METV is my vote. So long as your last entry is done within 6 months of the day they issue the visa.

Good for you! I dont drink and I work during the week but I can go for a smoke during the weekend.

@Jim *******

The $1900 10-year visa is appealing to me. Do you think this is better? Why?

Thank you for posting this. I will be applying for a visa in a few months.

"If you apply it in Thailand will be an automatic denial. " Do you *know* this? Did you hear this somewhere? I have applied for several visa, while in Thailand. I never tell them where I am and always provide travel into/out-of Thailand, I usually provide an explanation that I travel a lot.... Hasn't been a problem yet.

They will likely take you to a backroom and question you for a couple of hours. It's one of those, dark rooms with a single light source, where the Immigration Officer (IO) stands next to the light so you can fully see them. They won't ask questions in English and they will not provide you a translator. After a few hours they will provide you a piece of paper you MUST sign (strange that they speak English for this part). The paper will be one of two things, your deportation order or your "welcome to Thailand" letter. You will not know which one until after you leave the room and they walk you to the correct line (coming to Thailand or Leaving Thailand).

I just messing with you... You will have nothing to worry about. A lot people use bogus hotel reservations to get visas. IO don't check.. When you arrive you are required to notify immigration where you stay. This is usually done by the hotel. You will need to make sure this gets done if you plan to extend your visa.

Basically the law is, you can't legally do a job a Thai person can do... Meaning you can't legally take a Thai persons job. That being said many come here and start companies, which is a bit complicated and in the end you own at most 49% of the company.

Nobody knows the answer to this question, yet.

@Colin ********

That my friend is a matter of opinion. This group thinks... but it really doesn't matter. What does matter is what the Embassy thinks, and I am honest with them.

I would discourage the marriage visa. It's a real pain in the neck. I have talked to a few fellows who have a Thai wife but meet other visa requirements and they prefer go with the other option over the marriage visa option. I talked to a couple of agents and they wanted $$ to do a retirement visa but $$$$ for a marriage visa.

I have been doing visa runs for several years now. You can do it that way if you want, but there are some risks involved so maybe not the best option (still better than the married visa option).

Almost certainly you will have to replace it. It looks like maybe it's a US passport? I recently replaced mine, it had taken about 3 weeks.

Once you get the replacement you will need to transfer stamps, which requires a trip to the local immigration.

I would be curious if you could just exit the country with your busted passport. I recent traveled on my new passport, I gave them both passports on my way out, they did a sort stamp transfer at the airport. It adds 20 minutes to your time to get to the gate.

I *think* you can get emergency travel documents. I *think* those are only good for going home.