How Can I Legally Stay In Thailand Without Leaving The Country

[DegenFarang]

I thought getting an ED visa and not attending classes was the way to do this, but it appears that loophole will be closing soon. Money is not an issue - what is an issue is the fact that I hate to fly and I also hate 18 hour bus trips to Laos every three months. I'm not here working, I'm not married to a Thai, I have no particular interest in going to school - I just want to live here as basically a permanent tourist. I'm willing to put any amount of money required into any bank account that is required - I'm willing to go to the immigration office every 90 days to report my residence. I'm willing to pay any amount of money to get my visa.

So what are my options?

Again, my one and only objective is to never have to leave Thailand to extend or renew my visa.

Thanks in advance!

[beano2274]

At least you are honest about the ED VIsa.

The only legal ways to stay are:

a. Work

b. Marriage

c. Retirement

d. Monkhood

e. Investment.

Other than those I don't think you have a chance.

[Lite Beer]

Unless you are over 50 you do not qualify for 12 monthly extensions.

You will have to visit neighboring countries and apply for Visa and do border runs.

The only other option would be to invest 10 Million Baht.

[Crossy]

Siam Legal are still showing the 10 million Investment Visa as available (I thought it had been done away with a while back).

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED WHEN APPLYING FOR A RESIDENCE PERMIT IN THE CASE OF SPECIAL INVESTMENT (PURCHASE OF GOVERNMENT BONDS OR STATE ENTERPRISE BONDS)

1. Application form (TM. 9).

2. Personal information sheet.

3. Health certificate from a hospital (issued within the previous 3 months).

4. Certification that the applicant has no criminal record in his or her overseas domicile. This must be certified officially, e.g., by the applicant's embassy in Bangkok.

5. Money transfer certificate issued by any bank in Thailand for no less than 10 million baht.

6. Copy of the bonds and a letter of certification from the seller.

7. Copy of passport.

From here:- http://www.siam-legal.com/Foreign-Citizens...-residence2.php

Why not contact them? Let us know the outcome.

[whatchamacallit]

The only other option would be to invest 10 Million Baht.

Hmmm the 90 day border runs sound pretty good by now

Okay seriously: get a Non-O based on visiting friends... you have to do 90 day border runs - not that bad

[Lite Beer]

Okay seriously: get a Non-O based on visiting friends... you have to do 90 day border runs - not that bad

The nearest possibility for this would be Perth Australia.

[monty]

Okay seriously: get a Non-O based on visiting friends... you have to do 90 day border runs - not that bad

The nearest possibility for this would be Perth Australia.

That is correct.

And you need to bring along a signed copy of the ID card of your friend you are supposed to visit, along with letter where he/she invites you over.

[MacWalen]

The language requirements are very very reasonable DegenFarang, so dont worry, we will help you, also speaking at least some Thai can only benefit you. So far Walen never had a case where an ED visa of our students was not extended so before you make any drastic changes to your visa status talk to us, we will help you and make sure you have no problems. Trust us, you will be just fine.

Walen School

[lopburi3]

I'm willing to pay any amount of money to get my visa.

If that is true I would check the 10 million baht investment option under section 2.5 of Police Order 777/2551 and not have to worry about pick-me-up solutions.

[DegenFarang]

I'm willing to pay any amount of money to get my visa.

If that is true I would check the 10 million baht investment option under section 2.5 of Police Order 777/2551 and not have to worry about pick-me-up solutions.

That one sounded great until the part where I need a clean criminal record from my home country...

Guess I'm going to have to actually learn Thai.

Thanks for all the replies.

[DegenFarang]

The language requirements are very very reasonable DegenFarang, so dont worry, we will help you, also speaking at least some Thai can only benefit you. So far Walen never had a case where an ED visa of our students was not extended so before you make any drastic changes to your visa status talk to us, we will help you and make sure you have no problems. Trust us, you will be just fine.

Walen School

This all just started within the last couple of days, how would you know? Ya, maybe I'll be ok for my next extension and possibly the one after that - but your claims of me being able to extend for the next 10 years are beyond retarded. You don't know to what extent they are going to extend this testing, or how far they are going to take their enforcement i.e. warnings and then rejections of Visa's - possibly banning certain school's altogether. Everything about the ED visa extensions over the long term is very much in doubt at this point...if you wont admit that you are delusional.

[Lite Beer]

I'm willing to pay any amount of money to get my visa.

If that is true I would check the 10 million baht investment option under section 2.5 of Police Order 777/2551 and not have to worry about pick-me-up solutions.

