best visa option for American staying 4 months

[leesgems]

I know this topic has no doubt been covered over and over on here and I waded around for an hour through many post and could not find precisely what I wanted to know so decided to post this question:

For a single, non employed, 40 year old American wanting to stay about 4 and a half months in Thailand, what is the most logical visa/visa exemption option?

It appears that the tourist visa obtainable from the New York Thai embassy is only 60 days yet I am unclear about how one stays longer with it but it appears that it can be extended 30 days for 1900 baht perhaps twice. If one exits and re-enters by land before the 60 days are up, does he or she get just a 15 day exemption or does the tourist visa continue another 60? If it is only that he or she will get a 15 day exemption in such a case, can this likely be repeated another 5 times?

Thanks for your patience, Lee

[Tomtomtom69]

Overland entries are 30 days for Americans now.

[Lite Beer]

A two entry Tourist Visa will get two entries of 60days.

Both can be extended at Immigration by a further 30 days.

A total of 180 days.

[leesgems]

Wow, did not know it was back to 30 days for Americans.

If that is indeed the case and the exemptions are not restricted in number of times, it may be easiest and cheapest to not bother with the tourist visa as this person will be staying with me and I travel to Mae Sai once a month anyways. Make sense? Thanks, Lee

[leesgems]

Ah, then the tourist visa can also work. Maybe more money but it looks like we have two options now. Thanks, Lee

[asiaexpat]

Apply for a double entry Tourist Visa (be sure the use by date is at least 90 days.) Entry 1 gives you 60 days that can be extended for another 30 days (1900 TB.) Then make a border run before the use before date on the visa and you will get another 60 days that can be extended for 30 more days. Looks like a simple border run at 60 days would work for you, but you have the option to get extensions on each entry.

[wayned]

With a double entry tourist visa you can get almost 180 days . Upon entry you get 60 days. Extend that for 30 days in Thailand, cost 1900 baht. Toward the end for the 30 days, do a border run. All inclusive runs from Bangkok are between 2000 and 2500 baht. Upon entry you get another 60 days. That covers your 4.5 months, but if you want to stay longer that entry can be extended for another 30 days, cost 1900 baht. 60 + 30 + 60 + 30 = 180! You should get the visa just prior to your departure as the second entry must be made on/before the "must enter by" date on the visa, which will either be 3 or 6 months from the date of issue.

Good luck.

[ubonjoe]

But you would need a ticket out within 30 days for visa exempt entry the airline can deny boarding if you don't. It is not required if you have a visa.

[lopburi3]

Long haul travel may require a visa to get on aircraft or a ticket out within 30 days so a single entry would be advised even if you make monthly runs anyhow.

[Qman]

With a double entry tourist visa you can get almost 180 days . Upon entry you get 60 days. Extend that for 30 days in Thailand, cost 1900 baht. Toward the end for the 30 days, do a border run. All inclusive runs from Bangkok are between 2000 and 2500 baht. Upon entry you get another 60 days. That covers your 4.5 months, but if you want to stay longer that entry can be extended for another 30 days, cost 1900 baht. 60 + 30 + 60 + 30 = 180! You should get the visa just prior to your departure as the second entry must be made on/before the "must enter by" date on the visa, which will either be 3 or 6 months from the date of issue.

Good luck.

I come for 4-5 months each year and do as described above. The multiple entry tourist visa is simple and easy to obtain. You must exit the country and can do a border run or fly out and return. No drama, just be sure you list your visa number on the entry/arrival card so they can give you the 60 days.

[gk10002000]

I add that as of November 1, land border crossing visa runs will give American citizens another 30 day visa stamp. I just did it on November 7, rode over to Cambodia and came back after lunch. So, I suggest that if you don't or can't get around to getting the Tourist Visa in advance or if for some reason you only get a single entry tourist visa, you should have no trouble making a simple land visa border run and getting another 30 days.

[Maestro]

I have removed a post suggesting an illegal act and the replies to it.