Non-Immigrant Multiple Entry Visa

[kimbathewhitelion]

Originally as stated from foreigner friends currently living in Thailand; browsing this website, the Thai Consulate and Google (US Gov page was useless), can I get a Non-Immigrant Multiple Entry Visa with just letters (& application of course) from my friends asking for my return? I've been going back and forth from the US for over 2 years now, can't say how much I've spent but my savings is much smaller now. My friends are in Bangkok & Krabi, however I wish to reside in Chiang Mai.

[kimbathewhitelion]

I'm 45.

[Crossy]

O visas for 'visiting friends' are becoming hard (if not impossible) to get, even Hull will no longer issue.

I suspect that your best bet will be the longest Tourist Visa you can get, usually that would be 2 entries which will net you nearly 6 months in Thailand (with 1 border hop and 2 extensions), or an ED visa.

Hopefully those more knowledgeable will be along shortly.

[kimbathewhitelion]

From the Los Angeles Consulate, I can get a 3 entry Visa at 2 month each stay, totaling the 6 months. I've been doing the 2 or 3 entry for the past couple years, then returning to America. Now I want to stay without reaching so deep into my pockets and from what I've read if I start (after the 1st almost 6 months are up) border runs to say Australia, I get only a 2 entry visa (4 months). Taking a guess here, going to Australia, checking into an hotel, applying & then waiting for my visa to return - accommodation, food, transportation - my wallet will feel it.

[kimbathewhitelion]

So, if the Education Visa is my only choice, then how do I go about it. Regardless I figure, once established, I will need 2 separate return trips back to the US to transport my necessities back to my Chiang Mai residence. So, on this upcoming trip - find a rental (most seem to be 1 year agreements for the condos that I like), then register with one of the Universities (near the end of my 3 entry visa) to learn Thai, then return to America and apply for an Ed Visa?

Too bad I'm forbidden from doing charitable work, I'd love to be able to teach the Thai students entertainment design or just art...don't understand the why.

[Lite Beer]

You wont get Non Imm Visa to visit friends.

A double entry Tourist Visa will get you almost 6 months.

A Triple entry if you can get one will get almost 9 months.

Have a look at one of our sponsor's websites for details of Education Visas.

[CharlieH]

You are slightly out on your calculations, each entry will give you 60 days but each entry can also be extended by 30 days too so a triple entry will actually give you 9 months. 60 + 30 x 3 = 9 months, and a double entry 6 months (60 + 30 x 2)

[lopburi3]

Too bad I'm forbidden from doing charitable work,

Why are you forbidden? Difficult it may be; but if you find an organization to support your stay a non immigrant visa entry/extension would be available.

2.21 In the case of working

for a public charity

organization, private foreign

organization, foundation,

association, Foreign

Chamber of Commerce,

Thailand Board of Trade, or

Thailand Federation

of Industries:

Permission will be granted

for a period of not more than

1 year at a time.

In the absence of the official

confirmation set out in clause

(3), permission will be

granted for a period of not

more than 90 days at a time.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM);

(2) Confirmation and request has been made by the authorized

officer or head of that organization; and/or

(3) Confirmation and request has been made by the chief

government officer division level or equivalent and higher or

chief of state enterprise or other chief of government agency who

deals with that organization

[kimbathewhitelion]

According to the US Travel Gov website ( http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1040.html#entry_requirements ), I can not seek out any work whether compensated or not, including charitable organizations - "It is illegal for foreigners to work in Thailand without a work permit. This includes unpaid work, volunteer work (even for charitable causes), and work in exchange for room and board. If you work in Thailand without a work permit, you are subject to arrest, fine, and deportation." If the US site is outdated which can easily be possible, esp., since you sent a quote - can you give me the link.

Regarding the 30 day extension, is that something I acquire from Immigration? Is it just a walk in & request situation and do they extend my last entry deadline? According to previous 3 entry visas I've gotten from here in LA, they put a final date for the 3rd entry which is exactly 6 months from the date of issue - "enter before..."

[IMA_FARANG]

You are slightly out on your calculations, each entry will give you 60 days but each entry can also be extended by 30 days too so a triple entry will actually give you 9 months. 60 + 30 x 3 = 9 months, and a double entry 6 months (60 + 30 x 2)

-------------------------

Yes but there is one important point regarding triple entry and also double entry visas.

Both of them have a date of issue (when you recieve them) and an expiration date.

Typically the expiration date says something like this, "Must be used before (date stamped here)".

For a triple entry visa that date is usually 180 or 181 days after the visa is issued....NOT when you actually enter Thailand.

The important detail is, that with the triple entry visa, all three entries must be used before that date.

