Situation:

• in and out of the country for the past three years (usually 3/6 months at a time)
• just used a multiple-entry 6 months touristic visa from Jan-Jul
• back in my home country for 3 months Jul-Oct
• have Thai girlfriend, currently with me in my home country with a 3 months visa, so we have to go back in Thailand to stay together
• planning on moving to Phuket so she can find a job there
• not broke, but not rich enough to have access to Elite visas and such

 

First idea was to get an ED Visa to learn Thai (seriously, not just as a coverage), but during my research I read that Immigration is cracking down on ED visas and it's getting hard to get one.

 

I would be okay also with the Muay Thai as well (practiced for a couple of years already and also fought), but I'm not really into continuing fighting and making training a priority right now.

 

Does anyone have updated news or personal experience on this?

 

What alternatives I have to stay there for at least another year?

@Faranguz how old are you, is a retirement extension affordable??

10 minutes ago, Crossy said:

@Faranguz how old are you, is a retirement extension affordable??

Far away from 50 yo, unfortunately not an option

Ed visa is a good idea.  The classes are quite fun.  Costs will vary.  Maybe up to 50K baht per year. The language skills you develop will be very useful for your time in Thailand.

Do we hear wedding bells in your future?

2 minutes ago, swerve said:

Ed visa is a good idea.  The classes are quite fun.  Costs will vary.  Maybe up to 50K baht per year. The language skills you develop will be very useful for your time in Thailand.

What about all this talk about crackdowns on ED visas?

 

Is it really a thing?

Just now, bbko said:

Do we hear wedding bells in your future?

How would that work?

1 minute ago, Faranguz said:

How would that work?

You would qualify for non O based on marriage and subsequent extensions would enable ongoing living in Thailand. 

Just now, Faranguz said:

How would that work?

 

You get hitched to your GF then extend on the basis of being married to a Thai.

 

If your home country permits it (the UK no longer does, we just scraped in in 2004) you could get married there and get a non-O based on being married to a Thai.

5 minutes ago, Faranguz said:

What about all this talk about crackdowns on ED visas?

 

Is it really a thing?

You should contact a language school where you might locate and ask them about this specific question.  There have been some crackdowns.  I am enrolled in a language school in Phuket now and on a retirement visa.  My school teacher said that no Ed visas are being given to Chinese citizens.  

42 minutes ago, Faranguz said:

 

First idea was to get an ED Visa to learn Thai (seriously, not just as a coverage)

yeah right.

 

go home kid.

1 minute ago, bob smith said:

yeah right.

 

go home kid.

go back to reddit, bob

buy an elite visa.

1 minute ago, Faranguz said:

go back to reddit, bob

whats reddit?

3 minutes ago, stoner said:

buy an elite visa.

as mentioned in the post, it's out of my possibilities right now

1 minute ago, Faranguz said:

as mentioned in the post, it's out of my possibilities right now

get married or stay home then. 

53 minutes ago, Faranguz said:

Situation:

• in and out of the country for the past three years (usually 3/6 months at a time)
• just used a multiple-entry 6 months touristic visa from Jan-Jul
• back in my home country for 3 months Jul-Oct
• have Thai girlfriend, currently with me in my home country with a 3 months visa, so we have to go back in Thailand to stay together
• planning on moving to Phuket so she can find a job there
• not broke, but not rich enough to have access to Elite visas and such

 

First idea was to get an ED Visa to learn Thai (seriously, not just as a coverage), but during my research I read that Immigration is cracking down on ED visas and it's getting hard to get one.

 

I would be okay also with the Muay Thai as well (practiced for a couple of years already and also fought), but I'm not really into continuing fighting and making training a priority right now.

 

Does anyone have updated news or personal experience on this?

 

What alternatives I have to stay there for at least another year?

What for if not working with not much money? Your gf wont get a good job if no connections

Seems like an ED visa is your best / only option to stay long term unless you get married.  I would contact a school or two in Phuket and ask them if they think you can get an ED visa.  The school should be able to advise you.

 

If you haven't used your visa exempt entries by land yet this year, you can safely do that twice, and then extend 30 days each time.  That will give you 4 months to start with.

sick of this 'ed visa' bums.

 

the place is littered with em!

3 hours ago, bob smith said:

sick of this 'ed visa' bums.

 

the place is littered with em!

come on bob....how many other countries around the world do you often see mid 30's and 40's men enrolling in a local language course just to stay there. 

 

see you....im off to kick an empty can down the soi for fun to scare off the doggies.

If you really do intend staying together, getting married would probably be the best and cheapest option.

6 minutes ago, Lite Beer said:

If you really do intend staying together, getting married would probably be the best and cheapest option.

What for? Neither works

Just now, bignok said:

What for? Neither works

What does not work?

Just now, Lite Beer said:

What does not work?

Both arent working.

Just now, bignok said:

Both arent working.

In what way?

Just now, Lite Beer said:

In what way?

Jobs

2 minutes ago, bignok said:

How do they pay the rent?

Not your concern.

 

2 minutes ago, bignok said:

Both arent working.

You as usual have misunderstood the post you quoted.

It's not about work as in a job.

A non O based on marriage would enable ongoing stay.

Aso being married to a Thai you can work in Thailand meeting certain requirements 

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Not your concern.

 

The OP asked for advice. My advice is work in west, holiday in Thailand. Bumming for 12 months is a waste of time. No future in that.

Just now, DrJack54 said:

You as usual have misunderstood the post you quoted.

It's not about work as in a job.

A non O based on marriage would enable ongoing stay.

Aso being married to a Thai you can work in Thailand meeting certain requirements 

Work doing what?