Just got a mail from a friend, who for the last 10 years has visited Thailand for 4 months each year.

Now he is confused!! Because immigration has moved the goal posts again.

I take that, it is impossible to extend a Single Entry and make it last 4 months?

That leaves him with the Multiple Entry option. In which case he needs to show 200k+ in his bank-account. And need a hotel reservation for the full 4 months OR an invitation from a friend (landlord), who confirms his whereabouts during the stay. Is that correct?

My friend has the money, and of course my wife will send him an invitation with copies of her ID-card and house book. But does it have to be so bloody difficult for a tourist to come here and spend his hard earned cash ?

Or are there easier ways to get a 4 month visa?

The METV only gives 60 days for each entry and is probably not worth the hassle for a 4 month stay.

He could get a SETV which will give him 60 days on entry. That entry can be extended at an immigration office by 30 days giving him nearly 3 months. At the end of the 3 months he can do a border hop and get a 15 day stay on re-entry using visa exempt entry. That entry can be extended too by 30 days.

Or he could entrer with a SETV and at the end of 60 days go to a nearby country to get a second 60 day SETV.

Edited April 29, 201610 yr by elviajero

There is no four month visa and there (to my knowledge) never has been.

Your friend can obtain a single entry tourist visa which will provide an initial 60 day stay which can be extended for a further 30 days at an immigration office.

If he wishes to stay longer he can get another tourist visa from a nearby country or cross a border and return for a "visa exempt" entry of 15 days if done by land (or 30 days if done by air) the visa exempt entry can also be extended for another 30 days.

But a single entry TV gives 60 days, than out of Thailand, get the third month on that VISA and than after that go to the immigration in Bangkok and extend for one further month = 4 months..

OR I am wrong??

Glegolo

Edited April 29, 201610 yr by glegolo

But a single entry TV gives 60 days, than out of Thailand, get the third month on that VISA and thjan after that go to the immigration in Bangkok and extend for one further month = 4 month..

OR I am wrong??

Glegolo

Wrong !

There is no four month visa and there (to my knowledge) never has been.

Your friend can obtain a single entry tourist visa which will provide an initial 60 day stay which can be extended for a further 30 days at an immigration office.

If he wishes to stay longer he can get another tourist visa from a nearby country or cross a border and return for a "visa exempt" entry of 15 days if done by land (or 30 days if done by air) the visa exempt entry can also be extended for another 30 days.

Thanks.

See if I got it right?

60 days on entry. 30 days extension at immigration. "Visa exempt" at land border=15 days, which can be extended at immigration with another 30 days. So all together more than 4 months?

There is no four month visa and there (to my knowledge) never has been.

Your friend can obtain a single entry tourist visa which will provide an initial 60 day stay which can be extended for a further 30 days at an immigration office.

If he wishes to stay longer he can get another tourist visa from a nearby country or cross a border and return for a "visa exempt" entry of 15 days if done by land (or 30 days if done by air) the visa exempt entry can also be extended for another 30 days.

Thanks.

See if I got it right?

60 days on entry. 30 days extension at immigration. "Visa exempt" at land border=15 days, which can be extended at immigration with another 30 days. So all together more than 4 months?

Yes ! You have got it !

Alternatively, do the border hop for a visa exempt by air and get 30 days on entry which may obviate the need to extend that. Booked in advance, and depending where you live, this may be a cheaper solution (as well as more comfortable than many land border options).