That one sounded great until the part where I need a clean criminal record from my home country...

Guess I'm going to have to actually learn Thai.

Thanks for all the replies.

There is no requirement for a Police Check that I know of.

[DegenFarang]

I'm willing to pay any amount of money to get my visa.

If that is true I would check the 10 million baht investment option under section 2.5 of Police Order 777/2551 and not have to worry about pick-me-up solutions.

That one sounded great until the part where I need a clean criminal record from my home country...

Guess I'm going to have to actually learn Thai.

Thanks for all the replies.

There is no requirement for a Police Check that I know of.

Somebody posted the list of requirements earlier in the thread and that was one of them. Can anybody confirm/deny 100% whether that is a requirement please?

meh its irrelevant, i guess i have to specifically invest the 10 million baht in bonds. I have never bought a bond for anything in my life. I'm not going to make the first time for 10,000,000 baht in Thailand, thats for sure.

They don't have any kind of investment visa for real estate or stocks or just leaving your money in a thai bank? What if I buy or start a business - would I qualify then? Or are all of these farangs running bars doing border runs...?

[goldfinger]

seems that you are not the poorest, so why dont you take some cash and ask Pensit &laws.

If there is any way to get what you want, they can show you.

[lopburi3]

The requirement is condo purchase or rent for at least 3 years, fixed bank deposit, bonds, or a combination to meet the 10 million requirement. You can find the police order 777/2551 with a simple Google search.

[MacWalen]

The language requirements are very very reasonable DegenFarang, so dont worry, we will help you, also speaking at least some Thai can only benefit you. So far Walen never had a case where an ED visa of our students was not extended so before you make any drastic changes to your visa status talk to us, we will help you and make sure you have no problems. Trust us, you will be just fine.

Walen School

This all just started within the last couple of days, how would you know? Ya, maybe I'll be ok for my next extension and possibly the one after that - but your claims of me being able to extend for the next 10 years are beyond retarded. You don't know to what extent they are going to extend this testing, or how far they are going to take their enforcement i.e. warnings and then rejections of Visa's - possibly banning certain school's altogether. Everything about the ED visa extensions over the long term is very much in doubt at this point...if you wont admit that you are delusional.

Thanks for your observation DegenFarang. In any case ED visa is an easy and fully legitimate way to stay in Thailand for now and quite likely for many more years to come and you also get to learn something useful.

If the law changes it might also change for all other visa types so why worry too much about the future. It may as well not change at all. So far all our claims have been true so you do not have a reason to doubt our ability to deliver. Also you do not know everything about our school, we have been doing business for many years and in this time we have had time to make friends with a lot of people who wish us well.

You paid your fees and despite the fact that you say unkind things about our school we are contractually obliged to take good care of you. If you do not want our help that is your choice but as long as you are a paying customers you have the right to demand quality service from the Walen school and we are here to deliver it.

Walen School - You demand we deliver!

www.thaiwalen.com

[DegenFarang]

The language requirements are very very reasonable DegenFarang, so dont worry, we will help you, also speaking at least some Thai can only benefit you. So far Walen never had a case where an ED visa of our students was not extended so before you make any drastic changes to your visa status talk to us, we will help you and make sure you have no problems. Trust us, you will be just fine.

Walen School

This all just started within the last couple of days, how would you know? Ya, maybe I'll be ok for my next extension and possibly the one after that - but your claims of me being able to extend for the next 10 years are beyond retarded. You don't know to what extent they are going to extend this testing, or how far they are going to take their enforcement i.e. warnings and then rejections of Visa's - possibly banning certain school's altogether. Everything about the ED visa extensions over the long term is very much in doubt at this point...if you wont admit that you are delusional.

Thanks for your observation DegenFarang. In any case ED visa is an easy and fully legitimate way to stay in Thailand for now and quite likely for many more years to come and you also get to learn something useful.

If the law changes it might also change for all other visa types so why worry too much about the future. It may as well not change at all. So far all our claims have been true so you do not have a reason to doubt our ability to deliver. Also you do not know everything about our school, we have been doing business for many years and in this time we have had time to make friends with a lot of people who wish us well.

You paid your fees and despite the fact that you say unkind things about our school we are contractually obliged to take good care of you. If you do not want our help that is your choice but as long as you are a paying customers you have the right to demand quality service from the Walen school and we are here to deliver it.

