markarthur

I'd look at the teacher route, if you can be sincere about it and are expecting to be there awhile. Thailand can use good teachers and if you like language it'll keep you occupied. Get a TEFL teaching cert before you get there - doesn't take very long. The teaching-visa-work permit jazz you can look up on your own, but I nominate it over the bargirl route ...

FWIW, the last time I read about enforcement of Tourist visas the legal limit was a total stay of 90 days within the prior 6 months. (Maybe it was 60 days). So it seems like back-to-back Tourist visas have been verboten for awhile now. Maybe someone can confirm this info....

However, as long as people are asking Visa questions .... Can someone clarify whether a Retirement Visa would be usable for recurring part-year stays? Assume I'm over 50, unmarried, and have the dough to deposit in a Thai bank and/or show income as necessary. I'm unlikely to buy a condo or other residence, but might rent a place for several months at a time. I'd like to have a visa that will let me come and go at will between, say, November and March. I wouldn't be working. So, does this type of visa come with some limit on entries/exits? Does it expire if I'm not in-country every 90 days for check-in or whatever? I suppose some of these questions to be pretty basic and may completely misconstrue the function of the visa, but it also seems like there ought to be some way to do this.

What doesn't make sense is that JI doesn't set off these little grenade bombs, the set off large bombs that kill alot of people. These little firecrackers don't fit their methods.

I'm not sure the size of the bombs disqualifies the pattern. I don't know diddly about the actualities of JI's operations in the region, but it occurs to me that Thailand isn't exactly prime territory for them and they may be dealing with a farm-team operation. Certainly a simultaneous bombing on a holiday seems more in keeping with an Islamic/terrorist operation than a political one, and if the idea was to deflect attention to political participants it was both clever and successful. As a very casual observer, it seems much more ominous that the Islamist network is trying to expand into "mainland" Thailand than if the native political groups were resorting to stunts to make each other look bad. I think the Thaksin link is pretty fanciful myself. The Jihadis like blowing stuff up.

What does this mean for those of us who go to Penang for a triple entry tourist visa twice a year?

The tourist visa is not mentioned in this announcement. Therefore, this announcement means nothing for you.

However, if you are working illegally in Thailand you should nevertheless do whatever is necessary to get legal. The basic policy seems to be the removal of foreigners working illegally in Thailand and if this new rule does not stop them the government may have other ways to do so.

---------------

Maestro

Personally I do not understand the excitement of several members this forum caused by the new tourist visa on arrival regulations.

The typical tourist will come to Thailand most probably twice a year in maximum.

“Tourists” who are seeking other activities than normal tourists normally are looking for, should apply that visa type suiting their activities.

In Europe you have to play by the law, why not here in Thailand?

You are guest of this country - behave accordingly and you will have no problems at all.

By the way, the “new“ rules are just a consequent follow up of the spirit of old rules and visa regulation. Unfortunately the applicants over stretched old conditions too much.

Bush

These kinds of posts are really starting to annoy me. Can you please open your eyes? There are a significant number of people living in Thailand who do not seem to qualify for any of the visa options UNLESS they are going to permit endless tourist visas. What visa would you suggest a 40 year old retired American apply for who is not married to a Thai and does not wish to work or do business in Thailand?

Just a notion, but I'd suggest one develop a relationship (by email, phone, or in person) with someone within the immigration system (eg at a consulate) to whom one could make a documented case that one is self-supporting without working. Even if a low-level person might not consider the request, you might politely request the name of a superior you could write to or speak with. At some point you should find someone with the authority and discretion to approve your case, and/or advise how to obtain a suitable visa under passable criteria. Seems to me if you can show you are respecting the govm't authority and criteria (formally or otherwise) they can approve the limited number of special cases that will qualify (until or unless they formalize the crtieria under a new category because of a deluge of similar applications).

Thanks for the clarification, although I would still like to hear from someone who has actually done it.

I also note that (even though it is also in the family section) they say as usual but very concerningly "The visa privilege conditions, extension periods, and fees are subject to change by the office of the Immigration Bureau"

Pay Bt.1M then lose the visa priveledges some time later. Perhaps not the solution I was hoping for.

Guess I'll have to go the investment route, but so far, all I have met are barriers and difficulties buying goverment bonds.

Though full of hassles of it's own, the fixed deposit at government bank is a lot easier than govm't bonds. Try that.

Thanks for the Elite links, just had a read, but it's only 90 day visas, so not much use for me.

