DrJack54

Means very little. There is relatively new LTR. Requires huge financial requirements.

Does not satisfy requirements.

Be clear. Your posts contain riddles. If you are the parent of a Thai child you can obtain non O based on parent of Thai . In fact could change the reason for extension from marriage to parent of Thai child.

By all means you can obtain your non O retirement at Vientiane OR you could border bounce enter visa exempt that will provide 45 day stamp and obtain your non O at immigration. 800k in your Thai bank account on the day you apply. That will provide a 90 day stamp and time to season money for 12 month extension.

When divorce is final your permission of stay ends. The hard reality is that living in Thailand requires funds and you indicate thats not in abundance. Even if you were 50 and eligible for non O retirement, that has financial requirements. Tourist visas along with visa exempt entries can provide a stay perhaps a year + but it does have limits. You state this ... "What if a new marriage comes into the picture? " Slightly cryptic statement regarding"new marriage " but if you currently have a gf you are unlikely to receive much cooperation from current wife. It's called between rock and hard place. Unless you have a job available in Thailand and can obtain a non B then I cannot think of alternatives

New extension does not change your 90 day report or anything to do with TM30 They are not related.

He meant which land border gave you a hard time. If you meant was given hard time by io at BKK airport then yes...you were lucky not to be refused entry.

The immigration officer at border was a dill. Which border BTW. As for tourist visa from Phnom Penh, I assume this is your first from there. PP (pre covid) were sometimes rejecting second/third applications. Issue is the visa was stuck into pp with big VOID stamp. Not sure about flights from Samui (Bangkok airlines) to Saigon but that's a good place for tourist visa. Edit: just checked flights. Nothing direct from Samui to Saigon. Forget that idea.

With a tourist visa should have no issues. Where would you be planning to obtain the tourist visa and will you reentry via land or air. You mention that your tourist visa is soon to expire soon. Assume that you are aware you can make 2 visa exempt entries via land per calendar year. That shortly will give 45 day stay that can be extended by 30. Why not do a border bounce.

What I don't understand is why folk think that what they do is the bees knees for everyone. What suits one person does not suit another. BTW , you mention this..... "I am 63 as well - married - no work The only thing i do for many years is to obtain a NON-O (single ) which will give me 90 days + 60 days extension." That is only if you are married. No 60 day extension for non O retirement.

Yes it's a strict thing at CW and is an issue for those on tourist visa etc that do not do 90 day reports. Think most embassies provide letter that is accepted for TDL however not all. Oz embassy one example.

Whatever works for you go for it. However don't need to be interested in what some say and do in relation to the TM30 requirements. The "new rules" are very clear and just for others reading the TM30 in your personal example was not required.

Why do you need to make a TM30. Are you entering on a new visa.

Ha! Yes of course. I plead guilty to stupid. Replying to too many threads re extensions.

Exactly why are you going to immigration? You have a non O that has provided a 90 day stamp. Is your intention to obtain a 12 month extension using money in bank? You don't currently have a bank account. Best get your running shoes on. Edit: disregard my silly reply.

Agent is always an option. No reason to doubt your account so accept that. Haven't read any similar accounts regarding Phuket. Some imm offices dont accept combination method and some even give those using income method a hard time. The charging for transfer of information and stamps to new passport is a scam and unfortunate. Fortunately at most immigration offices this is not the norm. I have zero issues at CW using money in bank method. Edi: out of interest check back some threads re extensions retirement Phuket money in bank method. Most reports read like this thread. Seems you had lot of bad luck.

Out of interest which immigration office. Extensions using money in the bank has minimal paperwork. "Immigration Nazis"? What was required that is difficult.

I was replying to OP which is specifically about Bangkok. Bangkok immigration CW requires you to be doing 90 day reports in order to apply for residence certificate. Most (if not all) other offices do not have that requirement.

Keep in mind the answers are just people's opinions as there is no stated limit to visa exempt entries via air. IMO with your history and very little time spent out of Thailand I would suggest flying out and back in visa exempt would be crazy. That's my advice for Q1 and that means Q2 is a no brainer. If you had to fly then trip to nearby city eg Saigon where you could apply for tourist visa MIGHT be possible. My advice would be to stick to land border entries (border bounce) You can do 2 per calendar year with extension to each.

Yes

Extensions will be 30 days for visa exempt and tourist visa entries. The TM30 is required at many offices to apply for extension.

Useful information in this thread albeit 2021

Applies to all. Also a bit of a catch-22 for the need to have a residence certificate to open bank account. Those living in Bangkok and not making 90 day reports at CW cannot obtain a residence certificate. Added footnote: sounds simple problem but it's not. Due to travel out/in Thailand for many years could not obtain a TDL due to this. Approach DL agents such as Fatboy's... There was no way around it. BTW Oz embassy does not provide the embassy letter alternative to residence certificate.

Given the difficulties with appointments some folk use an agent to assist with the que process. I personally used BSR Bikes to assist with que during covid when the number of "spots" per day was limited. Still had to meet her at 7.30am where there is under cover seating area. Cost 1800baht. I believe @ThailandRyan recently obtained his 5 year license and posted a report for Chatuchak

You have a bank account. That's a big plus. One less thing you need to organize. Why asking about agent? Not required if you have the funds to deposit. If dealing with Bangkok immigration CW, be aware that SCB does not have a branch at CW.