Hello,

I've been trying to figure out the best options for applying for a visa, and after spending a few hours reading this forum I'm more confused than ever.
I'm hoping some kind soul can point me in the right direction.

Me and my partner have been made redundant and the severance package is enough for us to live in Thailand for a year without working.
He wants to spend the year scuba diving and I'm going to work on some freelance creative projects I have in the pipeline.

We want to spend the year in Koh Tao, but I'm just thoroughly confused about the visa's.

I was advised to opt for the double entry visa, which no longer seems to be an option.

The METV is also not an option as 1. We are no longer employed and 2. The severance packages only credited our accounts this month, so although we have enough funds, they've not been sitting in the a/c for 6 months.

I'm assuming this means we need a single entry visa, but what does that involve exactly?

Would we need to border cross every 15 days once it runs out?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and for any advice you can give.

Edited November 21, 201510 yr by CarolineCaroline

OK since you are online I'll at least start:

You do not say of what country you are citizens. Some countries get 30 days at land border crossings.

The way the tourist visas are working out, one is in much better shape if you are convenient to an immigration office and a border crossing. Koh Tao would be about the antithesis of that. Maybe you could consider locating elsewhere -- and then just taking side trips for scuba diving such as to the Andaman coast -- where your visa renewals and extensions would be much easier.

Edited November 21, 201510 yr by JLCrab

With limited funds your chances of staying in Thailand for a year are also limited.

A METV would provide a stay of almost 9 months. Maybe you should speak to the Thai Embassy/Consulate about the possibility of your qualifying.for the visa.

The only other option is a single entry tourist visa which will provide a maximum stay of 90 days.

Further single entry tourist visas can be obtained from Thai Embassy's/Consulates in nearby countries.

Back to Back 15 day border crossing is not a viable option.

Make sure that you budget well ,ensuring that you always have the resource necessary to return home.

You need to factor in the cost of food, accommodation, entertainment, scuba (not cheap) and transport.

JLCrab - Apologies, we're residents of the UK (Scotland). We opted for Koh Tao as he wants to complete divemaster and instructor training and after a lot of research Koh Tao seems like the best option. We visited a few years back and there were lots of expats on the island completing their scuba qualifications , who had been living on the island for years, I just can't figure out how they managed it with the visas.

If we did pick the Andaman Coast, how would that work? I apologise for my ignorance, but the information is so conflicting. After 90 days could we leave the country via land then obtain another 90 day visa?

Oncearugge - My partner is going to complete all the qualifications to become a Dive Instructor so there is a small possibility he can find paid work after 6 months or so. If not, between me and my partner we worked for the company for 17 years, so our severance package is plenty for a year, taking into account emergencies etc.

I think you're right though. I might speak to the embassy about the possibility of us qualifying as the funds are in the account now, Unlikely, but worth a try at least.

Thanks so much for the advice, it is really appreciated.

Edited November 21, 201510 yr by CarolineCaroline

If you can convince the London Embassy to give you a Multi-entry visa that of course would be the best.

You made it sound like your partner was a recreational diver not taking the PADI course so that is different.

However, purely for visa purposes, if someone asked me where would be the best place to locate in Thailand, I would say close to the Thai-Lao Bridge in Nong Khai near Vientiane Laos.

The mechanics: A singe entry visa is good for 60 plus you can go to a domestic immigration office for a 30 day extension. Then you would have to go to a Thai embassy/consulate in another country to get a new SE visa but you could maybe do one or 2 visa 30-day exempt entries at a border crossing in between.

But again all those options require a lot of travel from Koh Tao.

Edited November 21, 201510 yr by JLCrab

It is asserted above that a single entry visa of 30 days could be bumped up to 90 days by doing border runs but I though this was no longer the case and now it was a 30 day visa with no extensions allowed or the new multi visa. If people can still squeeze 90 days out of 30 days then I do not see what all the panic about.

A single entry tourist visa is good for an initial 60 day stay plus can be extended 30 days at an in-country immigration office. Then one must either leave the country for a visa at a Thai/Embassy ex-Thailand or maybe one or two visa exempt entries in-between.

BTW I haven't used a tourist visa in about 10 years so I am not the best to be responding but it is 5 AM and Ms. Caroline I guess would like to hear from someone.

Edited November 21, 201510 yr by JLCrab

JLCrab- Sorry for the way I explained the situation, really didn't make it very clear at all!

So after 90 days I can leave the country and re-apply for another visa. Can this be done an unlimited number of times? Also, can this be done by land or does it have to be by air?

Also the visa exempt entry, am I right in thinking that's when you return by land and get 15 days in the country?

Visa exempt entry at a border crossing for G7 countries including UK is 30 days land or air. From the word at embassies such as Vientiane Laos one can obtain new SETVs at least for the length of your trip. Beyond that I would suggest you wait to hear from persons with more first-hand experience than I have. I just didn't want you to be hanging as it is early Sunday morning here in Thailand.

Edited November 21, 201510 yr by JLCrab

JLCrab - Thank you so much for the advice, you've been incredibly helpful. I'll call the Embassy on Monday and see what options we have.

Thanks again!

