Tips For Visa-Impaired

[sarahsemark]

Hi all,

I've been searching the internet and this forum for a while, trying to figure out my visa situation vis-a-vis Thailand. These sorts of things make my head hurt on the best of days. I'm a bit of a vagabond but generally stay in countries that are pretty lax about visa requirements (and it helps that I have two passports!)

So here's my situation:

I'm a 28 year old female with both a Canadian and a British passport. I work as a freelance graphic designer, so I can work anywhere in the world I can access an internet connection. I lived in Argentina for five months last winter and am presently living in Mexico. I am planning on living in Thailand between early January and mid-April (roughly) this year, using it as my home base while I work and travel to nearby areas.

What I'm thinking of doing is this: entering Thailand on one of my passports, getting the 30-day allowance. I'll be then heading to Hong Kong for Chinese New Years', then maybe Cambodia/Vietnam for a bit before returning to Thailand. I'm hoping I can get a tourist visa (on my other passport?) from Hong Kong, then stay in Thailand on it for the months that remain. I assume I'd need a multi-entry visa if I want to leave and return a few times (I'd rather have this option and not use it, than not be permitted re-entry!) I'm wondering, is this a feasible scheme? Is it problematic that my ticket from LAX will be one-way only (I'll be heading to Spain next, but I'm not sure the exact date or route yet)? Is there a better way of doing this? Can I simply leave the country every thirty days, and have my 30 days visa-free re-allotted, or is that frowned upon?

Any guidance would be super-helpful—I'm a bit lost when it comes to these things and it'd be really handy to have some insider advice.

Cheers!

[CharlieH]

You may hit a problem travelling to Thailand without a Visa and a one way ticket. This NOT an immigration thing its an Airline thing, they may refuse to board you without proof of onward travel within 30 days.

I would suggest you get a double entry tourist visa before you travel, that's good for 60 days on each entry and each one can be extended by a further 30 days at immigration within Thailand.

Remember, any kind of work paid or unpaid requires a work permit, doesnt matter where or how you are doing it.

Keep quiet about what you do etc and dont do it in public places like Internet cafes etc and you should be fine continuing your correspondence hobby.

In theory you can enter and re-enter each 30 days as many times as you like, but you may be questioned after a few back to back. If you use this method and go by land border at any time you will only get 15 days on Entry.