Liquorice

That is not the intent of changing status from Tourist to Non Immigrant just so you can stay 5 months without leaving Thailand. The OP obviously intends to stay several months each year. Your advice would be to enter VE each year, extend his stay for 30 days, then apply for the Non O. That's 3 visits to an Immigration office within the space of 60 days each year. Not to mention an outbound ticket within 30 days, entering VE.

That involves a lot of bureaucratic procedures to follow, when the OP has stated he could obtain the Non O before entering Thailand. The intention of applying for the Non 0 in Thailand is a prelude to applying for a 1-year extension, not to stay 5 months.

Obtaining a Non Imm O Visa to enter Thailand would grant a stay of 90 days. If you have an income of more than 40K THB per month, you could obtain an Income certificate letter from the German Embassy, which would then allow you to apply for a 1-year extension of stay. Purchase a re-entry permit, which protects any permission of stay granted, and this will allow you to re-enter Thailand again the following year - then repeat. This is the only way you could stay for 4-5 months continuously each year without having to leave Thailand.

They should initially be checking the Thai Embassy websites for availability of Visa types. By the order of the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Thailand dated 1 October B.E. 2564 (2021), a Special Tourist Visa (STV) has been extended to 30 September 2022. Please kindly be informed that the STV visa will not be continued thereafter. https://thaiembdc.org/visas/

You can apply for a 60-day extension of stay to visit your Thai spouse if you so wish. Looking forward, if/when you return to the UK, and the time is right for you to return permanently, you can apply for the Non Imm O Visa from the Thai Embassy London to enter Thailand.

There are some differences in documentation, but especially financial requirements, applying for either the Non Imm O Visa and then applying for 1 year extensions of stay.

@Kevin1908 Firstly, you state you entered Visa exempt (without a Visa). To apply for a 1-year extension of stay based on either retirement or Thai spouse, you must have Non Immigrant status (Non Imm O Visa). Your first objective is to change your Tourist status to Non Immigrant status, before you can apply for a 1-year extension of stay. Secondly, you need to decide if you want to apply for both the Non Imm O and 1 year extension based on either retirement or Thai spouse. Reading between the lines, the Immigration officer has been giving you too much forward information regarding all the financial options available for extensions based on both retirement and Thai spouse, which has obviously caused your confusion. One step at a time. Because you entered Visa exempt as a Tourist, you need to first apply for a change of status and apply for the Non Imm O Visa at your Immigration office. What date did you enter Thailand, and when does your current permission of stay end?

A word of caution. It's often reported a 'ticket out' is acceptable, whether by air, train, or road. It's the airline that insist on an onward ticket when entering VE, as if refused entry, it's they who are responsible to return you to your point of departure as well as being fined. A friend, whose previous extension had lapsed, planned to enter VE > Non O > 1 year extension again. Aware of the requirement for an outbound ticket, booked an outbound flight to Phnom Phen within the 30 days. His leg from the UK to Thailand was with Emirates, arriving at Suvarnabhumi. Ar check-in, he was asked if he had an outbound ticket, which he had. However, they noted the outbound flight was from Don Muang to Phnom Phen. They asked, if refused entry at SV, how he intended to travel to DM to catch his outbound flight. He was denied boarding until he rebooked an outbound ticket departing SV. The same would apply to train or road travel outbound tickets. If refused entry, how would you travel to the train or coach station to catch that outbound transport. Of course, the chances of being refused entry are low, but it then becomes the airline's responsibility if you're unable to use any outbound ticket.

From PC https://extranet.immigration.go.th/fn24online/

If it's a valid multiple entry Visa, then you don't require a re-entry permit.

Yes you can.

Did you enter Thailand on a Non Imm O Visa? You must file a new TM30 at CM prior to applying for any services.

As per @sandyf. No expiry date for translations.

The reasons being the Non O-A is applied for solely on the basis of retirement, as opposed to the Non O, which can be applied for numerous reasons. The Non O-A also has the mandatory Insurance for extensions. I've witnessed Immigration telling foreigners on the Non O-A but married to Thais who attempted to change the reason of stay from retirement to Thai spouse, they need to get a Non O Visa. Of course, this was almost impossible last year. I'm sure there have been previous reports before on this same issue.

A potential problem he may face is Immigrations refusal to allow an extension based on Thai spouse (no Insurance requirement) when he originally entered on a Non O-A Visa, which is specifically based on retirement and has an Insurance requirement. I'm aware of a couple on Non O-A's who were told to get a Non O if they wanted to apply for an extension based on Thai spouse.

Section 38 : The house – master, the owner or the possessor of the residence are equally responsible for private residential properties. Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) ENG.pdf

As of April 2022, the priority service was still available for UK Visitor Visas. At the end of the application, you'll be directed to select and pay for the service required and book an appointment for biometrics. Two friends applied in April. One for the 5-year Visitor Visa, and under the assumption applications were taking up to 10 weeks, paid for the priority service. It was approved after 3 days. The second submitted a standard application, standard fee, and it was approved after 10 days. Both had previous Visa applications approved.

Take a copy of this with you and watch their reaction. TM30 Reporting Regulation.pdf