Couple Of Visa/border Run Questions

[pokerjoe]

My son and his best friend are graduating high school and want to live in Thailand for about 9 months. My son is half Thai and has visited his mother there just last summer.

My question is about visas, and I just want some of your expert advice.

1) My son has the option of a Type "O" visa, because his mother is there? This would entail, if I understand it correctly (this whole post is about whether I'm understanding things correctly, LOL) permission to stay for one year, but would require 90 day border runs?

2) His friend would have to apply for a regular multiple entry tourist visa, which would require 60 days + 30 day extension, and THEN a border run (which I suppose he and my son could do together; sounds like the timing will be the same for them both)?

3) If my son and his friend are on the same page about border runs, what's the advantage to my son in getting the Type "O" visa, other than the possibility of an extra 90 days after the first 3 90 day packs?

4) My son's mother says she thinks they can do a border run for probably about US$200 each. Sound right?

5) Yet another option is to take Thai language class (which they'll probably be doing anyway, if they really end up sticking it out; I'm fully aware of the chance that anyone, much less 18-year-olds, might get home sick pretty quick and make all this moot), and then getting an ED visa. That is something they do AFTER they get in Thailand, and is possible from the regular 60+30 tourist visa?

6) Is a multiple-entry visa, for US citizens, as easy as just writing in a "3" instead of a "1" on the visa application, and paying treble fees?

7) and finally, and a bit OT, my son and his friend were planning on spending about US$300 a month if living with his mom, and double that if on their own. Sound possible, given that these are kids?

Thanks in advance for this.

[Lite Beer]

I would have thought that your Son could get a Thai Passport and not have to worry about Visas.

A Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa means an unlimited number of entries within a year. Each entry is a maximum stay of 90 days.

A Tourist Visa is for 60 days and can be extended at Immigration for a further 30 days. The friend could probably get 3 entries which would mean a total of almost 9 months with extensions and border runs.

The friend may also be able to get a Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa for visiting friends but it is not so easy in the US. Apply at a Honarary Thai Consulate rather than the Embassy. They are more friendly.

$300 a month? 10,000 Baht not really a lot for a holiday but it all depends on where they will be staying and what they get up to. Two 18 year old lads in Thailand?

[ubonjoe]

Your son could claim Thai nationality since his mother is Thai. If not he could even get a 1 year extension of stay at immigration after he arrives without a problem. But the multiple entry non-o is ok and he could get that with his birth certificate. He will have to do border runs every 90 days and could stay for almost 15 months without getting a visa.

His friend could get a 3 entry tourist visa. With 30 day extensions (1900 baht) of each 60 day entry and doing a border run just before his visa expires he would get almost 9 months without getting a new visa.

The visas should not be a problem if they apply at a honorary consulate. The 3 official consulates and the embassy would be more of a problem. For a list of consulates use the pulldown menu at the top ot this webpage.

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

The cost of the border runs would depend upon where they will be staying. If from the Bangkok/Pattaya area $100 would be more than enough. From other areas it could be less or a little more dependent on how far they have to travel and which border they cross.

Is the $300 for both or each? Again the big factor is where the are going to be living and their ages. Big city more money and more oppurtunity to spend it. On their own who knows how much it could cost.

[pokerjoe]

Thanks to both of you.

The $300 would be each. Just for spending, because they can stay free with family as much as they want in BKK. They were thinking they could get a 1BR for ~US$600, which would then about double their spending. When my son went last summer he ended up not spending anything because the family took care of him, but I want him to pay his out-of-pocket expenses, anyway. But the other thing to remember I think is that at their age, the alternatives would be sharing a small dorm room, or military barracks, or a room in a group home (they're determined to move out of their homes). So if they did get a place, say at a beach, they shouldn't complain, at that age, if it's less than palatial.

Didn't even think about him getting a Thai passport, because he was born and raised here (San Diego) and speaks almost no Thai. But that's certainly the right approach if he wants to spend more than an academic year (9 months) there. And that's part of why he's going--to find out if he wants to work in international sales for his family's linen factory.

All he needs is his birth certificate as proof of a Thai mother? She can accompany him then, with that, in Thailand I suspect, to get a passport there.

When you guys say the honorary consulates are easier to deal with, does that mean possibly that the regular consulate (closest is LA, to here), might turn down a 3-entry application? So they do that?

Finally, what are your feelings about kids that young being pretty much on their own there? They're as dumb as most boys that age, but I bear in mind that they can get in trouble anywhere. I'll be praying that they don't get HIV, don't get a girl pregnant, don't get married, don't fall in love, don't get thrown in prison, etc, etc, etc. But I do that now.

My main worry is that they'll do nothing but drink and bang chicks all the time. At that age, they're kind of supposed to do that, but I don't want diseased alchoholics on my hands 9 months later. I'd like them to learn the language and culture and maybe get into business or college there, or at least come home more worldly, more mature, and more ready to actually focus on college here. And that's my end of it: my son isn't ready for college, but I don't want him hanging around the beach, playing X-box, eating fast food, smoking pot and watching TV. That's a waste of life. I really rather he go to Thailand for the same time period, even if all he does there are the same things! At least he'll be getting a taste of a different world. IF nothing horrible happens, he should come home a more mature young man for the adventure. Or decide he loves the opportunities there, which is fine, too.

Your opinions on this, though, are most welcome. Never been to Thailand myself,

[ubonjoe]

They shoudl be able to find a small apartment (not fancy) for a lot less than $600. More like less than $300.

Even without a Thai passport he can go to immigration and prove he has a Thai mother and get a 1 year extension.

If he was born in Thailand it will show that he is Thai. If not his birth should of been registered at a Thai consulate or the embassy.

For the visa he will need to show his birth certificate and proof that his mother is Thai. So it is about the same but the reason will be that he is a returning Thai national not to visit his mother.

He could get his Thai nationality and passport sorted out while he is here. But he will still need a visa to enter. And if he wanted to stay the remainder of his time on his Thai passport he would have to leave the country on his US passport to clear his entry stamp and then return on his Thai passport.

The official Thai consulate will want to see a ticket out of the country within 60 days to issue the tourist visa plus have more nonsense requirements for the non-o. Also an honorary will give faster service and you can mail in to them.

You know the young men (better than calling them kids) better than me. But you can be sure they will have a good time.

Just give them a reinforement lesson about having safe sex.