Hey all! I'm new to the boards, hailing from the US...

Recently I had the opportunity to visit BKK for the first time (actually, first time to have my passport stamped). My long time girlfriend had recently relocated from the US back to BKK (Thai national), so it was a fantastic reunion and an amazing experience.

Now, however, with vacation(holiday) largely used up, I'm trying to see what I can potentially do to get out there, in as expedient a manner as possible.

I'm finding the task to be somewhat daunting, so wanted to get your collective advice.

My questions:

What is the quickest way to get to relocation in Thailand, and what kind of time frame would each be? I have heard an education visa, and am willing to try this route... I have also heard to become a teacher, and am willing to try this route as well. I would gladly relocate with my company there, but my company, alas, has no operations... could I apply for a job there? Could I join the Thai military? Would it be easier to live in an adjacent country that was close (Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam) and visit via air? A lot of this is pure brainstorming and thinking out loud.

What complicates things for me is I have children from many years ago that would be coming with me, so I definitely *don't* want to have problems / want things to run smoothly / not get hung up at a border crossing / etc...

The children present their own unique challenges... I have heard of International schools costing a veritable fortune, even in USD... I hear there are also bilingual schools which cost a fraction of the international schools, but may not be suitable for children that don't speak any Thai, despite having Thai heritage (but not Thai citizens).

I think my hope would be to be able to go there for a year, based on any number of methods, provided they are legal and "safe", and during that time evaluate options and hopefully find a way of making things more permanent. I definitely want to learn the language, have no problem with the climate (love it, in fact, hailing from the American South), and the food is all familiar. Thoughts?

Addendum: My ex pays child support to me (I know, unusual for a guy to recieve, but it's what we agreed upon) in the amount of $2650 monthly. She pays on time and has for quite awhile. Can this be used toward satisfying any requirement, or would this come into play in any way?

Are you over 50 or planning to get married to your girlfriend?

@elviajero - No, I'm 43... we've talked about marriage, but in the same way she didn't want it for the US, I don't want it for Thailand (mainly, that we want to save that for something out of love and not for something out of necessity). That being said, it's not totally off the table, but between many options we'd prefer to hold that as a last resort method. We've never really lived together, and then the move came up - so while it's on the table, we would prefer if possible to have a natural progression. (Y a mi encanta su avatar!)

@elviajero - No, I'm 43... we've talked about marriage, but in the same way she didn't want it for the US, I don't want it for Thailand (mainly, that we want to save that for something out of love and not for something out of necessity). That being said, it's not totally off the table, but between many options we'd prefer to hold that as a last resort method. We've never really lived together, and then the move came up - so while it's on the table, we would prefer if possible to have a natural progression. (Y a mi encanta su avatar!)

Once you reach 50 or get married it's easy to stay long term. Until then ..........

• Tourist visa are available as single entry (SETV) which give one 60 day stay extendable by 30 days OR a multiple entry (METV) which gives unlimited entries for 6 months with each entry limited to 60 days. With the METV you can make a last entry just before the end of the 6 months for a final 60 day stay which can be extended by 30 days making a total stay possible of nearly 9 months.
• Education Visas are possible but you need to attend lessons. The authorities are clamping down on these being used as a method to stay here long term.
• The Thailand Elite program offers a privileged entry visa that allows unlimited entries for 5 years. Every time you enter you are granted 1 year permit to stay. It costs 500,000 baht upfront. Family options are available.
• If your children are enrolled in a qualifying school they can get 1 year permission to stay (renewable) based on there schooling and you could get permission to stay off the back of that as their parent.
• If you get a job as a teacher (or other) it's possible to get 1 year permission to stay (renewable).

There is no easy way to relocate here, especially with children. Jobs are limited and hard to come by. Teaching jobs are often low paid and schools do not always employ teachers legally. You should come and stay here as long as you can with the temporary methods. That will give you the best chance of finding work, schools etc. Learn the language as quickly as you can as that will open up so many more doors and opportunities.

