Rob Browder

Removing my original advise, as I now realize his entry is for marriage, so cannot do 1st 12-mo extension based on "retirement" - my bad.

The trend is to ensure those staying more/much on Tourist-type entries (and some extensions) pay immigration via an agent to do so. Each "tighten up" has included a path to an agent-option. They just want to line their pockets. There will likely be "agent service" reported at this formerly "no problem" border, soon. On the contrary, I beg to differ. A "walk back to Laos" experience is a helluva lot better than the airport-treatment - put in a detention-cell and "shipped" where ever. Just book a couple nights there, and return - no big problem. If in a rush, use immigration's agent-service partners for same-day return in-perpetuity - by air or land. Back in the day, I would have loved a known "7-days out" policy or similar (even 30 days out) for tourist-type returns, just to KNOW what the deal was. The horrible "2 time limit" on land-borders forced people to risk the airport jail-cells for the other 8 months of the year (old VEs = 30+30 X 2), or a new passport every year to apply for more Tourist-Visas. Even jumping the hoops, one never knew what would happen on return, other than look on "thaivisa" for "clues". Two-days out + 60-days + 30 extension each-round is a piece of cake,compared to all that.

It was based on "total income," before they stopped accepting our embassy letters (USA, UK, AUS) - now it is "the total must be xferred to Thailand" method. So, if your total income is close to the required amount, you need to "send back" money to handle expenses in your passport-country. Also, some offices will only allow this "transfers" method if you also show the "source" of the funds being from a "pension" with additional documentation. This happened to the esteemed Ubon Joe, at one point, as he reported here - had to show his letter from Social Security (USA). I can confirm this, as I was told I could not use my overseas income for a marriage-extension, unless I could show it was a "pension" - though my xfers exceeded the minimum required.

In that case, have a few 100-Baht notes handy for the Cambodian side of immigration. It used to be 300 Baht - not sure nowadays.

Be aware that it is "7-days to leave the country" - so will not be able to switch to another type of extension in-country, after taking that option.

If doing this pattern more than once, Immigration at the airport may give you problems unless you "arrange" for them not to deny-entry for a false reason - which is handled via an agent like this: https://aseannow.com/topic/1336926-setv-metv-still-around-now-that-visa-exempts-are-now-60-days/?do=findComment&comment=19217493 Certainty of entry ad-infinitum visa-exempt entry w/o hassles is indeed possible - but only after realizing the true nature of the "system" - then utilizing the above method. After age-50, the "retirement" based option is the simplest solution - similarly offered via agent, if needed.

Where "abuse" is some mystery-period of use they won't define, and where paying immigration's agent-partners to facilitate repeated use ad-infinitum fixes the "problem." I suppose IOs feel "abused" by not receiving the kickbacks to pad their paychecks.

This is a common tactic on this forum - for many years. It's a common pattern in disinformation - first deny it's happening, then later admit it is, and always was, but claim it is really a "good" thing. Preferring illusions to reality has been documented since Plato - a "feature" of the majority of people. Even when it happens to them, many have a Stockholm-Syndrome type response - their deference to "authority" suppressing even their own direct-experience. Best to just ignore such talk - and thank you for posting real-world situation, so people can avoid the same pitfalls.

Immigration have denied-entry to those with all the required by law items - documented many, many times on this and prior version of this forum. They then "say" they are denying for "in Thailand too long / much" - which is not a legal reason to deny-entry - then they "stamp" that you didn't have the money (covering tracks) - even when you do. If you weren't around at the time, the "show the money only in cash" bit was introduced - then, people started carrying the unneeded cash (I bought travelers checks for this purpose) - and then, Immigration stopped asking to see it, and denied entry regardless - would wave their hands if you tried to show them you had all the requirements. How did it affect Thais I know? Lost jobs and near-zero tips - tips being far more than the salary when they had Western customers in restaurants. Also consider that the "zero-baht" and other "tour group" types are literally "bussed" to specific venues. In their short "free / recess" breaks from the group, they tend to go to 7/11 for their "shopping." The result is a much lower ratio of Thai-employees per-tourist, vs Western tourists, who go to various shops, restaurants, etc on their own - and spent considerably more per-capita. Denying entry to people from higher-wage nations did start some years ago, is correct - and, just coincidentally, right after the "elite visa" was introduced under Thaksin. People often blame Prayut, but he didn't start it. There have been many variations on "crackdowns" over the years, with each iteration harming Thais working the tourist-sector. As a result of these practices, before coming here, I was warned against coming to Thailand by various expats I encountered from South America to Europe. Due to their insatiable greed, Thailand-Immigration has developed a nasty reputation with millions of former and potential visitors.

