How To Get & Stay In Thailand

[2ge]

Hi all nice people,

this is my first post, I read a little bit this forum - it is really nice, congratulations to admins/owners. I am 30 old guy from Slovakia, I bought ONE WAY ticket to Thailand, I am flying at end of MARCH. After browsing a little bit, it seems it should be a problem. I have friend in Singapore, don't know if this helps...I still don't have Visa, because I am not sure which one I should ask for, which is best for me. I hope I will get to Thailand without any problems...

I am IT Expert, I have Economy (IT) University. I'm programming in PHP, Perl, doing some SEO stuff and many more...

I'd like to stay 1-3 years near Surat Thani/Koh Samui/Koh Phangan, thought about getting ED Visa, but I cannot find any school in near area. So my next thoughts are making some website for NGO (didn't find anything about NGO visas), or establish Thai company (IT, creating websites...).

Please advice.

Thank you.

[wasabi]

I don't know the rules from your country but if you are going to be depending on a visa on arrival then you may not be permitted to board with a one way ticket.

[Flhai]

From what I here there are really not that many Airlines that enforce and check Visa status etc. unless they have had a spate of problems. I have never had my passport checked passed the first page by the airlines.

Now a question I have had for ages (maybe I should have just Pm's Loburi3 on this as he is the man with the answers) but here goes:

I was reading the bogus thread about staying for 20 years that was just a wind up and now this thread about how to get and stay for 3 years or so. But I have always wondered what would happen if you came on a Visa or anything and just stayed for years and years (maybe even 20) and didn't get caught???? Would you just go to your the airport with your passport (of which you can keep up to date) and pay the max fine of 20,000 baht or would you got the an IDC for 500 or so years???

Edited March 6, 2008 by Flhai

[Maestro]

... But I have always wondered what would happen if you came on a Visa or anything and just stayed for years and years (maybe even 20) and didn't get caught???? Would you just go to your the airport with your passport (of which you can keep up to date) and pay the max fine of 20,000 baht or would you got the an IDC for 500 or so years???

The immigration at the passport desk will have a colleague bring you to an office where another official decides either to let you off with a summary fine of 20,000 Baht or to detain you to be sent to court. In the latter case, the judge will be bound by Section 81 of the Immigration Act when sentencing you:

Section 81 : Any alien who stay in the Kingdom without permission or with permission expired or revoked shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding 20,000 Baht or both.

--

Maestro

[dr_Pat_Pong]

From what I here there are really not that many Airlines that enforce and check Visa status etc. unless they have had a spate of problems. I have never had my passport checked passed the first page by the airlines.

Now a question I have had for ages (maybe I should have just Pm's Loburi3 on this as he is the man with the answers) but here goes:

I was reading the bogus thread about staying for 20 years that was just a wind up and now this thread about how to get and stay for 3 years or so. But I have always wondered what would happen if you came on a Visa or anything and just stayed for years and years (maybe even 20) and didn't get caught???? Would you just go to your the airport with your passport (of which you can keep up to date) and pay the max fine of 20,000 baht or would you got the an IDC for 500 or so years???

Very bad attitude. Don't come here.

[PhilHarries]

From what I here there are really not that many Airlines that enforce and check Visa status etc. unless they have had a spate of problems. I have never had my passport checked passed the first page by the airlines.

Now a question I have had for ages (maybe I should have just Pm's Loburi3 on this as he is the man with the answers) but here goes:

I was reading the bogus thread about staying for 20 years that was just a wind up and now this thread about how to get and stay for 3 years or so. But I have always wondered what would happen if you came on a Visa or anything and just stayed for years and years (maybe even 20) and didn't get caught???? Would you just go to your the airport with your passport (of which you can keep up to date) and pay the max fine of 20,000 baht or would you got the an IDC for 500 or so years???

Very bad attitude. Don't come here.

Very good reply, very good advice although if he (?) did come on those terms I am sure a spell in the IDC would alter that attitude problem.

[Flhai]

From what I here there are really not that many Airlines that enforce and check Visa status etc. unless they have had a spate of problems. I have never had my passport checked passed the first page by the airlines.

Now a question I have had for ages (maybe I should have just Pm's Loburi3 on this as he is the man with the answers) but here goes:

I was reading the bogus thread about staying for 20 years that was just a wind up and now this thread about how to get and stay for 3 years or so. But I have always wondered what would happen if you came on a Visa or anything and just stayed for years and years (maybe even 20) and didn't get caught???? Would you just go to your the airport with your passport (of which you can keep up to date) and pay the max fine of 20,000 baht or would you got the an IDC for 500 or so years???

