Requirements for one year multiple entry visa ?

[ALMAMASTER]

  Hello I'm brand new here.  My first question is.   I would like to apply for this type of visa, so I went to the site Siam Legal and they say that the following is one of the requirements. Can any one explain to me what it means, and where I would get such a letter.    

• An invitation or confirmation letter to clarify the purpose of travel issued by the concerned organization.       They also say this, which I don't quite understand either.    Applicants for 1-Year Multiple-Entry visa must demonstrate that they are neither a public nor a security threat to the Thai government.      Any help will be greatly appreciated  cheers.

[BritTim]

There are several different types of one-year multiple-entry visas. What exactly is the purpose of your residence in Thailand? This will allow us to advise you on the appropriate procedure and required documents. Sometimes, it can be difficult to get a multiple entry visa, and you need to get a single entry visa which you extend in Thailand.

 

The invitation/confirmation letter can mean different things, depending on visa type. Most commonly (application for a Non Immigrant B visa) it is confirmation from the labor department that a company is planning to employ you.

 

I must admit that my immediate reaction is that Siam Legal has assigned an inexperienced staff member to advise you who, ot really knowing the procedure, has just copied and pasted information from some Ministry of Foreign Affairs document. They should be giving you more specific advice.

[ALMAMASTER]

Hi BritTim,  Thank you for your reply. My purpose for trying to obtain this visa, is to try and live in Thailand for the next year or two until such time as I am able to meet the requirements for a Retirement Visa. I have not spoken with any one from Siam Legal,  this is just information I located on their website. They only list one visa that they refer to as a " One year Multiple entry Visa "   

• 1-YEAR THAI VISA - Whether you want to visit and stay with a family, perform duties for the state enterprise or social welfare organizations, or for other purposes not fitted with other visa categories, you can apply for a 1-Year Thai Visa to travel inside the country all year.

[tonray]

If not over 50 or not married to a Thai or not working legally.. Your options are limited to bring a tourist. 

[buick]

i think tonray means 'being a tourist'.  can you tell us what requirements you cannot satisfy for the 'retirement visa' ?  i was thinking you are not 50 yet but you say 'live in thailand for the next year or two' so i'm not sure.  i assume you'd know exactly how long you would need to wait.  also helpful to know your nationality.  many people stay long periods in thailand using a combination of tourist visas and visa exempt entries.  it it not a great plan to use for many years but it should work in your case.  there are also education visas.

[JackThompson]

4 hours ago, ALMAMASTER said:

Hi BritTim,  Thank you for your reply. My purpose for trying to obtain this visa, is to try and live in Thailand for the next year or two until such time as I am able to meet the requirements for a Retirement Visa. I have not spoken with any one from Siam Legal,  this is just information I located on their website. They only list one visa that they refer to as a " One year Multiple entry Visa "   

• 1-YEAR THAI VISA - Whether you want to visit and stay with a family, perform duties for the state enterprise or social welfare organizations, or for other purposes not fitted with other visa categories, you can apply for a 1-Year Thai Visa to travel inside the country all year.

That could cover many types - married to a Thai, Thai-children,  volunteer work, etc  - but the process is not the same for all of them. 

 

As others have noted, unless you are going to be working for an "organization" here, or have a Thai wife or children, you will be limited to ED or Tourist options.  If you are still in your passport-country, or will be going back soon, you could apply for the Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa, which could get you almost 9-months of stay, with some border-hops to keep it valid.  If already here, only single-entry Tourist Visas are available via Thai-Consulates in the region.

[BritTim]

4 hours ago, ALMAMASTER said:

Hi BritTim,  Thank you for your reply. My purpose for trying to obtain this visa, is to try and live in Thailand for the next year or two until such time as I am able to meet the requirements for a Retirement Visa. I have not spoken with any one from Siam Legal,  this is just information I located on their website. They only list one visa that they refer to as a " One year Multiple entry Visa "   

• 1-YEAR THAI VISA - Whether you want to visit and stay with a family, perform duties for the state enterprise or social welfare organizations, or for other purposes not fitted with other visa categories, you can apply for a 1-Year Thai Visa to travel inside the country all year.

There is no generic 1-year Thai visa. Before advising further, let us know your nationality and age. Also, indicate whether you are on a strict budget, or able/willing to purchase convenience.

[ALMAMASTER]

Thanks to everyone for the help. I am originally from the U.S.A. and still hold a valid passport from there, however I am in and have resided in Costa Rica for the past 11 years and have legal residency here.  I am 60 years old. I am not going into all the details but I expect to have enough cash in the bank sometime in the future to meet the retirement visa requirements. I was hoping to live on about $800 a month for now, until I become eligible for Social Security, as well as earn some money working online, at which time that figure would go up.

[buick]

17 minutes ago, ALMAMASTER said:

retirement visa requirements.

take a look at this thread, one member has listed the financial requirements.

 

 

i'm also a US citizen but have another decade or so before i'm eligible for social security.  and i'm not sure my monthly payment will be 65,000thb or more.  so i'll have to do the combination method.  i'm using the 800,000thb in the bank method now but would like to keep as little money as possible in thai banks.  so i'll make a change once i am able.  i will note that the US embassy does not require proof of your income in order to get the letter to qualify for the retirement visa/extension of stay.  but you never know if that policy will change or maybe your local immigration office will change their policy and ask for it. 

 

 

[ALMAMASTER]

  Hi Buick, Thank you, I took a look at that thread. Sometimes it seems like the more research I do the more confused I get. :=(  My original plan was to just have the 800,000 Baht in the bank. One other thing I'm not sure about is whether or not you have to show that you still have that amount in the bank, each year when you go to renew the retirement visa. If that's true, I guess they want to be sure that all of that money is in their bank when you die.

   Now I am considering the combined method, however the amount that I am scheduled to receive from Social Security does not exceed the 35,000 Baht by very much, so a change in the exchange rate might be a problem. 

   

[lopburi3]

Extensions of stay each year require funds of 800k or 65k monthly income or combination to meet 800k per year.  Bank funds only requires they be in account 3 months prior to each application at or above that level and combination also requires this 3 month in account in most locations now.  You can remove funds once extension granted, or use for living until 3 months before next extension.

 

Have no idea what your mention of 35k SS income means - if your income is low you just increase your bank account (making sure to allow for any change in the 3 months - there is no penalty for having more than 800k).

[ALMAMASTER]

Thanks lopburi3  That helps clear things up a bit.  What my mention of the 35k baht SS  meant was, that if my fixed income from SS is $1070   or 37,215 Baht at today's exchange rate, then a slight drop in the dollar against the Baht would made my $1070 worth less than the 35,000 Baht required. But now if I understand things correctly, I would just have to increase the amount I have in my bank account to compensate. I did not previously realize that that's how it worked. That's why I'm here.

[buick]

almamaster, it can be confusing.  no doubt about that. you are lucky to find thaivisa.com.  can get alot of help here.  good luck with your possible relocation.  thailand is a nice place to retire and very affordable outside bangkok in terms of relying on social security to fund your lifestyle.