You have to get an extension every 12 months, report in every 3 months, you can't own land, you can't work without a work permit and then only certain occupations. The rules for bank accounts and extensions change yearly.

I consider myself a visitor even though I've spent 17 yrs here off and on with the past 6 yrs on extensions with a Non O. Purchased 2 homes and some properties in kid's name.

When you're just short one piece of paper from renewing 12 month extension. Do you consider Thailand your home or just a neat place to hang out? For me it's a neat place to hang out.

It’s home to me. I don’t need to work, I don’t need to own land, and the visa process is hardly the hardship some make it out to be. Thailand offers far more than the country I left, so it’s a pretty easy choice.

10 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I consider myself a visitor even though I've spent 17 yrs here off and on with the past 6 yrs on extensions with a Non O.

You already answered the thread title in your opening message, you are not an immigrant, you are a Non Immigrant. The clue is in the wording of the stamps in your pp.

JJust living here. Got a house, I bought it, but not mine, even if I have some kind of soda pop fructose thing. They can kick me out anytime they want. Maybe today is the day to work up a little anger & righteous indignation about that?! Sounds exhausting though.

No.

The Immigrant Haters have ZERO ∅

self awareness.

They will tap dance around the question shucking and jiving the Fox News/KGB talking points and refuse to answer. 😅

https://s.yimg.com/lo/mysterio/api/6de5465d6cfeb0c7fb2de71243732fd7c5a685602408bc939194721d3088efba/lightyear_networkapi/resizefill_w618_h412;quality_80;format_webp/http:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen_US%2FNews%2FTheWrap%2F17_Memes_That_Show_What-53dbaaaf2c96e43994c67faeff19917d

then they said some of my best friends are black

Migrant. Unqualified to be an immigrant, is why I keep an empty house back in the US in case the wife decides to go berserk.

Thailand does not have a settlement visa.

However, it does have an in-country permanent residence and/or naturalisation application process. This process has stringent conditions, is capped in terms of numbers, attracts relatively few successful candidates and requires a great deal of document gathering. Successful candidates have a multi-year journey from entry in Thailand to either receiving permanent residence or citizenship.

Not an immigrant. Legally a non immigrant, practically a long-term guest.

This guy is living off tourist visas in 6 different countries.

Would be a good way to avoid the heat, experience different cultures.

Can't buy property, can't have kids .... need a wife or gf who is free to move around, or stay single

But the moral is ... being a citizen is not necessary.

I'm an immigrant. Thailand is my home, and has been for the past 25+ years without needing to leave for 6 months every year. Except for scuba dive trips and motorcycle touring, we've never left for more than a week or two! I don't particularly care about the correct legal definitions. Thailand is my home. I am a permanent resident, just without the paperwork giving me that title. I spend one+ hour a year dealing with visa renewal, and 20+ minutes every three months to report in. Two hours for bureaucracy, the rest of the year is my own.
I have no plans to leave.

No.

I'm here for work and pleasure - have PR to reduce visa hassle, and a work permit, bought a condo as I didn't want to rent long term, but still have property back 'home', still pay tax to home country, and may move somewhere else in future.

I haven't applied for citizenship, don't claim benefits, haven't claimed I can't go back home and don't feel a need to drive my car into a crowded market.

Although I have groomed a local women and keep her as my slave.

16 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

This guy is living off tourist visas in 6 different countries.

Visa& Immigration

Would be a good way to avoid the heat, experience different cultures.

Can't buy property, can't have kids .... need a wife or gf who is free to move around, or stay single

But the moral is ... being a citizen is not necessary.

That works fine as long as you can live in multiple places. But once travel becomes restricted, or your financial situation changes.

Most people like to have one place and one girlfriend or wife. For men travelling around Asia, it can be a different mix.

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

Most people like to have one place and one girlfriend or wife. For men travelling around Asia, it can be a different mix.

Yeah, I'm still thinking it might be too much hassle to keep moving around.

I considers Thailand as home — resident since 2006 — even I'm not a citizen and therefore a guest.

I arrive in 2006 on a Non Immigrant B Visa.

