METV year after year?

[lubam]

I apologize if this has been answered already. It seems that the rules (or at least the enforcement of some rules) are in a state of flux sometimes. Question.. Are multiple entry tourist visas a reliable option for someone to stay in Thailand for 6 to 9 months every year, indefinitely? Or do you see immigration eventually not allowing someone in after seeing he has used that route for several years? It seems to be an ideal visa for the snowbird type of part time expat. Thanks for any personal insights or experiences.

[ubonjoe]

Many people were using them to stay for as long as the total stay form one allowed before covid 19.

Some immigration officers were making problems when entering the country at the airport after using them for several entries.

Embassies and official consulates have started issuing them again but dependent upon what entry requirements are in place it might be costly to get the full use of a METV.

[lubam]

I see. Thanks ubonjoe. 

[DrJack54]

45 minutes ago, lubam said:

Are multiple entry tourist visas a reliable option for someone to stay in Thailand for 6 to 9 months every year, indefinitely?

I'm guessing your asking about a FUTURE plan. Hopefully when/if entries become somewhat back to pre covid times then METV is excellent way to have extended stay in Thailand and doing that ongoing. The time spent between the the stays also helps. 

Currently not really practical. 

 

[lubam]

21 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

I'm guessing your asking about a FUTURE plan. Hopefully when/if entries become somewhat back to pre covid times then METV is excellent way to have extended stay in Thailand and doing that ongoing. The time spent between the the stays also helps. 

Currently not really practical. 

 

Yes, sorry I should've mentioned I'm asking about post-covid times regarding metv. It does seem like an ideal option for someone who wants to stay in Thailand for several months every year, rather than all year. I appreciate the feedback.

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, lubam said:

Yes, sorry I should've mentioned I'm asking about post-covid times regarding metv. It does seem like an ideal option for someone who wants to stay in Thailand for several months every year, rather than all year. I appreciate the feedback.

It's an excellent visa.

Some problems do/can arise when used to live almost continuously in Thailand. 

Many countries have visa exempt entry. Some folk max out the METV and with 2 border visa exempt entries allowed per calendar year then by obtaining extension for each then in reality your living in Thailand. 

Not passing opinion on that.

That's why I mentioned in previous post that "time out of Thailand" also comes into play. I don't mean a weekend.

For someone to use a METV for eg 7 or 8 month stay and spend the next 4or 5 outside of Thailand then most likely can do ongoing.

I was using TV when first living in Thailand. In those days you could buy a triple (think so, long time ago). 

My routine was to take a break in the wonderful Saigon and obtain tourist visas. 

Eventually the io said to me ..."why you no have retirement visa you 50 up"

After that I obtained my first non O (retirement)

 

[lubam]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

It's an excellent visa.

Some problems do/can arise when used to live almost continuously in Thailand. 

Many countries have visa exempt entry. Some folk max out the METV and with 2 border visa exempt entries allowed per calendar year then by obtaining extension for each then in reality your living in Thailand. 

Not passing opinion on that.

That's why I mentioned in previous post that "time out of Thailand" also comes into play. I don't mean a weekend.

For someone to use a METV for eg 7 or 8 month stay and spend the next 4or 5 outside of Thailand then most likely can do ongoing.

I was using TV when first living in Thailand. In those days you could buy a triple (think so, long time ago). 

My routine was to take a break in the wonderful Saigon and obtain tourist visas. 

Eventually the io said to me ..."why you no have retirement visa you 50 up"

After that I obtained my first non O (retirement)

 

That makes sense. My wife and I are considering possibly just visiting Thailand (rather than living there all year), but for at least 6 months every year, then coming back to California for the rest of the year. Then hopefully repeating that indefinitely. It seems like a decent option for us, although we also wouldn't mind just living full time in Thailand too. We still have some time to see what's best for us in the near future. Thanks again.

[DrJack54]

28 minutes ago, lubam said:

We still have some time to see what's best for us in the near future. Thanks again

Are you 50+

[lubam]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Are you 50+

Not yet, but we both will be pretty soon. There are also some family reasons that may delay us living in Thailand, but we're still making tentative plans for now. I've been looking at the Non-O option based on retirement, if we decide to try to live there full time, rather than just half the year. It's going to depend on some things back home though.

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, lubam said:

I've been looking at the Non-O option based on retirement, if we decide to try to live there full time, rather than just half the year.

It's a long way off (possibly never) just be aware that for a married coupe to live in Thailand (both non-thai) only one of you would need the non O retirement.

The other can obtain extensions based on your dependent. 

Look into that if one day  plan live in Thailand full time.

[mikebike]

14 minutes ago, lubam said:

Not yet, but we both will be pretty soon. There are also some family reasons that may delay us living in Thailand, but we're still making tentative plans for now. I've been looking at the Non-O option based on retirement, if we decide to try to live there full time, rather than just half the year. It's going to depend on some things back home though.

The non-O would be cheaper and less hassle with the younger of you following the elder as dependant. You must have marriage cert and MoFA legalization of marriage cert.

[lubam]

9 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

It's a long way off (possibly never) just be aware that for a married coupe to live in Thailand (both non-thai) only one of you would need the non O retirement.

The other can obtain extensions based on your dependent. 

Look into that if one day  plan live in Thailand full time.

We definitely will look into that route. I appreciate the advice.

[lubam]

9 hours ago, mikebike said:

The non-O would be cheaper and less hassle with the younger of you following the elder as dependant. You must have marriage cert and MoFA legalization of marriage cert.

Nice, thanks. I had heard about needing the marriage certificate, but didn't know about ministry of foreign affairs legalization. That's good to know.

[ubonjoe]

17 hours ago, mikebike said:

The non-O would be cheaper and less hassle with the younger of you following the elder as dependant. You must have marriage cert and MoFA legalization of marriage cert.

The Department of Consular Affairs of the MFA will not legalize a foreign marriage certificate. It has to legalized in your home country or embassy here if they will do it. 

[lubam]

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The Department of Consular Affairs of the MFA will not legalize a foreign marriage certificate. It has to legalized in your home country or embassy here if they will do it. 

Thanks, I very much appreciate you sharing that info. We may very well decide to go that route.