Going to Bangkok for 6 months. (Visa question)

[ArtxVandelay]

I'm hopefully leaving for Bangkok in September, and coming back to the US in March. I've never traveled before so I have no idea what to about a visa. I've read online that I can go with a tourist visa, extend it twice, then go across the boarder, and come back and repeat. Is this right? Also how do I get a tourist visa?

Also, would I be able to get a job while I'm there?

And where are the best places to look for a cheap, but decent flight? I've been using Google Flights, and the cheapest I've seen is with United, and it was about 1400$

Thanks

[irishsmile]

First time traveller??? My advice pick somewhere a little more timid, Bangkok can be very intimidating for somebody who has never travelled before.

[irishsmile]

Just to add..... If you are really set on Bangkok for your first time travel adventure please give more information, your age, what budget you will have to survive, you mentioned working in Bangkok... What your profession ( you will need a working visa ) ... Is you can provide this information then you will get more answers and suggestions.

[bertty]

Yeah big scary Bangkok !!!! How good is that ? someone mentions they want to visit Bangkok and gets told to go somewhere else !!

Now that is a top class reply without a doubt.

And what with the guy being from the USA, the only country in the world with a higher gun death rate than Thailand. I bet he is popping his pants and booking a flight to Afganistan as we speak.

[ArtxVandelay]

Ok yeah. Im 22. I'm actually going there to stay with my girlfriend who is from there, and is there now finishing school. I'm on a pretty tight budget. I tried to get a loan, but that didn't work, so I'll more than likely be going there with 1000$. Right now I just work at a front desk for a hotel, but my girlfriend knows someone who works at a hotel there and they said they could probably get me a job.

[ubonjoe]

You can get a two entry tourist visa that would give you 60 day on entry that can be extended for 30 day giving a you total stay of about 6 months. You could also could get a 3 entry tourist visa that would give you more flexibility.

You can apply for the tourist visa at the Thai embassy or one of the 3 official consulates in NY, LA or Chicago in person for by mail. You can also apply at one of the honorary consulates in person. See: http://www.thaiembdc.org/dcdp/?q=consulate_honorary

I have used Orbitz in the past for flights. I have reduced the cost of my trips by checking for flights from the west coast and then looking for flights to there separately.

[irishsmile]

Yeah big scary Bangkok !!!! How good is that ? someone mentions they want to visit Bangkok and gets told to go somewhere else !!

Now that is a top class reply without a doubt.

And what with the guy being from the USA, the only country in the world with a higher gun death rate than Thailand. I bet he is popping his pants and booking a flight to Afganistan as we speak.

No need for sarcasm. Maybe if you can give the op some advice which is constructive and useful... The op has never ever travelled anywhere before, I'm just pointing out the obvious for someone with no travel experience!

[bertty]

Would you really be happy taking a job that would pay you 300 baht a day or there abouts for a 12 hour shift, knowing that at any time you could end up in jail or thrown out of the country ?

Have fun.

[bertty]

Yeah big scary Bangkok !!!! How good is that ? someone mentions they want to visit Bangkok and gets told to go somewhere else !!

Now that is a top class reply without a doubt.

And what with the guy being from the USA, the only country in the world with a higher gun death rate than Thailand. I bet he is popping his pants and booking a flight to Afganistan as we speak.

No need for sarcasm. Maybe if you can give the op some advice which is constructive and useful... The op has never ever travelled anywhere before, I'm just pointing out the obvious for someone with no travel experience!

Really.

[irishsmile]

Yeah big scary Bangkok !!!! How good is that ? someone mentions they want to visit Bangkok and gets told to go somewhere else !!

Now that is a top class reply without a doubt.

And what with the guy being from the USA, the only country in the world with a higher gun death rate than Thailand. I bet he is popping his pants and booking a flight to Afganistan as we speak.

No need for sarcasm. Maybe if you can give the op some advice which is constructive and useful... The op has never ever travelled anywhere before, I'm just pointing out the obvious for someone with no travel experience!

Really.

Yes really.... I've noticed you are a newbie on TV, please treat other members with respect, we are all here to genuinely help others.

[bertty]

Yeah big scary Bangkok !!!! How good is that ? someone mentions they want to visit Bangkok and gets told to go somewhere else !!

Now that is a top class reply without a doubt.

And what with the guy being from the USA, the only country in the world with a higher gun death rate than Thailand. I bet he is popping his pants and booking a flight to Afganistan as we speak.

No need for sarcasm. Maybe if you can give the op some advice which is constructive and useful... The op has never ever travelled anywhere before, I'm just pointing out the obvious for someone with no travel experience!

Really.

Yes really.... I've noticed you are a newbie on TV, please treat other members with respect, we are all here to genuinely help others.

Well ok fair enough, tho I do wonder if telling someone to go elsewhere is much the sort of advice they would be looking for.

[ArtxVandelay]

I live in Maryland by the way. I'm just worried that having a departure date far away without a visa upon entry will be a problem.

[ubonjoe]

I live in Maryland by the way. I'm just worried that having a departure date far away without a visa upon entry will be a problem.

