Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are asking the question basically is it okay to stay on short permissions of stay here in Thailand? What we are talking about primarily things like Tourist Visas, Visas-on-Arrival or Visa Exempt status, can you live in Thailand using these type of visas? 

I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com. I urge those that are watching this video, go check out that article in detail. The article is titled: Visa exempt 45 days is back to 30 days at Thai airports and border crossings. Quoting directly: "In other words, Nationals from Visa exempt countries will now have a maximum of 60 days rather than 75 before their time expires. However, they will still be able to leave the country, however briefly, and repeat the procedure for a further 30 + 30 days. But land border runs are limited to a maximum of two in a calendar year. There is no formal restriction on entries by air, though Immigration Officers can refuse admission if they feel a formal visa from a Thai Embassy should be obtained in advance. "Don't try to live in Thailand on a short permissions of stay," has long been a common refrain in the country's Immigration halls and Border posts."

Yeah, that is just going back roughly play like 7, 8 years ago right around the time they were bringing in The Blacklist they said look “you really can't live in Thailand using Tourist Visas anymore.” I am even talking Tourist Visas, not Visa Exempt, going and getting an actual Tourist Visa and then coming back in, the point of which it starts looking to Immigration like “hey man you are living here on those type of visas, we don't want that”, Thai Immigration basically takes that position. It is not unlike what is called 'determination at a Customs and Border Protection checkpoint’ in the United States when they determine that someone is n intending immigrant without proper documentation. That is basically US Customs and Border Protection saying "look, we get it you have a valid Tourist Visa but based on your prior travel history to the United States, it looks to us like you are living here and so therefore we are not going to grant you entry because we don't believe you are an actual tourist."

I think that is a similar line of thinking that is being utilized by Thai Immigration here in the country, so it's something to think about. Those out there that have been using Visa exemptions, you want to stay longer but you don't really know where your situation is at, one, it is probably a good idea to presume you need to get into a long-term status of some kind and you need to go ahead and research what options you have there. Honestly, this stuff can get pretty prickly, it can become quite nettlesome so it is probably not a terrible idea to think about contacting a legal professional, gaining some insight and guidance into how best to proceed.