Which Non-immigrant Visa Is Right For Me?

[sunsetlover]

Hello,

I have 2 passports, American and Greek. I am 48 y.o. I am planning to buy a condominium in BKK next month, for the purpose of moving to BKK by April-May. I plan to stay in BKK for about a year, but I will NOT work in Thailand. Rather, I will conduct some business with China, in China, during my stay in Thailand.

Which Non-Immigrant visa is right for me? Or, can I just get by with a tourist visa?

Thank you.

[Jingthing]

I don't think your plan fits into any non O category of reason.

owning a condo -- not a reason

not working -- not a reason

under 50 -- not qualified for retirement extensions

working in China -- not a reason

I don't know which passport you plan to use, but assuming the US one, you should be able to juggle your one year stay with a combination of tourist visas, 30 day extensions of tourist visas in Thailand, and air entries into Thailand without a visa. Each air entry gives you a 30 day stay if you aren't using a tourism entry. Double entry tourist visas are available in Laos. You should probably get as many tourism entries as you can if you are NY now before you go. Bottom line, you will have to play the visa run dance and the specifics of your strategy will be determined by your specific travel dates during the year.

Perhaps you intend to use both passports as needed. I can't comment on that, maybe someone else can.

Why are you buying a condo when you aren't qualified to live in it?

[ubonjoe]

Hello,

I have 2 passports, American and Greek. I am 48 y.o. I am planning to buy a condominium in BKK next month, for the purpose of moving to BKK by April-May. I plan to stay in BKK for about a year, but I will NOT work in Thailand. Rather, I will conduct some business with China, in China, during my stay in Thailand.

Which Non-Immigrant visa is right for me? Or, can I just get by with a tourist visa?

Thank you.

Where are you living now?

Since you are talking about doing business in China I assume you may already have a business established somewhere.

If that is the case you could probably get a multiple entry B visa at a honorary Thai consulate in the US. You would just need a letter on company letterhead saying you are using Thailand as a base of operations to do business in nearby countries or a similar statement. Letter should also say that your company will be responsible for all your expenses while in Thailand. They all will do mail in applications. I have had good experience with Houston you can contact them for info and possibly a sample letter.

Use the pulldown menu at the top of this webpage to get a list of Honorary consulates. http://www.thaiembdc.org/AboutEmb/EmbDirect.aspx

You could also get a 3 entry tourist visa that would give you almost 9 months total without getting a new visa.

[sunsetlover]

Thank you both.

I am living in New York. I'll go to the Thai Consulate tomorrow to ask. I have my own business, dealing with 2-3 Chinese companies.

Jingthing asked, why I'm buying a condo, the reason is, as an investment, and because I don't want to live in China, at least for the time being.

[ubonjoe]

Don't even bother with the consulate in NY they will tell you no or tell you that you have to have a letter of invitation from a Thai company and etc.

Best to contact one of the honorary consulates. You can do every thing by mail (Fedex, UPS or etc.) with them.

[sunsetlover]

Don't even bother with the consulate in NY they will tell you no or tell you that you have to have a letter of invitation from a Thai company and etc.

Best to contact one of the honorary consulates. You can do every thing by mail (Fedex, UPS or etc.) with them.

Thank you. I'll contact the Houston office tomorrow. I just thought that if they see my address is in NY, they'd ask me to go to the NY consulate.

By the way, is it easy to get a multiple entry visa if I can provide the financial support documentation?

[ubonjoe]

Only the official consulates pay any attention to where you are located.

I have done it just using a letter on company letterhead stating that the company would be responsible for my expenses.

Send them an email they respond quickly. You will have to wait until Monday to contact Houston by phone because they are closed on Friday.