If you have a visa a return or onward ticket is not required. Having one at the end of you trip certainly would not be a problem.

The embassy would be a good location for you to apply for the visa.

You probably can find low cost flights from the east coast.

[wcoast]

$1400 is not a bad price for a return ticket.

Your really asking for trouble stating you intend to work entering on a tourist visa.

Bangkok is expensive, your money will run out likely before the new year. Consider the price of your ticket $1400, passport $100?, dual entry visa $80, 2 extensions $65 each, entry visa into adjacent country + transportation $65, Thai girlfriend $pricele$$.

[JDGRUEN]

OP - to make it more clear about working in Thailand. Thailand has laws that protect jobs for Thai citizens... in short foreigners cannot legally work in jobs that could be held and performed by a Thai citizen. There are very few jobs types and few actual jobs available to foreigners working in the Thai economy.

I would suggest to you that you really need to think your travel plans through. With very low realistic expectations of getting a job and without sufficient funds to sustain yourself for six months - a bare minimum of $1000.00 a month ... you have a real problem in making your plans work.

[arunsakda]

Change departure date and plan to stay here for 3 weeks max, plus minus a few days. Buy a round trip ticket before you return. With $1000 you will be broke by then. Dont quit your job. Things happen, BKK is a bad place to be broke if for some reason you have no place to stay suddenly and no ticket out.

[ArtxVandelay]

I don't really have much of a choice, for personal reasons I need to go ASAP. I just really need advice on visas

[AYJAYDEE]

I get some pretty good fares here but $1400 from the east coast sounds pretty good to me.

http://www.seatguru.com/

[ArtxVandelay]

Ok cool. 1400$ didn't seen too bad, but I wasn't sure if there were some smaller planes that would offer less than the big chains

[AYJAYDEE]

Ok cool. 1400$ didn't seen too bad, but I wasn't sure if there were some smaller planes that would offer less than the big chains

you need a big long haul plane to fly the route, either trans pacific or over the pole.

[ArtxVandelay]

So much am I looking at spending on visas? And if someone could give me a detailed explanation on what I would need to do to stay for 180 days.

[ubonjoe]

So much am I looking at spending on visas? And if someone could give me a detailed explanation on what I would need to do to stay for 180 days.

Two entry tourist visa $80 or a 3 entry $120.

Thirty day extension of 60 day visa entry 1900 baht.

Border run to start 2nd entry about 2500 baht dependent on where you are traveling from and going to.

Another 30 day extension of 2nd entry 1900 baht.

Or with a 3 entry with no extensions and two border runs for new entries. Unless you stay for longer than 6 months.

[ArtxVandelay]

So if i do the 3 entry, I just need to go over the boarder and come back? Do I have to stay a day or something or can I just pull a U-ey and come back? My girlfriend has no idea, and she's been my main source of info for this kinda stuff.

Do I get the 3 entry visa while I'm there, or ahead of time?

[paz]

So if i do the 3 entry, I just need to go over the boarder and come back? Do I have to stay a day or something or can I just pull a U-ey and come back? My girlfriend has no idea, and she's been my main source of info for this kinda stuff.

Do I get the 3 entry visa while I'm there, or ahead of time?

You need to enter the nearby country, pay the relative visa, and then come back.

Tourist visa are obtained only oversea, not in Thailand.

There is about one bazillion threads about that if you feel inclined to read before asking.

[ubonjoe]

You can just cross the border and return to start a new entry.

The 3 entry gives you more flexibility because you can get more than 6 months from it by doing an extension for the 3rd entry or any of them.

[ArtxVandelay]

Ok cool. I guess I'll do the 3 entry one, since it sounds easier and cheaper

[ArtxVandelay]

I'm starting to get a little worried. I keep finding out new things (like you have to have at least 600$ when arriving). Someone in this thread posted links to threads about applying for a visa, but I cant find that post anymore. I keep reading stuff, but it uses terms I don't know, and most of the posts aren't the same situation as I am.

If someone didn't mind breaking down how to obtain the visa, cost, what I need to do and know, and any other information, that would help a lot.

Thanks

[ubonjoe]

I'm starting to get a little worried. I keep finding out new things (like you have to have at least 600$ when arriving). Someone in this thread posted links to threads about applying for a visa, but I cant find that post anymore. I keep reading stuff, but it uses terms I don't know, and most of the posts aren't the same situation as I am.

If someone didn't mind breaking down how to obtain the visa, cost, what I need to do and know, and any other information, that would help a lot.

Thanks

You will not need the money arriving at the airport with a tourist visa.

What you need to apply for it depends upon where you are applying for it. At many places just your passport and the application form is needed. Info on embassy website: http://www.thaiembdc.org/dcdp/?q=Tourist_Visa

The fee for a tourist visa is $40 per entry.

[ArtxVandelay]

so do i need to physically go to an embassy, or can I get a visa online?

[ubonjoe]

so do i need to physically go to an embassy, or can I get a visa online?

You can apply by mail to the embassy or any of the 3 official consulates.

Go back and look at my previous posts.