Rob Browder

I would change "tolerate" to "encourage" - as the last changes to visas (Retirement, Ed, etc) ALL led to more agent-service. "Abuse" is just finding some outlier cases, then making media-hay out of it, to "justify" measures which create new-demand for increased agent-use. With the DTV - those going that route should assume they will need to pay some sort of agent-service for their re-entries, or face potential problems. And, it may cost more per-entry than what serial-visa-exempt users must pay agents per-entry at the airports (2K to 3K baht). Hopefully, the known-safe entry points will not play these games, but I would make no bets.

I would get a bank-stamped monthly-statement for the 8K account covering the time period in question. That erases all doubt that the total-balance of both accounts, combined, ever dropped below 800K.

It's not about how one is dressed. If one has a longer-stay history as a tourist, and did not pay an agent for "pre-clearence," then there is a risk of being interrogated and/or denied-entry.

If you stay a shorter period on your first VE-entry, your 2nd entry is less-likely to trigger an interrogation or denied-entry.

Someone else then suggested ... ... which was what the further comments were referencing.

I have not seen this before, but nothing surprises me with Immigration any more. I would go to immigration and try to apply in-person - no agent - since you have the required funds. The paperwork for retirement is not excessive (unlike other types). Do this when you still have 45+ days left on your permitted-stay. "Plan B" could include using an agent in Pattaya (discount if you have your own money) or "by the book" in Bangkok - though the latter would require staying in Bangkok ~3-months, to continue through the annual-extension.

If you mean a Non-O Multiple-Entry from Savannahket, would need to show 400K sitting in a Thai bank for 2 months to apply for it. And, good luck getting an appointment at the Savannakhet Thai-Consulate before they close for 2 weeks, and switch to eVisas.

Either enter Thailand through safe entry points like Nong-Khai, OR pay one of the agent-companies to "pre-clear" your entry via air, see: https://aseannow.com/topic/1344560-aqinth-passport-service/#findComment-19410998 OR risk being threatened with or denied-entry, if the IOs were given marching-orders that morning, to hassle good folks like you, to drive-up agent-service sales.

First, translate the document you photographed, and see what it says. That is sketchy as hell. Canceling the WP is entirely the boss's problem - you don't need to go there, etc. Getting your Non-B canceled is your problem - though all it requires is a termination-letter from your employer, with the date of termination specified. Be prepared to leave the country immediately, or pay 1900 Baht for a "7 days" extension on your next visit to immigration, regardless of what your "boss" says your termination-date will be. Obviously, don't expect anything from such people.

Apparently, you intend to get a "Tourist Visa" for your return to Thailand. Given recent changes, that means you will be applying via the eVisa system while out of Thailand, and staying there until it is approved. Alternatively, you could just return visa-exempt, which which case border-bounce to Vientiane and back. There are no reports of denials-of-entry for "come to much" / "stay to long" reasons. if you have a longer-stay history in Thailand - Tourist-Visa or not - you would be wise to use one of the safe entry points like Nong-Khai, or pay an agent to "pre-clear" your arrival at either Bangkok airport.

The goal is people with money come/stay in Thailand more/longer = how it was "thought out" by the MFA. For every one of those, multiple Thai jobs are funded with their spending. How immigration "react" is another story, since they obviously don't care about the well-being of Thais with employment funded by foreign money (see their past actions). I agree in-country renewals could involve who knows what "undocumented" paperwork. Border bounces seem smarter, though this often involves a payoff of some kind for "no hassle" re-entry at known-bad entry points. Those using the DTV should factor this into their expected costs, or plan to border bounce at good/safe entry points like Nong Khai - at worst, stay a night out before returning.

Where ... "mass crackdown" (envelope-money scams) "should be on a retirement visa" (why "should"?) abusing (abusing what / how?) I can see the day coming up when Immigration starts denying old folks coming into Thailand if they see them on a DTV (breaking the law by denying-entry for a non-legal reason? Well, it wouldn't be the first time.) ... as they will see this as them abusing the system (by following the law as written?). Is it "Illegal" to do remote-work when old? Immigration would clearly PREFER if folks didn't get visas from the MFA, and just paid off their agents for "extensions of stay," instead. I would not be surprised if those with DTVs had to start paying off agents for "VIP" / "Pre-Clearance" entry at the known-bad entry points to re-enter, but this is nothing new at those entry-points. Better to just avoid them.

Yes, both capital-city airports are now running rackets - either pay the extra, or avoid them. They are shameless, due to no chain of accountability. And forget the crazy Poipet/Aranyaprathet crossing entirely. The crossings to Laos near Chaing Mai have recently started-up a little racket also - though, a night out to avoid the "extra fee" isn't the end of the world.