OK.

visa waiver at land borders are more stringent & ideally you need flight ticket & funds or you could get hassle.

METV would be the best option. but failing it would have to be single entry tourists which will be bit painful to get a year under current mess, lot of people going be in same boat as METV is a stupid setup unless change requirements a little. Koh Tao would not be my first choice, better places exist .

Multiple-entry tourist visa is indeed a stupid set-up for persons looking to stay in Thailand continuously beyond 8 months. That's because It was designed for persons not looking to stay continuously in Thailand for more than 8 months.

Edited November 21, 201510 yr by JLCrab

OP you should really try for the METV. Perhaps take all the details of your severance package to Thai consulate and give it a try. Being on the island with setv will be a pain. You and your partner are a good example of why the metv requirements are loopy. Good luck

If you chose Koh Tao and enter on a single entry TV you'll have to take the boat to either Chumphon or Koh Samui to get the 30 day extension. Cost 1900 baht. Toward the end of the extension you could either go to Malaysia, Penang recommended, or Loas to get another single entry visa and then extend again for 30 days. I lived part time in Samui many years ago and have received 2 double entry TV's, 2 double entry Non-Os and a multiple entry Non-O, back to back, all obtained in Penang but that was back when things made sense and were easy.

When it comes time to get a new TV you'll just have to listen and see where the best place is. Things seem to change often.

If Ms. Caroline and partner can get the METV from London, then great. If not, the inconveniences of single-entry tourist visas and the accompanying trips to immigration and to embassy/consulate ex-Thailand are no great inconvenience for persons only planning on staying in Thailand for one year. They become a bigger inconvenience if you are planning on using them for the foreseeable future.

I would suggest OP call the Embassy and tell them you have the funds to take 6 months off with your partner on Koh Tao.

As more funds are in your account, a better chance you both have to qualify for the METV without the employment letter.

Multiple-entry tourist visa is indeed a stupid set-up for persons looking to stay in Thailand continuously beyond 8 months. That's because It was designed for persons not looking to stay continuously in Thailand for more than 8 months.

METV is stupid setup for many people simply wanting 5 to 8 months & not intending continuously stay, many people with good means & condo property but not employment have little options, more criteria on the METV for people with legit condo property & option of showing more funding for those who do not need work would of been better .

The Portland OR honorary consulate requires $7000 in a bank account but no employment provisions so anyone can apply as long as they are physically in the USA when they apply so that is an option. Open to anyone with good means. Even non-US passport holders.

Edited November 22, 201510 yr by JLCrab

You should contact one of the honorary consulates in the UK about the METV. I think you would find them more flexible in their requirements than the embassy.

If no METV then a single entry tourist visa would be your next best option. As said it would give you a total stay of 90 days by getting the 30 day extension. After that you could make a border run for a 30 day visa exempt entry and extend it for 30 days at immigration. Then after that make a trip to a nearby embassy or consulate for another single entry tourist visa. Then after that 90 days do the border run for another 30 day entry and then an extension. This would get you to almost a year of total stay.

visa waiver at land borders are more stringent & ideally you need flight ticket & funds or you could get hassle.

I think you are overstating the difficulties of getting visa exempt entries. Only those with several already have big problems getting them.

I can recall very few post anybody being asked for tickets out and funds. It does happen but normally only to those that appear to be serial border runners. It can also depend upon the border crossing used.

But a fly/out and back would be best and not that costly with advance planning.

JLCrab - Thank you so much for the advice, you've been incredibly helpful. I'll call the Embassy on Monday and see what options we have.

Thanks again!

I suggest that you don't waste your time trying to contact the Royal Thai Embassy in London since, as confirmed in a couple of recent threads on here, they have developed the art of studiously refusing to answer the telephone, at even the appointed times indicated on their website, to ultimate perfection.

Since you and your partner are based in Scotland, you will probably find it better to approach the honorary consulate in Glasgow instead - see their website at http://www.thaiconsulscotland.org.uk/ for further info.

I cannot emphasise too strongly enough that under no circumstances should you and your partner attempt to seek any employment during your time in Thailand on the basis of tourist visas since that would be illegal and could, hence, land you in extremely hot water. In particular you will wish to be aware that there is a risk - albeit a small one - of the freelance creative projects you are planning to work on being construed by the powers-that-be here as constituting employment.

Edited November 22, 201510 yr by OJAS

I was the one who mentioned London however I am a Yank and haven't had a Thai Tourist Visa in over 10+ years. I guess I was thinking London as other consulates do not accept mail-ins. From the Glasgow Consulate website:

Applications to the Consulate for visas must be made in person by or on behalf of the applicant.

Good Luck BTW the Glasgow website has not been updated to say that they offer METV visas.

Edited November 22, 201510 yr by JLCrab

I was the one who mentioned London however I am a Yank and haven't had a Thai Tourist Visa in over 10+ years. I guess I was thinking London as other consulates do not accept mail-ins. From the Glasgow Consulate website:

Applications to the Consulate for visas must be made in person by or on behalf of the applicant.

Good Luck BTW the Glasgow website has not been updated to say that they offer METV visas.

