The Thai Embassies have published exemption rules limiting visitors to two per year. It used to be two by land borders and unspecified by air. Have they changed the rules? People are being refused by airlines.
I took my passport, wife, house book and a village elder to the district office. They gave me the yellow book and then a pink ID card. It was a little convoluted but I have plenty of time.
It is a two way street. The Thais treat doctors like gods and do not question any abuse. I will concede that a doctors time is more valuable than mine but not infinitely so. The system can be broken for the benefit of and deference to the staff.