Re-entry Permit On Tv Or Non-immigrant Visa ?

[ntfeeney]

Greetings,

I have been reading about these topics, but would greatly appreciate some clarification.

I have been living in Thailand since December 2007, staying on 30-day stamps, and now on a double-entry Tourist Visa (from VTE issued 19March2008). I am a US Citizen (unmarried, not of retirement age), and am planning to return to the US to visit family and friends in June for about 2 weeks - after which, I wish to return to Thailand and stay for several months. My current TV (after 30d extension at Suan Phlu) would keep me here until my return to the USA.

Should I / Can I....

~ Get a 1-year non-Immigrant B visa from Houston, USA (even if I don't have an offer from a Thai company) ?

~ Get a re-entry permit and return on my second 60/90 days of entry, continuing to exist on TV's and 30d stamps.

Much thanks, as I am planning everything a bit in advance to try to find the best solution.

Regards, -feeney

[jstumbo]

Is the "enter before" date on your visa after your expected return date? If so, you can use your second entry when you come back. If it is before your return, then you could make a border run using your second entry right before your return to the US or right before the "enter before" date. You then could get a re-entry permit before leaving for the US. This would keep your stay active until you return in two weeks. You then could extend it for the 30 days at immigration.

As for the B visa, it is for business use, or employment in Thailand. Do you have a business in Thailand? Do you have an employment offer from a company in Thailand.

[ntfeeney]

Is the "enter before" date on your visa after your expected return date? If so, you can use your second entry when you come back. If it is before your return, then you could make a border run using your second entry right before your return to the US or right before the "enter before" date. You then could get a re-entry permit before leaving for the US. This would keep your stay active until you return in two weeks. You then could extend it for the 30 days at immigration.

As for the B visa, it is for business use, or employment in Thailand. Do you have a business in Thailand? Do you have an employment offer from a company in Thailand.

My "enter before" date is June 18, and I would be returning to Thailand, at the earliest, on June 30. So, the best option is to extend my visa for 30 days at BKK immigration, run to the border a few days prior to the "enter before" date (june18), and activate my second entry (60days), get a re-entry permit from BKK Immigration, fly to the USA for 2 weeks, then return on my second 60 days, and continue on with TV's.

No, I currently have no offer of employment, nor do I have a business in TH, but for some reason I thought I recalled reading about some people who've gotten one without real offers or businesses. Also, what do these legal companies offer? (ex. non-Imm B for $450usd). Siam-Legal says they guarantee successful receipt of the visa... or is this contingent on my ability to have all the right offers/paperwork?

Thank you so much for this invaluable assistance! -Feeney

[jstumbo]

You would need to compare the cost of the border run and re-entry permit to the cost of just getting a new visa while in the US to see which might cost more. But with being in the US for only a couple of weeks, you probably will not want to spend too much time trying to get a new visa. So I would do it like you just listed.

As for the B visas from the legal groups, they are really just abusing the system. They give you some kind of letter that invites you to explore business opportunities in Thailand. You then use this letter to fraudulently get a B visa. Sure some people really want to investigate business opportunities in Thailand, but this can be done with a tourist visa very easily. Will they catch you? Probably not. I use B visas for business purposes and I can see the day when they limit the number of days you can be in Thailand on a multi B visa. They will probably do it to stop the people that live here on them and just make border runs every 90 days.

[ntfeeney]

You would need to compare the cost of the border run and re-entry permit to the cost of just getting a new visa while in the US to see which might cost more. But with being in the US for only a couple of weeks, you probably will not want to spend too much time trying to get a new visa. So I would do it like you just listed.

As for the B visas from the legal groups, they are really just abusing the system. They give you some kind of letter that invites you to explore business opportunities in Thailand. You then use this letter to fraudulently get a B visa. Sure some people really want to investigate business opportunities in Thailand, but this can be done with a tourist visa very easily. Will they catch you? Probably not. I use B visas for business purposes and I can see the day when they limit the number of days you can be in Thailand on a multi B visa. They will probably do it to stop the people that live here on them and just make border runs every 90 days.

Indeed,

I sent an inquiry to Siam-Legal, and they replied that they could give me all the paperwork to apply for the visa, but considering the fees and everything, I may just continue extending my TV and 30-day stamps for the next year. Anyone think that renewing the TV is a bad idea?