Gracias y buena suerte

@elviajero - No, I'm 43... we've talked about marriage, but in the same way she didn't want it for the US, I don't want it for Thailand (mainly, that we want to save that for something out of love and not for something out of necessity). That being said, it's not totally off the table, but between many options we'd prefer to hold that as a last resort method. We've never really lived together, and then the move came up - so while it's on the table, we would prefer if possible to have a natural progression. (Y a mi encanta su avatar!)

Once you reach 50 or get married it's easy to stay long term. Until then ..........

• Tourist visa are available as single entry (SETV) which give one 60 day stay extendable by 30 days OR a multiple entry (METV) which gives unlimited entries for 6 months with each entry limited to 60 days. With the METV you can make a last entry just before the end of the 6 months for a final 60 day stay which can be extended by 30 days making a total stay possible of nearly 9 months.
• Education Visas are possible but you need to attend lessons. The authorities are clamping down on these being used as a method to stay here long term.
• The Thailand Elite program offers a privileged entry visa that allows unlimited entries for 5 years. Every time you enter you are granted 1 year permit to stay. It costs 500,000 baht upfront. Family options are available.
• If your children are enrolled in a qualifying school they can get 1 year permission to stay (renewable) based on there schooling and you could get permission to stay off the back of that as their parent.
• If you get a job as a teacher (or other) it's possible to get 1 year permission to stay (renewable).

There is no easy way to relocate here, especially with children. Jobs are limited and hard to come by. Teaching jobs are often low paid and schools do not always employ teachers legally. You should come and stay here as long as you can with the temporary methods. That will give you the best chance of finding work, schools etc. Learn the language as quickly as you can as that will open up so many more doors and opportunities.

Gracias y buena suerte

Awesome information, but I do have a question. If I got a METV and did what you said to stay the full 9 months, then what are my options after that if I wanted to stay in Thailand?

Edited June 15, 201610 yr by xcrushx

Awesome information, but I do have a question. If I got a METV and did what you said to stay the full 9 months, then what are my options after that if I wanted to stay in Thailand?

You won't get another METV locally, but you will have no problem getting a SETV from a Thai Embassy/Consulate in a neighbouring country. The SETV + 30 day extension can give you another 90 days. More SETV's would be possible but you would probably be limited to 3ish if applying at the same Embassy/Consulate.

The longer term methods will require you and your children to enter with a non immigrant visa. Those can be obtained locally when required.

Edited June 15, 201610 yr by elviajero

@ Elviajero...

Loved your answer, although similar to a hydra for each answer can beg an additional question... that being said, I think little by little it angles me towards where I need to go.

With the METV: Would I need one for each of the children? Or is it sufficient for the parent to have one and drag the kids in tow? Nine months I believe is more than sufficient to iron out the details of our relationship for one way or another, or at the very least as you've said to look into what other options were available. I'm assuming this would be done from the US ahead of time? And any idea how long this takes? (I'm being lazy - I can look it up, but just if you knew off hand)

Education Visas: I have no issue in pursuing education in a realistic manner. I'm college educated already, and was actually using the downturn in the oil market to pursue continuing education, so it's not a bad avenue. Are most of the major colleges (Assumption Univ I believe is one?) accredited? I can look up prices, but didn't know if you had an idea whether it required a full load / half load, etc... again, I can look these things up, but just if a veteran knew off the top of their heads...

Thailand Elite sounds intriguing, although I don't know if it's government supported or a private entity, and I'll have to look at the costs for a family... it already runs on the steep side for a single year (when considering other move expenses), but it could be one of the easiest ways available.

Qualifying school - I'll have to research what constitutes qualifying vs non-qualifying, and whether basically an English speaking child would do well in the bilingual vs international... I'd like for my kids to really immerse themselves, but at the same time I don't want them to have a miserable experience trying to understand things.

"...despite having Thai heritage (but not Thai citizens)."

OP, can you explain what you mean by this?