My personal gripe with Immigration are:-

1) RETIREMENT PENSION

I am retired early but since I am only in my 40's can't get a retirement pension even though I meet every other criteria

2) INVESTMENT

Sounds fine, but from my investigations that leaves 3 options.

a) FIXED DEPOSIT WITH GOVERNMENT BANK - virtually no interest at all

GOVERNMENT/STATE INDUSTRY BONDS - Would love to buy them, but have you tried! IF ANYONE HAS AN EASY PROCESS FOR THIS PLEASE POST NOW!

c) CONDO PURCHASE - IMHO not a particularly good investment at this time (prices doubled/tripled in last few years and heading for a crash or at least price freeze in the very near future). Also the idea of buying to rent here is a joke if you try to do it legally. LEGALLY you are liable for a lot of tax on both rent, property, as well as when buying and selling. Yes there are ways to avoid paying some of this, but do you really want to risk the implications of being caught?

Having worked here LEGALLY for many years in the past

(but never 3 consecutive years) I find myself (and I think many are the same) in the situation that my life, home, friends etc. are here, and the easiest way to deal with staying here recently has been multiple entry tourist visas.

I do not share other's interpretations that multiple entry visa's will be exempt from this declaration. At the very least, I see problems getting 2 consecutive multiple entry visas as a consulate, and worse case scenario, I can see people being told that after doing a same day border crossing, that they can't come back for another 90 days!

If anyone has a link to the EXACT Thai version of the statement (and English translation if there is one), please post it.

Once again, if anyone has an easy way to buy the Governemt bonds (which give about 4-5% return from my research, please post (I have tried TISCO and they have been pretty useless).

FWIW interest rates were raised recently and may be better at govm't banks. Dunno for sure but worth a look. (I know they were miserable before).

Perhaps I am missing something - but if one goes to say Malaysia and the Thai consulate/embassy there to get a proper visa won't they also be refused if their passports are showing back-to-back-to-back visa requests. It seems to me even if one tries for a legitimate visa at a foreign consulate they will still be up against the 90 day restriction.

Perhaps I am not understanding this right. It wouldn't be the first time.

Actually I am rather hoping someone will prove me wrong on this point.

Technically this point seems ambiguous, since the actual announcements seem to concern VOA's and 30-day "airport" visas, but I agree that the larger effect of this program will probably be to inhibit the granting of back-to-back 60-day visas as well. It's indeed discouraging for well-intentioned long-stay tourists. Perhaps it will be compensated for with more income-documentation requirements.

For regular short-term visitors from outside Thailand, the rules do seem technically ridiculous, but one would hope that the immigration dept. could look at the stamps and see that a person was spending more time outside the country than inside and make the appropriate judgement call.

Is there any channel for writing a Thai official and offering these suggestions instead of just spitting and bellyaching? As abrupt and arbitrary as the gov't often appears, I'm sure there are reasonable people in responsible positions.

Simply:

a) you need EITHER a (single or multiple) re-entry permit OR another visa to get back in the country at all;

any visa expires automatically once you leave unless you get a reentry permit (or one is built into the visa);

c) any multiple-entry permit you get before leaving will expire with an extension to your existing visa, so probably isn't worth the money, given its dates;

d) I think the guiding principle behind visa approvals is whether you are contributing more economically and/or socially to the country than you are costing. If you can prove legal employment and/or outside support, therefore, I wouldn't worry about whether you can stay - though you may end up on a tourist visa if you fall behind in your employment documentation.

I'd want to know how you got your existing B visa; it seems to me if you had the justification & documentation to get it to begin with it should be enough to get you an extension.

FWIW, you can also get re-entry permits at the airport (on your way OUT), (during business hours N.B.). Signifies to me that it isn't a big deal.

dc

My source for the item about rentry permits expiring with a new extension comes from a paper stapled in my passport by Immigration.

Keep in mind that (re)-entry permits are different from and (I believe) easier to get than visas themselves. For instance, if you have a tourist visa, it's the same process to get a single or multiple re-entry permit from the Immigration office in Bangkok as it is to get the same permits for a non-immigrant visa - it's just a function of your travel plans which is more desirable. The visa allows you X entries up until it expires, where X is the number stamped on the visa or what you get here. There's little documentation involved for getting an entry permit - it's functionally the same as getting an extension, unlike the aplication for the non-imm visa itself. The permit itself is the same for any kind of visa.

If you have the pretext to support a non-imm visa, I don't think you should sweat whether its a single entry or multiple, you can get your multiple reentry permit when you get here. At the same time, keep in mind that you may not get a 1-year non-imm to start with - you may start with a 90-day and then must apply for a (up to) 1-year extension (It may be different if you have confirmed employment or suchlike, but that's what's happening with me). In this case, of course, you may not want to get the multiple reentry ASAP, as it will expire when your extension is approved.

