Please Help Stupid American With Thai Visa

[caffeinetrip]

Okay so here's my situation, I apperciate any help you guys can give me.

I was born and live in USA

I hold a USA Passport

I just got back from a 15 day trip to Thailand, no Visa required.

I am planning to move to Koh Tao, in 35 days and need a Visa.

I will not be working in Thailand

I'm technically an unemployeed aspiring writer/speaker so I have no work documents.

I have enough money in the bank to live for a few months in thailand (approx $6,000)

I have my PADI Open Water Scuba Diver Certification, and want to work towards my Divemaster certification while I am there.

I plan to live in Thailand for 1+ years or longer

I plan to come back to the USA every 2-3 months (70-90 days or so)

I don't know what Thai Visa to apply for.

It looks like the Non-Immigrant Multiple Entry Visa is perfect for me,

However, I do not have any documentation.

I don't have a letter of acceptance from an acredited school

I don't have a letter from the Religious Affairs Department of the Ministry of Education

Questions:

Which Visa should I apply for?

Tourist Visa: Good for 60 days. I read on this forum that you can extend it for another 30 days, which is perfect for me. However, I'll be living on Koh Tao, so I can extend it at the Airport as soon as I land, or do I need to make a seperate trip before 60 days. Also, what if they don't extend my stay? Is this an accepetable option if I plan on living in Thailand for more than a year? I'll have to apply for a new Tourist Visa every 3 months.

Non-Immigrant Multiple Entry Visa: This sounds perfect for me, but I don't have any official letters. How can I obtain this?

Thank you for your help in advance!

[ubonjoe]

Tourist Visa: Good for 60 days. I read on this forum that you can extend it for another 30 days, which is perfect for me. However, I'll be living on Koh Tao, so I can extend it at the Airport as soon as I land, or do I need to make a seperate trip before 60 days. Also, what if they don't extend my stay? Is this an accepetable option if I plan on living in Thailand for more than a year? I'll have to apply for a new Tourist Visa every 3 months. Non-Immigrant Multiple Entry Visa: This sounds perfect for me, but I don't have any official letters. How can I obtain this?

Thank you for your help in advance!

A 3 entry tourist visa will give you almost 9 months without having to get a new visa. It requires going to an immigration office before your 60 day stay is over and get a 30 day extension (1000 baht). After 90 days you will have to go to the border and re-enter (same day ok). You would then repeat the extension and border crossing after the next 90 days using your 3rd entry. After using the 3rd entry after ninty days you would need to get a new visa. You will need to contact the the consulate that you use to get the tourist visa to insure that they give you a visa that is valid for 6 months.

You say you will be going back to the states every 2 to 3 months. How long do you plan on staying. That will affect how well the tourist visa works for you.

From info provided you might want to come the first time on a single entry and then get some paperwork from a diving school and apply for a multiple entry O or ED visa when you return to the states. That is unless you can cantact a dive school and get a letter from them before you leave the states. You could also contact the conulate and see if you can get a non-o from them just based upon your plans using a cover letter. An email would work for the contact.

The following link is to Thai embassy in DC. Using the pull down menu at top of page you can find a list of Honarary consulates in the US. The are the best to contact about your visa.

http://www.thaiembdc.org/AboutEmb/EmbDirect.aspx

[Lite Beer]

If you go the Tourist Visa route the nearest Immigration office would be Koh Samui. For your 30 day extension (1,900 Baht)

[caffeinetrip]

Thanks for your help so far

However I don't quite understand how to get a 3 entry tourist visa.

I was thinking about visiting my local Thai Consulate here in Los Angeles (which happens to only be 15 minutes away, yay) tomorrow and talking to them about my situation and my plan. Is that a good idea or a bad idea?

I plan on coming back to the USA every 2-3 months, most likely every 85 days, and stay for 1-3 weeks at a time. I do some consultanting work out here, so I figure that I can come back to fulfill my 90 day leave the country requirement, and take on one or two clients out here in the USA to make a couple thousand dollars real quick to bring back to Thailand and support myself for the next 3 months with. (is this a bad idea to tell the Thai Consulate or a good idea?)

[ubonjoe]

If you go the Tourist Visa route the nearest Immigration office would be Koh Samui. For your 30 day extension (1,900 Baht)

Ooops

Thanks for correcting a typo I missed.

[ubonjoe]

Thanks for your help so far

However I don't quite understand how to get a 3 entry tourist visa.