Very bad attitude. Don't come here.

Very good reply, very good advice although if he (?) did come on those terms I am sure a spell in the IDC would alter that attitude problem.

Hey guys it was not a bad attitude... it was a theoretical question. I don't think any people would consider it seriously... I just posed the question based on the infomation in previous posts. Ie. someone saying they had 20 years overstay (bogus) and another talking of the immigration issues with Australia.

Is there anything wrong with having an undertanding of the laws and Visa issues? I read these posts with a lot of interest and use the information and advise well and follow the rules, respect Thai's and Thailand's laws and my attitude does not need adjusting thank you. Next time I will spell things out a little more so you don't jump so quick. Also thank you for the answer Maestro. I would not take a chance like that even if the punishment was one day in an IDC. Cheers

Edited March 7, 2008 by Flhai

[elektrified]

The OP would be foolish to attempt entry without a visa and holding a one-way ticket. Somewhere along the way he will be asked to show a return ticket. Some Slovak friends were going to visit Thailand this year and they told me that citizens of Slovakia are only entitled to 15 days visa exempt.

I applied for my tourist visa last year at the Royal Thai Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic (USA citizen) and I had to provide them with an "invitation" from a Thai citizen along with a copy of her ID card. I also had to show them proof of assets including bank statements for the previous three months. It took three weeks to process my application for a 2 entry TV. Don't know if the Embassy in Bratislava would make things any easier - I doubt it.

[Lite Beer]

The OP would be foolish to attempt entry without a visa and holding a one-way ticket. Somewhere along the way he will be asked to show a return ticket. Some Slovak friends were going to visit Thailand this year and they told me that citizens of Slovakia are only entitled to 15 days visa exempt.

I applied for my tourist visa last year at the Royal Thai Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic (USA citizen) and I had to provide them with an "invitation" from a Thai citizen along with a copy of her ID card. I also had to show them proof of assets including bank statements for the previous three months. It took three weeks to process my application for a 2 entry TV. Don't know if the Embassy in Bratislava would make things any easier - I doubt it.

A small point. It is a 15 day Visa On Arrival. Return ticket is needed for this.

[2ge]

Thanks for all answers. To be clear - I don't want get VISA on arrival, I want get visa here, in Slovakia. My question is - which VISA is best to get, so I will have as most time as I can in Thailand to get some "better" Visa, so I can stay there 1-3 years. I think best option for me should be "Multiple-entry Non Immigrant visa" as described at http://www.thaivisa.com/422.0.html (it is still right, or there are some changes on this topic?). When I look at Royal Thai Consulate in Slovakia, I can read:

Tourist Visa - validity 6 months - 2 and more entries - 2600 Sk

Tourist Visa - validity 6 months - 3 entries - 3900 Sk

From this I don't know which one is better to get, I am supposing the more expensive one

Also no one replied on NGO topic. I am pretty sure there exists some people, which work for NGO and get some "special" Visa. I can make something for NGO like creating website or improve existing one.

Also overstaying topic is interesting to me too, but I didn't know I can get into jail for this.

For admins: I have in this topic "You are currently receiving email notification of replies", but no mail comes at all.

[lopburi3]

1. I can not send you an email because you have it marked as private - not sure the computer can or not.

2. The six month 3 entry tourist visa could cover up to 6 months stay with 30 day extensions of each 30 day tourist visa entry. A 2 would would cover up to 4 months.

3. Yes. Multi entry non immigrant O visa would be the best if available.

[2ge]

1. This is possible, I click on my profile, cannot find where I can change it. Ofcourse I want private mail because of spams, which I am getting really too much already.

2. Ok, I will get 3 months tourist visa multi entry.

If I will get these Visa here, is there possibility to have any problem, I have one way ticket only (on airlines, on thai border...) ? Or I have to buy some other ticket to Singapore for example?

Thank you.

[lopburi3]

As you have visa for entry there should not be any airline ticket problems at borders. But some have been asked for tickets when making 30 days extensions of stay (but believe that is over). If person did not have a ticket out of Thailand within the 30 days they only received a 7 day extension of stay.

[jstumbo]

For admins: I have in this topic "You are currently receiving email notification of replies", but no mail comes at all.

I have the same problem. Used to get them, but it just stopped. I didn't change anything.