Tr60 + 30 Renewing (going In And Out Etc)

[Hern]

Hello im still in the fairly early stages of planning my journey (have yet to contact Thai Embassy here in the UK (scotland)). I have never travelled and stayed for long periods of time in Asia or anywhere else etc so please forgive me if i am asking basic questions. I have searched all over the net to try and get the information i need and i think i get the general idea so i am looking for some advice and confirmation on what i believe to be the case for me.

I dont think i will have a problem getting a tourist Visa valid for 60 days with a 30 day extension etc.

Little bit of background info i have savings and my income will not be an issue so i dont need to / cant get a work permit even though my wish is to base myself in Bangkok for the foreseeable future and see other parts of Asia from here so in a sense i am a long term tourist / traveller.

Firstly am i correct in thinking i can stay in Thailand for 90 days before i have to leave the country?

I have seen a lot of talk about "border runs" and also some talk of tightening of regulations over this practice if i have a multi entry TR60 is the situation as simple as for example spending a weekend in Tokyo then returning by flight and my Visa will then once again be valid for 90 days (with extension) ? and repeat and rinse every 90 days for as long as i require to live in the country? Is this gauranteed?

I also read that under the new regulations if you do have a 90 day Tourist Visa that you were not allowed re entry for another 90 days? If this were the case then its possible i could base myself between 2 spots Bangkok and Singapore for example living 90 days in each at a time?

I guess what im really looking for is a solution to my situation not having to work so unable to get a long term visa but wanting to have a secure base that is gauranteed ie not being blocked from returning or thrown out of the country etc. I do not ofcourse wish to piss off the local authorities either.

I guess my situation is not wholly uncommon but what is the best way to solve it ?

All help and advice very much appreciated

[TerryLH]

"Firstly am i correct in thinking i can stay in Thailand for 90 days before i have to leave the country?"

Yes, you are correct.

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"...if i have a multi entry TR60 is the situation as simple as for example spending a weekend in Tokyo then returning by flight and my Visa will then once again be valid for 90 days (with extension) ? and repeat and rinse every 90 days for as long as i require to live in the country?"

Yes, sort of. There isn't a multiple entry tourist visa. You can get a single, double or triple entry. That means 3 entries. A multiple non O for example, would mean an unlimited number of entries during it's valid period.

As long as you have a valid tourist visa to use, you don't have to stay out of the country for any length of time. You can cross a border and return immediately.

When you run out of visas, go to a nearby consulate and get a new one. They are free through early March next year.

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"I also read that under the new regulations if you do have a 90 day Tourist Visa that you were not allowed re entry for another 90 days?"

That is an old rule and no longer applies.

[thaiphoon]

As you are planning to be here long term and also want flexibility to travel to other countries in the region, I would forget the tourist visa/extension route and apply for a 12 month Non-Immigrant multi-entry O visa at a consulate on the basis of visiting friends.

Would recommend you apply at the Royal Thai Consulate in Hull (click here) who have a reputation for being efficient and helpful. You will need to complete application form (can download from web) and send in with fee, passport and photo. Post by special delivery and enclose a pre-paid special delivery envelope for return of your passport. You should get this back with a couple of days.

On entering Thailand you will get a 90 day permission to stay. You must leave the country within 90 days (but you would have do to that with tourist visa and 30 day extension anyway). You can travel out of the country when you want to and each time you will receive a new 90 day permission to stay. There is no limit on the number of times you can travel in/out of the country during the period of your visa, whereas a tourist visa is restricted to a specific number of entries. Do a border run just your visa expires and you will get a further 90 days permission to stay (15 month stay).

[Hern]

Thankyou Terry and thankyou Thaiphoon that certainly seems like a great solution. I do actually have friends in Thailand but i did not come across this being reason enough to qualify for any kind of Visa. So do i simply tell the consulate that and they will have no problem with issuing such a visa? Will they require some kind of documentary evidence of this ie maybe names and adresses of my friends?

[ubonjoe]

You don't need any proof.

Down load this application pack from the Hull website and it should answer all your questions. You don't even need to send them the return postage envelope just pay for the postage and they will send your passport back with the visa the same day they get. Don't apply to early because the visas validity date starts on the date of issue.

http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/downloads/Ab%...tion%20Pack.doc

[Lite Beer]

No problems with Hull. Apply and you will get it. As said it can be stretched out to 15 months.

Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa £100.

[thaiphoon]

You don't even need to send them the return postage envelope just pay for the postage and they will send your passport back with the visa the same day they get.

Hull asks for £8 fee to cover return postage using Special Delivery. You will find it cheaper (£4.95) to send them a pre-paid Special Delivery envelope to use to return your passport.

[Jonathanpattaya]

I do actually have friends in Thailand but i did not come across this being reason enough to qualify for any kind of Visa.

No proof is required but "visiting family and friends" is the reason you give when applying for a one year mulitiple entry non-immigrant 'O' visa.

Hull is the best Consulate for obtaining this visa in the UK. I have had many visas from there and I don't know of anyone ever being refused.

See you in Thailand.

[Hern]

Awesome gents thanks very much for the help and advice all of you this is certainly good news and yes see you all in Thailand