BritTim

Unfortunately, Mae Sot has closed again since Songran because of fighting near Myawaddy. The Nok Air flights to Mae Sot airport (near the border) still exist, but are of academic interest right now.

It seems likely that you have an extension of stay based on working. Do you have a work permit that is associated with this? As posted above, it is easiest for us to know exactly what you have if you post a scan.

If, as I suspect, you have spent limited time in Thailand as a tourist, you will be able to apply for a tourist visa in Vientiane. As advised above you need an appointment (see https://www.thaivisavientiane.com/ThaiConsular/). When you apply for the visa, ensure you meet the requirements specified in https://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/en/page/tourist-visa-2?menu=63bcd875e8b39d00fd0e7513.

The last I heard, a Non B visa takes an extra day. Applying for a tourist visa in Phnom Penh is often a little unpredictable. However, your explanation that you just want a tourist visa to fill the gap between jobs should satisfy them, I would think. The only possible issue is if they suspect you are intending to work on the tourist visa.

If you want to use a Lao e-visa, obviously Nong Khai is a better option. On your other points, it is the very fact that Chong Mek is a relatively quiet, walkable crossing that makes me suggest it. I have used both Chong Mek and Nong Khai on multiple occasions, and find Chong Mek much less of a zoo. In the end, though, either option should work out. Maybe, there are more flights to Udon, but there are about seven a day from Don Muang to Ubon. Travel from Ubon airport to Chong Mek is not a major challenge (though I might choose Udon Thani if keen on public vans).

When your wife dies, your extension of stay remains valid until its expiry date. It is not the same as with divorce. However, you will not be able to extend further based on marriage to a Thai. In the worst case, use an agent to simplify getting and appropriate extension.

If Ban Phu Nam Ron or Mae Sot was open, I would recommend going there. He is to the North of Bangkok, and dislikes vans and buses. That suggests going somewhere close to a border by air from Don Muang. There are no great options, assuming you would not recommend Aranyaprathet/Poipet.

Post the sign photographed by your wife. Someone here can decipher for you what it means.

Be careful! The Lao e-visa is not useable at all crossing points. I believe Chong Mek is one of the crossings where it is cannot be used. An alternative to the Lao e-visa is a visa on arrival. If you have clean, undamaged US dollars this actually saves you about 300 baht but takes up more space in your passport.

It is still closed. From Pathum Thani, one option might be to fly from Don Muang to Ubon and do the border bounce at Chong Mek.

Experience has shown that the Thai authorities do not care about missed reports in this kind of situation. That appears to me to be illogical. A 90-day report with a grace period of 7 days to make a late report is not the same as a 97-day report. However, you can omit the report without fear of repercussions.

If the money has already been in the bank for several months, almost all immigration offices will waive the requirement of proof that the money originated abroad. That requirement was to prevent people using the dodge of a 24-hour loan.

My understanding is that the process remains unchanged. With a letter from your company specifying the date when they no longer wish you to have an extension based on working (often, but not necessarily, a termination letter) you can go to Immigration and have your permission to stay adjusted. If on the date your permission to stay based on working ends, you do not have a new extension which allows working, Immigration will want to see confirmation that your work permit is cancelled. Yes, this does require a modicum of cooperation from your employer.

If your plan is to spend 100% of your time in Thailand with zero travel, it makes sense to bring the bulk of your assets to Thailand and avoid the need for annual extensions. The LTR WP visa is then ideal. Do most financially secure retirees fall into that category?

First, do confirm whether you are entitled to a visa exempt entry, or whether you are only eligible to purchase a visa on arrival. It makes a huge difference. I am assuming that you can get a 30-day visa exempt entry. There is no good option right now for a border bounce from Hua Hin. You might consider going to Ranong for a same day border bounce to Kawthoung.

Indeed, and if simply focussing on the cost of the visa, 10 years of regular retirement extensions of a Non O entry is 19,000 baht. There is an annual hassle with the extension, but a lot less than for the (admittedly one time) application for the LTR visa. I think all options (LTR WP, Non O extensions and Elite) have their pros and cons, and different solutions will appeal to different people.

That is a bit simplistic isn't it? Keeping a lot of money in Thailand (investment plus self insurance) for 20 years will not be cost free for most.

I am a little surprised you are touchy about being termed a "husband". I am not in your position, so I might be lacking empathy. However, same sex marriage ceremonies I have seen have always used language like "I now pronounce you husband and husband". Is there something objectionable about a male spouse being called a "husband"?

The family has not chosen to make that public, a decision that should be respected. It is clear that he had been ill for some time.

While semantically it could mean almost anything, previous experience seems to suggest it only comes into play when it involves Thai clients. I am aware of no case where it has been applied just because of overseas income.

The tax id number is definitely not a concern. There are many kinds of income you can legally have in Thailand without any need for a work permit. The tax authorities are, anyway, completely separate from the Labour Department and disinterested in each other's affairs.

For long stay tourists, there is a good chance of being refused a tourist visa both in Vientiane and Savannakhet. However (assuming you can get an appointment) your chances will be better in Vientiane.

I feel that everything of value people had to say on this subject has already been posted, and the thread has degenerated into pointless arguments. The thread is now CLOSED

I think when making this statement, you should advise the OP on which visa he should get (assuming he does not qualify for the LTR WTP, Long Term Resident Work from Thailand Professional, visa). The authorities have decided to completely tolerate remote workers without the "correct" visa and work permit because (i) they appreciate that there is no "correct" visa; and (ii) it is felt that people living in Thailand and bringing in money from abroad is a positive development that they do not want to deter.

The general consensus is that, if you are in Thailand for more than 180 days during the year, you are liable for tax on your worldwide income, but only if the income is transferred to Thailand in the year that it is earned. In practice, since cash is fungible, it is next to impossible to prove whether money transferred to Thailand is income earned in the current year. The tax authorities rarely, if ever, try. That aside, depending on your nationality, there may be double taxation treaties between your country and Thailand that prevent you being taxed twice on the same income.