What to do now...?

[bluemoon58]

Hi folks,

Just looking for some advice on the best way forward.

I have a home in Hua Hin. My wife lives on a retirement visa but I have only ever entered on a tourist visa as I work elsewhere and am on a 9 weeks on, 3 weeks off rotation. So the 30 day tourist visa has always been sufficient each time entered.

I am now changing jobs, still outside LOS, and will be on a rotation of 6 weeks on, 6 weeks off. So, each time I come home now I will be here for around 40 days.

Can anyone advise me on the best way of proceeding in the future?

[lopburi3]

If over 50 and can meet financials you could get your own retirement extension and just use re-entry permit to travel.

If not over 50 or meeting financials you could extend as dependent of your wife and do the same re-entry permit travel.

You might be able to obtain a multi entry non immigrant O visa on basis of your wifes extension in home country (but that is becoming less likely).

You can continue to use combination of 30 day visa exempt entry and 15 day visa exempt entry (border crossing).

If a Consulate available you could obtain tourist visas for 60 day entry.

[bluemoon58]

If over 50 and can meet financials you could get your own retirement extension and just use re-entry permit to travel.

If not over 50 or meeting financials you could extend as dependent of your wife and do the same re-entry permit travel.

You might be able to obtain a multi entry non immigrant O visa on basis of your wifes extension in home country (but that is becoming less likely).

You can continue to use combination of 30 day visa exempt entry and 15 day visa exempt entry (border crossing).

If a Consulate available you could obtain tourist visas for 60 day entry.

Thanks for the info lopburi3 but without boring you with all the detail the only one that really applies to me is your second to last suggestion. I have a couple of question though...

1. If I enter with full knowledge that I will be here longer than the 30 days, am I not breaking the law...???

2. Regarding the 15 day extension, can I not simply go to my local immigration and extend my original 30 days by 15 days...???

[Mario2008]

1. you break the law when you stay longer than you are allowed to stay. Intention doesn't count.

2. no, you cannot get an extension on a visa exempt entry. (You could get 7 days at most) Yu must leave Thailand, enter another country and than return to Thailand for another 15 days.

Cheapest and easiet in your situation is to get a 1 year extension of stay as dependent of your wife, with a multiple re-entry permit. Than no longer need for border runs etc. Cost: 1,900 for the extension of stay and 3,800 for the multiple re-entry permit, plus 2,000 baht for the visa or conversion for the first time.

Total cost or the first year: 7,700 baht, after that each year will be 5,700 baht.

[ubonjoe]

1. You would not be breaking the law unless you stayed more than 30 days without leaving the country.

2. No You have to make a border run to a nearby country and get a new visa exempt entry that will only be 15 days. The longest extension you can get is 7 days.

Is you wife on a visa or extension of stay from immigration for retirement? If she is on an extension of stay you could easily get a one year extension as her dependent. You would only need your marriage certificate for it and copy of her passport showing her extension of stay.

[bluemoon58]

Mario2008 & ubonjoe,

Thanks a lot for the advice. It was very helpful.

It seems the best way forward is as you say, piggy backing on to my wife's retirement visa.

Another alternative it to simply have my own retirement visa as I meet all the criteria for it.

Thanks again.