people having, is if the accommodation your staying in hasn't registered a TM30.

@Martin ********

you said 31 to 60 days requires a tourist visa, I said if arriving on a 30 day visa exempt, and then extending at your local immigration office, for a further 30 days, it is not the same thing, a 60 day tourist visa you buy in advance, and upon your arrival in Thailand you get stamped in for 60 days, and can if you so wish, extend that for a further 30 days 🤷

@Martin ********

American passport holders can just arrive and get stamped in for 30 days visa exempt, and then visit their local immigration office and get a 30 day extension.

@Dennis ********

I have struggled a bit myself in the past with the Thai e-visa website, it's not the best, I've learnt a few tricks now tho, a relative of mine said he was having problems uploading photos to the E-visa site with his iPhone, he said he thought it would be easier because all the jpeg photos of the required documents was on his phone, but he said he couldn't achieve it, I suggested uploading the jpeg photos to his laptop, and try that, he contacted me the day after to say all done, his visa got approved at the London embassy in a few days 😅

What is the problem your having to upload the photo?? It's best to do it on a laptop if possible, just take a selfie "passport style" photo with your phone against a white background, upload any photos to the laptop, then just drag and drop the jpeg photo into the box, check the photos are not too big, or they just bounce back out, if the photo is too big, you need to crop it in a photo editor.

@Philip *********

you should receive an email to let you know your cash back can now be claimed.