[LivinLOS]

Thgeres a lot of difference.. A Non Imm visa shows you live here.. Tourist visa's dont.. It may sound trivial but Thai cops are a lot more on your side if you show a Thai licence, a long stay Visa, etc.. Some banks are awkward about bank accounts or allowing internet banking (though that seems less an issue on Phuket.. I read about it upcountry or BKK).. Many small things maybe not an issue but it is a value point for me.

Also a tourist visa allows a set number of entries for x amount of days.. A non imm allows infinite entries each for 90 days.. You can get a last entry on the day before it expires and get another 90 days actually giving 15 months. On a torist visa if you have arrived in country and then had a sudden need to go somewhere else (say visit a GF who lived in Lao.. Thats happened to me 2 weeks after coming in one one entry) that entry is then used, you waste a 60 + 30 day entry on a short stay. Also factor in the 3x (or 4x) 30 day extension stamps are another 1900 each so add another 7600 baht to the immigration pot and remembering to go see them at the exact precise day each time to maximize your visa uyse.. sounds trivial but might not be.. If you miss them, or its a gov holiday and you blow past the date then its 500 baht per day overstay and no extension, do a visa run and use another of the precious entries.

A 1 year non imm from Hull is 90 GBP and the best visa you can get..