5 hours ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

 

He was planning to spend approximately 6 months of the year here and 6 months back in Australia, in order to set up everything here for the future 'O' visa and wrap up everything in Australia.

 

DTV is coming under the same scrutiny as SETV, METV and VE so that is not a route he wants to risk taking.

 

On top of all this, the 'O' visa requirements and process are frankly silly now.

 

Why not choose another country that makes the process simple and easy? 🤔

If you spend 3 months here at the end of the year you can leave before new year and return to get another 3 months that would be 6 months a year involving the end of one year and the beginning of the next year, and would be legal 

9 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

You think there is a difference between his post and yours?

 

You are just as entitled.

 

 

 

???????? 

On 11/27/2025 at 10:49 AM, stevenl said:

Because that's the requirement.

So what non-o suits this person? none...

 

So, well done on losing out on potentially half a years spending from a high earning person who just wants to spend his off time here and isn't trying to live here full time.

On 11/26/2025 at 8:57 PM, ericthai said:

unlike when I first moved to Thailand they now have choices. 

Elite Visa is an option also DTV.. Then there's a multi-entry tourist visa. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elite would be ridiculous for the cost vs time spent, DTV is for specific things such as Education, Retirement and Remote work

On 11/28/2025 at 4:53 AM, kiwikeith said:

If you spend 3 months here at the end of the year you can leave before new year and return to get another 3 months that would be 6 months a year involving the end of one year and the beginning of the next year, and would be legal 

 

Rather restrictive isn't it? 🤔

 

Also, he can't leave by a land border because he will be unable to extend the VE60. Flying out of the country and returning around the new year is going to very expensive for flights and hotels.

 

What if, after all that, he is refused entry for 'gaming / abusing' the system? 🤔

On 11/25/2025 at 7:47 AM, Kandinski said:

Bad news for the crowd  working rotation abroad.  Fewer in the bars and more condoes for rent soon I'll guess

 

I noticed that some hotels, particularly in Bangkok, have slashed their rates quite a bit in recent months... Either there are many more hotels now, or fewer tourists. 🤔

On 11/25/2025 at 8:20 AM, spidermike007 said:

God forbid people stay longer and spend alot of money supporting the local economy. What a crime. 

 

Just read on another website that Phuket Immigration genuinely believe that 'tourists generally do not stay longer than 10 days'... - Ten days?? I wouldn't bother, if I only had such a short time to travel half-way around the world. Deduct travel time to the airport, flight and hotel check-ins, and it's barely a week... Thanks, but no thanks; there are better options closer to my home country. All just because of rolling out the red carpet for day-trippers from Malaysia and China, while questioning Westerners' vacation length and spending power... 😆

On 11/28/2025 at 4:23 AM, kiwikeith said:

If you spend 3 months here at the end of the year you can leave before new year and return to get another 3 months that would be 6 months a year involving the end of one year and the beginning of the next year, and would be legal 

 

You mean, as legal as "unlimited VFEs"? And it's still only 157 days (60+30 + 60+7), unless provincial Immigration offices see it your way...

On 11/24/2025 at 10:42 PM, hotchilli said:

If immigration insist on seeing a full itinerary, hotel bookings, travel plans then yes it will have an impact on those wishing to come here and move around without firm plans on how long to stay where.

Not everyone comes here, stays in one location, one hotel for the full duration of their stay.

Agree 100%.  The reason I first picked thailand was because arriving was simple. No visa planning needed in advance. Thousands of places to stay and. Visit.  Longer tourist stays, coming and going throughout Asia etc.. visa exempt was heaven. I've been 15 times since 2004 and now have 90 o visa to see if I want to continue visiting or staying or semi retiring.  They really are making it more challenging every year

9 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

You mean, as legal as "unlimited VFEs"? And it's still only 157 days (60+30 + 60+7), unless provincial Immigration offices see it your way...

Why don't you ask an immigration officer, I did and it's legal, your able to stay 90 day's in any given year so back to back years 90 days in 2025 then return early in 2026 and you can stay 90 days for 2026

On 11/27/2025 at 8:54 AM, ryandb said:

I'm not talking about the intention; I'm talking about how it will put off tourists. Yes, genuine tourists will be stamped through but it's the hassle which will put them off.

