I am running into brick walls due to the catch 22 rules seemingly implemented.
For 1-year extension (marriage to Thai national) I need a Thai Bank account.
One of the things seemingly all banks ask to open an account is a residence certificate (same one as needed for Thai drivers license).
Immigration in Bangkok only wants to issue this after the first time I do a 90 day report, which obviously won't happen until I have a 1 year extension (for which I need said bank account).
They advise me to contact my embassy to obtain the certiicate from them.
I contacted my embassy, and they will not issue this certificate unless I register my Thai address with them, which to Belgian law I can only do after I cancel my Belgian home address, which at te time is not possible for various reasons (own a business, own an appartment in which I need to be registered else I pay a hefty "empty housing unit tax", ...).
I need to fly up to 6 times a year up and down to Belgium (sometimes for a week, sometimes a bit longer in the summer months, averaging 6 months here, 6 months in Belgium) and would just like to get the 1 year extension, get a multiple re-entry permit, so there is no more visa hassle with all those up and down trips (especially now with possibly visa exempt going back to 30 days from the current 60).
1 time a year to immigration for a new extension, and maybe the odd 90 day if I do a stretch longer then 3 months here.
Also have a long term lease on a BKK Condo, but banks do not want to accept that as proof of residence.
How on earth do I break up his catch 22 loop? Not very fond of "agents" getting things done outside of the rules through handing out backhanders...