Par for the course in the case of Thai websites in general, as we well know, unfortunately! The London Embassy website is also out-of-date in a number of respects.

Hopefully the Glasgow Consulate will provide her with the current info if she calls them tomorrow on 0141 353 5090 (as dialled from within the UK).

I was the one who mentioned London however I am a Yank and haven't had a Thai Tourist Visa in over 10+ years. I guess I was thinking London as other consulates do not accept mail-ins. From the Glasgow Consulate website:

Applications to the Consulate for visas must be made in person by or on behalf of the applicant.

Good Luck BTW the Glasgow website has not been updated to say that they offer METV visas.

Par for the course in the case of Thai websites in general, as we well know, unfortunately! The London Embassy website is also out-of-date in a number of respects.

Hopefully the Glasgow Consulate will provide her with the current info if she calls them tomorrow on 0141 353 5090 (as dialled from within the UK).

Yes -- hopefully the Glasgow Consulate itself knows what is the current info.

As you are Scots I presume you have U.K. passports?

With a U.K. passport you can get a 30 day visa free entry into Thailand, not only 15 days, because the U.K. is a member of the G-7 group which can get visa free entries of 30 days to Thailand.

I see there is also a Thai consulate in Glasgow which might be the most convenient for you to ask questions about visas to.

What is your age?

That is important because if you are 50 years or older there are more possibilities open.

You can apply for a retirement visa in Thailand if you are over 50.

If you are under 50, you will be pretty much limited to tourist visas.

You will be prohibited from working legally on a tourist visa.

However, if you can get the 500,000 Thai Baht you could, at any age, get the Thai Elite card visa....but that is costly.

You would have to pay it up front, but it would get you a 5 year visa when you entered Thailand.

If you can show a MONTHLY income of over 65,000 Thai Baht you could also qualify for a Thai retirement extension , If you were over 50.

Also if you were over 50 you might be able to qualify for an O-A retirement visa if you can show that same 65,000 Baht monthly income figure

To get that O-A retirement visa you would also need a physicians certificate and a police records check.

That visa would also cost you a 200 pound fee.

The advantage to an O-A visa,if you can qualify, is that when you, entered Thailand with that visa you would get a ONE YEAR permit to stay entry stamp and if you left Thailand in that first year and re-entered Thailand you would then get another 1 year re=entry stamp.

But those choices require you be over 50 years of age.

Edited November 22, 201510 yr by IMA_FARANG

Caroline, if your partner is going to be doing all the courses through to Instructor then he should have no problem getting a 1 year non immigrant visa with the help of a school. He will need to choose a dive school and they will provide all the paperwork required by the embassy/consulate. A non immigrant visa gives a 90 day stay for each entry. He will have to leave the country every 90 days, turn around and re-enter. This visa, if fully utilised, can give almost 15 months if his last entry is just before the visa expires.

You should not mention your freelance work to the Thai embassy/consulate/immigration as no visa allows you to work. This kind of situation is currently tolerated by authorities but you should keep a low profile. If your partner signs up with a dive school they may also help you, especially if you sign up for a course yourself. Otherwise and if you're unsuccessful getting a METV then unfortunately you are only left with SETV's which will only give you 60 days on entry. You'll be able to extend each one by 30 days on Samui for 1,900 baht but you'll have to leave Thailand every 90 days to get a new SETV.

Since the recent change to tourist visas it's unknown if there will be any limits on back to back SETV's. It's likely there will be if obtaining the SETV from the same embassy/consulate, but there are several countries locally to Thailand that you can apply at so, based on whats known, you should be able to get the 4 you need for the year.

IMO the first thing to do is to choose and make contact with a dive school.

With limited funds your chances of staying in Thailand for a year are also limited.

A METV would provide a stay of almost 9 months. Maybe you should speak to the Thai Embassy/Consulate about the possibility of your qualifying.for the visa.

The only other option is a single entry tourist visa which will provide a maximum stay of 90 days.

Further single entry tourist visas can be obtained from Thai Embassy's/Consulates in nearby countries.

Back to Back 15 day border crossing is not a viable option.

Make sure that you budget well ,ensuring that you always have the resource necessary to return home.

You need to factor in the cost of food, accommodation, entertainment, scuba (not cheap) and transport.

Also, be sure to budget for the cost of medical insurance. Insurance that will provide cover for ALL the activities in which you plan to engage. There is no free medical care for foreigners here, nor will the Embassy do anything more than contact your family to ask them to send money. Arrange for medical insurance BEFORE you come.

The Portland OR honorary consulate requires $7000 in a bank account but no employment provisions so anyone can apply as long as they are physically in the USA when they apply so that is an option. Open to anyone with good means. Even non-US passport holders.

That is a "maybe", not yet confirmed. It depends on ones interpretation of "holding a US visa". Does this mean an METV is open to all except undocumented immigrants, or does it imply long term visa status only?

They are not kids re needing advice about insurance and other rubbish about budget for overheads while living here. Their best option is the metv which they should have a reasonable shot at especially if the severance pay out was more than adequate. After 9 months here on metv they could obtain an setv giving a further

90. Trick is to find consulate flexible with some requirements.