102 days in Thailand - Brit, 54, not married - can I avoid a border run?

[skedax]

I'm British, 54, UK passport. Met my partner in Thailand in 2000. We've been a couple ever since, but are not married, have no children, and have never owned property in Thailand. In 2009 I was diagnosed with cancer and had to return to UK for treatment. I was able to go back to Thailand for 6 weeks in 2010 and 4 weeks in 2011 (tourist visa from Hull both times) but since then have not been well enough to travel. My partner has been living with me (and working) in the UK full-time since 2011.

At long last, I've now been given the OK to travel again. My partner has been saving her holidays up, she can get 3 weeks beginning this month and 3 weeks in November. I want to fly out with her this month, and return with her in November. Various friends want to visit in September and October. After this, it's unlikely that I'll travel again before mid-2014.

So, I want to arrive in Thailand on Aug.17 and ideally I'd like to depart Thailand on Nov.26 - which is 102 days.

Given our circumstances, is there any way I can get 102 days without having to cross a border?

If not, is the best option a double tourist visa from Hull, and do a single same-day border run?

Alternatively, if I was to settle for 97 days, could I enter on Aug.17 on a single tourist visa, extend (+30 days) on or just before Aug.15, get a final 7 days on Nov.14, and exit on the last day - Nov.21? Or would I get less than the full theoretical 60+30+7=97?

One other question, more out of curiosity than anything else - if I fly out of Suvarnabhumi one day late, and they waive the 500 baht overstay (because it's <24h and at an airport, correct?) would I still get an "overstayed" stamp in my passport?

The last four years have been a bit of a nightmare to say the least, so this trip means a hell of a lot - thanks in anticipation for your words of wisdom and helping to make it happen!

[OJAS]

The only way I can see of your avoiding a border run would be to obtain an O-A visa for retirement purposes (as you're over 50) from the Thai Embassy in London (Hull don't issue such visas), which would then be valid for a year. However, this process does entail much hassle (as I know from personal experience) which IMHO would hardly seem justified for a single 102-day visit. So a tourist visa + border run might prove the best way forward in practice as you suggest - subject to the views of those who are far more familiar with this particular visa type than I am.

[sotsira]

I would suggest the easiest way would be to get a double entry tourist visa

from either the Hull or Birmingham consulate.

Apply by post using the special delivery service they recommend and get your

passport back within 4 working days.

These consulates offer a six month validity period starting from the date of issue so apply

for it in the next couple of days.

If you use the Thai Embassy in London you may find that the validity period is only

3 months.

Here's a link for their websites:

http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com

http://www.thailand-visa.com

[leosmith]

.

[steve187]

where are you staying in Thailand, how close is the nearest border crossing

[skedax]

Not sure where I'll be, much will depend on the friends who want to come over in September/October. I'm OK with doing a border run in principle (I passed through almost all of Thailand's border crossings at least once between 2000 and 2009!), but right now if there was a convenient strategy that didn't involve a border run I'd prefer to plan around that, just to be on the safe side, because of my recent health issues.