NBTC policy for foreigner drone registration - what a scam

[macnmotion]

I just went through the process of registering a drone I was gifted with CAAT and NBTC. The NBTC process took about 10 days total for approval, but when I received my certificate it says it expires on Jan 1 (in about 6 weeks). I asked about this and they said that it's because my current Visa expires then (OK, I can live with that and renew in 6 weeks). But then they explained that even though my Non-B visa will be for 1 year, they will only issue 3 month registrations for foreigners. My wife's cousin (Thai) just registered the same drone with NBTC. He paid the same registration fee as me (214 baht) but his is perpetual. I'll have to pay 856 baht per year (ok not such a big deal) and will have to go through this paperwork process 4x per year. What a joke.

 

Does anyone have any information about this that might make things easier? I'm wondering if I can register myself with CAAT as the pilot, but register the drone with NBTC under my wife's name to get that perpetual Thai certificate? Or do both registrations have to be in my name? The 1M THB insurance coverage is in my name.