Soon2BXpat33

I hope someone can help. With all the new Visa laws and only being allowed to stay for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period, I have been trying to figure out how I can get a Work Visa/Permit. I am from the USA and I don't have a graduate/college degree. I'm 34yo and I don't want to start taking college courses just so I can teach English.

I've been talking to people and someone mentioned to me about being a scuba dive instructor.

He said that I would have to start a company "on paper", then I could be a contractor and contract out my services of being a dive instructor. This option sounded great to me.

Then I said to him that I thought a company needed to have 7 shareholders etc etc etc and he told me that I could get an accountant to help me.

Does anyone know about this?

(Truthfully, I would rahter not work. I would like to come to Thailand for 5-6 month vacation and stay with friends, but with new Thai Visa laws I can't. SO I've been trying to figure out another way. If I have to start a company "on paper" just to get a 1yr work permit.)

Those laws only apply to people who arrive without visas. People who arrive on a visa free exemption (ie no visa in their passport from the embassy) can only stay in the country for 90 in a 180 day period.

Apply to a Thai Consular office in the US for a tourist visa, see if they will give you a multi entry tourist visa, if not ask for a multi entry non-imm.

You do not need to start a company just to stay in Thailand for 5-6 months, all you need to do is apply for a visa from the Thai consulate in the US. Here[

/url] is a list of their offices and what you need to apply for a visa.

I've looked at the link and its a bit confusing. If I apply for a VISA in my country the Tourist Visa is a maximum of 90 days.

I am looking for a way to stay 5-6 months at a time.

The non-immigrant visa requires that I have a letter on business letterhead. Or an invitation from teh Thai Kingdom????

I dont get it.

I hope someone can help. With all the new Visa laws and only being allowed to stay for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period, I have been trying to figure out how I can get a Work Visa/Permit. I am from the USA and I don't have a graduate/college degree. I'm 34yo and I don't want to start taking college courses just so I can teach English.

I've been talking to people and someone mentioned to me about being a scuba dive instructor.

He said that I would have to start a company "on paper", then I could be a contractor and contract out my services of being a dive instructor. This option sounded great to me.

Then I said to him that I thought a company needed to have 7 shareholders etc etc etc and he told me that I could get an accountant to help me.

Does anyone know about this?

(Truthfully, I would rahter not work. I would like to come to Thailand for 5-6 month vacation and stay with friends, but with new Thai Visa laws I can't. SO I've been trying to figure out another way. If I have to start a company "on paper" just to get a 1yr work permit.)

What if I have a criminal record, then I can never become a PR of Thailand? Will it follow me? Will I become a sub-standard citizen in Thailand like they treat me in the US? I havn't murdered or raped anyone but I would never get a "certificate of NO criminal record". Does PR approval depend on the crimes and the length of time they were commited?

Part of the reason I want to rid myself of the US and its Government is because of the lifelong conviction and treatment by the US Government. Getting a job or pursuing a career, owning or possessing a firearm and overall view by Goverment and society as a whole because of some mistakes and indescretions I made when I was 18/19yo.

Due to felony convictions in the USA you will NOT be able to get a VISA to Thailand at all <to the best of my knowledge>

have a conviction, forget it! A friend tried and shown the door (UK friend).

What? Well for starters I intend to just visit Thailand in December for a few weeks. The ticket is already bought. So a 30 Day tourist stamp shouldnt be a problem upon Arrival...? They cant possibly check the criminal record of everyone who gets off a plane in Thailand everyday. BUT as far as any type of Visa with an extended stay, you are saying those go under a scrutiny check?

Well my criminal record dates back to 1992/93 as far as a "conviction" goes. Although Im going through channels of getting those convictions removed. Hmmm wow.. I welcome anyone elses comments on the criminal record issue.

Aside from teaching, is there any way I can immigrate to Thailand? For starters, I would like to live in Thailand for 6 months and live in USA for 6 months. I certainly make enough working in the US to sustain living in Thailand for 6 months then returning back to USA.

Is there any easy way for me to accomplish this? From what I've read it just seems like all I need to do is overstay and pay at the airport on my way out.

I am 33yo. I don't have a college degree or any specialized trainning. I don't plan on working in Thailand if I do my 6month/6month idea.

This site is LOADED with information and first hand testimony and I have read alot of it. With the new government and visa laws, I just wanted to hear some peoples opinions.

What if I have a criminal record, then I can never become a PR of Thailand? Will it follow me? Will I become a sub-standard citizen in Thailand like they treat me in the US? I havn't murdered or raped anyone but I would never get a "certificate of NO criminal record". Does PR approval depend on the crimes and the length of time they were commited?

Part of the reason I want to rid myself of the US and its Government is because of the lifelong conviction and treatment by the US Government. Getting a job or pursuing a career, owning or possessing a firearm and overall view by Goverment and society as a whole because of some mistakes and indescretions I made when I was 18/19yo.