Hi there,

My job in Thailand is likely to end in October and I'd like to get a better understanding of options available for staying in Thailand (I hold a UK passport, age is early forties, and married to a Thai for 8 years).

My current understanding, including pulling together information from the various threads in the Thaivisa forum, is that once my employment terminates (and if I don't find a new employer), I have the option to:

1. Request a 2 month extension on my current work visa (non immigrant work visa) based on my marriage to a Thai. Can I do this more than once, or do I subsequently need another type of visa to extend my stay?

2. Extend for a total of 180 days based on two tourist visas (60 days each) and maximum extensions (30 days each). Can these tourist visas be acquired back-to-back? Can I request more than two tourist visas per year?

3. Apply through a language school for a one year education visa (approx 29,000 USD, with 90 day reporting).

4. Apply for a marriage non immigrant visa (but need 400,000 THB in a Thai bank and evidence of the latter for three months prior to application).

5. Become self employed - my preferred option, but probably impossible in Thailand.

6. Return and find work in UK or another country.

As I need to work, and finding well paid work here is very difficult, option 6 seems to me the only possibility ? But, have I missed anything? Another option?

One final question , how much time could I spend in Thailand per year without a non immigrant visa? Would it be 180 days (i.e, two tourist visas and maximum extensions) or could I get more because my Thai wife lives here?

Many thanks for your advice!

If you have a 12 month extension from Immigration it will finish the day your work finishes.

If you have a Visa obtained from a Consulate you can carry on using it until it expires.

There is a provision for a one off 60 day extension to visit your Wife. 1,900 Baht.

You can get a double entry tourist visa from Ventienne Laos. This would give almost 6 months with extensions and a border run in the middle.

You can get a Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa based on your marriage from KL with around 100,000 Baht in the bank. Maybe less. This would give you up to 15 months stay but would need a border run every 90 days.

Best option is a 12 month extension from Immigration based on your marriage. You need 400,000 Baht in a Thai bank for a period of at least 2 month before applying OR A monthly income of at least 40,000 Baht monthly income. Cost 1,900 Baht.

1. One time only for the 60 day extension of stay - then you would have to leave/return if no eligible to extend for marriage or work.

2. Not extend but visa entry on tourist visas. Yes you can use and yes you can use all year.

3. Yes and no. That reporting is an extension of stay for 1,900 baht every 90 days and any travel will require re-entry permit.

4. Yes and no. The visa for 90 day stay does not require money in bank - the extension for one year does.

5. Not impossible but you need to set up a company and a legal firm should probably be used.

6. Many find work overseas (at good pay) and return on breaks or take wife with them.

There is no limit on how many days you can stay in Thailand - even with tourist visas you can stay all year. Another option is a multi entry non immigrant O visa - with 100k or even less in bank account you should be able to obtain in KL. That provides 90 days per entry for 12 months. Very good for those working overseas with wife in Thailand also.