First Time To Thailand

[artsea]

Hello,

I am a 50 year old American woman who would like to boat sit for friends in Thailand for 5 months. I have been trying to find answers to the following questions but so far no luck. Hope you can help.

Can I enter the country on a one way ticket? (to keep my options and return date open)

Do I need to apply for a visa before I leave the US?

Are there any rules that allow a person to stay based on being a crew memeber on a boat? (I might sail out of the country when my friends return)

I am not on a seriously restricted budget so side trips are not a problem.

Thanks in advance if you can help.

Catherine

[lopburi3]

You will require a visa if you intend to file here one way - I would suggest a two entry tourist visa which could cover up to six months (with 30 day extensions of stay). If extra time required it is easy to travel/obtain tourist visas.

There are crew immigration provisions but suggest you Google for that if interested - do not believe you need to be concerned with that as you will be here as a tourist (I assume) and that visa fits.