Liquorice

If your aim is to only stay for around 4 months, I'd get the single entry TV, then extend the 60 day entry by a further 30 days at Immigration. A single border run will allow you to then enter visa exempt for a further 30 days, which can then also be extended for a further 30 days. Almost 5 months.

Only for the METV, but at their discretion if retired ignore the first requirement.

30 day extensions of stay are applied for at local Immigration offices situated in every Province throughout Thailand. The cost of an extension application is 1,900 BHT. If you don't want to visit an Immigration office, you could just use the METV, but would have to exit and re-enter every 60 days. Apart from the initial 60-day entry, you could make 3 further border crossing, the last being just prior to the METV expiring (enter before date) to attain a total stay of almost 240 days, and you could further extend that last entry for a further 30 days totalling a stay of almost 270 days, OR You could extend each entry by 30 days, so apart from the initial entry of 60 days, and a further 2 border crossing extending each 60 day entry by a further 30 days totals almost 270 days. The only difference is comparing the cost of a further 3rd border run against the cost of 3 x 30 day extensions.

Sent a PM.

You missed the point of the validity of the visa and the period of stay are different. If you exit and re-enter Thailand on the last day of the visas validity (6 months) you'd be granted another period of stay for 60 days (= 8 months). You can apply to extend each 60 day entry by a further 30 days.

No, you're misinterpreting the requirements. The age restriction only applies if the child is adopted, or is the child of the spouse (clause4) - not the applicant's biological child (clause 5).

He can return to his home Country on an expired passport. The question is how long is his current overstay? In the case of surrendering to the authorities and his overstay being less than 90 days, the fine is 500BHT per day up to a maximum fine of 20,000BHT. Overstay more than 90 days but less than a year, it's an automatic 1-year ban from re-entering Thailand. That raises the question of how long does it take to obtain a new passport, which could be detrimental to his current overstay situation. Should your friend be arrested, with an overstay of less than 1 year, the fine is 20,000BHT and an automatic ban of re-entering Thailand for 5 years.

An acquaintance inadvertently found himself on a 4-month overstay, loooong story, mitigating circumstances. Never used any agents, sorted by CW, 80K.

Note that the period of visa validity is different from the period of stay. Visa validity is the period during which a visa can be used to enter Thailand. On the other hand, the period of stay is granted by an immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry and in accordance with the type of visa. It's possible to stay in Thailand for almost 9 months with a METV. The METV is valid to enter Thailand for 6 months from the date of issue. You can enter Thailand on the very last day of the visa's validity (enter before date) and still be granted a stay of 60 days. Each 60 day entry can be extended for a further 30 days.

Who told you the option of continuing an extension of stay when your Thai child reaches the age of 20 ceases.

No, every foreigner in Thailand has an 'Immigration status', not 'visa status'. Many foreigners can enter Thailand without any visa, but they still have an Immigration status. Regardless of one's visa type, or the reason for their permission of stay, you still need a work permit to legally work in Thailand.

Here's a piece of historical concepts posted by that Thai Immigration guru 'Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs'. https://www.mfa.go.th/en/page/general-information?menu=5e1ff6d057b01e00a6391dc5 7. Please note that the period of visa validity is different from the period of stay. Visa validity is the period during which a visa can be used to enter Thailand. In general, the validity of a visa is 3 months, but in some cases, visas may be issued to be valid for 6 months, 1 year or 3 years. The validity of a visa is granted with discretion by the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General and is displayed on the visa sticker. 8. On the other hand, the period of stay is granted by an immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry and in accordance with the type of visa. For example, the period of stay for a transit visa is not exceeding 30 days, for a tourist visa is not exceeding 60 days and for a non-immigrant visa is not exceeding 90 days from the arrival date. The period of stay granted by the immigration officer is displayed on the arrival stamp. Travellers who wish to stay longer than such period may apply for extension of stay at offices of the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok, located at Government Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Tel 0-2141-9889 or at an Immigration office located in the provinces.

