MikeOKitches

1. A ticket is normally not asked in the US for US passport holders and if asked do not believe it would be for 60 days as a tourist visa is normally extended for 30 days for anyone asking. Consulates often have rules that can be applied if they feel the need.

2. Most banks will open with a non immigrant visa (or even any entry) but may require a letter of your address (can be obtained from Embassy). Bangkok Bank and K bank serve most expats without an issue - if one branch says no another likely will say yes. Money deposit should not be a problem - especially if you bank at same location as wife.

3. Once in area airlines are much less strict at enforcement of onward tickets and if required bargain fares are normally available. But visas would eliminate that issue entirely and can be obtained in most countries within 26 hours or so.

Hi again Lopburi!

Once again, I'm thankful you're spending your valuable time with me.

To your reply:

1. You are 100% correct, sir. I just checked out the Thai Embassy - Los Angeles website, and I do not need to show a RT airline ticket!

http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=33 I read the requirements for foreign passport holders! DOH!

2. Sounds promising that Kasikorn Bank may entertain the idea of letting me open up an individual bank account with a Non-Immigrant "O" Visa! I've heard they only allow farangs to open up inividual bank accounts if they have Thai "work permits." Glad that's a fallacy. Actually, the girl I'm sweet on has been banking at Kasikorn for many years now. Hopefully, that will help sway the banking official. Also, me depositing THB 400,000 should help.

About this "letter of residence" you speak of which I may have to get for the banking official. I have a quick question. If I'm able to rent a small apartment in Bangkok when I first arrive during the 90 day period, will that address suffice? Also, could I use my girl's apartment address if I decide to live with her? How would the US Embassy do this? Do they write the landlord to get confirmation? Or do I show the embassy the Thai rental agreement of either mine or my girl's?

3. Thank you for your insight on this. It is appreciated.

OK, enough out of me. I know I have been a pest to you and all the others here on my 1st day. I'm a gregarious type, and if we ever met in BKK, I would buy you your favorite adult beverage. CHEERS!

IMA_FARANG, you are DA BOMB! :jap: That was absolutely an incredible answer you gave me. Funny, but I will be flying on Thai Airways. They're the only airlines originating in USA (LAX) that does a DIRECT flight to BKK!

I'll have to investigate what you've told me.

BTW, any experience with the banks there, or are you a monger like me?

I'm trying to find a local Thai bank who will allow me to open up an individual bank account so I can park the THB 400,000 cash requirement for a "marriage visa" extension.

All I've heard is that the banks there will only let a farang open a bank account with a Thai "work permit."

Anyway, I appreciate the time and effort you took in crafting me your very detailed reply to me! MANY THANKS!

Would like to add that it depende where you get your tourist visa.

In Wellington NZ they require proof of exit from the country, usually air ticket, before they will consider a tourist visa.

Same requirement applies here in the USA, Robby!

In order to get a 60 day multi entry tourist visa from the Thai Embassy here in Los Angeles, California USA, I must provide proof in the form of a RT eTickert showing I will be leaving Thailand on the 59th day.

Thanks for the post.

Even in Thailand, looks like USA guys can't escape the long tenacles of the IRS.

Back here in the good 'ole USA, the current administration is scouring the globe for every single USA citizen for every tax dollar possible.

Someone's got to pay for the government cheese and slurpees needed here for Paco, Leroy and the rest of the rabble here (especially in California).

Without a Visa or a ticket leaving Thailand within 30 days you may have a problem being allowed on the flight.

Tourist Visas are free at the moment. Why not get one?

Thanks, Lite Beer, for chimming in! Much appreciated.

Yes, I'm a total noob.

The FREE 60 day tourist visa looks like the way to do it. I was hoping to find a way to stay 6 months traveling around Thailand-Cambodia-Philipinnes using Bangkok as my base, but that's a pipe dream. I see that now.

My only option is to get a 2 to 3 multi entry 60 day Tourist Visa, so I guess that'll have to do. Can you get an extension or renew those? Or I guess I'll have to split back to the USA. That makes sense, since the local Thai Embassy here will want to see my RT eTicket showing I'm returning on the 59th day! That's the only way they'll issue me the 60 day Tourist Visa!

DOH!

The 90 day rule has been abandoned so the only limit would be if they got tired of you - and so far no reports of that.

You will not get on your flight to Thailand without proof of onward travel within 30 days. That is a requirement and long haul flights will strictly observe it. Buy a ticket to visit friends before the first 30 day period expires.

Why you do not obtain a one, two or three entry tourist visa I can not imagine. They are free at present and allow a 60 day stay and you would not need to worry about onward travel tickets.

Thank you Lopburi!

I'm not experienced at any of this. Yes, I'm a real newbie.

Thanks for your guidance.

I thought I could use the "return" leg of my LAX-BKK-LAX eTicket as "proof," but apparently not. I was hoping to see a way to spend 6 months traveling around the 3 countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Philipinnes - having Thailand as the main base of my fun. Looks like that idea is a pipe dream.

I think I'll have to go through the route you suggest. FREE is a very nice word. 60 days without having to produce an air ticket is better than getting jammed. Looks like I'll have to pay a visit to the local Los Angeles Thai Embassy and get an multi entry Tourist Visa application.

I guess near the end of the 60 days, could I renew it or get an extension? Or do I have to split back to the USA? I know you've probably discussed this ad infinitum. I apologize in advance.

I'm just trying to figure a way to stay the majority of 6 months in Thailand without having to get a Non-Immigrant "O" Visa (via retirement). I could get the retirement since I'm 50 years old, but not ready to commit the cash requirement. Looks like my "pie in the sky" plan is done.

Again, thank you for putting up with my newbieness. Cheers!

