Why do we have to leave the country every 90 days if they're willing to give us a 1 year visa?

[delgarcon]

...I don't want a retirement extension, I just want to spend most of my time in Thailand, please tell me what Visa I should have applied for.

Are you saying that you meet the age requirement for the retirement extension but you don't want to meet the other requirements for it?

I meet all of the requirements but as I intend to do a bit of traveling and haven't really settled well in Thailand, I'm not sure that I want to retire here. The point is that as I wont be going anywhere until May/June, I didn't want to do the border run right now. I'll see what Samui immigration suggest, maybe the retirement extension is what I'll have to go with.

[thepool]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

...I don't want a retirement extension, I just want to spend most of my time in Thailand, please tell me what Visa I should have applied for.

Are you saying that you meet the age requirement for the retirement extension but you don't want to meet the other requirements for it?

I meet all of the requirements but as I intend to do a bit of traveling and haven't really settled well in Thailand, I'm not sure that I want to retire here. The point is that as I wont be going anywhere until May/June, I didn't want to do the border run right now. I'll see what Samui immigration suggest, maybe the retirement extension is what I'll have to go with.

What visa did you enter Thailand with ?

[dontscrewmyday]

Stay here but never think to settle here.

Like USA, Never think to stay too long in usa. They change laws all the time, and USA or thailand is the same crap.

For now it s easier to stay in Thailand for years even with tourist visa than USA.

[Gsxrnz]

do you mean this - http://www.thailandelite.com/newcreate/glimpse.php

That costs 2 million now.

It's 2 Million baht plus 20k p.a. membership fee. Almost worth doing it for a 20 year membership with a visa renewed every 5 years. The bonus would be getting the free golf buggy escort through customs and free trip to/from the airport. Well worth it if you live in Nakon Nowhere and travel 6 times a year.

I fancy that waving the membership card at a BIB stiffing you for no helmet might be inclined to give you a wai and a salute as well. Hmm....the more I think about it, the more I like it.

Downside - only 24 free games at the exclusive golf courses per year. I'd wear that out in 2 months.

Edit: In the small print you still have to do 90 day reporting. BUT, you get VIP treatment at Immigration and you have unlimited use of a limousine. So you could order a Limo to pop down to the 7/ll to buy your Chang every day, as well as use it to go to Immigration - even if you live just around the corner.

I'm sorely tempted!!

Edited March 4, 2014 by Gsxrnz

[Maestro]

I meet all of the requirements but as I intend to do a bit of traveling and haven't really settled well in Thailand, I'm not sure that I want to retire here. The point is that as I wont be going anywhere until May/June, I didn't want to do the border run right now. I'll see what Samui immigration suggest, maybe the retirement extension is what I'll have to go with.

What visa did you enter Thailand with ?

The topic title's mention of "a 1 year visa" indicates that delgarcon is currently in Thailand on a multiple-entry non-immigrant visa but we do not know of which category nor what purpose for the visit to Thailand he stated on the application form.

[Banzai99]

The Thai specific brand of xenophobie requires that foreigners are not allowed to own land, become a Thai Citizen (irrevocable), have permanent (irreevocable) residency status, vote, run for electoral office, practice law, or hold any position of administrative authority. Yeah, yeah, there are possible technical exceptions to this, but using "irrevocable" means that there are very few.

Foreigners are therefore reminded that they are here at the whim of the Thai government, can be expelled without notice, and can never gain the rights and priveleges afforded a Thai National by being required to visa runs, 90 day reporting, annual extension renewals etc.

I'm not complaining about the situation, just stating that the visa and residency laws (and dozens of other laws restricting foreign involvement) simply reflect their feelings of historical independence, sovereignty, and xenophobia.

Thank heavens we are free to leave whenever we want to.

[delgarcon]

It is because of the immigration act of 1979 that only allows for 90 entries from a visa.

If you can get an extension of stay you don't have to leave every 90 days you just report to immigration.

Most people that can get a multiple entry visa could qualify for an extension if they wanted to.

Tell me more Joe. I am due to leave by the 9th March (90 days after my arrival with a 1 year multiple entry "O" visa) and I live here. Apart from a retirement extension what other options are there?

I did tell you what kind of visa I had Maestro! Anyway, I got a retirement extension in the end and now I have to report every 90 days to the Samui immigration and have to ask for an exit visa each time I leave Thailand and have to have the money in the bank again in 9 months time (not convenient) unless I make an "arrangement" with a local lawyer. Still, at least I don't need a million dollars or a green card to stay here!