Please post an image of a visa depicting the type as 'marriage'. There are many 'types' of visas, but a 'marriage' or 'retirement visa do not exist. The Non Immigrant 'O' visa is issued for the purpose or reason of marriage or retirement. The 'O' referring to aliens entering the kingdom for a temporary stay for 'other' activities not listed in 1-14 of section 34 of the Immigration Act. Chapter 4 Temporary Stay in the Kingdom Section 34 : aliens entering into the kingdom for a temporary stay may enter for the below listed activities 1. Diplomatic or Consular Missions. 2. Performance of official duties. 3. Touring 4. Sporting 5. Business 6. Investing under the concurrence of the Ministries and Departments concerned. 7. Investing or other activities relating to investing subject to the provisions of the law on investment promotion. 8. Transit journey. 9. Being the person in charge of the crew of a conveyance coming to port, station , or area in the Kingdom. 10. Study or observation. 11. Mass media. 12. Missionary work under the concurrence of the Ministries and departments concerned. 13. Scientific research or training or teach in a Research Institute in the Kingdom. 14. The practice of skilled handicraft or as a specialist 15. Other activities as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations. Section 35 : The Director General or the competent official deputized by the Director General shall have the authority to permit the alien , who entered to stay temporarily in the Kingdom under Section 34 , to remain in the Kingdom under any prescribed conditions. The periods of time which one is authorized to stay in the Kingdom are as Follows : 1. Not exceeding 30 days for a case under Section 34 (4) , (8) and ( 9 ) 2. Not exceeding 90 days for a case under Section 34 (3) 3. Not exceeding one year for a case under Section 34 (5) , (10), (11) , (12), (13) , (14) and (15) 4. Not exceeding two years for a case under Section 34 (6) 5. As deemed necessary for a case under Section 34 (1) and (2) 6. As deemed appropriate by the Commission of Investment Promotion , for a case under Section 34 (7

There is no such type of visa as a 'marriage visa' You would have held a Non Imm O type visa issued for the reason of Thai spouse. You were then granted a period of stay, and it is this period of stay you apply to extend.. You'll need to provide evidence of 12 monthly income slips of no less than 40K per month and tax receipts. You'll be applying under section 2.18 of Immigration order 327/2557. Quote: (6) In the case of marriage to a Thai woman, the alien husband must earn an average annual income of no less than Baht 40,000 per month or must have no less than Baht 400,000 in a bank account in Thailand for the past two months to cover expenses for one year. You only require documents from your employer if applying based on working in Thailand. Being married to a Thai automatically grants you the right to legally work, you just need a work permit.

And if I may add to that; Extensions of temporary stay are 'permits', not 'Visas' The STM2 form that you complete and sign at Immigration makes this abundantly clear. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PERMIT OF TEMPORARY STAY IN THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND. I do herby acknowledge the terms and conditions applicable to this permit ............I hereby sign my name in the presence of official. Of course, most expats either don't read or understand the forms they complete and sign. As long as they get that stamp and can stay another year, they don't give a hoot about the correct terminology.

Simply because applicants for 1 year extension, for any purpose, must have Non Immigrant status and therefore been issued a type Non Imm visa. If you have 'Tourist' status as opposed to 'Non Immigrant' status, you cannot apply for a 1 year extension.

3 months or 90 days, there could be a difference. A tourist visa will grant a stay of 60 days on entry, and your period of stay can be extended for a further 30 days. A Non Imm O single entry visa will grant a stay of 90 days on entry. A Non Imm 0-A (multiple entry, requires mandatory Health Insurance) grants a stay on 1 year on entry. Entering visa exempt will grant a stay of 30 days and your period of stay can be extended for a further 30 days. Alternatively, you could further make up to 2 land border crossings and re-enter VE, which grants a stay of 30 days each entry and each period of stay can be extended for a further 30 days.

Correct. Provided you still meet the criteria and financial requirements.

