Friend of mine (American) wants to stay with me in Bangkok for as long as possible on a non-elite Tourist visa - best options?

[wml22]

I have an elite visa so this question is on behalf of my friend: he is quitting his job and wants to crash with me in Bangkok. I have space to host him for up to a year. He doesn't want to get a work visa or education visa. Is the best option still a 3 month tourist visa with two 30-day extensions, for a total of 5 months before having to return to the US? It's been a few years since I had to look into this. I think I heard that the 60-day Covid extensions are no longer a thing but the 30-day ones are still available and can be applied twice, right? Thanks in advance to anyone who knows offhand the best approach to take for giving him as much time here as possible before having to go back to the States (and without having to get a non-Tourist or elite visa).

[richard_smith237]

26 minutes ago, wml22 said:

I have an elite visa so this question is on behalf of my friend: he is quitting his job and wants to crash with me in Bangkok. I have space to host him for up to a year. He doesn't want to get a work visa or education visa. Is the best option still a 3 month tourist visa with two 30-day extensions, for a total of 5 months before having to return to the US? It's been a few years since I had to look into this. I think I heard that the 60-day Covid extensions are no longer a thing but the 30-day ones are still available and can be applied twice, right? Thanks in advance to anyone who knows offhand the best approach to take for giving him as much time here as possible before having to go back to the States (and without having to get a non-Tourist or elite visa).

 

How old is he ???   If over 50 he could apply for a Non-Imm O based on returement then get his extension of stay. 

 

If younger than 50 his options are quite limited...

 

Enter on a Tourist Visa and aim for extensions.

While here contact an agent and see if they can get him on a volunteer or Ed visa.

 

 

[wml22]

Thanks, he is under 50 so that's why we were thinking to get a tourist visa and extensions. So the details I wanted to confirm are whether the 3-month tourist visa is still available by application to a consulate in advance, and whether the extensions are now limited to 30 days and two times (for a total of 60 days across two extensions, summing up to 5 months if they're used to extend a 3-month tourist visa).

[DrJack54]

Best option under 50 would be METV obtained in USA.

That would provide 9 month stay, however would need couple of border runs. 

That would provide up to 9 months.

 

BTW a SETV gives a 60 day stamp and that can give another 30 days by obtaining extension 

90 days in total. 

Edited December 10, 2023 by DrJack54

[wml22]

24 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Best option under 50 would be METV obtained in USA.

That would provide 9 month stay, however would need couple of border runs. 

That would provide up to 9 months.

 

BTW a SETV gives a 60 day stamp and that can give another 30 days by obtaining extension 

90 days in total. 

 

Very helpful, thank you. Do you know offhand if the METV has special requirements for approval and what the typical lead time to receive the visa after applying at the consulate? If not then no worries. It is very helpful to know that the SETV is only 90 days max including the extension. So we will try for a METV unless the application requirements are prohibitive. 

 

It looks like the METV has two month validity of stay, can that be extended +30 days for each entry? So that it would be possible to arrive Jan. 1st, do the +30 day extension, then do a border run on around April 30th instead of March 30th. Then come back in to activate another 60 day permission of stay on May 1st. Then do a border run at the end of June to get another 60 days (since the visa validity expires after six months) when coming back. Then +30 day extension so that he can stay until the end of September. I think that is how you're getting the 9 months out of the METV if I understood correctly.

Edited December 10, 2023 by wml22
clarifying point about METV durations

[DrJack54]

https://aseannow.com/topic/1310855-thai-evisa-application-today-for-usa-citizen-tourist-visa-did-not-have-a-place-to-upload-financial-evidence-bank-statement/

[Pattaya57]

37 minutes ago, wml22 said:

It looks like the METV has two month validity of stay, can that be extended +30 days for each entry? So that it would be possible to arrive Jan. 1st, do the +30 day extension, then do a border run on around April 30th instead of March 30th. Then come back in to activate another 60 day permission of stay on May 1st. Then do a border run at the end of June to get another 60 days (since the visa validity expires after six months) when coming back. Then +30 day extension so that he can stay until the end of September. I think that is how you're getting the 9 months out of the METV if I understood correctly.

First border run is 30-March not 30 April so you would need to also extend your 2nd entry by 30 days to stay until end of June

 

Enter 1-Jan, stamp to 29-Feb (60 days) + 30 day extension until 30-Mar

 

However, one thing to be wary of is the METV is valid for 6 months from date of issue, not from date of first entry. So if METV issued 15-Dec with 1-Jan arrival you would need to do 2nd border run to return before 15-Jun 

 

Edited December 10, 2023 by Pattaya57

[Pattaya57]

Who's confused about what I said? What part confuses you?

 

[richard_smith237]

4 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

Who's confused about what I said? What part confuses you?

 

Ignore them...  its usually trolls...    People who you may not have agreed with before, go through the threads hitting sad and confused emoji's to mess with people they don't like...     

 

If someone were really confused, they'd ask a question for clarification. 

[Pattaya57]

10 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Ignore them...  its usually trolls...    People who you may not have agreed with before, go through the threads hitting sad and confused emoji's to mess with people they don't like...     

 

If someone were really confused, they'd ask a question for clarification. 

Thanks. And here I was thinking someone thought the METV 6 month validity started on date of entry instead of date of issue

 

Turns out someone just doesn't like me 😀

[wml22]

A further question: we have confirmed that my friend will apply for a METV. Since the initial permission of stay is 60 days, I think we need to buy a disposable one-way ticket to Laos that departs within 59 days of his arrival in Thailand (in case he is asked for proof of onward travel). I am also not sure if there is still a travel insurance requirement for someone arriving on a METV. Can anyone clarify? 

 

For example, if there is currently an insurance requirement for tourists traveling into Thailand with a METV, and if my friend plans to be here from January through September, does he need to buy the travel insurance only for 60 days, or will he have problems with re-entry and/or getting 30 day extensions after the first 60 days if the insurance coverage period is not through September?