Peter Denis Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 20 hours ago, PingRoundTheWorld said: No high ranking immigration officer would ever say anything about a "180 day rule" because no such rule exists. I'm not sure why some posters on here are on a crusade against long-term stayers, but the fact remains that current law does not limit how long one can stay on tourist visas. There are plenty of people living in LOS for 9 months a year or more on tourist visas or visa exemptions who have never been denied entry. You should be fine on METV for 8-9 months a year. This is what it was intended for - long term tourism. Just don't be an idiot and you'll never have a problem: 1. Avoid DMK airport. 2. Avoid female officers. 3. Avoid suspicious/short visa runs - same-day visa run is guaranteed to get questions - make your visa runs at least a few days, better a few weeks. 4. Spend some actual time out of the country so there is no doubt you aren't working in Thailand illegally. I don't think this is very good advice. The OP stated My plan is to live in Thailand 9 months a year and return to the UK to work for 3 or 4 months. He can start with an METV alright, which would allow him to stay almost 9 months in Thailand. And possibly he could get away also with a second METV. But in the current climate a third METV would become very risky. The reason being that with such history he will not be considered a 'tourist' anymore. Living in Thailand on METVs implies that every 2 months he will be confronted with IO (either for extension, or when re-entering the country) and experience the stress of being denied entrance < your 4 points, already indicate that there is a very tangible risk >. If he is +50 years of age a Non-Imm OA Visa, is probably his best option. Note: After 2 years (minus 2 months) he will then have to park 800.000/400.000 THB in a Thai account. If he does not have that money to spare, he can simply return to his home-country and reapply for a Non-Imm OA Visa and repeat the cycle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max69xl Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 1 hour ago, Peter Denis said: I don't think this is very good advice. The OP stated My plan is to live in Thailand 9 months a year and return to the UK to work for 3 or 4 months. He can start with an METV alright, which would allow him to stay almost 9 months in Thailand. And possibly he could get away also with a second METV. But in the current climate a third METV would become very risky. The reason being that with such history he will not be considered a 'tourist' anymore. Living in Thailand on METVs implies that every 2 months he will be confronted with IO (either for extension, or when re-entering the country) and experience the stress of being denied entrance < your 4 points, already indicate that there is a very tangible risk >. If he is +50 years of age a Non-Imm OA Visa, is probably his best option. Note: After 2 years (minus 2 months) he will then have to park 800.000/400.000 THB in a Thai account. If he does not have that money to spare, he can simply return to his home-country and reapply for a Non-Imm OA Visa and repeat the cycle You're right, except for the last part. If he doesn't meet the financial requirements he can't apply for an O-A Long Stay Visa from his home country. It's still >800k in the bank or >65k monthly. Better to go for a 90 days Non-Immigrant O ME. It sucks doing the border runs every 89 day's, but it's doable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Denis Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 20 hours ago, Max69xl said: You're right, except for the last part. If he doesn't meet the financial requirements he can't apply for an O-A Long Stay Visa from his home country. It's still >800k in the bank or >65k monthly. Better to go for a 90 days Non-Immigrant O ME. It sucks doing the border runs every 89 day's, but it's doable. Thanks for the comment. Indeed, when applying for a Non-Imm OA Long Stay Visa he also does need to meet the financial requirements as required by the Thai Embassy in his home-country. But there is a difference. When applying for an extension of stay in Thailand, 800K need to be parked at least several months per year (and 400 K of that amount need to be parked permanently) on a Thai bank-account. If the OP does not have that amount of money to spare, he could lend 800K from family/friends and put that on his bank account for 3 months prior to applying for a new Non-Imm OA Visa in his home-country. Once the Visa has been provided he can give the funds back. If he cannot get hold temporarily of 800K for 3 months prior to applying for a new Non-Imm OA Visa, he could go for the option you mention, but the 3 monthly border-runs would be a hassle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max69xl Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 1 hour ago, Peter Denis said: Thanks for the comment. Indeed, when applying for a Non-Imm OA Long Stay Visa he also does need to meet the financial requirements as required by the Thai Embassy in his home-country. But there is a difference. When applying for an extension of stay in Thailand, 800K need to be parked at least several months per year (and 400 K of that amount need to be parked permanently) on a Thai bank-account. If the OP does not have that amount of money to spare, he could lend 800K from family/friends and put that on his bank account for 3 months prior to applying for a new Non-Imm OA Visa in his home-country. Once the Visa has been provided he can give the funds back. If he cannot get hold temporarily of 800K for 3 months prior to applying for a new Non-Imm OA Visa, he could go for the option you mention, but the 3 monthly border-runs would be a hassle. It's 2 months in the bank before applying for the 1 year extension and 3 months after. Then never less than 400k rest of the year. These are the new requirements from March 1 2019. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 2 hours ago, Max69xl said: It's 2 months in the bank before applying for the 1 year extension and 3 months after. Then never less than 400k rest of the year. These are the new requirements from March 1 2019. I believe he is discussing obtaining a visa, specifically a Non-Imm OA. He will show 800k in a Thai bank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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