In that case, use the Trat / Koh-Kong border to Cambodia, which also accepts Cambodian e-Visas, but doesn't have the problems of Poipet. Since you want some time in Cambodia before returning, you will not have to pay the "same day return" bribe to Cambodian immigration.

Versus the corruption of the ~10K Baht extra needed for the "sign off" guy at the district-office? Though, that price seems to have gone up, per some reports of agent-assisted marriage-extensions. The whole system top-to-bottom is based on corruption. This is evidenced by every change made to "stop corruption" only resulting in an increase in the collection of corruption-money.

12,500 Baht in Pattaya for the 1-year extension, though can be more elsewhere. It is 25K Baht in Pattaya if the applicant is currently on a tourist-type entry, and needs to also get the "Non-O Visa" part done, in addition to the 1-year extension.

Normally, one returns the work-permit to their employer, and they cancel it.

The "elite visa" is via a private company, who pay off immigration with part of the money. The annual extensions should be scrapped - ideally, would be like an online 90-day report, and electronically pay the fee. In Laos/Cambodia, it's ~$350-USD / year - a bit more if under retirement-age - no hoops except the money, which also proves you are not destitute.

Yes, the purpose was getting people who were spending their money in other countries, where immigration do not hassle people on tourist-entries, to stay in Thailand, instead. Why else make it 5 years for "soft power" options? Why push them out to spend their money in Cambodia, instead of Thailand? Add "e-gate" entry, and Immigration will be cut out of the loop (to their consternation - no agent-money with "pre-screened" / "vip" entry). The money-rules are silly, when dealing with people who have no reason to work illegally for a tiny-fraction of the min-wage in their home country, and have no access to Thai welfare in any form. "Running out of money" is a self-correcting problem. The rare oddball who is caught sleeping rough can easily be rounded-up and deported - one case among tens of thousands. Those money-rules only exist to create agent-business.

They can "legally deny" - yes - but that isn't what they are doing. "Staying here too much" on tourist-entries is not a legal reason to deny entry, which is why they then stamp a different false-reason in the passport, to cover their tracks. If there is any doubt as to the motivating-reason for this behavior, note they have agent-services lined-up to cash in on what they are doing. Annual-extensions are similar - see the agent, and the "problems" go away. As long as folks don't mistakenly think immigration are "just doing their job," then they can budget and plan to deal with the real-world situation, and stay here with few problems. Being naive, and believing "following the law" is enough, and things can end badly.

Not yet reported - but Nong Khai has started requiring overnight, so could happen there also. Be prepared for the possibility.

So, "one night out" rule - like the Lao-crossings near Chiang Mai. That's not so bad, really. Looking forward to a report on how much the agent-fee is for same-day return; it took a couple weeks to see that reported at a crossing near Chiang Mai - cheaper to just spend the night.

Note to self - scan passport while in Laos, before returning to home in Thailand (and getting exit/entry stamps) to wait for approval - LOL! But, that still leaves an e-Visa issued on a date while one is stamped into Thailand, so could bite you later. Better to just plan a mini-vacation while you wait.

