DrJack54

The oil/gas workers previously would often just enter visa exempt. Eventually io will pull you up on that and suggest long term visa. Most likely METV is not long term solution. Married guys have more options. Being over 50, suggest your best option is to obtain a non O and subsequent 12 month extensions. The 30/45 day extension window might be tricky. Re drivers license and purchase of bike...depends where you live. Bangkok requires a residence certificate and that's an issue as you would not be doing 90 day reports.

Be aware that currently visa exempt entries are 45 days. Also border bounce for visa exempt entries is 2 per calendar year. Each entry can be extended by 30 days. Plenty of options now. My recommendation right now is to enter visa exempt.

Nightmare reports for METV for Canadians and others. Here is one thread..,

I'm not up to date with non ED. I was under the impression that attendance was now check as opposed to yesteryear.

So earlier you mentioned UK guy. That would be KeyVisa. Throw in another random agent Maneerat.... You have first hand reports of "don't lose it or steal it" ? Nonsense.

The OP has his reasons. Think in another of his threads he is looking to change from non B work permit to extension based on retirement. You state.... "Easy peasy do it yourself" ... Do what.

@wrazoru I assume you have a Thai bank account as that can be tricky if passport has a visa exempt entry only.

Just travel with both passports. Visa info and extension stamp and reentry permit remain valid even though old pp is cancelled.. The new "until date" will be same as your reentry permit

Correct Slight adjustments. "Transit visa" ? Assume you mean visa exempt entry. The visa exempt entry is currently 45 days . To apply for the non O retirement you require 15 days left on stamp and 800k in Thai bank account in your name only. Then after 2 months seasoning the 800k apply for your 12 month extension.

Certainly is. Surprised io on arrival requested onward flight from you. Not usual but certainly can happen. I often mention Vietnam as prior to covid flew there every month for years. AA not a busy counter there and when no one waiting I have had chat with check in staff. This occured when lady could not find my reentry permit. Due to very frequent travel it was pages back.. Eventually I took pp back and showed reentry permit ... All good. Then I asked her "what if I use visa waiver." Reply: No visa MUST have flight out"

Yes presently the onward ticket would need to be within 45. Most likely the airline not even up with current change to 45. If it's a rent a ticket or throw away prob best to keep it within 30. If it's a genuine flight out at eg 43 days I would also have screenshot of the announcement of the 45 days till March 31.

All I can think of is they are wrongly of the assumption that Thai immigration ask for onward flight on arrival. As we know that rarely happens.

On the point of logic..... I have never understood how an onward flight helps the airline in the event of someone being refused entry. In general the person would be flown back to point of origin so how does an onward flight help.

Read the OP again. Seems he did not fit the profile you paint on some sort of tangent. The reasonable questions that were asked are all provided on the suspended TM6. The question about "Thai friends in Thailand" and provide phone # of Thai friend is so ridiculous it's almost unbelievable.

I have posted numerous times (too many) stating that onward flight may be asked for by airline at departure. Also suggesting options such as throw away ticket and "onwardflight.com" etc. In these threads there will always be folk that come along with posts of personal experience over many years of not needing onward flight and not having a visa or reentry permit, then the to and fro starts. I was being sarcastic in that one person's personal experience counts for little. Seems to me that low cost airlines are more likely to have this requirement and also the route. From places such as Vietnam to Thailand you will be asked for onward flight flying visa exempt at departure by airline (eg AirAsia).

Here is thread and also link to another thread that should give you some options..

What ended up happening. Was it eventually found or you had to replace it.

Work permit?

So what did they actually do. If you meet the financials for extensions retirement there isn't much to do. Having stated that, it certainly will be something I will use eventually when age etc kicks in..

You would need the funds in your personal account.. So use the second option that you list.

OP, you could start with @ThaiVisaCentre They use Line for chat.

Typical post from Pattaya/Jomtien folk. Not everyone is stone's throw from immigration.

For extension..... 800k baht two months prior to application maintained for 3 months post application then not below 400k and back up to 800k+ prior to next application. Can be in foreign currency.

Irrelevant. The OP is fine with his stamp.

It does mean what you suggest. You are fine. The "admitted up to date" is all that counts. Received mine last week. Has same spelling.