Thanks.

@ Elviajero...

Loved your answer, although similar to a hydra for each answer can beg an additional question... that being said, I think little by little it angles me towards where I need to go.

With the METV: Would I need one for each of the children? Or is it sufficient for the parent to have one and drag the kids in tow? Nine months I believe is more than sufficient to iron out the details of our relationship for one way or another, or at the very least as you've said to look into what other options were available. I'm assuming this would be done from the US ahead of time? And any idea how long this takes? (I'm being lazy - I can look it up, but just if you knew off hand)

Education Visas: I have no issue in pursuing education in a realistic manner. I'm college educated already, and was actually using the downturn in the oil market to pursue continuing education, so it's not a bad avenue. Are most of the major colleges (Assumption Univ I believe is one?) accredited? I can look up prices, but didn't know if you had an idea whether it required a full load / half load, etc... again, I can look these things up, but just if a veteran knew off the top of their heads...

Thailand Elite sounds intriguing, although I don't know if it's government supported or a private entity, and I'll have to look at the costs for a family... it already runs on the steep side for a single year (when considering other move expenses), but it could be one of the easiest ways available.

Qualifying school - I'll have to research what constitutes qualifying vs non-qualifying, and whether basically an English speaking child would do well in the bilingual vs international... I'd like for my kids to really immerse themselves, but at the same time I don't want them to have a miserable experience trying to understand things.

Yes you would need an METV for each child. You can get the METV at the Thai Embassy or Consulates in the US. The criteria might vary depending on where you apply.

If you are committed to study then the education visa/extension of stay could be an option. There are many schools offering Thai classes. I can't recommend any in particular. You would need to enter with a Non immigrant 'ED' visa that will give a 90 day stay. Towards the end of that stay you apply for an extension of stay at your local immigration office. The length of the extension varies but can be up to 1 year. Once you have an extension of stay your children can get an extension linked to yours. Unless you take a course that allows for a 1 year extension of stay it will be an expensive way to stay, with frequent visits to immigration. Every extension of stay costs 1,900 per person.

Here's the link to Thailand Elite.

Usually your most legitimate options are:

• Get the PE Visa via Thailand Elite (500k THB for 5 years, should last you if you time it perfectly 6 years, then repeat).
• METV to get 9 months (with extensions) then start doing visa runs for SETV (2 months + 1 month extension). Several nearby countries you can go to get this
• Get an Investor Visa (10M THB needed)
• ED Visa from a reliable school (does not have to be to learn English, can be any topic.). There are many universities with English programs you can sign up for (but won't be cheaper than a Thailand Elite card).
• Get employment in a niche profession of high demand (SCUBA Instructor, English Teaching, others??)
• Get a job (you'll have to be in a high demand profession to qualify for this. Doctors, PhD teacher in University, etc.)

There are a few other ways, but they are pretty rare (you'll need to consult a lawyer most likely for help on this).

The *EASIEST* are going to be the first three depending on your financial status. The most common legitimate one, as far as I can tell here, is the continuous border run. (I think some people even live in Udon Thani for the convenience?).

This might get deleted but perhaps you should think of your children's future instead of your own desires...speaking as a father myself. Dragging them halfway around the world to chase your former love, who apparently is not marriage material at this point in life seems a bit frivolous and impetuous. Again...no disrespect intended but a parent's number 1 duty is to do what's best for his children not necessarily what will make him happiest.

If you enrolled your children in school they would be eligible to get non-ed visas and one year extensions of stay.

After they have their extensions you would then be eligible to get a single entry non-o visa and then apply for an extension based upon being their parent. You would need 500k baht in a Thai bank for 30 days for the first extension and then 3 months after that.

It is worth mentioning that, while not strictly according to the rules, if the children enter on a single entry tourist visa and then overstay, no penalties are assessed. If visas for the children become too expensive or difficult to obtain, just having them on overstay is a possible option.