I guess Iam classed as Non Immigrant!

29 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Yeah, I'm still thinking it might be too much hassle to keep moving around.

Agreed. Living out of a suitcase gets old after a while.

18 minutes ago, khunPer said:

I considers Thailand as home — resident since 2006 — even I'm not a citizen and therefore a guest.

Thailandtravel guides

No matter what happens, Norway will always be my home until the day I die, with or without a property there.

Thailand is where I will spend most of my time, and most likely where I will end my days as a guest. But who knows? Looking at my family history, I may still have 20–40 years left. Still, the world is unpredictable, so I guess we will live and see.

Hopefully one day, foreign men married in Thailand will have the same rights as foreign women married here.

3 hours ago, Briggsy said:

Thailand does not have a settlement visa.

However, it does have an in-country permanent residence and/or naturalisation application process. This process has stringent conditions, is capped in terms of numbers, attracts relatively few successful candidates and requires a great deal of document gathering. Successful candidates have a multi-year journey from entry in Thailand to either receiving permanent residence or citizenship.

Which is why most of us expats have decided against that route. Too many obstacles. We all know we'll never be Thai no matter we carry a Thai passport.

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

This guy is living off tourist visas in 6 different countries.

Would be a good way to avoid the heat, experience different cultures.

Can't buy property, can't have kids .... need a wife or gf who is free to move around, or stay single

But the moral is ... being a citizen is not necessary.

Having six wives gets expensive!

4 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Yeah, I'm still thinking it might be too much hassle to keep moving around.

2 locations are better than 6. Siem Reap and Thailand works. I'm surprised more don't do it.

I'm just here on holiday, smoking cannabis and banging hookers.

When the party stops, I'll just move on, probably to hell, but maybe Cambodia or PI.

Suspect hell will have plenty of hookers!

Edited June 29Jun 29 by BritManToo

49 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

2 locations are better than 6. Siem Reap and Thailand works. I'm surprised more don't do it.

only works if you're single.

and after a certain age, it's tiring for most people.

11 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

only works if you're single.

and after a certain age, it's tiring for most people.

Walking 500m is tiring to some

It says temporary on my visa, 90 reporting makes you an alien, home is here but can be withdrawn for any mistake so on balance I'm living in the UK 🤔

I consider myself as a tax refugee.

While not permitted owning land in Thailand,

I still admire them for keeping Thailand for the Thai (well sort of).

9 hours ago, save the frogs said:

This guy is living off tourist visas in 6 different countries.

Would be a good way to avoid the heat, experience different cultures.

Can't buy property, can't have kids .... need a wife or gf who is free to move around, or stay single

But the moral is ... being a citizen is not necessary.

I'm not sure about doing 6 countries per year. For me probably Thailand, PI and the US. Maybe VM, Cambodia has too much bad ju ju, Laos no way, maybe a few of the US territories like Saipan and the Caribbean Islands. Beaches are a must.

6 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I'm not sure about doing 6 countries per year. For me probably Thailand, PI and the US. Maybe VM, Cambodia has too much bad ju ju, Laos no way, maybe a few of the US territories like Saipan and the Caribbean Islands. Beaches are a must.

Thailandculture insights

I wouldn't pick countries that are too similar. Philippines is like Thailand, isn't it?

I might prefer Japan and an EU country ... especially if you're including US.

EU would be a stopover.

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

I wouldn't pick countries that are too similar. Philippines is like Thailand, isn't it?

I might prefer Japan and an EU country ... especially if you're including US.

EU would be a stopover.

Philippines is very different from Thailand, and if there where direct flights and better food, it would had been my first choice.

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

I wouldn't pick countries that are too similar. Philippines is like Thailand, isn't it?

Thailanguage courses

I might prefer Japan and an EU country ... especially if you're including US.

EU would be a stopover.

Japan on what visa?

9 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Philippines is very different from Thailand, and if there where direct flights and better food, it would had been my first choice.

Direct flights from where?

I'm interested in Ilo Ilo City which has been recognized for regional lculinary excellence plus there is a fairly decent range of international options.

Edited June 29Jun 29 by Jingthing