 

News of longer queues at immigration on arrival caused by these will put people off who don't want to wait hours after a long-haul flight because immigration is going through every page of every backpacker's passport.

 

"I'm thinking of going to Thailand next year, you went last November Bob, how was it?" said Clive

 

"Thailand was amazing but my god, was the airport immigration queue terrible, I'm never going to fly that far to wait 2 hours to be stamped in before I can get to the hotel to sleep, PH next time for me" 

 

Genuine tourists won't get the extra scrutiny because their Thai immigration history, or lack thereof, will show on the IO's computer.

 

Those getting extra grilling won't be gumming up the works so much that any newbie tourist will notice.

 

If you want to experience about 2 hours to clear inbound immigration, pop over to Vietnam where it can take that long on a good day at SGN, and they're not asking any questions.

 

As for MNL.... don't kid me that inbound (or outbound) immigration in the Philippines is going to be faster, better nicer than here.

10 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Just read on another website that Phuket Immigration genuinely believe that 'tourists generally do not stay longer than 10 days. Deduct travel time to the airport, flight and hotel check-ins, and it's barely a week

Majority of tourists are from neighboring contries and a substantial intl. travellers stay for 1-2 weeks so the 10 days is a plausible average. How long it takes you to get to Thailand isnt a part of how TAT came up with the number, only the time in LIS 

On 11/26/2025 at 7:16 AM, kiwikeith said:

Well you can buy a real ticket to Cambodia for about 1400 Bhat or less than that and trash it. 

I always bought a real, cheap onward ticket 

 

Nothing says "dodgy border hopper on his last desperate attempt to milk the visa exempt system" to the Thai immigration officer quite like a fully bought and paid flight to the nearest and cheapest international destination.

 

Come on. It's game over time. At least have a o/w to where you come from (not regional).

13 hours ago, Kandinski said:

Majority of tourists are from neighboring contries and a substantial intl. travellers stay for 1-2 weeks so the 10 days is a plausible average. How long it takes you to get to Thailand isnt a part of how TAT came up with the number, only the time in LIS 

 

Fair enough. They favour short-stay tourists, as is their right, so, perhaps, not the most welcoming place for retirees and snowbirds...

13 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

Why don't you ask an immigration officer, I did and it's legal, your able to stay 90 day's in any given year so back to back years 90 days in 2025 then return early in 2026 and you can stay 90 days for 2026

 

Guess, we'll find out in a couple weeks' time...

10 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Fair enough. They favour short-stay tourists, as is their right, so, perhaps, not the most welcoming place for retirees and snowbirds...

No, they don't favour short stay tourists. Unless you think 60 days with ability to extend is short stay tourism.

13 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Fair enough. They favour short-stay tourists, as is their right, so, perhaps, not the most welcoming place for retirees and snowbirds...

Apple and oranges. Its 2 completely different target groups and, being in the first group, I feel much more welcome and accepted by the Thais over the short term "milking cow" tourists

On 11/25/2025 at 1:17 AM, Kandinski said:

Fewer in the bars and more condoes for rent soon I'll guess

 

Sounds good to me.

On 11/30/2025 at 9:31 AM, NanLaew said:

 

Genuine tourists won't get the extra scrutiny because their Thai immigration history, or lack thereof, will show on the IO's computer.

 

Those getting extra grilling won't be gumming up the works so much that any newbie tourist will notice.

 

If you want to experience about 2 hours to clear inbound immigration, pop over to Vietnam where it can take that long on a good day at SGN, and they're not asking any questions.

 

As for MNL.... don't kid me that inbound (or outbound) immigration in the Philippines is going to be faster, better nicer than here.

There are many other places than SE Asia, for example my Mother came last year if she experienced that then she would say sod that, I'll pay for you to meet us in name the luxury country, not everyone coming to Thailand is a sex tourist.

2 hours ago, ryandb said:

There are many other places than SE Asia, for example my Mother came last year if she experienced that then she would say sod that, I'll pay for you to meet us in name the luxury country, not everyone coming to Thailand is a sex tourist.

 

Yeah, not having a girlfriend there, and not longer much interested in the nightlife, Vietnam, Indonesia, or even South America become more interesting by the day... Who wants to worry all the time about being quizzed like a criminal at Arrival, and, possibly be denied.