Here is a list of costs for the Thai Elite

Edited June 16, 201610 yr by gandalf12

I don't know your kids have enough " thai heritage" to apply for citizenship or how easy it would be but if they did you could get a visa as the supporting parent. You wouldn't be able to work though unless you found a job that provided a work permit.

These are some incredible answers so far, and I'm tremendously appreciative of all that I'm learning from y'all.

Regarding the kids, their Mom was Thai but an American citizen only... for me, to have them over there would be to hopefully expose them to a different kind of culture than here in the US, also to get them speaking Thai and possibly Mandarin... just hopefully a lot of good things. This is something I've kicked around for years, and it so far has presented a pleasant potential. I do wonder - are the bilingual schools of a good quality? I hear nothing but amazing things with the international schools, but simply don't have the funds for that. I'll reply a little more later, and will be looking up the particulars of the METV in the meantime

This might get deleted but perhaps you should think of your children's future instead of your own desires...speaking as a father myself. Dragging them halfway around the world to chase your former love, who apparently is not marriage material at this point in life seems a bit frivolous and impetuous. Again...no disrespect intended but a parent's number 1 duty is to do what's best for his children not necessarily what will make him happiest.

I agree. While this forum is about advice re visas for los, I have read the OP and it sounds strange.

My first visit it Thailand....in fact my first stamp.

Questions regarding employment etc.

My advice would be come and spend some time here. You can obtain a 6 month METV which in effect gives you 9.

You mention ...children from "many years ago"

Their age is important.

As for working here...farang don't earn a lot in los unless some very special skills intact. You mention teaching but not mention qualifications or teaching experience.

Have a trip here and check it all out. Bring the lids if you have to.

@Jacksam - you're correct, it might seem strange. All I can say is it's something I've thought about doing for many years but never thought I'd have the opportunity. Now, by fortuitous chance, I might. If my job gave unlimited vacation it'd be easy to just travel back and forth. Unfortunately, they don't, so I figured I'd look at what my options were. As far as my kids ages: 13, 10, and 6. I've spoken to them about this and they are guardedly excited.

These are some incredible answers so far, and I'm tremendously appreciative of all that I'm learning from y'all.

Regarding the kids, their Mom was Thai but an American citizen only... for me, to have them over there would be to hopefully expose them to a different kind of culture than here in the US, also to get them speaking Thai and possibly Mandarin... just hopefully a lot of good things. This is something I've kicked around for years, and it so far has presented a pleasant potential. I do wonder - are the bilingual schools of a good quality? I hear nothing but amazing things with the international schools, but simply don't have the funds for that. I'll reply a little more later, and will be looking up the particulars of the METV in the meantime

If your children's mother is/was Thai then they are Thai by birthright. Establishing their Thai citizenship would open options for you all to stay long term.

@ El Viajero - The childrens mother came here as a refugee back during the mid 70's... she has a Thai mother and a Lao father, but according to her documentation her place of birth specifies Laos (no city given). Honestly, I'm not sure if she herself knows. But yes, It's something I had definitely considered. The children themselves were all born in the US.

Lest things get confusing, my current girlfriend (the one currently residing in BKK, who is a Thai national) is a different person from my ex / the kids mother.

I have sole custody for my children (rare for fathers, but true) and a standing child support order. Still, the kids Mom is actually supportive of the potential move.

I think my biggest concern is how the kids would assimilate into a school over there, and whether I can afford a school that would provide them with the English to Thai language transition without them being swamped or putting a bad spin on what would hopefully be a good, horizon expanding experience for them.

@Jacksam. You'd asked me about teaching. I have zero knowledge of teaching, but I've heard it often mentioned as a potential path, and that teachers are in high demand, so I thought it might be something to look into.

The same goes with going as a student - I'd go for something legitimate and useful. I already have a BBA in Accounting, but wouldn't mind continuing education.

Whatever I would do over there I would attempt to do it all by the books / all above board. I'm thinking the METV at present might be my best option and will be looking in to that first.