I am planning to travel to Bangkok from Chicago and was wondering which visa I should apply for in Chicago. I am planning to stay at friends houses for 6 months or longer and attend Thai cooking schools. I have contacted the cooking schools and it seems I won't be able to get a student visa through them. I have been to Thailand a few times before and did the visa runs to Cambodia around 6 years ago. Is this still the only way to stay for 6+ months on a tourist visa? It's been a while and I forgot how it all works. Any help would be appreciated. Also, do I need to have a return ticket in order to apply for a visa at the consulate in Chicago? I want to be able to purchase a ticket later on instead of right now. Once again, any help would be appreciated!

60 day three entry visa will give you close to 9 months with extencions

Yup ^^^, a 2 or 3 entry Tourist Visa is the way to go, each entry gives 60 days which can be extended by another 30 at immigration (1,900 Baht). Then a quick border hop to activate the next entry and your're good for another 60+30 days.

If you do get a 3 entry watch the 'enter before' date, you must activate your last entry before this date (so your second extension won't be fully used ).

As said a double or triple entry Tourist Visa if you can get it is what is needed.

Chicago

60 day three entry visa will give you close to 9 months with extencions

Surely 6 months is the maximum possible stay on a double or triple entry because of the 'enter before date'?

9 months is not possible on this visa.

The only way to stay longer than 6 months would be using an ED visa for example.

A triple entry will give almost 9 months with extensions as long as you make the final entry before the expiry date.

A triple entry will give almost 9 months with extensions as long as you make the final entry before the expiry date.

^^^ Which is usually 6 months from the date of issue, hence a triple entry will net you nearly 9 months

A triple entry will give almost 9 months with extensions as long as you make the final entry before the expiry date.

Sorry my mistake I was working out the final entry date on a piece of paper as after five months rather than six

Just under 9 months because the travel time after the Visa is issued?

if they can issue you a letter of invite on company letterhead signed by an officer of the company, that may be enough to qualify you for the non-imm ED 1 year visa. Use the honorary consulate in Texas.

Thank you all for the help. I will try applying for a 3 entry tourist visa at the consulate in Chicago. Thanks again!

Even if you can only get a double entry you can always get another one locally to Thailand if needed.

I would love to hear how it worked out Hopmaster. I would like to do the same thing in July in Chicago. I don't want to purchase a return ticket back to the US yet either, I wonder if it's really necessary

Any info on your experience would be appreciated - also how many days did it take?

Thanks in advance!