I was thinking about visiting my local Thai Consulate here in Los Angeles (which happens to only be 15 minutes away, yay) tomorrow and talking to them about my situation and my plan. Is that a good idea or a bad idea?

I plan on coming back to the USA every 2-3 months, most likely every 85 days, and stay for 1-3 weeks at a time. I do some consultanting work out here, so I figure that I can come back to fulfill my 90 day leave the country requirement, and take on one or two clients out here in the USA to make a couple thousand dollars real quick to bring back to Thailand and support myself for the next 3 months with. (is this a bad idea to tell the Thai Consulate or a good idea?)

When you apply for a tourist visa you have the option to choose the number of entries you want. The price is the dollar equivalent of 1000 baht for each entry wanted. The visa will have a use before date on it meaning you must use all the entries before that date. For a 3 entry visa you would need a 6 month use before date to make use of the 3rd entry to get 9 months.

With your planned schedule you might be better off to get a single entry visa every time you return to the states.

The LA consulate is probably is not the best choice for getting a non-o multiple entry. I would give them a call or send an email before going there to apply for a non-o. A tourist visa no problem.

[Lite Beer]

Personally I do not think a 2 or 3 entry will help you. A Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa would be perfect. Not sure if you can get in USA. You can in UK for visiting friends.

If not a single entry Tourist Visa with the 30 day extension would probably suit you. But would need to apply for a fresh Visa before every trip back to Thailand.

Americans on here have suggested using Houston rather than LA. Can apply by post.

Not sure if Joe gave you this.

http://thaiembdc.org/directry/direc_e.htm

[PoorSucker]

I plan on coming back to the USA every 2-3 months, most likely every 85 days, and stay for 1-3 weeks at a time. I do some consultanting work out here, so I figure that I can come back to fulfill my 90 day leave the country requirement, and take on one or two clients out here in the USA to make a couple thousand dollars real quick to bring back to Thailand and support myself for the next 3 months with. (is this a bad idea to tell the Thai Consulate or a good idea?)

Any tourist visa will be OK for you if you're planning to go back to US within 90 days.

Just get a new visa when in US if you don't get more than single entry.

No need to tell the consulate anything.

You can get as many tourist visas as you like.

[Lite Beer]

Yep. The advise seems to be a single Tourist Visa unless you can wangle a Multi Non O.

[caffeinetrip]

Everyone here has been extremely helpful. Thank you! I will stop by my local Thai Consulate and try to get a Multipile non-o, and if I can't, I'll just get tourist visas. I'm glad it all works out either way. I'm sure that after I settle into Koh Tao and live there for a few months i'll figure out a smooth easy way to deal with the visa.

[Tim207]

I'm sure that after I settle into Koh Tao and live there for a few months i'll figure out a smooth easy way to deal with the visa.

LOL

What do you think this website was started for? If you find a smooth easy way to stay long term (other than retitement or support of family being debateable) the requirements will quickly change.

Your saving grace seems to be your plan to return to the US periodically. Multiple entry visas, at least in Chicago Consulate are very hard to come by unless you give them a good reason for long stays. They will assume you are working illegally and deny you, especially if you tell them about diving. Luckily you won'y need a multi entry. You can just apply for a new visa when you are in the US. A single entry tourist will get you 60 days and then you can either extend for 30 days or pop over to Cambodia and get a visa free 30 days. That covers you for up to 6 months and then you go home and get a new single entry tourist and start over.

[Lite Beer]

I'm sure that after I settle into Koh Tao and live there for a few months i'll figure out a smooth easy way to deal with the visa.

LOL

What do you think this website was started for? If you find a smooth easy way to stay long term (other than retitement or support of family being debateable) the requirements will quickly change.

Yes. The longer you live here the more confused you will get.

[Tim207]

A single entry tourist will get you 60 days and then you can either extend for 30 days or pop over to Cambodia and get a visa free 30 days.

My mistake. You would probably be heading for Malaysia, not Cambodia. I was thinking of the islands near Koh Chang.

[Lite Beer]

A single entry tourist will get you 60 days and then you can either extend for 30 days or pop over to Cambodia and get a visa free 30 days.

My mistake. You would probably be heading for Malaysia, not Cambodia. I was thinking of the islands near Koh Chang.

Yes. Malaysia or Burma (Ranong)

[unomi]

As far as I know working towards PADI certificates does not qualify for educational visas.

Also, you may want to look deeper into what you are getting yourself into with diving.

