Criss Cross - A Thai visa strategy

[ZizzerZazzer]

Hello all,

 

I just spent 6 months in Southeast Asia and it was the best 6 months of my life.  I've been to every country in the region now except Brunei... well, and East Timor.  I'd love to settle down in Bangkok but like many of you, I find the visa situation unbelievably inconvenient. Monthly visa runs?  Such stress.

 

Instead of fighting Thai visa restrictions, I'd rather go with the flow.  Or better still, criss cross... a bit like in the Hitchcock film Strangers On A Train. 

 

If there are any reliable, mature persons interested in renting two apartments together and then switching between Bangkok and another city every month I'd certainly be game.

 

Instead of doing all the visa runs, I'd like to find a partner in crime interested in renting in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur and just switch back and forth. 

 

Why Kuala Lumpur? 1) because it's awesome; 2) because Malaysia gives most countries a 3 month visa by default so like 29 days in BKK and 31 days in KL; 3) the plane ride is short and quite cheap (under $100 USD). 

 

I would also be interested in doing the same between Bangkok and HCMC, Manila or Cebu... or maybe, just maybe, Jakarta, Bandung, Bali or Phnom Penh if Kuala Lumpur doesn't have any takers.

 

[Crossy]

57 minutes ago, ZizzerZazzer said:

I find the visa situation unbelievably inconvenient. Monthly visa runs?  Such stress.

Nothing to stop you getting tourist visas, 60 day stay extendable by another 30 days at immigration for 1,900 Baht. If you can get the multi-entry version then you just need to do a border hop every 90 days with an immigration visit in between.

 

How old are you? Over 50 and you can source a non-A class visa which will give you 12 month permissions to stay.

 

Under 50 you are more limited, Thailand Elite has a number of options (none are particularly cheap) but require no significant messing around for at least 5 years.

 

NOTE Exceeding half a dozen or so visa-exempt entries will net you a nice chat to an immigration officer where you need to prove you are not working in Thailand.

 

[murraynz]

your idea of sharing two condos ,alternately, in  two different countries, seems like a good idea---but weather it could work in reality- i dont know ??youd need a very reliable person to share with...  as the experts will tell you.. you can stay in thailand for longer than 30 days,up to 90days... also doing many trips in a single yr, could be problamatic with thai immigration ??

with cheap hotels easily available, its probably better, just to have casual accomadation...then you could ereguarly visit any of the countries that you metioned....they are all cheap flights from bkk..

[KiChakayan]

Thailand Elite, 1 million Bahts, will get you a 20 years stay. Do your math and you'll find out that at the end of the day (20 years) this will come cheaper than any crisscrossing, condo sharing, scheme. 

I'd say it really is a no brainer if you are committed. 

[asdfrules]

It's actually every 3 months.  Not every month.  If you get visas.  And you should.

 

And lots of people have been staying over a year or two just by doing visa runs every 3 months.  But it does get risky and stressful after the first few times.

I'm sort of in the same boat.  I've been in Thailand 11 months on back to back visas.  I love Thailand, but didn't want to be here that long.  I'd actually prefer 3 months in BKK, then 3 months somewhere else, and cycle like that.  The problem is it's hard to get fair prices for month to month rentals anywhere but Thailand.   Usually you sign a 1 year contract. 

 

I've been brainstorming solutions.  So far the best I can come up with is doing 3 months in Thailand at an apartment with no contract.  That's about $300 per month.  Easy.  Then for the 3 months in HCMC or whatever, but it has to be an over priced airbnb around $600 per month.  But I don't want to pay double.  I love my $300 no-contract room in Bangkok!  If I could find a similar deal abroad, I would be ALL OVER THAT LIKE SWISS CHEESE (that makes no sense I know).   I would be so happy to regularly go back between the two places every 3 months.

 

Another option is doing 6 months a row in Thailand, and then if you can find a 6 month contract abroad, do that.  Cycle every 6 months.  (That means you need to do 3 months in Thailand, a quick visa run and 3 more months).  

 

Another added expense is gym membership rape.  Gyms will financially rape you if you pay only for 1 to 3 months.  They want you for a year.

 

As far as cities, my favorites would be Manila or HCMC.  Maybe Cebu.  Bali or KL are more expensive I think.  Maybe later on when I have more money.  Bandung might be cool but I've heard Jakarta has the worst Thai consulate in the world.   Actually I would prefer rotating the non-Thai cities so I could experience living in more of the world.  I find that idea so exciting.

 

I would be interesting in joining forces.  But I think it could be quite difficult logistically.  And there is a lot of room for problems if someone wants/has to change plans.  But I'd be willing to discuss this.  Or at least brainstorm other solutions.

[johng]

On 5/26/2018 at 9:32 AM, ZizzerZazzer said:

Or better still, criss cross... a bit like in the Hitchcock film Strangers On A Train. 

I thought more like the song

Jump by  Kris Kross

 

Quote

Jump jump
The Mac Dad will make you jump jump
Daddy Mac will make you jump jump
Kris Kross will make you jump jump

Jump being the visa ( border crossing)  jump  ?