3 months in, 3 months out cycle

[DeadFlagBlues]

I'm in a fortunate position of being semi retired. I'm Irish, 45 years of age, and as of this year have acquired 2 tourist visas

So, I've spent 3 months in Thailand on visa 1, 3 months back in my home country, then another 3 months on visa 2, and am now approaching the end of a 3 month stint back in my home country, and will be travelling back to Thailand in a couple of weeks on visa 3.  These are the only stamps in my passport.

 

 I did consider an elite visa, but as I plan to only spend 6 months of the year in Thailand, I didnt think it necessary.

 

However, reading this forum, there seems to be a few horror stories of late. I'm assuming I won't have a problem, as I'm not using visa's on a back to back basis, and I always carry plenty of cash (a lot more than the stated 20000 baht)

 

Any thoughts?

 

[JohnnyBD]

Ubonjoe could probably advise you the best way to proceed, just message him. You don't have many options being you are only 45. You can continue doing what you're doing now until you turn 50, then you can get an O-A visa. And, if you intend to live here after turning 50, you can do the yearly extensions for 1,900 THB. That is what most of the single people age 50 and older do if they are retired and living here.

[BritTim]

I believe there is a very high probability immigration will leave you alone with a pattern of three months in (entering with a tourist visa) and three months back in home country. However, you risk trouble if you start to increase the time in Thailand and reduce the time back home, or if you try to enter visa exempt.

[elviajero]

I don't think you'll have any problem whatsoever.

 

A 5 year PE visa would be the obvious longer term option, but given your age and time spent at home between visits you’ll probably get away with using SETV’s long term.

[fforest1]

I thought after 4 or 5 tourist visas in one passport things start to get dicey?

[Briggsy]

Get an METV at the last possible moment.

 

3 months in (with an extension or border run).

Just under 3 months out.

Slip in just before the visa expires. Get an extension to make it 3 months.

 

That way, one METV will last you a full year. METV's get far less hassle than SETV's at the airport.

[glegolo]

4 hours ago, elviajero said:

I don't think you'll have any problem whatsoever.

 

A 5 year PE visa would be the obvious longer term option, but given your age and time spent at home between visits you’ll probably get away with using SETV’s long term.

Sorry if I am pointing this out - But your first sentence is quite funny considering your "signature" below your post...

 

glegolo

[onera1961]

7 hours ago, JohnnyBD said:

And, if you intend to live here after turning 50, you can do the yearly extensions for 1,900 THB.

My preference is to go back to Home country (at least every two years) to get a new O-A, instead of locking up 800K baht in a Thai bank.

[JackThompson]

12 hours ago, DeadFlagBlues said:

However, reading this forum, there seems to be a few horror stories of late. I'm assuming I won't have a problem, as I'm not using visa's on a back to back basis, and I always carry plenty of cash (a lot more than the stated 20000 baht)

Some "snowbirds" have now reported interrogations at Bangkok airports, so they are not limiting their attacks to those spending 90%+ of the year here, any more.  For awhile, there were some reports of IOs citing "over 180 days" at the airports, but this seemed not to catch enough, so even lower numbers are resulting in interrogations.  Those on rotation-work have also reported problems - though most of those were attempting Visa-Exempt entry - not entry with a Tourist Visa (hard to apply for a Visa from an oil-rig, I suppose).

 

Any problem you might encounter would be limited to some airports (both in Bangkok) and one land-border (Poipet/Aranyaprathet).  We have no reports of people being denied entry at any other land-border (or at Chang Mai airport) with a Tourist Visa and the cash to show.  The workaround is to fly to a neighboring country (Vientiane or Penang are good choices), cross by land, then fly domestic from the nearest airport.  I think it is ridiculous you should even have to consider this, given your travel-pattern - and the odds are very low of your being denied entry. 

 

The extra cash is a good start - the more the better.  Travelers-checks can also be used - but not plastic.  There is a field on the IO's "denial of entry" form to put how much you have, so be sure and "helpfully" show it, if taken aside for interrogation.  A returning air-ticket to show could also help. 

[elviajero]

5 hours ago, fforest1 said:

I thought after 4 or 5 tourist visas in one passport things start to get dicey?

It’s the time spent in the country that the authorities are most interested in, not the number of visas/entries.

 

The OP is getting their visas from their home country and spending several months out between stays. It is mainly people trying to live in the country using back to back tourist entries that immigration target. And it’s the embassies/consulates local to Thailand that tend to limit the number of visas they’ll issue based on the number of visas in a passport, especially the number they’ve issued.

