Easiest Way To Stay For Up To 1 Year?

[furoido]

Hi all!

Please excuse me, newbie here so my enquiry has probably been re-hashed a million times over!

I am UK passport holder under 50yrs old. I want to stay in Thailand as a tourist for up to a year with a 1-2 month break in between. As far as I can tell, the easiest way is:

Get 6 month tourist visa and every month after the 30 day limit is up to quickly pop over to Malaysia or Cambodia for a day or two. Then after the initial 6 months is up, go back home for 1-2 months get a new 6 month visa and repeat the whole process.

Is this really the easiest way? I am quite happy once a month taking a quick trip into Malaysia/Cambodia, but not sure if the Thai immigration authorities at the Malaysian/Cambodian border will raise any hassles or if there are any other considerations to be thought of, or easier ways of doing it...

Cheers!

PS I am aware of the stipulation that you need a fully paid onward ticket when applying for the visa.

[Lite Beer]

If you planning on applying in UK you can get a Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa. This would give you up to 15 months.

If not , Tourist Visas are the option.

Only other way would be to enrol in a Thai Language school and get a Visa for study.

[furoido]

If you planning on applying in UK you can get a Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa. This would give you up to 15 months.

If not , Tourist Visas are the option.

Only other way would be to enrol in a Thai Language school and get a Visa for study.

Thanks Lite, but as I said I am UNDER 50yrs old, which excludes me from the O visa I believe...

My real worry is whether the Thai immigration people will start getting suspicious/pissed off with me every month popping across the border clearly for the sole purpose of renewing my 30 day limit...

[mxyzptlk]

If you planning on applying in UK you can get a Multi Entry Non Imm O Visa. This would give you up to 15 months.

If not , Tourist Visas are the option.

Only other way would be to enrol in a Thai Language school and get a Visa for study.

Thanks Lite, but as I said I am UNDER 50yrs old, which excludes me from the O visa I believe...

My real worry is whether the Thai immigration people will start getting suspicious/pissed off with me every month popping across the border clearly for the sole purpose of renewing my 30 day limit...

Being under 50 does not exclude you from getting a Non Immigrant O visa.....you only need to be over 50 for a Non O-A retirement visa, or an extension of stay based on retirement.

[Lite Beer]

Hull in UK will issue a Non Imm O Visa Multi Entry for visiting friends.

Assuming you will be applying in UK.

[furoido]

Hull in UK will issue a Non Imm O Visa Multi Entry for visiting friends.

Assuming you will be applying in UK.

Thanks for the correction guys! Got a bit muddled there with O and O-A!!

But can anybody apply for an O visa, or is it mainly only for farangs married to Thais? (Not my case) If they ask me why I want an O visa, what should I tell them?

I'll actually be applying in Tokyo and let the forum know my outpcome (unless somebody else has tried from here, in which case, I would love to know what their experiences were!)

[Lite Beer]

You will not get a Non O Visa in Tokyo.

Single Tourist Visa at best.

[lopburi3]

There is no way you will get a non immigrant O visa in Tokyo and even a tourist visa may be a problem.

You do not obtain 30 days on a border crossing - you must arrive by air to obtain 30 day visa exempt entry.

A two entry tourist visa could serve you for up to six months stay as 60 days - extend 30 days - exit/return for 60 days - extend 30 days. Extensions of stay are done at an immigration office inside Thailand so only one trip out of country required.

[furoido]

There is no way you will get a non immigrant O visa in Tokyo and even a tourist visa may be a problem.

You do not obtain 30 days on a border crossing - you must arrive by air to obtain 30 day visa exempt entry.

A two entry tourist visa could serve you for up to six months stay as 60 days - extend 30 days - exit/return for 60 days - extend 30 days. Extensions of stay are done at an immigration office inside Thailand so only one trip out of country required.

Thanks guys!!