Thanks. I will leave it until the time is closer.

My girlfriend's school have said they can help with my visa so maybe they can sort something out for me?

Do I need to buy a return ticket even if I am applying for a 12 month non-immigraition visa?

No.

So they won't hold it against me if I just turn up with a one way?

If you use of the consulates that have been suggested they do not want to see the ticket.

The ariline will not ask for a return ticket if you have a visa either.

Thanks. I think the school are sending my girlfriend a form for a visa for me which she will apply for on my behalf.

Does this sound correct?

It makes no sense at all to me. I don't know what they can send for your visa because you are not married.

Your Girlfriend cannot apply for a Visa for you. As you are not married your relationship will be of no help for you.

Just apply for the Non Imm O Multi Entry from Hull as suggested.

Strange. I'll wait and see what they come up with. You never know...

Not strange just the rules as we know them.

Let us know what they come up with.

Will probably just involve them sending me the pdf of the form from the Thai website!

Hello, I am from the UK.

My girlfriend is starting a teaching job in Bangkok at an international school in August on a two year contract.

I would like to go with her but am unsure on how long I could stay for.

From what I can tell there are two routes I could go down: get a tourist visa or get a work permit. Is this correct?

If I wasnt working would it be possible for me to get a 90 day visa and do visa/border runs for two years or is two years too long?

If I wanted to work are my only options teaching english? I have a BSc degree but no TEFL.

Does Thailand do a student visa? Could I student something like muay thai and get a visa?

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks.

Thailand is not the bargain basement it used to be.

One needs money and lots of it.

Finding work here is not easy, especially at present as Thailand is suffering from its worse economic crisis for years. Finding work should not be considered an option unless you are lucky enough to have contacts that will guarantee work before you arrive here.

If nearing retirement the imposed Immigration laws require an investment of 800000 baht invested with a Thai bank or a 65000 baht pension income or mixture of both.

The Thais have a saying; no money, no honey and if you are unable to hack it financially than no point considering a long term stay in Thailand.

Teaching jobs are always available to those qualified. There is no "investment" required for long stay (retirement) extensions of stay, only that you can show a bank account balance. It is your money and you are fee to use it.

Teaching jobs are always available to those qualified. There is no "investment" required for long stay (retirement) extensions of stay, only that you can show a bank account balance. It is your money and you are fee to use it.

WRONG.

These are the imposed requirements for non Immigrant (O) visas on the basis of retirement:

A pension income of 65000 baht per month or 800000 baht invested in a Thai bank or a mixture of both.

Sometimes Immigration may ask the source of this money. This is to cut down cases of money being lent by friends to applicants in order to comply with the required investment amounts imposed by Immigration departments

Money invested into Thai bank must have been deposited within 3 months prior to visa application.

A document of pension certification is required from your embassy/consulate in the case of pension income.

A letter of certification of bank balance is required from your bank in the case of investment. Within 7 days prior to visa application. In the case of a joint account with spouse, 1.6 million baht is required to be invested with Thai bank. Double because of the 2 names. Joint accounts other than that of a spouse are not accepted.

I certainly would not risk moving to Thailand on the basis that for living expenses, I may get a job.

Employments for Farangs that legally fulfil the imposed Immigration requirements are not easily available.

You only have to show means to support your one year stay. That can be a bank account with 800k, or income of 65k per month or a combination of the two. Your money is cash and can be used and is not tied up in any investment.

Pleas show me where it says investment in this clause of the police order that covers retirement extensions.

(3) Proof of income of not less than Baht 65,000 per month; or

(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than

800,000 Baht as shown in the bank account for the past 3 months at the filing date of the application. For the first year, the applicant should have that amount in his bank account for not less than 60 days or

A deposit in a bank bank account or income is not an investment.

The amount required is what they beleive to be the amount you would need to cover your living costs.

Pleas show me where it says investment in this clause of the police order that covers retirement extensions.

(3) Proof of income of not less than Baht 65,000 per month; or

(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than

800,000 Baht as shown in the bank account for the past 3 months at the filing date of the application. For the first year, the applicant should have that amount in his bank account for not less than 60 days or

A deposit in a bank bank account or income is not an investment.

The amount required is what they beleive to be the amount you would need to cover your living costs.

Monies deposited in a bank for a certain amount of time, the time period being the term of investment.

Any monies placed within a bank account that pays interest is an investment.

The OP has mentioned a period of stay in Thailand as 2 years, not 1 year.

Whichever way you want to describe it, invested, deposited, placed within, or put, the facts are that for retirement non (o) immigration visa the imposed terms are still as I have quoted.

The maximum of 800000 baht imposed bank visa stake (new word) has to be tied up for a minimum of 3 months prior to visa application

With respect, I do not understand what point you are trying to make?

Edited May 10, 200917 yr by sassienie

You only have to show means to support your one year stay. That can be a bank account with 800k, or income of 65k per month or a combination of the two. Your money is cash and can be used and is not tied up in any investment.

That`s exactly what I said; isn`t it?

I'm not looking to retire.

Just come out for a couple of years and do some teaching english for work.

If the OP is not looking to retire, than see my original post.

Edited May 10, 200917 yr by sassienie

The maximum of 800000 baht imposed bank visa stake (new word) has to be tied up for a minimum of 3 months prior to visa application

A small point but it is 2 months for the first application.

You have to be offered a job before you apply for a Work Permit. You can work with a Non Imm O Visa if you have a Work Permit. You cannot with a Tourist Visa.

The Multi Non Imm O means you can come and go as many times as you want, each stay is a maximum of 90 days.

Take advantage of being in th UK as that is one of the very few places that issue that Visa for Visiting freinds.

Do not try the Embassy in London. Go to Hull. You can apply by post and get your passport back within a week.

Hi. Am I right in thinking that I can get a Non Imm O visa from Hull to visit my Thai girlfriend for 1 year (with 90 day stays) even though we are not yet married? When "Visiting Friends" is the reason, are there any questions asked about who these friends are?

Jon.

Yes you can at Hull and no there are no questions asked about your friends.