American Wanting To Stay At Least One Year In Thailand

[wrathfultalon]

Reading through the posts and still not sure which information would apply to me.

I am a 34 year old American who plans on staying in Thailand for at least one year. What do i need to do in order to accomplish this? Thanks for helping a visa nooby!

[Mario2008]

Tell something more, like what you plan to do here and do you have any family or friends in Thailand. That will make it easier to answer your question.

[patklang]

Normaly a multi entry 0 is for over 50yo,but i am sure if you apply and say you are seeing friends then you will get one due to the recent downturn in tourism.You could always say you are looking for a business on the form,which can be downloaded from the internet.This entry visa is for Uk residents and there must be one for Americans.

good luck

[ubonjoe]

You will not get a visa that will allow you to stay for a year without leaving.

The most you can get would be a 3 entry tourist visa that would give you almost 9 months without needing to get a new visa. You get 60 days per entry that can be extended for 30 days at immigration here. You then make a border run and re-enter using the next entry and repeat the 60 + 30 again. Then you make the last entry just before the visa expires (6 months from date of issue). After that you coulg get a 2 entry visa from the consulate in Vientiane Laos.

Another option would be to study Thai at a school. Most require you to study a minimum of 4 hours per week. The cost is about 28,000 baht for a year of study. If you made arrangements with a school before traveling you could get a single entry ED visa that would allow you stay for the first 90 days and then extend it for 90 days at a time paying 1900 baht for each extension. You should check the website for one the schools that sponser this forum (advert at top of this page) for more information.

For either visa I suggest you use an honorary consulate. You will find a list of them using the pulldown menu at the top of this webpage from the DC embassy website. http://www.thaiembdc.org/AboutEmb/EmbDirect.aspx

The embassy and the 3 official consulates are known for giving poor service and being unhelpfull.

[ubonjoe]

Normaly a multi entry 0 is for over 50yo,but i am sure if you apply and say you are seeing friends then you will get one due to the recent downturn in tourism.You could always say you are looking for a business on the form,which can be downloaded from the internet.This entry visa is for Uk residents and there must be one for Americans.

good luck

I have seen no reports of getting a non-o for this reason in the States. It is not available.

[wrathfultalon]

Thanks alot of info to use! I am hoping to stay here with my GF and her family. Looking at the education aspect as i really need to learn Thai to fit in and be useful so hoping to find something near Phuket, will be searching the sponsors.

[ubonjoe]

Check the Phuket or the Thai language forums for sponsers that have schools in Phuket.

[wrathfultalon]

You will not get a visa that will allow you to stay for a year without leaving.

The most you can get would be a 3 entry tourist visa that would give you almost 9 months without needing to get a new visa. You get 60 days per entry that can be extended for 30 days at immigration here. You then make a border run and re-enter using the next entry and repeat the 60 + 30 again. Then you make the last entry just before the visa expires (6 months from date of issue). After that you coulg get a 2 entry visa from the consulate in Vientiane Laos.

Another option would be to study Thai at a school. Most require you to study a minimum of 4 hours per week. The cost is about 28,000 baht for a year of study. If you made arrangements with a school before traveling you could get a single entry ED visa that would allow you stay for the first 90 days and then extend it for 90 days at a time paying 1900 baht for each extension. You should check the website for one the schools that sponser this forum (advert at top of this page) for more information.

For either visa I suggest you use an honorary consulate. You will find a list of them using the pulldown menu at the top of this webpage from the DC embassy website. http://www.thaiembdc.org/AboutEmb/EmbDirect.aspx

The embassy and the 3 official consulates are known for giving poor service and being unhelpfull.

To bad i am already abroad, i cant visit any in the USA. Can i go to one in say loas or Cambodia to do the same thing?

[Gonzo the Face]

Thanks alot of info to use! I am hoping to stay here with my GF and her family. Looking at the education aspect as i really need to learn Thai to fit in and be useful so hoping to find something near Phuket, will be searching the sponsors.

Wrathfulalon, I do sincerely wish you the best of luck on your endeavor.

But I cannot help having a feeling deep down inside me that sez, " Cripes here comes another one "

I think the cheapest visa for you would be a 6 mon, tourist visa, double douple entry. this should give you almost 6 mos and enough time to transfer all the funds you have/or will need. I think 6 months will take care of the program...

Again

Sincerely Good Luck

& I hope you're the one [who succeeds]

[ubonjoe]

In Vientiane Laos you can get a 2 entry tourist visa that that would give you a total stay of almost 6 months. Three entry visas with a 6 month validity are not available in the area.

If you chose the school route you can get the ED visa there also but only a single entry.

[wrathfultalon]

I wanted to do the education visa since it is a double bonus but there is nothing near Baan Phanet where my GF is.

While i dont plan on staying 6 months straight before starting a different job, I want to plan for any eventualities. thanks for the input!

[wrathfultalon]

Thanks alot of info to use! I am hoping to stay here with my GF and her family. Looking at the education aspect as i really need to learn Thai to fit in and be useful so hoping to find something near Phuket, will be searching the sponsors.

Wrathfulalon, I do sincerely wish you the best of luck on your endeavor.

But I cannot help having a feeling deep down inside me that sez, " Cripes here comes another one "

I think the cheapest visa for you would be a 6 mon, tourist visa, double douple entry. this should give you almost 6 mos and enough time to transfer all the funds you have/or will need. I think 6 months will take care of the program...

Again

Sincerely Good Luck

understood, I have searched Iraq but they dont have an embassy here yet...

& I hope you're the one [who succeeds]

[weescotsguy66]

I wanted to do the education visa since it is a double bonus but there is nothing near Baan Phanet where my GF is.

While i dont plan on staying 6 months straight before starting a different job, I want to plan for any eventualities. thanks for the input!

Go for an Non Imm O visa you will have to leave every 90 days best to get it in KL or Perth if your in Puhket.

Thing about getting another visa like ED later.

[ubonjoe]

I wanted to do the education visa since it is a double bonus but there is nothing near Baan Phanet where my GF is.

While i dont plan on staying 6 months straight before starting a different job, I want to plan for any eventualities. thanks for the input!

Go for an Non Imm O visa you will have to leave every 90 days best to get it in KL or Perth if your in Puhket.

Thing about getting another visa like ED later.

He won't get non-o in KL or any other nearby consulate. Perth he can get one to visit friends.