The Thai govt WANTS us to come and spend money here - see the change to Visa-Exempt to 60 days and the DTV - because our spending creates Thai jobs. Immigration just want a "cut of the action," or they make up non-legal reasons to deny entry at known-bad entry points.

That's great news. I am glad your immigration office will issue you a "Certificate of Residence" (CoR) and your wife's bank will accept it to allow you to open an account on a tourist-type entry. Some immigration offices and banks have a long, oft-reported policy of not being helpful with this. I would still suggest you bring a copy of your marriage-certificate to the bank, in addition to the CoR from Immigration (and your wife, of course).

Only if you enter via one of the known-bad entry points - in which case, one needs to pay them via their agent for "no hassle" entry.

It would make more sense to get the dependent-visas/extensions AFTER you get your 1-year extension, and let them do a TR or Visa-Exempt during your 90-days. That will give time to get the legalized birth-cert for the child. Also be aware that minor-children cannot be arrested/fined/deported for overstay. One should still get their process done correctly but, if a bit over-time, overstay is not the same risk as it would be for an adult. A translation-agency or other poster may be able to provide details on the process of legalizing a foreign birth-certificate (I am assuming they were not born in Thailand).

It would seem that no agents are reported to provide this service at Mukdahan, or at other law-abiding points of entry, because there is no need for them. At Mukdahan, I have not seen any reports of denials of entry based on the excuse of "coming too-often" / staying too-long," which is not a legal reason to deny entry. Even if you were denied-entry, you would just walk back to Laos, and cancel your Laos exit stamp. Contrast to being locked-up at one of the Bangkok airports for failing to pay-up via their agents.

Neither of those legal reasons mention "staying in Thailand too long," so when Immigration states this as the reason to entrants, they are admitting violating Thai law - especially when combined with no evidence presented to justify either valid-reason for the denial, and no list of acceptable documentation or opportunity to prove a "means of support." It is not a "coincidence" that, at the known-bad entry points - the ONLY locations where these types of denials of entry occur - they offer an "agent" service for repeat-entries. It is possible that DTV holders will be subject to such extortion tactics as well, though hopefully this will not expand to currently safe (= law-abiding) points of entry. As to those violating the terms of any visa / engaging in criminal activity, these should be prosecuted on a case-by-case basis. Set an example, and put them through the ringer, and that solves this problem. Criminals, and everyone else, being coerced to pay off immigration via agents does not solve this problem. Using some isolated cases, blown up in "the news," to justify continuing extortion schemes, is reprehensible behavior.

He will need to show that to get the 1-year extension, so need to find out - and he needs to get it if he doesn't have it. No need to "go home," regardless. Until he gets custody papers, visa-exempt with border-runs is currently permitted "unlimited," for now, at safe-crossings and agent-assisted crossings. Only if flying-in or at Poipet/Aranyaprathet are there reports of denied-entry. Of course this might change in the future. Also, "Visiting Family" is now a specified legal reason for using visa-exempt entry. He could bring the kids birth-certs with his name on them with him, in case of an issue.

2K to 3.5K - maybe 500 Baht more if long history, per this agent-post: https://aseannow.com/topic/1336926-setv-metv-still-around-now-that-visa-exempts-are-now-60-days/?do=findComment&comment=19217493 You mean, when Immigration "ruined it," by denying entry for false-reasons, to push folks into agent-assisted visas, crazy-priced "elite" visas, and agent "pre-clearance" (formerly called "VIP Service") for serial visa-exempts? That move caused entire blocks of shops in tourist areas to go bankrupt - more with each "crackdown" - but they got their envelopes, which is all they care about.

You could still open a bank-account in Pattaya with an agent - perhaps after flying in, before going to KK. Alternatively, you could TRY this (no guarantee): Go to your wife's bank, show the bank-transfer you just made, your marriage certificate, and explain that you need to apply for a Non-O Visa with the 400K in your name for Immigration, and that you will be living here / need the account permanently. If they say "no," ask/offer to buy their "insurance" if that will help (is what the agents do - the bank-rep gets a commission on it). It's worth a try.

At worst, one might have to pay for agent-assisted entry, if coming into the known-bad entry points, including Bangkok airports. The known-good entry points tend to follow the law, and therefore respect Visas and visa-exempt rules issued by the MFA.

When doing your 90-day reports in-person, they may not have updated the system to reflect your current TM-30 location. The "online" system seems to be correlating data from these two separate systems / databases. When you go in-person to do your 90-day report, they may just process it, again, without touching the TM-30 data. You could ask them about the error-message, and maybe they will oblige to correct the problem (or not - mixed reports on this).

I would say, they didn't foresee the political re-alignment of the Thaksin faction with other parties, in response to FF - and that this would result in a compromises / policy-changes on visas (and other things). Thaksin was in-power when the "elite" visa was created, and "crackdowns" on visa-exempt entries soon followed, which helped drive sales.