Best of Luck.

[caffeinetrip]

As far as I know working towards PADI certificates does not qualify for educational visas.

Also, you may want to look deeper into what you are getting yourself into with diving.

Best of Luck.

Would you like to clarify this a bit more? It sounds like a bad omen or something!

By the way, the only bad thing that has come up so far is realizing that the plane tickets back and forth will be alot more than I had anticipated. I bought round trip tickets from LAX to BKK for less than $1,000us...but it seems that a one way ticket to Koh Samui will be $1,500!!! Maybe it's because of high season? Maybe I need to look around more....i don't know but it's really crap.

By the way, can I buy a one way ticket with a 60day tourist visa? Or do I need a round trip ticket??

If I do, can I buy it for 85 days out, or does it have to be less than 60?

[Lite Beer]

By the way, the only bad thing that has come up so far is realizing that the plane tickets back and forth will be alot more than I had anticipated. I bought round trip tickets from LAX to BKK for less than $1,000us...but it seems that a one way ticket to Koh Samui will be $1,500!!! Maybe it's because of high season? Maybe I need to look around more....i don't know but it's really crap.

By the way, can I buy a one way ticket with a 60day tourist visa? Or do I need a round trip ticket??

If I do, can I buy it for 85 days out, or does it have to be less than 60?

A one way ticket is ok as you have a Visa. The return will also be ok for 85 days.

There are alternatives from Bangkok to Samui. Slower but cheaper. Bus, Train, Fly to Surattani.

Or you can book the Bangkok to Samui leg seperately on the Bangkok Air website for around 3,000 /4,000 Baht.

[unomi]

Would you like to clarify this a bit more? It sounds like a bad omen or something!

By the way, can I buy a one way ticket with a 60day tourist visa? Or do I need a round trip ticket??

If I do, can I buy it for 85 days out, or does it have to be less than 60?

As long as you have A visa, any visa you do not need a return ticket.

The return ticket requirement (from the airline) is for people who seek visa on entry and may be denied entry, then the airline would be liable for getting them out of there.

You would be better off just flying to bkk and getting a domestic flight to samui from there.

It depends why you want to go diving, if its just 'something to do' then its fine, if you think you can make a career in it I would advise caution, especially if you only speak english.

A largeish part of the scuba industry is churning out divemaster trainees as they pay them for the priviledge of being cheap labour.

Becoming a certified divemaster is no guarantee of getting a job, to be employable you need to invest in your own gear and obviously the cost of certification.

For the most part you will be a salesman, for the right personality it might be a good gig.

The competition on Koh Tao is immense, hence the low cost of certification, this also means that there is an oversupply of DMs. Most of them English and American.

If you happen to like diving in its own right, by all means I think you should go and do some courses, try to talk with the people who have been there for a bit longer and look for yourself.

[Tim207]

By the way, can I buy a one way ticket with a 60day tourist visa? Or do I need a round trip ticket??

If I do, can I buy it for 85 days out, or does it have to be less than 60?

There is no reason to buy a one way ticket unless your not coming back for more than a year. They can be as much as a round trip ticket. You say you will return to the US every 3 months or so. If you buy a round trip ticket to return in 4 or 5 months you can then change the return date, for a fee, when you are ready to go home. I just did a quick search LAX to Kho Samui round trip nov12 to march30 $1492. If you plan a specific return date and stick to it you will also save the change flight fees.

As to wether you are allowed to buy a return ticket past your visa length, yes. I have done this routinely for almost ten years. Buying a one way ticket is only if you will not return for over a year.

[caffeinetrip]

I'm really glad I joined this forum, you guys have given me a lot to think about.

As for working towards being a dive master, i'm doing it just for my own personal enjoyment and not doing it as a future career. My plan is to continue my consultating gigs every 3 months here in the US to make a quick amount of cash over the weekend to support my living in Thailand for the next 3 months. If I subtract $2,000 for airfare, hotel, and transportation to and from the airport, I think i'll be able to clear $3,500-$4,000US for two weeks of work at my current rate.

Hopefully if I live smartly in Koh Tao, i'll be able to survive on $1,300 a month.

But my long term plan is to work on my internet business which is only clearing $200 a month right now, but my plan is to work on it while in Koh Tao and hopefully have it bring in more than $1,300 a month so I won't have fly back to the US to work every three months.

Anyways, I don't think that being a divemaster will be able to support me finacially, actually i'm curious how americans and other non-thais make enough money to live, without working 12 hours a day while they are there.

