My wife and I are both 46 and have two kids 10 and 12 years old. We're from the United States nearest to the NYC Thai Consulate. My sister in-law is a Thai national who currently resides with my brother in-law outside of Thailand. They own a house in Thailand and have offered it for our use. We want to spend 3 to 6 months there. We have no intent on working. We would like to ensure that we can stay the 6 months if we want to, no longer. I stopped in the consulate in NYC and they said all we could do was get the two month tourist visa and then try to extend in country when there. Reading the site it looks like there are other options. Can I get some expert opinions on what we should apply for. Also, if needed, I'm sure my sister in-law's family would allow me to say I'm visiting them or I should be able to list her as the person I'm visiting.

We're hoping to go in January, so any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

Best you can do is get a 'Double entry tourist visa". Enter the country, get stamped in for 60 days, after that extend at the local immigration for another 30. First 3 months taken care of.

If you want to stay longer after that you need to do a 'visa run' a short trip to a neighboring country, to get stamped out, and right back in again for your second tourist visa entry (60 days), and after that one more extension. Will keep you here for 6 months, with the inconvenience of one side trip (may be a good time to explore Laos or Cambodia for a few days anyways)

Best you can do is get a 'Double entry tourist visa". Enter the country, get stamped in for 60 days, after that extend at the local immigration for another 30. First 3 months taken care of.

If you want to stay longer after that you need to do a 'visa run' a short trip to a neighboring country, to get stamped out, and right back in again for your second tourist visa entry (60 days), and after that one more extension. Will keep you here for 6 months, with the inconvenience of one side trip (may be a good time to explore Laos or Cambodia for a few days anyways)

Thanks for the quick reply. That will work fine. Do I need a return ticket for all of us? If so, what does it need to be dated? Within 60 days, 90 days or later?

Thanks,

Dave

If you have a visa you don't need a return ticket at all.

Great. Sounds like this is one more issue off the check list. Thanks for your help.

Dave

If you have a visa you don't need a return ticket at all.

That is true but individual Consulates have their own rules for issuing Visas.

Check with the Consulate where you will be applying.

Tourist Visas are free until March 31st. You may get both entries free of charge or may have to pay for one.

Get the sister-in-law to write a letter of invitation for a visit. The consulate in Houston will issue a double tourist visa. It easy to get the extension from immigration just go a week or so before experation you will not lose any days. Also use the second visa before the use before date on visa.