"Too much time in Thailand" or "Come too often," are not legal reasons for denial in Section 12 of the Immigration Act. An oil/gas worker would clearly not be "working illegally" or "not have means of support," so denying entry would be illegal on its face (they will do it anyway). The only workaround for O/G workers is pay immigration's agent to enter by air, or fly into a neighboring country and enter via a law-abiding land-border. Given "agent service" is provided at the Phuket office, they are part of the "network" of IOs operating that system, so it is not surprising they are backing their collaborators' play by mouthing non-existent rules. The fact this ONLY happens at entry-points where an extortion-racket is operating says it all. The shameless nature of making up fake-rules, then providing a "payoff" workaround, is shocking to foreigners from the West, where corruption is constrained to higher levels of govt-operations. At least bank-robbers don't pretend to be cops. Maybe we should call them "trans-police"? OTOH, by doing this so brazenly, it removes the "just doing their job" illusion entirely, such that even "green" / naive folks are more likely to see the nature of the system, ignore immigration-apologists, and be prepared to deal with the situation, accordingly - vs walking blind into a trap. Every time one sees a closed hotel or restaurant in a tourist-area, can thank this IO/Agent "system," for the likely reason why. Too bad Thais cannot get hired at the "moved" jobs, now operating in Cambodia, etc - where the lost-money is now being spent. The Chinese/Indian replacement-tourists don't usually tip, so even those who still have work in the tourist-sector have a 50%+ cut in net-pay, vs the Western repeat-visitors which immigration has targeted.

Both Bangkok airports have a "guaranteed entry" agent-money thing going, so deny entry to force this option. Other airports are more "hit and miss" - some we do not have enough reports for analysis. Personally, I would avoid entry by air if a frequent / longer-staying visitor entering on any tourist-type entry - visa or exempt. Or, you can pay an agent for that "service," then - no problem. The Poipet/Aranyaprathet land border is even worse - can be a small fortune in agent-fees there - will be approached by their agent *after* denied-entry. "Good" entry points are those where we do not see reports of problems - Vientiane/Nong Khai, being one of those. Then, there are "minor hassle" cases: If near Chiang Mai, "stay out one day" is now required, unless payment of 4K baht to an agent for same-day return. Into Malaysia, there is another "same day return" paid-service reported at some crossings. Cambodian crossings tend to be do-able without an agent, or with an agent "mini-van" service - with payment to the Cambodian-side for same-day return if DIY.

Why was 800K put in, if you already had that much in the account? The agent screwed up, if they did that. One just needs one extension via agent, but with their own money in-place / complying with the financials, and are good to go with the next extension themselves. Glad you were able to solve it, in any case. Hopefully the trip/visa/etc were less than another year's agent fee.

Immigration do not want us here at all - except to collect agent-fees. Immigration do not care about the reasons why visas/extensions for expats were created - to provide foreign income which creates Thai jobs. They only care about their own financial-interest. They could not care less about "Pi X" from Issan, whose business cannot survive year-round without expat customers. In the case of the OP - a marriage-based extension - there is a lot of paperwork involved, then a sign-off from the district office - where "no envelope included" means more scrutiny of the local-IO's work. Going though "all that" "for free" makes them angry - so they try to force people into another option - or just leaving Thailand. Move or "comply" - even if they send you out 3x more times for more "additional documents" they make up, each time you try - as happened to me, years ago, with a marriage-based extension-attempt. Sadly, the Non-O-ME visa option from Laos is now likely gone - was the best solution for under-50s. If over-50, retirement is the way to go - using an agent if necessary, if the funds are a problem.

Yes - Thai's jobs lost / businesses closed when immigration blocked their repeat-customers from staying here with "crackdowns" against "coming too often" / "staying too long" - which isn't even a legal-reason to deny-entry..

That's not "abuse." The purpose is to bring in longer-staying people, who have at least 500K savings, which weeds-out poor people, who have close-to-zero savings. Anyone caught begging, stealing, working-illegally, etc should be deported and banned for-cause. The type of visa they used to enter is irrelevant. The 500K funds step reduces the likelihood of that sort of behavior, vs tourist-type entries. Some will undoubtedly financially-wreck themselves with the Thai version of "The stripper really likes me" delusion, and similar - the same as do some retirees, tourists, etc.