BritTim

That would depend. If a Swedish national living in Ubon, a border bounce at Chong Mek would be almost free (especially if using the trip to buy a couple of duty free bottles before returning).

Every neighbouring country to Thailand has an official rule that you need six months remaining validity on your passport to enter. The rule for Thailand is only that your passport must be valid for the duration of your intended stay. Thus, if returning to Thailand for a visa exempt entry, you should be fine as long as you have at least 45 days remaining validity on your passport. However, according to the official rules, you would expect a border bounce to be impossible unless you have at least six months remaining passport validity. In spite of this, I have seen multiple reports of successful border bounces at the Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai. It is unclear whether Lao immigration waiving the six month rule was deliberate or accidental.

You can come straight back.

There have been reports that a border bounce at the Malaysian border, without days outside Thailand, requires the payment of bribes. Although I cannot confirm 100% that this is true, I have seen reports that a quick bounce from Ranong to the Grand Andaman resort (Myanmar) is possible again. The journey from Koh Tao to Ranong is a bit involved, but that might still be a better bet. Perhaps, other members here can confirm the latest in Ranong and at the various Malaysian crossings. EDIT: This web page looks relevant: https://www.islandtravelkohtao.com/visa-info/andaman-visa-run-2500thb

A 5-year Easy Access visa is 600,000 baht. For a million, it is possible to get a 20-year Thailand Elite membership that has no other perks other than the visa.

You should have no trouble with a border bounce by land at somewhere like Nong Khai. Where are you currently located?

Well, how you do get on when describing a Scot as English?

Certainly can be a problem in some cases. However, in my experience, there are quite a few Americans who have managed to get over the Civil War by now.

I believe you are unaware of the completely different conditions that pertained to the original lifetime Thailand Elite memberships. Each permission to stay is only for 90 days. That is OK with them. However, I believe that, in addition to the original membe4rship fee, there is also a small annual fee that must be paid. One protection that does exist for Thailand Elite, as I recall, is that while the original membership is transferrable, this can only occur once. The person buying the membership does not have the ability to sell it on again later. On the other hand, I think Thailand Elite is willing to convert it into a 20 year membership with annual extensions.

The expiry date of your permission to stay is not linked in any way to the expiry date of your visa.

Indonesia is usually tough. Kuala Lumpur is sometimes fine for a tourist visa application, but has sometimes been horrible. I am not sure of the current status. You need an appointment to apply in Kuala Lumpur. Other embassies/consulates near Thailand that are usually good are Vientiane (appointment needed), Savannakhet and Yangon. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City used to be good, but no longer according to recent reports. Hong Kong was once great, but no longer issues visas to non residents. I have seen no reports at all about Kota Bharu (a bit inconvenient to travel to) since they restarted accepting visa applications post Covid. I suspect it might be a good place to apply if the complicated travel does not deter you. I sense that the days of easy Thai tourist visas from nearby countries are becoming a thing of the past.

If denied a visa in Phnom Penh (not the best place to apply) enter Thailand visa exempt, and apply for the visa at immigration. The official rules when applying for the visa at immigration state that you need proof the 800k baht came from abroad, but this requirement is waived by most immigration offices if the money has been continuously in your Thai account for many months.

What you call an "on arrival visa" or "extension" is actually a "visa exemption" which means entering Thailand without a visa. A "visa" is usually issued by an embassy/consulate outside Thailand, though there are special cases where an immigration office in Thailand can issue one. The word "extension" refers to having your existing permission to stay in Thailand extended at an immigration office. Nobody can yet say for sure whether the current 45-day permission to stay from a visa exemption will persist after March 31st but, more likely than not, we will be back to 30 days.

Historically (and I think now) the normal income requirements did not apply to someone in receipt of a UK state pension. This is something that has been UK specific. It has permitted someone in receipt of a UK state pension of any amount to receive a multiple entry Non O visa.

If they do not extend (and they most likely will not) the last day with 45 days on a visa exempt entry is March 31st.

Mai Sai recently reopened to foreigners. See https://aseannow.com/topic/1288241-mae-sai-border-bounce/?do=findComment&comment=17944916 for all the details.

When a Thai is born outside Thailand, it is possible to get the baby a passport, but not an id card.

No one really knows, but more likely than not it will not be extended.

Initially, submit the application without a copy of the wife's passport. If specifically requested the passport copy, provide it with the evidence of the name change.

With every other kind of permission to stay, leaving and returning with a re-entry permit is 100% fine. With a permission to stay based on studying, an absence for a significant period of time is a big red flag as far as immigration is concerned. They question how a genuine student can miss classes for that length of time without it seriously affecting the ability to complete the course of study. If you have something from the school to show that your education will not be impacted by the absence, you should be fine. Without that, you would be at severe risk. If wanting to risk it anyway, rather than entering through an airport, use a land crossing such as the Friendship Bridge at Vientiane/Nong Khai for the return.

There are occasions where a conference with a good lawyer is prudent. This is one of them. Your friend should write down in advance everything that has happened between him and his wife, and then talk to a lawyer about his options. This is not just a visa issue. In talking to the lawyer, do not rant. Just clearly and unemotionally outline the facts.

The ramifications are: (i) waste of 1,000 baht; and (ii) waste of space in your passport. Nothing further.

Note that, if you have a return ticket on the same airline greater than 45 days after your arrival, most (probably all) airlines will not worry about an onward ticket within 45 days. As others intimated, the airline is mainly concerned about the potential for having to return you to your origin if you are denied entry. If you already have a flight ticket they can easily grab, they cease to be worried. Those who are never asked about an onward ticket may, in some cases, fall into that category.

I must say that it seems very strange that a visa to visit a Thai spouse would not be issued if the spouse does not have a passport. In all likelihood, the intended meaning is Thai id card or Thai passport copy. That said, it would not be the first time that a consulate had bizarre requirements for a visa.

Before Covid, a Thai tourist visa in Jakarta was possible under some circumstances, but was one of the toughest embassies. If you have an extensive prior history of tourism in Thailand, visible in your current passport, I doubt you will be successful.