Tourist Visa, How Many Runs Can U Actually Do?

[chingching]

I'm a u.s. citizen, 56 yrs old, I want to stay in Thailand for a year or so, but only want to get a tourist visa. I don't mind doing visa runs. How many actual runs can I do consecutively before they say no more? Thk you

[udon]

I ran from 2000-2002 without a problem.

Things may have changed in the past 4 years.

LOP !

[sierra01]

March 2002-July 2005, the last few I had to show money in the bank to support myself. One day they'll probably do something about it, when I don't know but I can see it happening.

[lopburi3]

You will probably not have any problem on any visa or even a 30 day permission to stay stamp. When you say only a tourist visa are you aware of the non immigrant O visa class? That allows a 90 day stay and can sometimes be obtain in multi entry version that would cover more than a year (doing an exit every 90 days or less). I would check that out from a small Consulate in the USA myself - perhaps with the reason to check on retirement possibilities.

[astral]

This is like asking, "how long is a piece of string".

There is no defined answer at this time.

As indicated people have done visa runs for years and may continue to do so,

but it could be stopped tomorrow.

They did tighten up in the last year by requiring people to show 10,000 baht per person,

but even this is not always required.

I would suggest that you get a double, or if possible a triple entry Tourist Visa. This will allow you almost 9 months, with only two guaranteed visa runs. The remaining 3 months you can do visa runs a month at a time.

In view of your age, request a multiple entry Non Immigrant O visa stating "retirement" as your reason. This will be valid for one year, and will allow you guaranteed entry every 90 days when you need to do a visa run.

See other posts for the best place to apply in the US. I believe Houston is the recommended Consulate.