Going To Thailand - Visafused (confused About Visa)

[Yingguoren]

Hi there peeps!

I'm on my way to Bangkok soon, and I wish to stay there for one year.

My situation is:

I'm a 22 year old English guy living in China. I've been here since August 2006 where I came to work, with a work visa and all and that visa is finished in August. I could get a new one, but I wish to go to Thailand instead, to explore another place.

I do not wish to work in Thailand, but it is an option if it makes things much easier. I have my own money.

I have a Thai friend whom I've visited in Thailand and I've read these forums for a while, where I get the general impression that I should apply for a Non-Immigrant "O" visa. I'm planning to go to Thailand in the next 2 weeks and I've heard that getting a Visa in Hong Kong is a big 'no no'.

I visited Thailand for 8 days in May, this year and so I'm aware that I can go back for 30 days, do a visa run, stay 30 more days, and then another run in which I will have 3/4 of a month. But after this, I can't do it again, so that's when I started looking at applying for a tourist visa or a Non-immigrant "O" visa.

My Thai friend has offered to be a 'sponsor' for the visa, and he will come with me to a neighbouring country, and we will provide documents. But my question is, is that enough?

I've read the requirements, and one of which is 'Visiting friends or family', and he's a friends, he's Thai and I do trust him as I've known him for a long time here in China, too.

So all I need is:

Form, my passport, photo, his ID(?) and all is well? I'm guessing it's much more complicated than this, though or everyone would be using the 'visiting a friend' excuse. Although for me, it isn't an excuse. Haha.

If somebody could shed some light on this, I'd be very happy.

Thanks.

[lopburi3]

You are not likely to obtain a non immigrant O visa anywhere in the local area. You should be able to obtain tourist visas to cover your stay (60+30 extensions).

[Yingguoren]

Do you mind elaborating as to the reasons why?

This thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=127365

... seems to suggest it's quite easy.

If I think about it, I can do this:

30 day

30 day

21 day (minus vacation I took)

2 month visa

1 month extension

... that's just under 6 months. Are you saying it won't be possible for me to stay longer than this?

[geoffphuket]

Hi there,

You don't qualify for a non immigrant O visa, so that option is out - forget it! http://www.thaivisa.com/visa/non-immigrant-visa.html

A combination of 30 day entry stamps and tourist visa's are your only option if you intend staying for a year..

Good luck

geoffphuket

Edited July 7, 2007 by geoffphuket

[Krub]

Hi there peeps!

I'm on my way to Bangkok soon, and I wish to stay there for one year.

My situation is:

I'm a 22 year old English guy living in China. I've been here since August 2006 where I came to work, with a work visa and all and that visa is finished in August. I could get a new one, but I wish to go to Thailand instead, to explore another place.

I do not wish to work in Thailand, but it is an option if it makes things much easier. I have my own money.

I have a Thai friend whom I've visited in Thailand and I've read these forums for a while, where I get the general impression that I should apply for a Non-Immigrant "O" visa. I'm planning to go to Thailand in the next 2 weeks and I've heard that getting a Visa in Hong Kong is a big 'no no'.

I visited Thailand for 8 days in May, this year and so I'm aware that I can go back for 30 days, do a visa run, stay 30 more days, and then another run in which I will have 3/4 of a month. But after this, I can't do it again, so that's when I started looking at applying for a tourist visa or a Non-immigrant "O" visa.

My Thai friend has offered to be a 'sponsor' for the visa, and he will come with me to a neighbouring country, and we will provide documents. But my question is, is that enough?

I've read the requirements, and one of which is 'Visiting friends or family', and he's a friends, he's Thai and I do trust him as I've known him for a long time here in China, too.

So all I need is:

Form, my passport, photo, his ID(?) and all is well? I'm guessing it's much more complicated than this, though or everyone would be using the 'visiting a friend' excuse. Although for me, it isn't an excuse. Haha.

If somebody could shed some light on this, I'd be very happy.

Thanks.

Get yourself a cheap air ticket back to the UK and apply for a Non-O in a 'friendly' consulate giving you at least a 1 year stay (by doing a visa run every 3 months) or follow the monthly runs, tourist visas in the region.

Good luck

[Yingguoren]

What if I were to find a part-time job? I don't really wish to teach again, but I will if it helps the whole visa situation, and since I've been granted a residency and work permit in China before, I think it'll help my case, both in terms of finding a job in Thailand, and being issued a visa.

... else, is it possible to keep re-applying for tourist visas every two months? At what point will they just think 'Well, he's trying to just live here' and not issue me with one?

I actually plan to go home for Christmas this year, so I guess I could stay home for a month, get a Non-Immigrant 'O' Visa, then head back out to Thailand. So why's is it possible for me to get a Visa in England, but not in any other country? I don't understand that.

Seems to me that the Thai authorities just hate foreigners being there for an extended period of time.

[calibanjr.]

If you're going home for Xmas this year, you're golden. Tourist visa plus extension (90 days) x 2, plenty of space. Home for Xmas, do your 1 year visa there. Done.

[Yingguoren]

Ok, woosh *big inner feeling of relief*... I can finally stop stressing now!

I've heard bad things about getting a Visa in Hong Kong (I'm very close, in Mainland China. Shenzhen). Does this apply to tourist visas? I can't see them having a go at me 'cause:

1) I have a Chinese residency and work permit, rental agreements, health certificate etc.

2) How can I apply at home, if I have these things to stay in China... and hopefully they'll realise.

I'm hoping the stories I've heard about Hong Kong only apply to people trying to get other visa types, and not simply a tourist visa.

In which case:

2 Month Tourist Visa + Extension

2 Month Tourist Visa

That brings me to December. I go home, stay and work my ass off for 3 months, return in March with a one year visa.

Right, well, all is ok, fine, dandy and great. Thanks a lot for all the help. Very useful forums.