As for the plane ticket. You guys brought up a good point with the 1 way vs. round trip dilemma. I'll look to see how much it is for both options. I think that it'll be easiest if I do a 1 way first just to get there. And then from that point on, buy round trip tickets, since i'll be flying from Thailand to the US, and then back within 2 weeks, and the dates will be more set.

[Lite Beer]

But my long term plan is to work on my internet business which is only clearing $200 a month right now, but my plan is to work on it while in Koh Tao and hopefully have it bring in more than $1,300 a month so I won't have fly back to the US to work every three months.

Technically you do need a work permit for this.

So keep quite about what you are doing.

[tutone]

As far as I know working towards PADI certificates does not qualify for educational visas.

Also, you may want to look deeper into what you are getting yourself into with diving.

Best of Luck.

Would you like to clarify this a bit more? It sounds like a bad omen or something!

By the way, the only bad thing that has come up so far is realizing that the plane tickets back and forth will be alot more than I had anticipated. I bought round trip tickets from LAX to BKK for less than $1,000us...but it seems that a one way ticket to Koh Samui will be $1,500!!! Maybe it's because of high season? Maybe I need to look around more....i don't know but it's really crap.

By the way, can I buy a one way ticket with a 60day tourist visa? Or do I need a round trip ticket??

If I do, can I buy it for 85 days out, or does it have to be less than 60?

You can get a 6 month, triple entry, tourist visa from the Houston consulate. They do not require an airline ticket (itenarary) or income statement. I just did this because the Atlanta consulate would not give me a visa without a flight schedule showing a ticket out of Thailand and 500 dollars in the bank. Once you have the visa a one way ticket is ok. I used a company in Houston called Passports Plus to get the visa. Only cost $39 (I think) for their fee and only took a few days. They are on the internet or you can call the consulate if you want to do it yourself. Yea I have a friend in Illinois and he says the Thai consulate in Chicago really sucks. Go with Houston. Good Luck.

[ubonjoe]

As for the plane ticket. You guys brought up a good point with the 1 way vs. round trip dilemma. I'll look to see how much it is for both options. I think that it'll be easiest if I do a 1 way first just to get there. And then from that point on, buy round trip tickets, since i'll be flying from Thailand to the US, and then back within 2 weeks, and the dates will be more set.

Just did a fare search for Eva airways on their website for the 9th LAX to BKK and got a fare of $705.40 for a one way.

After you get here you can check for a round trip back to LA you may find the fares are even lower than what you can get in the states.

Have a good trip.

Joe

Edit: BKK to Samui 3170 baht one way on the 9th.

Also if LA consulate gives you a problem with a one way you could buy a ticket to a nearby country. AirAsia to KL was 2500 baht the last time I checked. They only charge 500 baht change fee so you might be able to use a ticket for a couple or more visas.

[Lite Beer]

You can get a 6 month, triple entry, tourist visa from the Houston consulate. They do not require an airline ticket (itenarary) or income statement. I just did this because the Atlanta consulate would not give me a visa without a flight schedule showing a ticket out of Thailand and 500 dollars in the bank. Once you have the visa a one way ticket is ok. I used a company in Houston called Passports Plus to get the visa. Only cost $39 (I think) for their fee and only took a few days. They are on the internet or you can call the consulate if you want to do it yourself. Yea I have a friend in Illinois and he says the Thai consulate in Chicago really sucks. Go with Houston. Good Luck.

Yes. Houston gets a lot of recommendations on here.

However I do not think it will help the OP in this case because of his schedule of entering and exiting every 90 days.

The Visas would expire before he could use them all.

Thanks for confirming the Huston situation.

[andyc2006]

You can get a 6 month, triple entry, tourist visa from the Houston consulate. They do not require an airline ticket (itenarary) or income statement. I just did this because the Atlanta consulate would not give me a visa without a flight schedule showing a ticket out of Thailand and 500 dollars in the bank. Once you have the visa a one way ticket is ok. I used a company in Houston called Passports Plus to get the visa. Only cost $39 (I think) for their fee and only took a few days. They are on the internet or you can call the consulate if you want to do it yourself. Yea I have a friend in Illinois and he says the Thai consulate in Chicago really sucks. Go with Houston. Good Luck.

It doesn't sound like the OP really needs a multi-entry, since the plan is to return to the US every 90 days -- though if the plan changes, this suggestion may be pretty important. Reason below.

