Help! Re. Visa

[moomickle]

hi,

My partner and I are hoping to come to Thailand in 2 months for a year. I've just retired out of the army (I'm 48) and so I receive an army pension. I won't be looking for work as I'll be self-supported. We'll have approx 50,000 thb per month to live on. But that's it. No savings or additional income.

Just wanting to spend a year with my partner looking around Thailand, doing some kayaking, some diving. We'd like to rent a place for the year and so don't want to find that once we've been there for a month we'll have to do visa runs, spend time outside of Thailand or only be able to stay for 3 months.

What can we do?

Thanks for your help.

[Mahout Angrit]

Not much choice, try to get Triple entry tourist visas which with extensions will give you 9 months in Thailand with two trips to the nearest border. After then repeat or go for 3 x 30day visa free entries at the nearest border.

[Khun Jean]

IF your partner is Thai you can get a multi entry non immigrant type 'o' visa. You will still need to do a visarun every three months. If you time it right you can stay almost 15 months without renewing.

If your partner is not Thai your choice is a tourist visa, i have no experience with those.

[cali4995]

Moomickle, if you're able to get some type of non-immigrant visa,

maybe an "ED" for studying diving or an "O" for visiting friends and

family, you can get your time in uninterrupted blocks of 90 days.

I'd shoot for the moon, it's much easier to trade down than up. Try for

multiple-entry and if they seem resistant to giving you that, go for the

tourist visas. So much seems to depend on your home country's Thai

embassy/consulate and their "stance" towards foreigners that week.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

hi,

My partner and I are hoping to come to Thailand in 2 months for a year. I've just retired out of the army (I'm 48) and so I receive an army pension. I won't be looking for work as I'll be self-supported. We'll have approx 50,000 thb per month to live on. But that's it. No savings or additional income.

Just wanting to spend a year with my partner looking around Thailand, doing some kayaking, some diving. We'd like to rent a place for the year and so don't want to find that once we've been there for a month we'll have to do visa runs, spend time outside of Thailand or only be able to stay for 3 months.

What can we do?

Thanks for your help.

Contact the Thai Consulate in Nicosia and see if they might issue multiple entry non-immigrant visa's.

[sriracha john]

Nicosia, Cyprus??

ahhh.... ISP tracker.... ok...

[lopburi3]

IF your partner is Thai you can get a multi entry non immigrant type 'o' visa. You will still need to do a visarun every three months. If you time it right you can stay almost 15 months without renewing.

If your partner is not Thai your choice is a tourist visa, i have no experience with those.

Not unless married at most Consulates - and even then it may turn out to be a single entry visit for 90 days.

[moomickle]

Thank you for advice so far...still need help though.. I'm getting a letter from my bank showing my monthly income (so I will be to all intents and purposes self-sufficient)...I'm going to try for a non-immigrant multiple entry visa as you suggest at the thai embassy here in Cyprus..

But we still want to commit to a long-term rental in Thailand and don't wantto end up paying for somewhere we might not end up being able to live in.

How likely is it that extensions are refused?

and what happens if after doing dive courses etc..I'm offered a job?

Is it difficult to then apply for a work visa?

What's the process for this?

I really appreciate the help so far...any more would be great!

[Mahout Angrit]

Thank you for advice so far...still need help though.. I'm getting a letter from my bank showing my monthly income (so I will be to all intents and purposes self-sufficient)...I'm going to try for a non-immigrant multiple entry visa as you suggest at the thai embassy here in Cyprus..

But we still want to commit to a long-term rental in Thailand and don't wantto end up paying for somewhere we might not end up being able to live in.

How likely is it that extensions are refused?

and what happens if after doing dive courses etc..I'm offered a job?

Is it difficult to then apply for a work visa?

What's the process for this?

I really appreciate the help so far...any more would be great!

You shouldnt need much evidence of finance to apply for a Non Imm O visa but you must find a reason which qualifies you to apply for one.See RTE London

As you are not married then you both need to individually qualify

You will not get an extension to the Non Imm O until you are 50 and can get it for the purpose of retirement. You will have to exit and re-enter Thailand every 90days on the visa until it expires after 1 year.

If you find work you can go through the WP process however and I dont want to spoil your dream but every dive company in Thailand has a queue of young experienced dive instructors waiting to be employed and weekly enquiries from worldwide via email for work.

Edited September 18, 2007 by Mahout Angrit

[lopburi3]

I believe you are using the term "extensions" to mean a new 90 day permitted to stay stamp on your multi entry non immigrant O visa and that is not likely to be any problem. You just have to leave the country and immediate return.

If you have an employment offer you obtain a work permit and the non immigrant O visa can be used for that. Just remember you can not work without a work permit.