Most Immigration officials are totally ignorant on the issue of what constitutes a visa, as they've never travelled overseas. It's clearly written in both Thai and English language on the documents you complete and sign at Immigration that you are submitting, and acknowledging an application for a 'permit' (of stay). Not being native English speakers, it's far easier for an Immigration official to refer to everything as a 'visa' (like the re-entry visa) rather than the mouthful of 'extension of stay'. They may be under the illusion you are extending your visa, which you can't, and they need to read their own written documentation. I seriously doubt they know the difference, however that doesn't excuse those who speak and read English from understanding and using the correct terminology.

Know what exactly? (Note, you've edited your post since my reply). Because I've questioned them and get that 'blank' stare. There is no such visa type as 'retirement', or 'marriage', only Non Imm O single or multiple entries issued for the purpose of 'retirement' or 'Thai spouse'. The Non Imm O-A visa is issued only to those for the purpose of retirement. The words 'retirement' or 'Thai spouse' will never be displayed on a visa issued by a Thai Embassy. Visas display the 'type', the 'category' and the permitted number of 'entries'. 1 year extensions of stay issued by local Immigration offices are 'permits', not 'visas'. A stamp 'retirement' or 'Marriage' is hand stamped above the extension, denoting the purpose and reason of the 1-year extension. Here's a typical question posted on the forum for you to answer! I have a Non O visa but have to leave the Country for a family emergency. Will I have an issue on re-entering?

Good grief, another ignoramus. One difference being the visa issued by a Thai Embassy allows at least one entry to the Country, as duly noted on the visa. The so called 'visa' issued by a local Immigration office does not permit any entries and is merely a stamp noting your change of Immigration status from entry as a Tourist, to that of a Non Immigrant, the status of which is required to apply for annual extensions of stay. It's clearly written in Immigration orders that you must have Non Immigrant status to apply for a 1-year extension of stay. When you enter as a Tourist, Thai Immigration merely offer an in-house service and procedure to change that Immigration status, rather than having to exit the Country and apply for a Non Imm O from a Thai Embassy.

Those that use the term 'retirement visa' for extensions of stay are simply ignorant of the conditions by which they are permitted to stay in Thailand. It's also common for those with a Non Imm O single entry, Non Imm O multi entry and Non Imm O-A visas to refer to them as a 'retirement visa'. It's not semantics, as @DrJack54 correctly points out. If you're asking for advice on a forum, to be given the correct advice, it's important to know if the member holds a current Non O valid visa and which type, or whether he has extended his permission of stay, which is a 'permit' (of stay) and not a visa. Single entry visas are 'used' on entry, multiple entry visas expire on the 'enter before' date. On entry and dependent on the visa type, the entry clearance office grants you permission of stay for a certain period of time. Subject to meeting certain criterial, you can then extend this period of stay at a local Immigration office. It's written all over the forms you complete for local Immigration, making it clear you're applying to extend your permission of stay and that it's a 'permit'.

Section 2.11 of Immigration Order 327/2557. 2.11 In the case of being a family member of an alien who has been permitted a temporary stay in the Kingdom for study in an educational institution according to Clauses 2.8 or 2.9 hereof (applicable only to parents, spouse, children, adopted children, or spouse’s children): Each permission shall be granted for no more than one year. (1) The alien must have been granted a non-immigrant visa (NON-IM). (2) The alien must have proof of relationship. (3) In the case of spouse, the relationship must be de jure and de facto: or (4) In the case of children, adopted children, or spouse's children, said children, adopted children, and spouse's children must not be married, must live with the alien as part of the family, and must not be over 20 years of age: or (5) In the case of parents, funds must be deposited in a bank in Thailand, under the father's or the mother's name, of no less than Baht 500,000 for the past three months. For the first year only, the applicant must have proof of a deposit account in which said amount of funds has been maintained for no less than 30 days prior to the filing date. 327-2557 (2014) - Criteria for extension ENG.pdf

The stamp issued by Immigration doesn't allow any entries. It merely denotes a change of status from Tourist to Non Immigrant.

Eh! When entering VE, the airlines usually insist on proof of an outbound ticket within 30 days of the arrival date. If you're arriving at SUV and denied entry, how could you use an outbound plane, train, or bus ticket from a different location. You'd be stuck airside at SUV.