Also if LA consulate gives you a problem with a one way you could buy a ticket to a nearby country. AirAsia to KL was 2500 baht the last time I checked. They only charge 500 baht change fee so you might be able to use a ticket for a couple or more visas.

The LA consulate wouldn't accept anything besides my printed visa application, passport, pictures and money order. I tried to hand them a bank statement & copy of my itinerary (which was supposedly required), but the woman held up my US passport and said, "we don't need that. We already know you have money." She then returned the "extraneous" papers.

They wouldn't issue me a multi-entry tourist visa, only a single-entry.

I'm now here on an ED visa, but will return to the States for the holidays. Hopefully I'll have more luck with the LA consulate in January when I apply for the 1-year multi-entry non-O (via marriage to a Thai) -- anybody know if LA gives a hassle with this visa?

[Lite Beer]

I'm now here on an ED visa, but will return to the States for the holidays. Hopefully I'll have more luck with the LA consulate in January when I apply for the 1-year multi-entry non-O (via marriage to a Thai) -- anybody know if LA gives a hassle with this visa?

This is their website. They do sound a bit grumpy.

http://www.thai-la.net/visa/visa-non-im-o.htm

[ubonjoe]

I'm now here on an ED visa, but will return to the States for the holidays. Hopefully I'll have more luck with the LA consulate in January when I apply for the 1-year multi-entry non-O (via marriage to a Thai) -- anybody know if LA gives a hassle with this visa?

It shouldn't be a problem, Just be sure you have you have marriage certificate and a copy of your wifes passport photo page and/or ID card. For LA maybe copy of her house book also.

Unless you live in or near LA there are honararyy consulates that can be easier to deal with.

The following link is to Thai embassy in DC. Using the pull down menu at top of page you can find a list of Honarary consulates in the US.

http://www.thaiembdc.org/AboutEmb/EmbDirect.aspx

Note some of the honorary conulates may want a translated copy of marriage certificate because they have no Thais working there. Houston is one of those. That is why the passport photo page is asked for by some verses the ID card.

[VegasVic]

I'm now here on an ED visa, but will return to the States for the holidays. Hopefully I'll have more luck with the LA consulate in January when I apply for the 1-year multi-entry non-O (via marriage to a Thai) -- anybody know if LA gives a hassle with this visa?

It shouldn't be a problem, Just be sure you have you have marriage certificate and a copy of your wifes passport photo page and/or ID card. For LA maybe copy of her house book also.

Unless you live in or near LA there are honararyy consulates that can be easier to deal with.

The following link is to Thai embassy in DC. Using the pull down menu at top of page you can find a list of Honarary consulates in the US.

http://www.thaiembdc.org/AboutEmb/EmbDirect.aspx

Note some of the honorary conulates may want a translated copy of marriage certificate because they have no Thais working there. Houston is one of those. That is why the passport photo page is asked for by some verses the ID card.

The Consulate in L.A. can be frustrating to deal with at times, I have found the staff at the honorary consulate in Denver to be most helpful and very friendly.

[caffeinetrip]

Woohoo!

I just came back from the Los Angeles Consulate and got my 2 entry, 6 month valid, Tourist Visa!!!!

It was really simple actually. I showed up yesterday (monday) with my application, a copy of my passport, my passport itself, 2 passport photos, and $70 in money orders, and dropped it all off. Everyone there was friendly, and there was no line. They told me to just come back today to pick it up. Again, no wait, and no line. Simple! I loved it!

I'm booking my flight tonight!!! I'm really excited I got my first Visa, this is sooo much easier than I thought. I love Thailand. I could imagine it being a pain in the ass, or impossible to live in other countries as easily as this.

[Lite Beer]

Woohoo!

I just came back from the Los Angeles Consulate and got my 2 entry, 6 month valid, Tourist Visa!!!!

It was really simple actually. I showed up yesterday (monday) with my application, a copy of my passport, my passport itself, 2 passport photos, and $70 in money orders, and dropped it all off. Everyone there was friendly, and there was no line. They told me to just come back today to pick it up. Again, no wait, and no line. Simple! I loved it!

I'm booking my flight tonight!!! I'm really excited I got my first Visa, this is sooo much easier than I thought. I love Thailand. I could imagine it being a pain in the ass, or impossible to live in other countries as easily as this.

Well done and have a good time.

Did you try for the Non O Visa or go straight to the Tourist Visa?