isaanistical

this and several other agent options. Having been talking to some of them, I pass on an observation from one, that is probably well worth noting. The instinct is to take such advice with a pinch of salt, but in this case it makes sense. "If you want to do the border run (eg to Laos), do it, by all means with us or with another agent, but do NOT do it alone. Unaccompanied, the officials at borders will allow you out but not back and make it all a big problem."

sorry, deleted

No. I know I have seen stuff referring to punters being permitted 2VEs in a calendar year, but not since it was first mooted (if you'll allow the expression) late last year. Perhaps "granted" might be a better word than allowed. But I was only using "allowance" as my own term. In the past 50 years I've crossed enough borders to know no entry in the world is a "right". (NB: If something is allowed, it is an allowance)

None taken! You tell me what I expected anyway. de facto, it seems so - but only because that's how an individual IO would want to interpret it, not because it's law. That's why I am intrigued by the apparent "2 VEs per year" allowance, because I had 2 last year and now I would like one this year, so in a sense it ought to be ok. Been here long enough to know these inconsistencies though.......

Are these primarily at SVB/DMK, or everywhere? (I am asking because I don't see these reports, not because I don't believe they exist)

Sorry, but the land issue led to us not having B400K available, hence the interruption to normal service! 2 VE entries, both via land, and currently a single 60-day extension. I would have got a further 30 days but screwed up because I failed to note your own observation that one must do the 30 first before asking for the 60. Rather than spending a month or two outside TH, I am exploring whether to risk one more in-out on the 60-day jobbie before the expected reduction come August. By then I'll be able to show 400K again.

For months we've been preoccupied with an unresolved problem over sale of some land, which has delayed my marriage extension. Temporary fixes meant 2 land visa-exempts last year, the second finishes mid-March as I did a 60-day extension to visit Thai family (btw: no hassle at all at upcountry IO). I should be sorted by mid-year to go back to the marriage extension routine, but I'll need one more “border run” to tide me over. Has the fuss died down or will I face likely trouble over one more visa-exempt run if I come back by air? The “rule” seemed to be 2 entries per year, but are IOs holding to that in general? Does a couple of days out of Thailand suffice? Would I need onward air tickets and billions of dollars in bank to get back in? Is it better (ie safer) to enter at (eg) CNX than Bangkok? I know fine well there are no hard-and-fast answers, but what's the mood over at Immigration?

Wires crossed? To me, that's two different things, unless they want to attract pensioners (who must NOT work) to work in two restriced sectors. As always, the details are missng and/or ambiguous. Anyway, next instalment of this saga due end August, so let's not hold our breath. NB: I took the quote from Johno57, my comment is not aimed at him/her

Well I am looking at my own Bangkok Bank card..... Don't post rubbish.

except 7-11 is from Japan not Thailand...........

Bake bl@@dy good cakes though

why unfortunate? In any case what is not possible to dispute is that this wonderful Thai gentleman is a criminal who did time following his conviction in Australia of a serious drugs crime. That he has several times during his subsequent rise in Thai domestic politics claimed to have been given a package of cooking flour is not relevant to that conviction.

Hardly bears thinking about. Perhaps time to take a bit of care of the old girl - after all, she's been with me so long she's almost like one of the family!

I'll pass these on if I see the guy, but I am intrigued by the idea of just calling a government department in England! I know it can be done in Australia, and other places, but I can't imagine that working in Britain! So I just gurgled the Future Pensions Centre. First response was: "I phoned the Future Pension Centre earlier, I was told that they would call me back within 8 weeks! " All of which kinda backs up my vow never to set foot there again. Thanks for the answers.