@Stelar ******

I call that rumor and nothing else. I know so many people traveling long time and "working" remotely. But I know none out of those hundreds that work illegally in Thailand. AS long as they make money from outside of the country (by trading or by working for a foreign employer developing apps or what now), what difference does it make? They spend the same money as ordinary tourists, only much longer and thus more of it. Who in their right mind wants to work for Thai wages anyways? This is a myth.

@Alistair *********

If that were true, then the regular 30 days would do just fine. The regular / traditional tourist comes for two, three weeks and then goes back to work at home.

@Paul ******

I hear you. Same with getting people into the EU. A shame really to make it so burdensome for legit people to visit.

@Paul ******

I see. What made me assume a bug ride of more than 13 hours was, that it is listed as such on 12go.asia. Seems to be hard to be planning with exact times when it comes to buses.

@Paul ******

Was considering the bus, too. But I am not a big fan of long distance bus rides. And the train (at least on the Malaysian side) is supposed to be modern and rather fast, with a "first / business class" etc. Sure changing to the old Thai local train with luggage will be a bit painful. If not the local, local train, one could also continue with the Special Express train a little later. Not worried about bombings and what not - I feel safe in all parts of Thailand. What do you know about the bus running that route? Comfortable / VIP with single seat (don't like sitting next to a person so close that I would touch them for 13 hours 44 minutes).

Not sure this has seen the light already (or ever will for that matter - you never know in Thailand), but anyways ... could work for up to 1 year stay: 95/medical-treatment-visa-planned-for-jan-1-after-cabinet-approval

Nice thought. As correcting teeth by braces can take years ... would be an "easy" way to stay long term. No clue if something like that can be pulled off. Following.

@Meno ****

Thank you for this detailed response. So I am guessing I will be taking another train to Hat Yai, first, making use of the immigration in the train station. So I don't have to bother with that alternative land border crossing.

Getting out should be ok with this. But getting back in (to any other country) on this passport: questionable.

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

As always, thank you for your prompt reply. I am leaning towards not trying to enter by air, not even in Chiang Mai. If denied entry at an airport, it is just a lot of issues (being detained, being put pack on a costly plane of the same carrier and having an ugly stamp in the passport). While at land borders, it is mostly just being turned away / around (ok the cancellation of departure stamp in the country one just came from would also suck to have in ones passport). Also, very few flights to CNX do not go via Bangkoks airports (where most swampy things happen).

As for that VIP service. Was about to make use of it. The advertised 2000 THB sounded reasonable. Up to 5000 baht (as you mentioned), I might have considered it. But I learned, their pricing differs a lot. For people having been in Thailand for more than a year during the past two years (not that there is any legal mentioning of this in any Thai law), they suddenly charge more than 8500 baht for that service. In my opinion that is a bit much of brown envelope money.