20 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

No high ranking immigration officer would ever say anything about a "180 day rule" because no such rule exists. I'm not sure why some posters on here are on a crusade against long-term stayers, but the fact remains that current law does not limit how long one can stay on tourist visas. There are plenty of people living in LOS for 9 months a year or more on tourist visas or visa exemptions who have never been denied entry.

 

You should be fine on METV for 8-9 months a year. This is what it was intended for - long term tourism. Just don't be an idiot and you'll never have a problem:
1. Avoid DMK airport.
2. Avoid female officers.
3. Avoid suspicious/short visa runs - same-day visa run is guaranteed to get questions - make your visa runs at least a few days, better a few weeks.

4. Spend some actual time out of the country so there is no doubt you aren't working in Thailand illegally.

I don't think this is very good advice.

The OP stated My plan is to live in Thailand 9 months a year and return to the UK to work for 3 or 4 months.

He can start with an METV alright, which would allow him to stay almost 9 months in Thailand.

And possibly he could get away also with a second METV.

But in the current climate a third METV would become very risky.  The reason being that with such history he will not be considered a 'tourist' anymore.

Living in Thailand on METVs implies that every 2 months he will be confronted with IO (either for extension, or when re-entering the country) and experience the stress of being denied entrance < your 4 points, already indicate that there is a very tangible risk >.

If he is +50 years of age a Non-Imm OA Visa, is probably his best option.

Note: After 2 years (minus 2 months) he will then have to park 800.000/400.000 THB in a Thai account.  If he does not have that money to spare, he can simply return to his home-country and reapply for a Non-Imm OA Visa and repeat the cycle

 

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

I don't think this is very good advice.

The OP stated My plan is to live in Thailand 9 months a year and return to the UK to work for 3 or 4 months.

He can start with an METV alright, which would allow him to stay almost 9 months in Thailand.

And possibly he could get away also with a second METV.

But in the current climate a third METV would become very risky.  The reason being that with such history he will not be considered a 'tourist' anymore.

Living in Thailand on METVs implies that every 2 months he will be confronted with IO (either for extension, or when re-entering the country) and experience the stress of being denied entrance < your 4 points, already indicate that there is a very tangible risk >.

If he is +50 years of age a Non-Imm OA Visa, is probably his best option.

Note: After 2 years (minus 2 months) he will then have to park 800.000/400.000 THB in a Thai account.  If he does not have that money to spare, he can simply return to his home-country and reapply for a Non-Imm OA Visa and repeat the cycle

 

You're right, except for the last part. If he doesn't meet the financial requirements he can't apply for an O-A Long Stay Visa from his home country. It's still >800k in the bank or >65k monthly. Better to go for a 90 days Non-Immigrant O ME. It sucks doing the border runs every 89 day's, but it's doable.

20 hours ago, Max69xl said:

You're right, except for the last part. If he doesn't meet the financial requirements he can't apply for an O-A Long Stay Visa from his home country. It's still >800k in the bank or >65k monthly. Better to go for a 90 days Non-Immigrant O ME. It sucks doing the border runs every 89 day's, but it's doable.

Thanks for the comment.  Indeed, when applying for a Non-Imm OA Long Stay Visa he also does need to meet the financial requirements as required by the Thai Embassy in his home-country.  But there is a difference.  When applying for an extension of stay in Thailand, 800K need to be parked at least several months per year (and 400 K of that amount need to be parked permanently) on a Thai bank-account.  If the OP does not have that amount of money to spare, he could lend 800K from family/friends and put that on his bank account for 3 months prior to applying for a new Non-Imm OA Visa in his home-country.  Once the Visa has been provided he can give the funds back.  If he cannot get hold temporarily of 800K for 3 months prior to applying for a new Non-Imm OA Visa, he could go for the option you mention, but the 3 monthly border-runs would be a hassle.

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

Thanks for the comment.  Indeed, when applying for a Non-Imm OA Long Stay Visa he also does need to meet the financial requirements as required by the Thai Embassy in his home-country.  But there is a difference.  When applying for an extension of stay in Thailand, 800K need to be parked at least several months per year (and 400 K of that amount need to be parked permanently) on a Thai bank-account.  If the OP does not have that amount of money to spare, he could lend 800K from family/friends and put that on his bank account for 3 months prior to applying for a new Non-Imm OA Visa in his home-country.  Once the Visa has been provided he can give the funds back.  If he cannot get hold temporarily of 800K for 3 months prior to applying for a new Non-Imm OA Visa, he could go for the option you mention, but the 3 monthly border-runs would be a hassle.

It's 2 months in the bank before applying for the 1 year extension and 3 months after. Then never less than 400k rest of the year. These are the new requirements from March 1 2019.

2 hours ago, Max69xl said:

It's 2 months in the bank before applying for the 1 year extension and 3 months after. Then never less than 400k rest of the year. These are the new requirements from March 1 2019.

I believe he is discussing obtaining a visa, specifically a Non-Imm OA.

He will show 800k in a Thai bank.