Although you can theorectically get 270 days out of that triple entry visa, usually you can't...because that expiration date means you can't get your 3rd entry...because the visa has expired by that time.

Here's how you max the time on a 3 entry visa. ("milking" the visa)

First entry......60 days

First extension.....30 days........giving 90 day total

Second entry.....60 days

Second extension....30 days.....total 180 days

But wait....your visa has expired or is expiring... oh sh_t!

So on the 179th day you make a border run to the nearest border. You exit Thailand, getting the required visa of whatever country you enter (fee usually required and pages in passport for visa/stamp).

Then you turn around and re-enter Thailand....getting a 60 day entry on your still valid triple entry visa.

Even though your triple entry visa expires the next day...you're 60 day entry stamp keeps you in Thailand legally until the date stamped in your passport.

Often this means that, in practice you get a total of 240 days...not 270 days...in Thailand on a triple entry visa...because there is no way to get that 3rd extension after the expiration date of your triple entry visa.

You just have to be careful of the dates....and be smarter than the visa.

It all depends on exactly when that critical "Must be used before" expiration date is,

[kimbathewhitelion]

Sorry...not thinking - did the math, if I do the last entry before the end of the 6 months & then get the extension, I'll have just under 9 months. Considering I can't leave the borders to get the extension, the only place left would be through Immigration unless of course you're referring to an agent.

[lopburi3]

According to the US Travel Gov website ( http://travel.state....ry_requirements ), I can not seek out any work whether compensated or not, including charitable organizations - "It is illegal for foreigners to work in Thailand without a work permit. This includes unpaid work, volunteer work (even for charitable causes), and work in exchange for room and board. If you work in Thailand without a work permit, you are subject to arrest, fine, and deportation." If the US site is outdated which can easily be possible, esp., since you sent a quote - can you give me the link.

Regarding the 30 day extension, is that something I acquire from Immigration? Is it just a walk in & request situation and do they extend my last entry deadline? According to previous 3 entry visas I've gotten from here in LA, they put a final date for the 3rd entry which is exactly 6 months from the date of issue - "enter before..."

But a work permit is available for such work if a legit organization and you are always allowed to seek out employment and then obtain a work permit/suitable visa to work here.

[kimbathewhitelion]

Right and I have been a bit tardy on previous visits, by up to a month. Was an Airport Customs door number 3 surprise that day, had to scramble for the cash & barely made my flight. Being Visa careful is as burnt in as 'do not' throw cigarette butts on the ground. Those I put in my pocket if I can't find an appropriate waste container.

[kimbathewhitelion]

When I was in Bangkok, I came across (wasn't looking for, just bar talk) 2 creative (foreigner based) companies, both asked whether 1, lived in Thailand & 2, I was legally allowed to work in Thailand. That reinforced some previous thought. Also a different post I put up about bring my large scale workstation from the US so I can work over the internet with US clients, I might of worded my attentions more loosely, but I stated working on my computer in Thailand but only for foreign client in other nations other than Thailand. I was told to be careful as it is illegal to work in Thailand, but I didn't get an answer back to what capacity.

When in Chiang Mai next, I'll take a look at the charitable aspect. Thanks for the push.

[TerryLH]

"Often this means that, in practice you get a total of 240 days...not 270 days...in Thailand on a triple entry visa...because there is no way to get that 3rd extension after the expiration date of your triple entry visa."

The 3ed extension is available even though the visa has expired.

The 'enter before' date just refers to getting 60 days on entry.

"First entry......60 days

First extension.....30 days........giving 90 day total

Second entry.....60 days

Second extension....30 days.....total 180 days

But wait....your visa has expired or is expiring... oh sh_t!

So on the 179th day you make a border run to the nearest border".

Those numbers are accurate only if you make your first entry the day or day after getting the visa.

[wayned]

"Often this means that, in practice you get a total of 240 days...not 270 days...in Thailand on a triple entry visa...because there is no way to get that 3rd extension after the expiration date of your triple entry visa."

The 3ed extension is available even though the visa has expired.

The 'enter before' date just refers to getting 60 days on entry.

"First entry......60 days

First extension.....30 days........giving 90 day total

Second entry.....60 days

Second extension....30 days.....total 180 days

But wait....your visa has expired or is expiring... oh sh_t!

So on the 179th day you make a border run to the nearest border".

Those numbers are accurate only if you make your first entry the day or day after getting the visa.

