Qualfying for a Tourist Visa

[Chiang2000]

Firstly I must say thank you to Thai Visa, sponsors, moderators and members for a truly exceptional forum. Special thanks to ubonjoe for a very timely response! I have found many answers here over the years, but can not find an answer to my particular concern at this time despite many hours of searching - hence this new thread.

My question is in relation to what visa I should apply for ???

I am 67 yo, British nationality and passport but had been living in Australia for almost thirty years.

I have been living in Thailand now for about three years. I came originally on a B visa and undertook a TEFL course in CM. I returned to Oz to organize personal matters and returned to LOS on another B. At the expiry of that visa I did the Mae Sai run many times whilst awaiting another job. On getting a job at a government school I did the run to Lao to get another B visa which followed with a work permit. The contract ended last month and I did a trip to Mae Sai and received a 30 day stamp. A trip is now planned for Vientian leaving CM next Tuesday.

I have a Thai girlfriend who has been living with me for a year. Although younger than me she is a mature person (48). She has organized a few days off work (teaching) to accompany me to Laos. We have had a Lanna style animistic "marriage" (which makes everything ok in the village) and I intend a civil and legal marriage as soon as I get a decree nici.

I plan to retire here and now have my Australian house up for sale which will raise the required capital for the retirement and the deposit for a retirement visa. So, at this point in time, I am simply waiting for funds and divorce papers but it is impossible to say exactly when I will receive them.

It would appear that the only visa that may be appropriate is a Tourist visa - but am I a tourist? There appears to be no other visa that fits my circumstances.

Any helpful comments or ideas would be appreciated!

[ubonjoe]

A 2 entry tourist visa would give your about 6 months of stay by doing 30 day extensions of each 60 day entry. You just have to be sure you do the 2nd entry before the enter before date on the visa sticker.

You could also get a single entry non-o visa for being over 50. This visa would give you a 90 entry. If there is a possibility of you getting an extension done before the 90 days is up it would be the best choice. Also if you were to get married within 90 days you could apply for a 60 day extension to visit your new wife that would give you time to do the extension of stay based upon marriage or retirement.

With the extension based upon marriage you can get a work permit and work if you wanted to.

[Chiang2000]

A 2 entry tourist visa would give your about 6 months of stay by doing 30 day extensions of each 60 day entry. You just have to be sure you do the 2nd entry before the enter before date on the visa sticker.

You could also get a single entry non-o visa for being over 50. This visa would give you a 90 entry. If there is a possibility of you getting an extension done before the 90 days is up it would be the best choice. Also if you were to get married within 90 days you could apply for a 60 day extension to visit your new wife that would give you time to do the extension of stay based upon marriage or retirement.

With the extension based upon marriage you can get a work permit and work if you wanted to.

Thanks again ubonjoe! Brilliant!