Need Help To Move To Samui

[rocdam]

Thanks in advance to everyone.

I am a 29 year old American and looking to live for an undecided period of time in Koh Samui Thailand.

I am planning on buying a ticket to Thailand for October 1st, round trip for 2 months, but if I can find a job (legal or not), I will stay as long as possible. I do not have a college degree. I work for myself. I have enough money to put in a Thai account (if needed). And I will have a monthly income of $2000 - $3000 USD. 1 thing I will not do is skip on visa expiration. (No Thai Prison for me) I love Thailand, and will do anything to stay for a long time.

My questions are...

What Visas can I get and which will allow me to stay the longest?

What are the requirements for visa runs? (which countries?, how long?)

[Lite Beer]

Tourist Visa. As many entries as they will give you.

Each entry lasts 60 days and can be extended for a further 30 days in Thailand.

The Visa run requires you to leave Thailand and come straight back again.

From Samui this would be Malaysia or Burma by road .

[lopburi3]

If you can obtain a multi entry non immigrant O visa it would cover more than a year. I would look at the pinned useful information at top of forum and read the list of honorary Consulates in the USA and give them a call to try and find a place that will issue you that type of visa. It will save a lot of hassle in the long run.

[sriracha john]

but if I can find a job (legal or not), I will stay as long as possible

1 thing I will not do is skip on visa expiration

Something you may wish to consider in deciding which laws to break... is the knowledge that the one you consider OK to break is not really any different from the one that you seemingly would never break...

The penalty for working without a valid work permit in Thailand is basically the same as for overstay:

Jail, fine, deportation and possibly blacklisted from entering the Kingdom again.

[PoorSucker]

From Samui this would be Malaysia or Burma by road .

Can fly to Penang or KL from Samui.

Cheapest round trip to Penang I have made was 3000 Baht.