Help!

[mzmann]

Hi all, I just signed up after coming across this site in my searches for any info regarding Relocating to Chaing Mai.

I am wondering if anyone could help me with any information regarding a number of things. I am planning on moving to Chaing Mai sometime over the next few months or so and am looking at staying a minimum of 5 years (however I am sure that it will turn out to be more, haha) Any and all information would be greatly appreciated.

1. I work overseas in the Oil and Gas industry usually on a 35days on and 35 days off schedule. What would be my best options for Visa's? Obtain upon arrival? Get one arranged before leaving Canada? Also do I have to return to Canada to renew or replace passport when it is either full or ready to expire or can I do this there Via the Canadian embassy/consulate?

Any and all information would be greatly appreciated. The more the better!!

Thank you

[Dave the Dude]

Hi mzmann

Well you have done the right thing so far by registering here.

Although I am not in the same situation as you, I would think it would be best to get a One year Non Immigrant 'O' visa in your home country and ensure it is 'multi entry'. That way it won't be cancelled the first time you exit Thailand. 'Tourist' style visa exemption stamps on arrival are only for 30 days so I assume, not cost effective having to go on a border run out of Thailand just for your remaining 5 days.

Feel free to 'ask away' because we were all 'newbie' at one time, although some don't seen to remember that.

Dave

[mzmann]

Thanks for the info Dave,

I am quite glad I stumbled upon this site!

I think I may just go ahead and look at the 1 year visa then but not entirely sure. What I am also thinking is that it is quite possible that I can just get my company to fly me out either within or right on the 30days allowable, so this may be an option as well, however I am thinking that getting the 1 year multi entry may also save pages in my passport! Do you know if there is any difficulties in obtaining the 1 year multi entry and what the requirements might be?

Also I have another post asking a few other questions on top of this one in the chaing mai forum. Any input regarding them would be great as well!

Thanks again Dave.

[Lite Beer]

Without a Thai Wife or kids you may well struggle to get a Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa.

I have no idea about the consulates in Canada. You will have to ask them.

You may well be stuck with 30 day Visa Exempt entries and just stay for 30 days.

[mzmann]

Are the 30 day ones just given to you at the airport upon entry? what cost? and does it ever pose any problem if you end up having a bunch of them in your passport? what if I was to say take a year off of work just to enjoy thailand and do monthly visa runs. would I run into any problem if I ended up doing that one time which in turn would leave me having to get up to 12 of them for the year? Or if I had a friend come over and stay with me for a year and live at my place while I was at work, ect?

Thanks

[monty]

The 30 day on arrival option might give you problems, depending on where you fly in from, or how you arrive in Thailand.

Basically, to qualify for the 30 days on arrival stamp (which is free by the way), you need to hold a valid air fare out of Thailand within those 30 days. Which you likely will not have if you are on a 35 day rotation!

In general, Thai immigration does not check, but we seem to be experiencing a tightening up on the enforcement of the existing rules, so you might never know when they will check!

Your problem however will be the boarding staff of your airline. They very well might refuse you to board the airplane unless you have a ticket out within 30 days, as it is the airline which is responsible to fly you back out in case immigration would refuse you entry!

If you would make it into Thailand, you would still need to go to immigration before the end of your 30 days, and apply for an extension. This will cost you 1,900 Baht. You will get 7 days. Actually they will refuse the extension but give you 7 days to leave Thailand! Do know that if you enter over land, or by sea, you will only get a 15 day stamp on arrival, which would of no use to you!

So as the above posters said, do your utmost best to get a non immigrant O or B, of the multiple entry type. Usually honorary consulates are much easier then full embassies, others (Canadians) will have to help you out there, or you can Google them and e-mail them.

http://www.thaicongenvancouver.org/

Possible an explanation, along with employment contract showing the 35 day rotation can help you out there.

Once you have that, you can enter and leave Thailand as many times as you wish for a full year, with each stay limited to 90 days.

[lopburi3]

You could make a side trip to Hull to obtain the visa or after a visit to Chiang Mai have copy of ID card/letter from a Thai to obtain in Perth on a side trip. Would only require that once a year and then you would be covered for bi-monthly trips.

If you can limit visit to 30 days it would likely not cause a problem as would be easy to see you were out as much as in the country and thus not likely an illegal worker here. But the non immigrant O visa gives more status to your stay.

[JusMe]

The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Vancouver is very helpful and efficient.

The Honorary Thai Consulate in Edmonton is also very good.