hi

i am irish resident.i have been a regular 2 week holiday visitor to t/l over the last 10 years.

i would like to spend about 4-6 months max in t/l.(i know this is not the best of times to be doing this as the authorities are tightening up etc). i would intend to do some freelance teaching to supplement my own funds(i do have a contact in bkk for same).i have no intention of making this a long term visit(famous last words!!).

i have a friend in bkk who keeps saying-"it's totally different when u live here as a non tourist"- i would like to experience t/l as a non tourist;eg;go to see an isaan village etc.or use it as a base for a few short trips to other asian spots-say,a few days in hong kong.

i expect my only option is to enter on a 60 day tourist visa and take it from there.i would intend to go say late nov/early dec'2007.i honestly get a bit confused with the visa rules/extensions/visa runs etc.

as i would be letting out my house here in ireland(on a 6mth contract),i don't want to be coming home after say,3 months with my tail between my legs

what i would like to know is if/how i can exploit the fact that i hold 2 irish passports.

the first one expires in july 2008(the last time i used it was to enter/exit bkk in 04/2002)

the second one(in current use) would have bkk stamps (2 times a year from 2002-date).it expires in 2012.

even if the first passport was not viable(from the viewpoint that it is recommended that one's passport should not expire within 6 months of entering a country)-it may be possible that i could get a new passport(in lieu of the first one) issued to me in the Irish(ie:non-english) Language.

.thus i may have a new irish language based passport,plus my current one(english language ,expiring 2012).

do u think i could exploit this to make my life a bit easier or am i playing with fire.

normally i am a law abiding citizen;i am not a jailbird,dirtbird or scumbag.

maybe what i am proposing for for a 6month stay is totally unnecessary.

your advice would be appreciated.

regards

antojik

You really don't have to shuffle passports to stay six months - that is just two tourist visas with extensions and that is available just about anywhere. You might even be able to obtain a multi entry non immigrant O visa that would allow stays of 90 days for over a year.

What is a problem is the employment - that is not legal on on any visa entry without a work permit.

Long question, short answer......

Get a double entry tourist visa (each 60day entry is extendable in country by 30days) so it gives you your 6months. Should you want to stay longer you can get up to 3 x 30day visa free entry stamps by crossing any border or go to a nearby consulate for another tourist visa.

Get a renewal clause on your house lease if you intend to work while as a tourist as you may find yourself spending longer in Thailand than you had planned.