How Long Can I Stay?

[stanny]

Hi guys, I'm a Malaysian, freelance writer looking to be based in Thai basically doing some writing work for back home and maybe here if I can get any gigs. I was thinking of initially getting a tourist visa from KL for 2 months stay, then extending for 1 month at BKK. After then, what are my options to continue staying? I'm Malaysian, any special rules as ASEAN countries to allow me to stay longer?

[Soutpeel]

Hi guys, I'm a Malaysian, freelance writer looking to be based in Thai basically doing some writing work for back home and maybe here if I can get any gigs. I was thinking of initially getting a tourist visa from KL for 2 months stay, then extending for 1 month at BKK. After then, what are my options to continue staying? I'm Malaysian, any special rules as ASEAN countries to allow me to stay longer?

Thought you where a photographer for National Geographic/Novelist/Jurno/on-line poker player...

[stanny]

Gonna go with the freelance writer.

[Soutpeel]

Gonna go with the freelance writer.

Ok...now to answer your question...you are allowed 30 days in Thailand on a visa waiver, you can do 3 X 30 days in a 6 month period without needing a visa, after which you will need a visa...therefore get your 2 month tourist visa, extend extra month in country and then do 3 X 30 day "visa" runs....after which start the process all over and can go on as long as a Thai Embassy/consulate will give you the toursit visa..

[stanny]

Cool, can I do tourist visa + extension first then only followed by 3x visa runs? Or perhaps can I do tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa?

[PoorSucker]

Cool, can I do tourist visa + extension first then only followed by 3x visa runs? Or perhaps can I do tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa?

Tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa

etc etc is OK

[Soutpeel]

Cool, can I do tourist visa + extension first then only followed by 3x visa runs? Or perhaps can I do tourist visa + extension followed by another tourist visa?

Yes you can do that as well if you want...up to you

[stanny]

Great! I'm almost done here. Nearest place to apply tourist visa from BKK? Chances of success if I already had one tourist visa + extension previously? If they reject it, I am screwed?

[NHJ]

visa have to be done outside of thailand, so go to the consulate and speak with the staff to see if you can get a triple entry tourist visa but be sure to ask for the validity wich should be 6 month minimum. if they give only a validity of three month, then choose a double entry visa.

as you are malaysian and applying in your country i think it shouldn't be a trouble at all.

[stanny]

visa have to be done outside of thailand, so go to the consulate and speak with the staff to see if you can get a triple entry tourist visa but be sure to ask for the validity wich should be 6 month minimum. if they give only a validity of three month, then choose a double entry visa.

as you are malaysian and applying in your country i think it shouldn't be a trouble at all.

What exactly is a triple entry visa? Double entry?

[Soutpeel]

Great! I'm almost done here. Nearest place to apply tourist visa from BKK? Chances of success if I already had one tourist visa + extension previously? If they reject it, I am screwed?

You cant apply for a tourist visa for Thailand, in country, for you Malaysia would be the better option to apply...

If they reject your visa application yes you are sc*ewed, you would have to do 30 day visa waivers X 3 and stay out for 3 months

[PhilHarries]

Hold on a minute, you are going to work as a freelance writer based in Thailand doing work for back home? Okay I guess so far but "and maybe here if I can get any gigs" would mean you are working in Thailand which is illegal without a work permit and illegal on a tourist visa (AFAIK). Okay freelance work may have little risk of being caught but be aware that those you do work for have to maintain accounts and file tax returns that may highlight payments made into a void. Also if you are treading on Thai freelancer's toes you'd better watch out.

Also the tourist visa + extension route is only indefinate until an immigration officer or Embassy/Consulate official decides you cannot be on holiday that long without working. It may work indefinately but it may not and then you are doing 30 day exemption runs for 90 days then try a tourist visa again. All this is gonna cost money and take time which is okay if you can afford both.

[Soutpeel]

Hold on a minute, you are going to work as a freelance writer based in Thailand doing work for back home? Okay I guess so far but "and maybe here if I can get any gigs" would mean you are working in Thailand which is illegal without a work permit and illegal on a tourist visa (AFAIK). Okay freelance work may have little risk of being caught but be aware that those you do work for have to maintain accounts and file tax returns that may highlight payments made into a void. Also if you are treading on Thai freelancer's toes you'd better watch out.

Also the tourist visa + extension route is only indefinate until an immigration officer or Embassy/Consulate official decides you cannot be on holiday that long without working. It may work indefinately but it may not and then you are doing 30 day exemption runs for 90 days then try a tourist visa again. All this is gonna cost money and take time which is okay if you can afford both.

Phil, the same thought crossed my mind as well Re working here, but the OP seems to be a troll, refer to his other posting on being a National Geographic Photogrpaher/novelist/Free-lance Jurno/on-line poker player... so couldnt really be bother pointing this out..

[Lite Beer]

Phil, the same thought crossed my mind as well Re working here, but the OP seems to be a troll, refer to his other posting on being a National Geographic Photogrpaher/novelist/Free-lance Jurno/on-line poker player... so couldnt really be bother pointing this out..

You forgot "Private English Teacher" on the Jobs forum.

[stanny]

Alright, so I'm going to be working various jobs, maybe illegally but that's not the question or topic. I just wanted to know how to keep staying in Thailand. Appreciate the comments from the others but seriously Southpeel, what do you have against me? If I was a troll I would be asking different things instead of what kind of visa I need.

[Lite Beer]

Alright, so I'm going to be working various jobs, maybe illegally but that's not the question or topic. I just wanted to know how to keep staying in Thailand. Appreciate the comments from the others but seriously Southpeel, what do you have against me?

Maybe you can get a job as a part time lawyer. You may need one.

At the moment you can stay here a long time with Tourist Visas and 30 day stamps as said before.

With all this advise you could work as a Visa adviser.

[Soutpeel]

Alright, so I'm going to be working various jobs, maybe illegally but that's not the question or topic. I just wanted to know how to keep staying in Thailand. Appreciate the comments from the others but seriously Southpeel, what do you have against me?

Dont have anything against you, your postings over the last couple days have given me some good laughs and amusement, so for that I thank you. But you really must learn to recognise when somebody has something against you and somebody is taking the p*ss out of you, if you think I am being rough on you, I am like a pussy cat compared to some of the posters on TV...

[Maestro]

What exactly is a triple entry visa? Double entry?

A double-entry tourist visa is a tourist visa valid for two journeys to Thailand during the validity period of the visa.

A triple-entry tourist visa is a tourist visa valid for three journeys to Thailand during the validity period of the visa.

--

Maestro

[stanny]

That means if I got a double-entry I can enter Thailand , stay for 2 months+1 month extension, then leave Thailand and come back with another 2 months+1month stay without having to apply for a new tourist visa?

[Lite Beer]

That means if I got a double-entry I can enter Thailand , stay for 2 months+1 month extension, then leave Thailand and come back with another 2 months+1month stay without having to apply for a new tourist visa?

Yes. Providing your Visa has not expired.

Check the expiry date.

You should get almost 6 months.

[stanny]

Sweet, gonna get me self a triple entry and stay for 9 months straight.

[Lite Beer]

Sweet, gonna get me self a triple entry and stay for 9 months straight.

Like I said. Check the expiry date.

You still might only get 6 months.

[stanny]

Will do, thanks. After get double entry or triple, just gotta cross border will do right?

[Lite Beer]

Will do, thanks. After get double entry or triple, just gotta cross border will do right?

Right.