Staying in Thailand One Year - Visa exempt stamps vs. Non-immigrant Visa "O"

[CrashTestDummy]

Greetings,

I’m hoping to get some guidance on visa requirements.

I'm an American, currently live in the US. I’m married to a Thai woman. She has dual Thai/American citizenship.

We’re taking a year off from work to travel around SEA. During this time, we’ll be based in Chiang Mai. I will not be employed during this time. We currently have one-way tickets to CM, leaving in a few months.

Although we’ll be based in Thailand, we plan to travel pretty extensively during this year. I don’t expect to spend more than 30 days at a time in Thailand before traveling out of the country, to visit a new country in SEA.

Since I won’t be staying in Thailand for more than 30 days, can I just remain in Thailand on a series of 30 day visa exempt stamps? Will the fact that we have a one way ticket into Thailand be a problem? We’ll be flying in and out of the country on multiple one-way tickets throughout this year.

There’s a Thai consulate not far from my home in the US. Would I be better off to get a marriage visa (Non-immigrant visa “O”) or some other visa? We don’t yet have a Thai bank account, but we do have the funds to meet the 400,000 baht requirement.

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

-CrashTestDummy

[elviajero]

IMO.....

• Your best option is a multiple entry non 'O' visa.
• After that a triple or multiple entry (available from next month) tourist visa. They wouldn't see you through the whole year but you could get additional tourist visas in SEA or use in combination with visa exemption.
• Travelling to Thailand on visa exempt will be ok if you have an onward flight booked within 30 days of arrival. It can be to any country.

I would keep it simple and get a non 'O'.

[steve187]

yes a multi entry non 'o' would be the wiser choice.

make sure you have lots of blank pages in your passport, as the ins and out will use them up fairly fast

[jacksam]

Steve made a good point. Visa to places like cambodia , Vietnam etc use a whole page each time.

If your over 50 you could even obtain your non o based on retirement. Can you do it by post in USA?. You can obtain your reentry permit at thai airport when you fly out. Still better obtain a multi o in USA .

[ubonjoe]

Getting the multiple entry non-o visa would certainly be the best option.

I would not suggest anybody count on doing repeated visa exempt entries it they want to stay more more 2 or 3 months..

[jacksam]

OP , obtain double or triple tv in AU. You can do it by post. Once here you can obtain double or triple tv in many nice places for a trip. I type this from Bali. Recent thread outlining triple from here. Hanoi for double very nice or just go to somewhere like Vientiane.

Once 50 to obtain your non O don't plan on doing that in AU if back there for some reason.

[ubonjoe]

OP , obtain double or triple tv in AU. You can do it by post. Once here you can obtain double or triple tv in many nice places for a trip. I type this from Bali. Recent thread outlining triple from here. Hanoi for double very nice or just go to somewhere like Vientiane.

Once 50 to obtain your non O don't plan on doing that in AU if back there for some reason.

Why wold he want to deal with tourist visas when he can easily get a multiple entry non-o based upon marriage to a Thai.

[jacksam]

Sorry that post was for another thread about guy wishing to fill in 11 months till he turns 50.

Embarrassing

[CrashTestDummy]

Getting the multiple entry non-o visa would certainly be the best option.

I would not suggest anybody count on doing repeated visa exempt entries it they want to stay more more 2 or 3 months..

I appreciate the advice. It sounds like everybody agrees the multiple entry non-o visa is the best option. With this type of visa, I can come and go out of Thailand for one year, correct?

If I'm understanding this correctly, I should apply in the US before leaving on our trip. How long do these visas usually take to process? We're leaving in May, 2016.

Will the visa be good for one year upon the date that it's issued or upon initial arrival in Thailand?

Thanks again.

[ubonjoe]

A multiple entry non-o visa allows unlimited 90 day entries for a year from the date of issue.

You should get it before the leaving the US. Most locations issue the visa the next day after the application is done while some might take a couple of days.

On this page from the embassy in DC's website you will find a list of the honorary consulates http://thaiembdc.org/royal-thai-honorary-consulates-general-in-the-u-s/ .

LA consulate http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/.

NY consulate http://www.thaiconsulnewyork.com/

Chicago consulate http://www.thaiconsulatechicago.org/

[elviajero]

I appreciate the advice. It sounds like everybody agrees the multiple entry non-o visa is the best option. With this type of visa, I can come and go out of Thailand for one year, correct?

ld not suggest anybody count on doing repeated visa exempt entries it they want to stay more more 2 or 3 months..

Will the visa be good for one year upon the date that it's issued or upon initial arrival in Thailand?

Although you only require 30 day stays for 1 year you might be interested in the following additional info.

• You can enter as often as you want but each entry is limited to a 90 day stay.
• The visa is valid from 1 year from it's issue date.
• If fully utilised it's possible with this visa, and a short term extension of stay, to stay up to 5 months after the visa expires.
• e,g, If you entered on the last day before the visa expires you would be given a full 90 day stay.
• Plus any of your 90 day stays could be extended by 60 days (1,900 baht) because your married. Including the last entry.
• If you're in-country after the visa has expired and want to enter/exit during the last 90 day stay or 60 day extension you can with a re-entry permit.
• A single re-entry permit is 1,000 baht and a multiple re-entry is 3,800 baht. (Only needed if the visa has expired)

[CrashTestDummy]

Sounds good. So since it's valid for one year from issue date, I should apply for the visa shortly before departure, right?

[ubonjoe]

You should apply for the visa as near to your departure date as possible.