OK>>>so retirees,teachers and other workers will need extensions when required....but who are these people,in their hundreds of thousands,who need extensions foe their visit to thailand ??

In this world he average working guy and family will get 3 weeks annual holiday which they would usualy split between one long one at a hotel and then maybe,if they can afford it,some weekends away..

In Thailand it appears that many thousands have so much money and time on their hands that 2 weeks in Thailand at a time is not enough them.

Backpackers,I can see have the time,but probably not the money, in general I would have thought most tourists are content with a couple of weeks in most countries....but not in Thailand it appears.

Giving,say a 3 week tourist visa should, I would have thought satisfied most tourists,and would possibly ease the crowding at the immigration offices,which,certainly at Chiang Mai, would be very welcome

The world has changed and many employed for the last several decades have not required a permanent place of work but can and are mobile so can visa other places for longer periods of time. Unfortunately immigration rules in most countries have not kept up with this change and many find it hard to accept if they do not enjoy that freedom. And I am one that never had that option; but can embrace it for today and others.

When you fly into Thailand most Europeans and U.S. and British nationals get a free 30 day entrance stamp on arrival by AIR.

If you intend to stay longer than that you can get a visa before you leave your home country which gives you a 60 day stay.

You can, if you wish, exiend that at the local immigration for 30 days for a 1900 Baht fee.

It's only if you cross a LAND border that you get only a 14 day entry.

A large majority of tourists arriving in Thailand come in by air.

Edited April 6, 201313 yr by IMA_FARANG

Only Cambodians get 14 day land entry - most get 15 days or more.

lopburi3, on 06 Apr 2013 - 10:16, said:

The world has changed and many employed for the last several decades have not required a permanent place of work but can and are mobile so can visa other places for longer periods of time. Unfortunately immigration rules in most countries have not kept up with this change and many find it hard to accept if they do not enjoy that freedom. And I am one that never had that option; but can embrace it for today and others.

That's true but further to the OP's post, it's possible to live almost indefinitely in Cambodia on 1-year business (or ordinary) visa extensions. In Thailand it's much more difficult so if you are flexible about where you want to live, just go to Cambodia. From there it's easy to spend quite a bit of time in Thailand.