Walen School - You demand we deliver!

www.thaiwalen.com

You seem to know-your-way-around-the-Thai-bureaucracy - so please keep that up and do-all-that-you-can to ensure that Walen students don't have any trouble getting their ED visa extensions. Make that happen and I'll sing your praises from the rooftops

[DegenFarang]

The requirement is condo purchase or rent for at least 3 years, fixed bank deposit, bonds, or a combination to meet the 10 million requirement. You can find the police order 777/2551 with a simple Google search.

Thanks.

Will look into this and report back or more likely, ask more questions

[Lite Beer]

You can find 777/2551 Here.

[jazzbo]

The following is a list of NGOs in Thailand many of them under Patronage of a Member of the Royal Family:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_non-g...ons_in_Thailand

If you were to make a significant contribution to one of these high-profile NGOS, I am sure that you could arrange with them for a Letter of Invitation that would qualify you for a non-working MFA 2.1(2) Non-Imm 'B' Visa at an Honorary Consulate such as Hull, Perth, or Houston, or even at one of the RT Embassies / Consulates themselves.

[lopburi3]

Again, my one and only objective is to never have to leave Thailand to extend or renew my visa.

Above would not appear to meet that condition.

[jazzbo]

True, Kuhn L. But it also does not require 10 million baht in one lump sum. He has already ruled out most any other available option.

[monty]

True, Kuhn L. But it also does not require 10 million baht in one lump sum. He has already ruled out most any other available option.

There's also a significant difference between investing and contribution, regardless of the sum involved.

Many would rather invest 10 million compared to contributing 1 million!

[jazzbo]

Kuhn M. The one million is your figure, not mine. And regardless of your time spent in the Kingdom, you seem to not appreciate the self-esteem one might achieve and, more importantly, the respect of the highly-placed and street-common Thai citizen alike when they become aware of what is the basis of your stay in the Kingdom. You are not an investor here for self-interest reasons; you become a Philanthropist and Benefactor.

As a US Government Certified Braille Transcriber here in the Kingdom -- actually the only such person in SE Asia -- I am personally aware of this; and I think others might enjoy a similar experience as well and get their Visa in the bargain.

[monty]

Not stating one way is better then the other, on the contrary!

Just making clear the difference!

[jazzbo]

I would guess that many of these NGOs would be overwhelmed by a contribution of even 100K baht and for that would write on official Letterhead any Letter of Invitation you might so request... Oscar Wilde wrote in Lady Windemere's Fan of the person (not referring to you, Kuhn M.) "... who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing." The Thai citizenry, I can assure you, know the difference even if your Farang compatriots might not.

[monty]

Exactly what kind of visa does it entitle you to?

I assume it's the non immigrant visa B-A, entitling you to a 1 year stay on entry.

How long does the process take, as I assume the NGO has to apply with the immigration office, who will then inform the Embassy or consulate where you wish to apply to grant you this visa.

Can this be initiated while in Thailand, and then after approval you travel to the embassy/consulate, or do you have to apply at the embassy/consulate first and then wait for approval from Thailand?

[jazzbo]

I can only tell you of my personal experience: I received a Letter based upon my Braille qualification that I presented to one of the Honorary consuls in the USA and received on two successive years a Multiple Entry One Year Non-Imm 'B' Visa that required an exit after each 90-day stay (or other travel to another country). The Letter was not from an NGO but from a retired Thai-citizen PhD University Education Department Chairman.

I would suggest that if you receive a Letter of Invitation as an observer, let's say, and it is on official NGO Letterhead especially if an NGO under Royal Patronage, you would have no problem at any Honorary Consulate or even a RT Embassy -- I would not think such an NGO would have to contact your Consulate directly.

BTW I read that there are approximately 200 NGOs that have been granted Royal Patronage though not all might still be active.. BTW2 I still have a copy of the Letter I presented for my 'B' Visa 4 years ago..

[monty]

Well, then it was not really an answer to the OP's question, who asked for an option which does not need him to do a border run every 90 days.

Multiple entry visa's type O based on an invitation from any Thai national are freely available in a lot of consulates (Perth, Hull), without any donation or contribution whatsoever.

A non immigrant B visa (multiple) is also freely available in an embassy/consulate in your home country, however in general they will issue only 1 of them, afterwards they will ask for proof of your business relation to Thailand.

I'm still not saying that supporting an NGO is not a good thing to do, but it is entirely unneeded to obtain a multiple entry non immigrant visa.

[whatchamacallit]

Well Khun J.... what do you think of Khun M. reply..... I'm sure you have an explanation...