Yes those numbers are correct only if you enter the day after your visa is issued. Soimeone wanted to know how you can get almost 270 days out of a triple entry 6 month visa. In addition when you re-enter on the 179th day you will get 60 days. That CAN be extended for another 30 days at immigration in Thailand for 1900 baht. So you get more than 265 days if you use the visa correctly. It's all in being t being proactive and proper time management. If you sit at home picking your nose for two months after the visa is issued then you loose that time. The visa is like a freak-in bus pass, if you don't use it correctly you don't get to ride the bus as many times!

[ricklev]

If you call each of the honorary consuls in the USA and ask them if they will give you a non-B based on your cirucumstances you might just get lucky!

[ricklev]

List of Royal Thai Honorary Consulate-General in U.S.A. © February 2010, Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chicago 1

ALABAMA

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE-GENERAL

P.O. BOX 4504

MONTGOMERY, AL 36103-4504

Tel : (334) 269-2518 Extension 105

Fax : (334) 269-4678

E-mail : [email protected]

Honorary Consul-General, Mr. Robert F. Henry, Jr.

COLORADO

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE-GENERAL

1123 AURARIA PKWY, SUITE 200

DENVER, CO 80204

Tel : (303) 892-0118

Fax : (303) 892-0119

E-mail : [email protected]

Honorary Consul-General, Mr. Donald W. Ringby

FLORIDA

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE-GENERAL

2199 PONCE DE LEON BLVD., SUITE 301

CORAL GABLES, FL 33134

Tel : (305) 445-7577

Fax : (305) 444-0487

E-Mail: [email protected]

Honorary Consul-General, Mr. George Corrigan

Honorary Consul, Mr. Louis Stinson, Jr.

GEORGIA

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE-GENERAL

303 Peachtree Street, SUITE 5300

ATLANTA, GA 30308

Tel : (404) 527-6778

Fax : (404) 527-4198

E-mail: [email protected]

Honorary Consul-General, Mr. R. William Ide, III

HAWAII

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE-GENERAL

866 Iwilei Road, Room 201

HONOLULU, HI 96817

Tel : (808) 524-7787

Fax : (808) 523-0044

E-mail : [email protected]

Honorary Consul-General, Mr. Colin Miyabara List of Royal Thai Honorary Consulate-General in U.S.A. © February 2010, Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chicago 2

LOUISIANA

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE-GENERAL

320 JULIA STREET

NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130

Tel : (504) 522-2021

Fax : (504) 523-1704

E-mail : [email protected]

Honorary Consul-General, Mr. Henry Lambert

MASSACHUSETTS

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE-GENERAL

41 UNION STREET

BOSTON, MA 02108

TEL: (617) 720-8424

FAX: (617) 227-2306

E-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]

Website: http://www.thaiconsulatebos.org

HONORARY CONSUL GENERAL, MR. JOSEPH A. MILANO

KANSAS

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE

3906 West 103rd Street

Overland Park, Kansas 66207

Tel : (913) 385-5555

Mobile: (760) 650-5053

Fax : (913) 385-5558

E-mail:[email protected]

Website: http://thailandconsulatekansas.com

Honorary Consul, Ms. Mary Frances Taylor-Kirkpatrick

OKLAHOMA

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE-GENERAL

25900 EAST 81ST STREET

BROKEN ARROW, OK 74014

Tel : (918) 357-1368, 808-5930

Fax : (918) 357-1369

E-Mail: [email protected]

Honorary Consul-General, Ms. Nora J. Gordon List of Royal Thai Honorary Consulate-General in U.S.A. © February 2010, Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chicago 3

OREGON

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE-GENERAL

121 S.W. SALMON STREET, SUITE 1430

PORTLAND, OR 97204-2924

Tel : (503) 221-0440

Fax : (503) 221-0550

E-mail : [email protected]

Honorary Consul, Mr. Nicholas J. Stanley

TEXAS (Dallas)

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE-GENERAL

Three Galleria Tower

13155 Noel Road, Suite 100

Dallas, TX 75240

Tel: (972) 934-0022, EXT. 101204

Fax: (972) 934-8133

E-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]

Honorary Consul-General, Mr. W. Forrest Smith

TEXAS (El-Paso)

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE-GENERAL

414 Executive Center BLVD., Suite 211

EL PASO, TX 79902

Tel : (915) 533-5757

Fax : 532-0781

E-mail : [email protected]

Honorary Consul-General, Ms. Mary Lee Leavell Pinkerton

TEXAS (Houston)

ROYAL THAI CONSULATE-GENERAL

600 Travis, STE. 2000

HOUSTON, TX 77002-2911

Tel : (713) 229-8733

Fax : (713) 228-1303

E-mail: [email protected]

[email protected]

Honorary Consul-General, Mr. Charles C. Foster

Honorary Vice-Consul, Ms. Julie Richardson

---------------------------