Visa Options For Self Employed Foreigner

[Tunermt]

Ok i have spent the last 2 days searching the web and have found a ton of good info, most of which is from this site! I figure it would be good for me to just start a new thread to ask for the more experienced individuals help regarding my situation.

I have a business based in the United States (Montana to be exact) I am now living in the BKK area with my fiance (US citizen) who is teaching here at an international school (should have her work permit within ~1-2 months through the school) We intend to stay here in Thailand for 2+ years

My question is what is the easiest/most cost effective way for me to remain in here in Thailand?

Option 1)

From everything i have found it seems remaining on a tourist visa/doing visa runs may be my best bet. To my understanding I can continue to apply, pay for and receive 60 day tourist Visas as needed (from outside Thailand. leaving before the visa expires) of course sometimes the Thai embassy may need a little bribe (paid $5 to get my first tourist visa 1 day sooner while in Cambodia before my first entry) While on a 60 day tourist visa i can then apply for a 30 day extension for a total of 90 days at which point i would have to leave the country and start the process over again.

Option 2)

I could not find much about this idea... If i legally marry my fiance (again she is a US citizen) being that she will have a work permit will that open up any other options for me as far as my visa goes? Would it be beneficial to be married before or after she receives her work permit?

Option 3)

education visa

Please let me know what other options i have that may work better! I am just learning all the little tricks and would love the help from others who have done all this before!!!

My second question is in regards to legally registering, owning and selling bikes and cars. (sorry i know this has its own forum but i feel the answers will change depending on the information/options above)

On a tourist Visa I will need to get a certificate of residency. Where is the best place to get this certificate? (i have read you can or used to be able to get it from Thai immigrations but may have to pay 200-400 Baht in bribes to the officials. I also know i can get this from the US embassy however when i called the US embassy i shocked to hear it would cost $50!!!) How long will this certificate of residency be valid for? Is there a way to make it valid for longer? If it is only valid for for as long as my tourist visa and i use the visa and certificate to register a vehicle how long will the vehicles registration be valid for?

Thank you all very much for reading!!! looking forward to continue my learning

[lopburi3]

1. Tourist visa option may be a problem as most local consulates will balk (and $5 not going to help) with 3 or more in passport. Most seem to prefer using ED and study of Thai (which useful) rather than make frequent tourist visa trips these days.

2. Marriage will only help if wife in on one year extension of stay (which she likely will get). Once she has you can submit her passport extension of stay and your marriage certificate to a Consulate to obtain a non immigrant O visa entry for 90 days and extend to match her extension(s) of stay as spouse. Time of marriage is not an issue (as in having to be married a time period) as everything is after that.

[Tunermt]

Thank you very much for the info! Do you know if makes any difference whether the marriage certificate is from the US or Thailand? OR do we need one from both countries perhaps?

Thanks again for the help!

[samran]

You can only get married once (so to speak) so if you get married in Thailand then it will be recognised globally.

In Thailand it is a simple matter or registering the marriage at the local Ampur (city hall) and you can go from there.

[lopburi3]

For an overseas marriage that would not be a problem for Consulate visas but for extensions of stay within Thailand it would have to be translated/confirmed by Embassy/registered with Thai MFA and then recorded at a District Office as Immigration requires a ledger entry from them for such extensions of stay.

[PoorSucker]

You can only get married once (so to speak) so if you get married in Thailand then it will be recognised globally.

In Thailand it is a simple matter or registering the marriage at the local Ampur (city hall) and you can go from there.

As foreigners you will also need affirmation free to get married from your embassy.

Translate it to Thai and register it with Ministry of foreign affairs (MFA).

I did this on one day in BKK, very easy.