Searched The Forums But Still Confused. Help Is Appreciated!

[cj1371]

Hi, thanks for taking the time to look.

My situation may sound common but to be honest, I'm bloody confused. I'll keep this simple and straight:

1. I'm American, 33 y.o., married to a Korean woman. We have a newborn daughter.

2. I travel internationally for work, I do not have the time/desire to go to school, I don't want to work in Thailand and I'm too young to retire. I don't want to open a business, either.

3. Wife does not/will not work.

We lived in Cambodia for quite a long time but now with the baby we want to be closer to better healthcare and schools. Thailand sound perfect. Problem is, we don't want her and the baby to have to do border runs every 30/60/90/etc. and they are my dependents.

So, what type of visa do I/wife/baby need? If needed I will fly to the U.S. and apply for a visa but I'd rather not have to do this annually.

Thanks for all the help, have been a member here for a while but haven't needed help until now.

C

[bytebuster]

I don't want to be rude, but... I'm not an American. What if I want to stay in U.S. without any explanation why?

If you are willing to invest in local economy (as a tourist, student, retiree, or businessman), the country gives you right to do so, on certain conditions. Otherwise the country is not interested. As simple as that.

[cj1371]

bytebuster- Fair point. I guess I would consider us tourists. We would be investing in the local economy (housing, vehicles, food, entertainment, etc.), moreso than a normal tourist would, and at the same time not taking any jobs. But I can see how that would look from that standpoint as well.

This is where my confusion is coming from, we don't really fit into any categories and didn't really want to scam the system by making ourselves fit into one. I/we could sign up for school or something but I'm trying to do it the "right way", if there is one for our situation.

Thanks for the reply.

[Jingthing]

My opinion with no moral judgments attached except that I understand your desire to live in Thailand is that you are correct, there is no visa designed for your type of situation.

Perhaps a wizened guru can advise something better, but all I see for you at the moment is as a frequent traveler get extra pages in your passport and come into Thailand on 30 day stamps and tourist visas if needed for longer stays. There is no limit to 30 day air entries but probably a practical limit to get tourist visas on a serial basis for obvious residency.

For your wife, I would say the ED visa to study Thai but although only 4 hours a week perhaps not practical with a baby.

I am not sure how immigration treats babies in these situations, but that's something I think a more expert person could inform you about.

In this scenario, I would not invest in anything here!

I also reckon if that is the best you can do, you probably won't bother. Hopefully, someone else can suggest something better, but anyway, that's my take for now.

[Time Traveller]

bytebuster- Fair point. I guess I would consider us tourists. We would be investing in the local economy (housing, vehicles, food, entertainment, etc.), moreso than a normal tourist would, and at the same time not taking any jobs. But I can see how that would look from that standpoint as well.

This is where my confusion is coming from, we don't really fit into any categories and didn't really want to scam the system by making ourselves fit into one. I/we could sign up for school or something but I'm trying to do it the "right way", if there is one for our situation.

Thanks for the reply.

That's not investing. That's consuming. Basically you need a connection to Thailand to be granted a long term visa. Do you have any Thai family? Without that or a job or investment in the country there is little chance immigration will help you out. Perhaps if your child is of school age they could get education visa?

Why don't you just live in the country where you work?

Thailand like most countries in the world won't let people just stay there long term without some purpose.

[Jingthing]

...

Thailand like most countries in the world won't let people just stay there long term without some purpose.

...

Cambodia apparently will.

[Soutpeel]

bytebuster- Fair point. I guess I would consider us tourists. We would be investing in the local economy (housing, vehicles, food, entertainment, etc.), moreso than a normal tourist would, and at the same time not taking any jobs. But I can see how that would look from that standpoint as well.

This is where my confusion is coming from, we don't really fit into any categories and didn't really want to scam the system by making ourselves fit into one. I/we could sign up for school or something but I'm trying to do it the "right way", if there is one for our situation.

Thanks for the reply.

Based on the info given, you dont really have any grounds to be issued a long term visa for Thailand.

The only option that could be suggested is trying to arrange Non-imm B visa's on the basis that you are looking at the possibility of opening a business in Thailand, this may work on the short term ie 12 months, and you would require tha assistance of a legal company in Thailand to pull this off

[Soutpeel]

We would be investing in the local economy (housing, vehicles, food, entertainment, etc.), moreso than a normal tourist would, and at the same time not taking any jobs. But I can see how that would look from that standpoint as well.

I could make a similar statement about me wanting to live in the US, but this alone is not justification to be issued a long term visa in the US is it ?

[lopburi3]

To provide dependent entry would require one year extensions of stay and you will not qualify for them. So wife/child are the visa requirements; not you. You have ruled out work so education would seem her only option not involving continous entry/exit. Child also has to meet entry requirements but can overstay without issues. If she has paperwork for living in Cambodia perhaps a location there with medical/schools would be a better long term option. International connections should improve if that is a current concern and you will not both be 'fish out of water'? If she has not firm family connections and for medical/schools perhaps a move to US?

[cj1371]

All,

Thanks for the help. From what I understand Koreans can enter (visa exempt) for 90 days. Could she/baby just do border runs 4x a year or does the 90 out of 180 rule apply? Would immigration make an issue out of back to back stamps for long periods?

Moving to the U.S. isn't an option at this point, I'm tax exempt on $95k by living overseas and my work takes me around Asia quite often.

Thanks again.

[Jingthing]

All,

Thanks for the help. From what I understand Koreans can enter (visa exempt) for 90 days. Could she/baby just do border runs 4x a year or does the 90 out of 180 rule apply? Would immigration make an issue out of back to back stamps for long periods?

Moving to the U.S. isn't an option at this point, I'm tax exempt on $95k by living overseas and my work takes me around Asia quite often.

Thanks again.

The day counting rules have been defunct for years now!

Anyway, do you know if Koreans get 90 days coming in by air AND by land? For U.S. people and western countries in general, we get 30 days coming by air and only 15 days by land. In any case, yes of course her motives could potentially challenged over time when it is realized she is obviously living in Thailand without a visa.