[Fireyfish]

I have been doing 3 in 3 out repeat for a few years (from Australia), no problems so far ... I get a 3 month visa in Australia. 

 

[manly36]

That would be a 60 day Tourist visa with option of getting an extension of stay for another 30 days.

[BritTim]

7 hours ago, fforest1 said:

I thought after 4 or 5 tourist visas in one passport things start to get dicey?

The number of tourist visas in your passport is not the big factor as far as immigration is concerned. Immigration has a full record of your stays in Thailand in their system, and are most interested in how long you have spent in Thailand on tourist entries. There can be issues at a consulate with getting many tourist visas. This most often is true when applying outside your own country. Some countries (notably France) have limitations on issuing tourist visas, but getting tourist visas is usually pretty easy in your home country. I stress, again, that immigration uses other criteria on whether to grant you entry. If you have spent a lot of time in Thailand on tourist entries (even if you have a new passport showing just one or two recent such entries) there is a chance immigration could deny your entry. As long as you are entering with a visa, and not living in Thailand on tourist entries, you are unlikely to have any problem in practice.

[biggles45]

Filipina GF and I have spent 5 months a year in Thailand for the last 6 years. 2 X 60 days and one visa free 30 days. Neither of us has ever been questioned by IO,  tho our passports shiw visits to many orther Asian countries. here at the moment. However I am 73 and obviously not working. 

[BritManToo]

16 hours ago, DeadFlagBlues said:

Any thoughts?

Why not try 3 months in the Philippines, 3 months in Vietnam.

They're just as nice as Thailand (better beaches), if a bit different.

 

I never understand guys obsession with Thailand?

[Putmak]

16 hours ago, Briggsy said:

Get an METV at the last possible moment.

 

3 months in (with an extension or border run).

Just under 3 months out.

Slip in just before the visa expires. Get an extension to make it 3 months.

 

That way, one METV will last you a full year. METV's get far less hassle than SETV's at the airport.

Am i missing something ?.....from what you have written here I make that 9 months. How do you make it a full year ?   

[elviajero]

8 minutes ago, Putmak said:

16 hours ago, Briggsy said:

Get an METV at the last possible moment.

 

3 months in (with an extension or border run).

Just under 3 months out.

Slip in just before the visa expires. Get an extension to make it 3 months.

 

That way, one METV will last you a full year. METV's get far less hassle than SETV's at the airport.

Am i missing something ?.....from what you have written here I make that 9 months. How do you make it a full year ?   

He is saying that the two 3 month stays within a year could be covered by one METV with the right timing.

 

Personally I think it would be easier to get two SETV's.

[edwardandtubs]

2 hours ago, elviajero said:

He is saying that the two 3 month stays within a year could be covered by one METV with the right timing.

 

Personally I think it would be easier to get two SETV's.

Easier and cheaper and I see no evidence that an SETV from your home country is going to cause any more problems at the airport than an METV.

[Briggsy]

7 hours ago, Putmak said:

Am i missing something ?.....from what you have written here I make that 9 months. How do you make it a full year ?   

Because the final 3 months, the OP spends in his home country in line with his schedule, 3 months in, 3 months out, 3 months in, 3 months out.

[UKresonant]

"Any thoughts?"

 

Sounds ideal, Dad used the previous MEx2per TV for many years, before they tweaked the system, 3 x 59 Day trips, just making sure he kept the Dec/ Jan trip relatively static, to keep below the 180 days in the Calender year. Now uses a multi entry 1yr retirement Visa, as he just needs to pin the state pension letter on the back of the appl. 

 

If you are a genuine tourist, can't see there being a problem, get an email off the Embassy to confirm perhaps?

 

You are fortunate at your age, took me until 55 to get long periods here!  (  3 months there and 3 months here maintains the novelty).

 

I would be copying the Tourist authority of Thailand in on any negativity...

[DeadFlagBlues]

Thanks for all the helpful replies.

I can't imagine having any problems, but good to put my mind ease.

[Canuckabroad]

On 11/18/2018 at 3:38 AM, BritManToo said:

Why not try 3 months in the Philippines, 3 months in Vietnam.

They're just as nice as Thailand (better beaches), if a bit different.

 

I never understand guys obsession with Thailand?

 

This is sound advice.  Unless you have something tying you to Thailand, why not consider another SEA country (like Vietnam or Philippines) that will let you come and go as much as you want?