Sorry if this has been covered already, i am new to the forum.

Im looking to stay in Thailand for as long as possible...what is the longest staying visa i am eligible for without having a return ticket and a large sum of money in the bank?

I work here as a teacher already, i did have a non-imm 'O' visa until 3 months ago.I have already done 3 Maesai runs.

Thankyou for any advice.

If you are working here as a teacher, your only legal option i believe is a work permit.

cheers, are you able to suggest anything different?. My work are at present unable to provide me with any assistance in getting a work permit/ non B.

could do a tourist visa run - good for 60 days plus 30 extension; then you could go back to 3 x 30 day stamps

But of course.. you'd still be working illegally. I guess you and your employer don't have a problem with that, though.

Edited June 23, 200719 yr by expatwannabe

Why not book a room at the Immigration Detention Centre now..........

60 day tourist extention? Thanks that was the answer i was looking for, i was unsure wether immigration expected to see my bank balance/ticket etc. Aslong as they dont i will be happy...are you sure about this?

Im not happy about working ilegally but laws are ever getting stricter(sp), although they are always not enforced it is an uncomfortable feeling.

As tempting as the Immigration Detention Centre sounds i heard its fully booked.

Edited June 23, 200719 yr by edwardo

60 day tourist extention? Thanks that was the answer i was looking for, i was unsure wether immigration expected to see my bank balance/ticket etc.

You don't get a visa from immigration, you need to go to Penang or one of the other 'local' embassies / consulates (see other threads for the ones to avoid) and obtain a tourist visa, you MAY be able to get a double entry one.

This will give you a 60 day stamp on arrival which you can extend by 30 days by visiting immigration and paying 1900Baht. A border run will activate the second 60 day stay (if you got a double entry visa) which can again be extended by 30 days.

Rinse and repeat as required interspersing with 30 day visa exempt entries if the mood takes you.

BUT I really can't condone your working illegally, the net is tightening and as others have said (some from experience) the IDC is not a nice place.

Why not book a room at the Immigration Detention Centre now..........

Some of these replies make me vomit.

Not sorry to spoil your morning coffee.

Some of these replies make me vomit.

Not sorry to spoil your morning coffee.

Why? We have an OP who has admitted to working illegally and has indicated zero intention of getting legal. As a teacher there is an increasingly real chance that he will be seeing the inside of the IDC at some point in the future.

cheers, are you able to suggest anything different?. My work are at present unable to provide me with any assistance in getting a work permit/ non B.

Then look for a new company / workplace / school etc.

Not really a good chance of heading to immigration jail, though.

But he could go and try and work the work permit out himself with a lawyer who specializes in such things, such as Sunbelt Asia. Then he'd have a work permit and get an extension of visa based on that.

Edited June 24, 200719 yr by Jimjim

I have been to the IDC many many times and frankly, I have spoken to dozens of farangs inside. Strangely I have never spoken to anyone that was a teacher and got caught teaching illegally! Almost no one gets caught teaching illegally, unless they have given false info about their teaching qualifications to the labour department.

Almost all of the people that are there, are there because that simply overstayed their visa and got caught doing it!

While I don't agree with the work strategy of the OP, I just want to make it clear what the IDC's role is.

Badbanker

PS Don't overstay!

Edited June 24, 200719 yr by Badbanker

Thanks for your replies.

I will travel to Vientiene to get a tourist 60 day double/single entry.