Visa Advice - ED Visa to TR

[GoldSounds]

Hey All,

 

I am looking for some advice from the forum. Some general background: I am 28 with a US passport. I came to live in Thailand with my girlfriend (also US), as she signed a 2 year contract with an organization based in BKK. I have an income source from the US that does not require me to work in Thailand.

 

I've been in Thailand for ~18 months - came in on an ED visa and stayed for ~11 months, then made a 2nd ED visa in June 2018. My program of study is now ending, and I am cancelling my extension of stay based on education.

 

I travel out of the country regularly, typically for 1 - 3 weeks at a time.

 

I would like to stay in Thailand (with fairly regular travel into and out of the country) for the next ~6 months until my girlfriend's contract expires, when we have plans to move back to NYC. I was planning on purchasing two back-to-back SETV from neighboring countries, but am concerned as I've read reports of folks being denied entry with longer stay histories in Thailand. I will typically be flying, as opposed to making land crossings into Thailand.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions to mitigate my risk of having issues with immigration, or any other viable alternatives? I am open to study or volunteer, as I have time, although I am hoping to spend more time travelling in the next 6 months so would like some flexibility as well.

 

Thank you all for your time and suggestions!

 

 

[ubonjoe]

Getting a tourist visa would be good option. If you wanted to travel during the 60 day entry from or the 30 day extension of it you could get re-entry permit to keep the remainder of them valid when you enter the country.

If you travels appear to be as a tourist you should not have a problem but it would be wise to always have the equivalent of 20k baht in cash and be prepared to show that you have funds to live on while here in a bank outside of Thailand.

[GoldSounds]

Thank you @ubonjoe!

[yuiop]

You can minimize the risk by entering the country with a (tourist) visa and avoiding the airports in Bangkok (enter by land crossing).