Non-immigrant Visa

[fanciman]

I heard about a type of visa you can get where you are not working in thailand, the visa is valid one year, but you need to cross the border every 3 months to keep it ok.

Could people get one of those in penang or near thailand?

thank you

Edited July 5, 2006 by fanciman

[Crossy]

I heard about a type of visa you can get where you are not working in thailand, the visa is valid one year, but you need to cross the border every 3 months to keep it ok.

Could people get one of those in penang or near thailand?

thank you

Well, you can get a 1 year non-o in KL.

BUT

You need to be entitled to one, the usual vehicle is to have a Thai wife

Otherwise the best you're going to get (unless entitled to a retirement visa ie over 50) is going to be a triple entry tourist visa from Penang.

[jbaldwin]

As Crosby says in Asia you will only get a one year multi-entry visa if you meet one of the criteria (retired ie over 50, married to a Thai, working with a work permit, investment - 3 million baht in fixed bank deposit of other approved investment).

However, they are much easier to obtain in Europe, the US or Australia. I have one issued in Hull, UK on the basis that I am visiting friends in Thailand.

[fanciman]

I heard about a type of visa you can get where you are not working in thailand, the visa is valid one year, but you need to cross the border every 3 months to keep it ok.

Could people get one of those in penang or near thailand?

thank you

Well, you can get a 1 year non-o in KL.

BUT

You need to be entitled to one, the usual vehicle is to have a Thai wife

Otherwise the best you're going to get (unless entitled to a retirement visa ie over 50) is going to be a triple entry tourist visa from Penang.

What is the benefit of a triple entry tourist visa over a standard 1 month?

Currently, with a 1 month tourist visa, people need to leave thecountry every month to get another one. It can be done for 2000 baht (bus trip included.)

by the way, if booking a return flight to penang for one of these visas, how much time isneeded for processing?

Arrive in morning, leave morning?

arrive morning leave afternoon?

arrive and leave next day?

leave after 2days?

Thank you v much for your help!

Edited July 5, 2006 by fanciman

[lopburi3]

A 30 day entry stamp is not a visa. A tourist visa allows a 60 day stay and can be extended at immigration for another 30 days for each entry.

Penang accepts visa applications before noon and they are ready the next workday at 1400.

[The Coder]

What is the benefit of a triple entry tourist visa over a standard 1 month?

The 2000 baht visa runs are cheaper than getting a triple entry tourist visa. For a 9 month period, 30 day stamp visa runs are 9 times @ 2000 baht = 18000 baht. A triple visa is about 6000 to buy, needs 3 extensions @ 2000 baht is another 6000, and 2 border runs @ 2000 baht to activate the 2nd and 3rd entry is another 4000. That's 16000 baht already and you still haven't factored in the most costly part which is that 2-3 day trip to Penang (tickets, hotel, transport, misc).

There is slight time savings for the tourist visa route. If you visa run for stamps, in a 9 month period you make 9 border runs which wastes 9 days. If you go the triple entry tourist visa route, you spend 2-3 days applying for the visa, 2 border runs to activate the 2nd and 3rd entries, and 3 trips to immigration office to get 30 day extensions.

[baboon]

I heard about a type of visa you can get where you are not working in thailand, the visa is valid one year, but you need to cross the border every 3 months to keep it ok.

Could people get one of those in penang or near thailand?

thank you

Well, you can get a 1 year non-o in KL.

BUT

You need to be entitled to one, the usual vehicle is to have a Thai wife

Otherwise the best you're going to get (unless entitled to a retirement visa ie over 50) is going to be a triple entry tourist visa from Penang.

What is the benefit of a triple entry tourist visa over a standard 1 month?

Currently, with a 1 month tourist visa, people need to leave thecountry every month to get another one. It can be done for 2000 baht (bus trip included.)

by the way, if booking a return flight to penang for one of these visas, how much time isneeded for processing?

Arrive in morning, leave morning?

arrive morning leave afternoon?

arrive and leave next day?

leave after 2days?

Thank you v much for your help!

Apply for visa in the morning,pick it up the next afternoon.

Morning-applications only.

Afternoon-collection only.