P.S. Since you're here, I would like to ask you a totally unrelated question.

If I get married to a Thai woman and want to move there on a more permanent basis, I know I would try to get a Non-Immigrant "O" Visa here 1st in the USA - good for 90 days.

My question is this. I understand in order to get the 1st extension, I must have at least THB 400,000 cash in a local bank in MY name only for a minimum 2 months before the date of the 1 year extenstion application. Correct?

Do you know of any specific Bangkok based banks that will allow a farang to open in an individual bank account using his USA passport with a Non-immigrant "O" visa? Will Kasikorn do it?

I hear that most banks in Bangkok will only allow a farang to open an individual bank account with a valid Thai "work permit." If I have money, am married to a Thai woman, but don't work - how will I do meet this financial requirement? Will the bank official at least look at my Thai Non-Immigrant Visa "O" and listen to why I need the bank account? If I brought my Thai wife and Marriage Certificate, would that help?

I feel I would be in a Catch 22. In order to get that 1st extension, I would need an individual local bank account - but the banks will not issue me one.

Any name and/or location of a helpful bank that does this for married farangs (to thai ladies) would be AWESOME! Any ideas? If you or anyone else could point me in the right direction, I would be happy as a clam at high tide.

Yes, I am planning ahead! I've dated several ladies in Bangkok, and 1 really really strikes my fancy.

There is no longer a rule limiting the number of days you can stay in Thailand to 90 within a 6 month period if you travel without visa. Each entry by air gives you 30 days, by land 15 days, without there being an official limit on the number of entries you can make.

But if you travel without a visa you can expect the airline to ask you for proof of onward travel within 30 days. So book the ticket out of Thailand in advance to Cambodia orsuch, or get a free tourist visa. With a visa no proof of onward travel is necessary.

While there is no official limit, granting permission to enter Thailand is always up to the immigration official. Normally there should be no problem.

Thank you, Mario, for your quick reply. I'm most appreciative. I'm thrilled to hear the Visa Exemption limit (90 days within 6 months) has been abolished!

As I stated in my original post, I will book a RT ticket from LAX (Los Angeles) - BKK (Bangkok) - LAX showing my "official" return being near the middle of month #3 as the return.

Would it be sufficient to bring a copy of my Thai Airways eTicket evidencing the return leg of my RT ticket with me? This would qualify as proof of my outward travel? As I stated before, I plan on having the return trip changed.

The reason behind is this question is that I'll be making 5 trips out of Thailand. Probably 3 to Cambodia and 2 to Philipinnes.

I realize it is up to the immigration official to grant or deny me a Visa Exemption. Perhaps if I stay in the neighboring country for 7 days (1 week), that may help. I can think of plenty of things and people to see and do in Cambodia and the Philipinnes in a week. In essence, stay 3 out of the 4 weeks in Thailand.

It looks like I'll be bouncing all around accumulating frequent flier miles.

Thanks again for your help.

Hello everyone!

I'm thrilled to have joined this great forum today!

I would like to know the definitive answer to a specific question regarding the subject of Thai Visa Exemptions via air travel for a USA citizen with a current/valid USA passport.

I am a USA citizen with a current/valid USA passport with 9+ years remaining.

I will be going to Thailand from the USA in the near future, and would like to spend the majority of 6 months there without having to apply/get the initial Non-Immigration "O" Visa or 60 day Tourist Visa. I have many family and friends in Bangkok and around the country there, but I don't want to jump through the Thai Immigration "hoops" and paperwork to get the "extension" for the Non-Immigration "O" or the additional 30 days for the Tourist Visa so to speak. I also have many friends in Cambodia and the Philippines I would like to visit throught the 6 month period.

Since the USA is on the list of countries which Thailand will grant USA citizens with current/valid USA passports a 30 day Visa Exemption to, I have the following question.

How many consecutive 30 day Visa Exemptions via air travel will Thailand allow me?

I would like to go to Cambodia and Philippines via air travel on day 28 or 29 each time before each 30 day Thai Visa Exemption expires. On my return from either Cambodia or Philippines 3 to 5 days later, I am told that I will have the opportunity to receive a "new" 30 day Thai Visa Exemption at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

This is called a "visa run" by air if I am not mistaken.

Herein lies my dilema which provided the impetus behind me posting this question.

I read where Thailand law will only allow 90 days total entry every 6 months. More than 90 days in a 6 month period = a daily fine multiplied by the number of days over the 90 day limit. They would impose this fine upon departing Thailand.

I have also read this particular law was abolished in November 2008, and that there is no limit to how many 30 day Visa Exemptions I may get if I travel by air. In effect, I could do 30 day "visa exemption runs" via air travel ad infinitum upon returning to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok each time from the various neighboring countries (e.g., Cambodia and Philipinnes).

I have been told to have THB 10,000 on my person upon returning each time to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok in the event the Thai official stamping my passport with the Visa Exemption asks for proof of solvency. Also, would the Thai official stamping my book ask for proof of my return trip to the USA? I plan on purchasing a RT ticket LAX-BKK-LAX (Thai Airways) initially showing the return leg back to the USA will be in 3 months, but I will change the return date near the end of month #3 at the local Thai Airways ticket office in Bangkok to accurately reflect when I will actually return to the USA in month #6.

If I stay in Thailand for 6 months, I would have to do 5 of these "visa runs" by air. I would alternate 3-5 day trips to both Cambodia and Philipinnes.

Does anyone have a definitive answer to this question? Anyone have experience with getting multiple consecutive 30 day Thai Visa Exemptions via air travel?

Thank you very much in advance for any productive answers.

P.S. It is Thanksgiving eve here in the USA, so HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all USA people currently in Thailand!