BritTim

Depending on your nationality, you might be able to get a certificate of residence through your embassy.

Normally, the visa is not transferred (certainly will not be if acquired at an embassy/consulate outside Thailand). A reference back to the visa will be inserted in your new passport, along with the current permission to stay and extension (if any). There is no urgency to get this done until the next time you need to visit your immigration office for other reasons.

Unfortunately, many (actually most) Thai embassy/consulate websites contain some incorrect or misleading information.

I believe Savannakhet will accept a recent statement from a foreign bank account if it is in English (or comes with an English or Thai translation).

The total number of foreigners working in Thailand is well into the millions (https://silkestate.io/how-many-foreigners-live-in-thailand/#) Of course, that includes low skilled workers from neighbouring countries (some of whom are married). The vast majority of foreign teachers are native English speakers or from the Philippines. Over 100,000 foreign expats are highly skilled experts or senior managers.

With the e-visa system, you can apply for a single entry tourist visa. Using that visa, you are given a 60-day (59 night) permission to stay in Thailand which can be extended by a further 30 days at the local immigration office.

One good option is to get a single entry tourist visa using the e-visa system (everything handled online with no visit to an embassy/consulate with the visa sent to you by email). The system does not always work smoothly, but it is nice to have a visa all set before you visit. The tourist visa gives you an initial permission to stay of 60 days (59 nights). You can get another 30 days easily applying at the local immigration office. Another option is to enter Thailand visa exempt (without a visa). As a US citizen you receive a 30-day (29 nights) permission to stay. You can get additional visa exemptions by taking side trips to neighbouring countries.

If the Air Asia online system blocks checking in with the correct dates, you are taking big risks, and not just of denied boarding. Trying to travel based on false information is a criminal matter. When (likely) Air Asia tries to correct the information and the system will not accept your passport, accept the decision. If you make a fuss, they might pursue harsher measures. Do not be surprised if you end up on an Air Asia blacklist.

You entered with a visa. Assuming you have no re-entry permit, your permission to stay automatically ceases when you leave, and the immigration office (and labour office) have no involvement. From a legal viewpoint, you were never working (and make sure you keep quiet about that). You were planning to start a job, but changed your mind before the legal requirements were satisfied.

For those over the age of 50, an agent assisted retirement extension is feasible. Few agents will assist with an extension based on marriage to a Thai, and those that do charge a fair bit to do so. Young married folks with limited funds have few options.

You qualify for visa exemptions. The proposal to keep visa exempt entries at 45 days was, in the end, not accepted.

A visa exemption (available to many nationalities) allows you to enter without a visa. Those who qualify just go straight to the immigration booth to be admitted into Thailand. The visa exempt entry is now back to its normal duration of 30 days. (For a time during the Covid era, to encourage tourists to stay longer, it was 45 days.) Some nationalities not eligible for visa exemption, can instead apply for a visa on arrival in Thailand using a visa-on-arrival desk. They must pay for the visa.

Either the property owner or you (with a long term rental agreement) can do it as the chief resident of the property. If you do it, in addition to the rental agreement, you need copies of the owner's information. The TM30 notification can be made online (if the system works) or in person at the local immigration office.

Applications for Thai visas in India go through a third party (VFS). If you apply, you are very likely to get a rejection from the embassy without any reason being given. That is a common result of Thai visa applications in India. It would be best just to return with a visa exemption (unless your prior immigration history in Thailand would make a denied entry possible.

If the company has been employing you without a work permit, they are in no position to sue you. Indeed, they are in violation of the law in several ways. Just leave.

Vientiane does not issue multiple entry Non O visas.

Depending on where you are staying (somewhere with lots of foreigners so you do not stick out) and if no TM30 notification was made to show where you arte staying, Immigration may totally lose track of you, You will still need some luck to stay under the radar. If Immigration really want to find you, they can. They will only make a special effort during a crackdown.

A misleading post (based on misunderstanding the one he was replying to) and replies to it have been removed.

At worst, you will be questioned but then let in. It is clear that you are not using visa exemptions to facilitate long stay tourism or illegal working.

An insulting post, and the reply to it, have been removed.

I have received another report (via PM) from someone refused a multiple entry Non O (Thai wife) at Savannakhet today. This very unwelcome news most certainly appears to be genuine.

Based on the membership name, that was my assumption, but he might have dual citizenship.

Opening hours: https://www.mfa.go.th/en/content/5d5bcc4915e39c306000af13?cate=5f1ab8f50ec8e35b8b42fc12. I would assume they provide income letters, unless they require you to do that through Bangkok.

I regard this thread as an argument about geopolitics, not assistance on acquiring visas, work permits etc. for Thailand. That is against the intended use of this sub forum, and the thread is CLOSED!

It is required when applying for a Non O to visit your Thai spouse at some embassies/consulates. Savannakhet has historically not demanded it, but I would suggest taking one along just in case. Preparing such a letter takes five minutes.