Literally a NON-immigrant!

Here on temporary extensions of my NON-immigrant visa.

If you think you're an immigrant on that status, you're delusional.

I am a TAX resident of Thailand though.

Unfortunately.

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Japan on what visa?

people who move around just stay on tourist visas

they are only staying 3 months at most in one place.

not sure what the limit is for japan.

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

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.

From Norway

16 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.

why do you like philippines more than thailand?

11 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.

The 5-flags concept - I was doing this since my 30's. UK citizen, banking in Andorra, working in Belgium, ltd company in the Seychelles, having fun in ??

I no longer need to use this strategy, but being single at least helps me move around - Mandalay (Myanmar), Bangkok, Pattaya, Siem Reap, Koh Phangan in the past few months! Apart from paying for trash collection etc in my locality, I can say that I have legally not had to pay any tax in the past 25 years... (I have a deep personal hatred of paying tax to useless, overpaid, corrupt, moronic governments and their officials etc - better to look after yourself and those you love..)!!

21 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

why do you like philippines more than thailand?

The visa situation is must better there.

Edited June 29Jun 29 by Jingthing

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

why do you like philippines more than thailand?

I'm an Island boy?

Visa is not a problem for me in Thailand, so that is not one of the reasons. But the marriage visa is much easier in the Philippines, and when you are married you have a bit more legal security, especially with property, rights, and health care access. Becoming a legal citizen is also easier, and foreign pensions are generally not taxed.

Language? Touring with motorbike? If today and not travel for work, I would had given Phil a serious try, a few things have to be mentioned, the ring of fire and hurricanes

19 hours ago, Nemises said:

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.

That sums it up for me. Even though a guest, it's home, no plans to leave.

I consider myself as an immigrant in Thailand (I made the free decision to come and live here and die here in old age), but the Thai "authorities" consider me only a visitor, on an annual visa extension, as I cannot obtain permanent residence here.

NO ... non immigrant 0 visa, nuff said.

On 6/29/2026 at 11:51 AM, HappyExpat57 said:

You ARE an immigrant. Says so on your passport. If you identify as being a "visitor" then that's up to your perception of reality, but the truth will always be the truth.

We bo. The stamp you get is Non immigrant. Live here for 30 years and your still a tourist, not an immigrant

This isn't Europe.

On 6/29/2026 at 1:53 PM, FolkGuitar said:

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.

Irrelevant. Unless you have achieved permanent residency or citizenship, you are are a long term tourist.

21 hours ago, simon43 said:

The 5-flags concept - I was doing this since my 30's. UK citizen, banking in Andorra, working in Belgium, ltd company in the Seychelles, having fun in ??

I no longer need to use this strategy, but being single at least helps me move around - Mandalay (Myanmar), Bangkok, Pattaya, Siem Reap, Koh Phangan in the past few months! Apart from paying for trash collection etc in my locality, I can say that I have legally not had to pay any tax in the past 25 years... (I have a deep personal hatred of paying tax to useless, overpaid, corrupt, moronic governments and their officials etc - better to look after yourself and those you love..)!!

If you have no money, you don't pay tax. Not hard to understand.

On 6/29/2026 at 10:53 AM, FolkGuitar said:

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.

1 hour ago, emptypockets said:

Irrelevant. Unless you have achieved permanent residency or citizenship, you are are a long term tourist.

The original question posed by the original poster was "Do you consider yourself an immigrant in Thailand?"
Yes, I do. 🙂

We don't even qualify as guests here. I wasn't invited, were you?

We 're more like party crashers who arrived too late, only to find...

'Some banquet-hall deserted,

Whose lights are fled,

Whose garlands dead,

And all but he departed."

On 6/29/2026 at 8:51 AM, HappyExpat57 said:

You ARE an immigrant. Says so on your passport. If you identify as being a "visitor" then that's up to your perception of reality, but the truth will always be the truth.

It says you ARE an immigrant?

Mate, the visa literally states the opposite for anyone staying here because business, retirement or work:

Non-Immigrant Visa Category “O”

Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B”

So unless you've got PR; 'Non-Immigrant' visas are for people entering for temporary purpose even if they may stay for many years through extension. Its got nothing to do with what we 'identify' as, the name of the visa stares you right in the face.

Yes, of course. In certain Nations like Mexico you are considered an honorary Mexican after living there for 10 years, and you can get permanent residency status in the first month you're living there.

None of us will ever feel like we're one of them in Thailand 14 some of us don't really feel the need to belong and love our lives in Thailand, regardless.

Being married to a Thai woman with a large social circle certainly helps, as I gain acceptance through them and credibility through them, but that's just one aspect of it.

4 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Yes, of course. In certain Nations like Mexico you are considered an honorary Mexican after living there for 10 years, and you can get permanent residency status in the first month you're living there.

None of us will ever feel like we're one of them in Thailand 14 some of us don't really feel the need to belong and love our lives in Thailand, regardless.

Being married to a Thai woman with a large social circle certainly helps, as I gain acceptance through them and credibility through them, but that's just one aspect of it.

I've been having a look at Chile which has it's pros and cons like any place, but I was very impressed to learn that with as little as temporary residence there, you have all the same legal rights as a citizen except for voting.

Non-Immigrant as "I am just passing through!"

It's home for me.

4 hours ago, newnative said:

It's home for me.

Home address for many. But that does not indicate immigration status. Its just a point of contact.

In Thailand a foreigner can stay long term with a home as a Non Immigrant or less likely a Permanent Resident. They don't have an Immigrant visa.

57 minutes ago, Palatus said:

Home address for many. But that does not indicate immigration status. Its just a point of contact.

In Thailand a foreigner can stay long term with a home as a Non Immigrant or less likely a Permanent Resident. They don't have an Immigrant visa.

A foreigner with PR is classified as an immigrant by the Immigration Department. The visa that allows re-entry for PR holders is a non-quota immigrant visa. So, yes, PR holders have an immigrant visa, at least when they apply for one when they wish to leave and re-enter the kingdom.