DrJack54

Just that it's very easy to apply for eVisa in home country. Payment is done online. When you apply for eVisa to Thailand you need to be in the country where application is being made. For Laos that requires visit to embassy for payment. That's not the case in other countries. Also entering Thailand with a visa is better than visa exempt. Various reasons such as onward flight requirements from airline etc

Haven't seen anything official. Previously a 30 day extension followed by 60 was a given. However that was when ve was 30 days. The extensions had to be done in that order. 30 then the 60. Your advice to obtain Non O is best option. The e-Visa, can be abained anywhere outside of Thailand. For many that would be pp country. The process is entirely online In Laos application requires visit to embassy for payment = messy

An METV is an option for some folk for extended stay however requires exit + reentry from Thailand. Suits some.

Bad idea. Clearly milking the system. Reports of 30 extension + 60 to visit wife being refused. 60 ve entry may soon be back to 30. Suggest best option is Non O e-Visa + 60 to visit wife. = 5 months. Still better is Non O with 12 month extension + reentry permit ongoing rather than snowbird games.

My first hand experience at Chatuchak transport office was in the main based on direct question to official there. "Can I use pink ID".. Answer no. Need COR. Perhaps lost in translation. Fact is reports at various offices a COR is required. I'm aware Bang Chuk accept pink card.

I asked bank about that and they said NO. Perhaps was down to that particular staff. I however have asked twice at different Kasikorn banks. I also have inquired as to co- signatory on my account for my Thai partner and they stated NO. You need to be married. Again perhaps staff taking path of least resistance

That's the service I will be after at some point. Maintain financial requirements and hopefully have agent do as much as possible. All be it mine is retirement so straight forward.

That was point of my question. If bank required COR or not. Think couple of years ago I opened Kasikorn with Non O status + lease. COR not simple now at CW as required two trips to office.

Outline how "Thai partner" would even be able to cover the banking requirements such as bank letter, bank statement etc Let alone sign the required docs at immigration.

What you outline is agent for hand holding service. You covered the financial requirements and simply used agent to assist with process time etc

It was a bizarre idea when you asked in this thread. You cannot have two valid visas at same time. Insane idea. BTW: majority of transport offices will only issue you a 2 yr TDL with a DTV

What's the reason for using an agent. Some want to avoid retaining funds in Thai bank For others reasons can be health/mobility etc. Literally 1000,s of expats use an agent. Also depends on where you live. That was not mentioned.

The title of the thread asks two things "Do I Need"...... Answer No " Should I get" ..... Answer up to you The friends he spoke to would have no doubt outlined the Pros. Frankly this topic comes up with boring regularity. I could post links to many previous threads listing exact same discussion. Here is one 5 page thread. Topic is old chestnut.

Trolling post removed

Has been outlined in many threads. In some situations the passport is mailed to agent along with anything else required. After extension stamp is in pp it would be mailed out. Reentry permit can be obtained at same time. Can be do meeting the financial requirements yourself. Which is what I will do when mobility necessities that. Does not need to go to post office. That's what others can do. Paid or otherwise

Folk that obtain these extensions use agent for 90 reports. Unlikely the OP would require a COR for example TDL etc. The OP describes very difficult situation. Also these things don't improve. Having an agent handle it all will be necessary for some. Sadly Thai immigration does not have adequate alternatives to attending immigration in person. By way of example... I'm typing this 4 weeks into recovery from fractured vertebrae. I'm aware of medical extensions however some situations are long term. Suggest the OP bite the bullet and use agent to handle the lot. Without attending immigration.

TVC can obtain extension at another province. I didn't mention Jomtien as the office they would use.

Have no idea what you mean. The OP deals with Jomtien. He could use a Pattaya agent however he will need to attend immigration. There are agents that have application processed in another province. However that requires handing over your pp. Something the OP is reluctant to do.

In that case you have a problem. The term Catch 22 ... comes to mind.

Some agents "process" the application. These are done upcountry and what @johng outlined above is correct.

OP, your situation is one that should concern everyone. When basic things such as mobility etc become serious issue then not many options. To my knowledge Immigration does not provide "services" for those folk. On the + side is that you deal with Jomtien and there are many good agents in Pattaya. You could contact @ThaiVisaCentre To check other options.

My experience recently while not directly related to Pink ID card... I visited Pattaya and related to another thread tried to check in with my TDL. No way. She wanted my pp. The interesting bit.... She was looking through my pp. Me: what are you looking for Her: stamp to stay Thailand. I pointed her to reentry permit stamp. 3 star hotel in LK metro.

Just attend bank with both passports and its updated in couple of minutes

You posted a lot in this attached thread. You are using agent that obtains extension "up country" Many do not want that option. You need to post accurate information. As I have pointed out... A TM30 for change of address is no longer a simple fix for some immigration offices.

As a result any of your dealings with CM immigration for such things as COR, pp renewal (transfer of stamps), 90 reports etc will not be an issue. Note: making a new TM30 for change of address to province where you actually live does not cover all bases. For example my last transfer of stamps CW wanted update of my bank book and photocopies of pages back to last extension. For anyone using agent that uses "upcountry" Office then best policy is to have agent take care of items such as 90 report etc