Again, the hard part isn't getting re-entry permits, it's getting the B visa. And of course, lots of people commute on tourist visas....

later

dc

Hey:

Re-entry permits expire with their associated visa, or before if the visa is replaced with a different type of visa.

dc

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I should amend this to note that reentry permits also become invalid when a visa is extended - you need to get a new permit along with the extension.

Hey:

Re-entry permits expire with their associated visa, or before if the visa is replaced with a different type of visa.

Re: Fedex: you're responsible for all the fees. You can make it easy for the consulate by enclosing a second Fedex envelope and waybill in your outbound application, and put your CC# on it for Fedex to bill you. Leave the dates blank, but use your own name as both sender and recipient (weird, I know, but when I tried to use consulate address for return they scratched it out. Fedex doesn't seem to care. You can try to clarify official preference by phone in advance if it matters to you). I suppose this only applies if you want to get a new visa.

dc

Hey. I have this software and would give it a mixed review. It is entirely in Thai, and begins with asking you to match pictures to words. You learn this vocabulary by trial and error, and add to it as it provides longer sentences. There's also a reading function - see the word and the picture and match them, and a speaking function - hear ther word and say it back to computer and have it "graded" by the machine. There's also a book, but it's also entirely in Thai.

I'd suggest the package will be very frustrating for a very-first-time learner, because you won't have a clue what to listen for, or what the structures are you are hearing. That said, I've since taken some actual Thai lessons since getting the package and it seeming much more attractive as a vocabulary reinforcement tool, for listening practice, and its pronunciation fuction (this feature won it some prizes).

People have different styles of learning and if you are geared towards *hearing*, you may find the system useful to start with; if you have a different style (visual, abstract, physical), I suspect it will be very frustrating. I *would* give it a look once you have learned some actual thai and want some homework tools. AT least that's what I think about it so far. I do think they could have written their book in English, though. (Software instructions are in English, BTW, just not their lesson book).

Folks:

I'm looking to find a space suitable for a small private (ie non-public/non-commercial) photo studio accessible to BTS and MTR. My current idea is to look for houses that might have surplus room, but I suspect these may be cramped and not have high enough ceilings. Anyone have a clue where I might look for such a space, and, more significantly, whether I can get a lease for only a year without a company or work permit etc. I want to use it for private purposes, so no deception is involved, but it maybe it is too odd an idea for most landlords and agents. Any idea or pointers to other forums appreciated.

thanks

Folks:

I know about the Elite card and I can't justify it, so it's not of interest here.

Still confused about the triple-entry visa. Sounds like it could be one 60 day visa allowing 3 entries within 60 days, OR an effectively 6-month (180-day) visa that requires exit and re-entry every 60 days. Can anyone clarify? Could the 60-day stays be extended to 90 days (each) using the routine 30-day extensions?

Thanks for info

dc

OK, I understand most everything here, but what is a "triple-entry tourist visa"? I assume it's not a regular tourist visa, or a multiple-entry non-imm visa.

(FWIW, re: changes to my existing visa, I'm on a 30-day extension now).

I'm afraid I don't understand the phrase "your first year of applications will be processed in 15 days."

look forward to additional ideas.

thanks

Hey folks:

I'm under 50, and unmarried, unemployed, but with significant (> 100,000 Bht/mo) passive investment income. I am currently staying in BKK on 60-cum-90- day tourist visa issued in US. (I am a US citizen). Couple of questions:

1) I've seen a lot of chatter about people acquiring multi-entry non-imm visas, apparently as tourists, but it seems to me there has to be some other pretext to get one of these - education, work, etc. It seems to me it should be easy to get an education-related visa by signing up at a Thai-language school, but perhaps this isn't the case. Any advice? If I did sign up, and did get a letter from a school, it seems like it might be possible to convert my existing visa to a non-imm without leaving BKK, is this true? It also seems like this might take a few weeks, is this true?

2) More to the point, if I can prove income, but have no other pretext for obtaining a visa, can I do any better than a 60-day tourist visa? ALSO, will I be denied a consecutive 60-day visa after my current stay (or, after any particular number of stays - I'm guessing 3)? Finally, is there any reason I can't get a 30-day tourist ("airport") visa to succeed my current visa? Are the visa runs everyone talks about for 60-day visas, or for 30-day visas also? Will proof of support facilitate such renewals?

3) Is there any category of visa available to someone willing to move cash into Thailand (say 1-4 million baht) but uninterested in creating an operating business, or buying special Thai bonds, but perhaps interested in investing that cash in public Thai securities? I have seen an "investor" category talked about, but it seems to be in connection with specific investments, or large businesses. Otherwise, I sound like a retiree, but I'm not that old.

Overall, I'd like to be able to "hang out" at will and come and go without repeated visa apps. Best case, I'd like to be able rent an apartment to hang out at.

Your thoughts and advice appreciated.

dc