First time tourist visa questions

[taramills]

Hey y'all, I've been lurking for about two weeks in preparation for a move to Thailand.  Have a few questions after reading through several threads.

 

First off, I'm headed to the Thai Embassy in Los Angeles this week to procure a multiple entry tourist visa, which I've been instructed to get by my future employer.  

 

The embassy website lists a massive list of things I need, ranging from a letter from my current employer to bank statements.  Will I really be asked for all of these things to get a multiple entry visa?  I've never been to Thailand before, and the passport is brand spanking new.  Also, having just finished college in May, I'm currently unemployed anyway.  I've also been told I only need to show an itinerary with an official "flight out of thailand" to get the visa, but they didn't specify how official said itinerary had to be.  

 

Lastly, if I do get the multiple entry visa, will that save me from needing a return ticket to board the plan in the US?

 

Thanks for your time, and I've appreciated everyone's wisdom on the subject of Thai visas.  

 

-Tara

 

 

[perthperson]

If your prospective employer is telling you to get a multiple entry tourist visa be very suspicious. 

 

To work in Thailand you need a Non-immigrant "B" visa and a Work permit. Ask your future employer about those two requirements and what plans there are for you to get both before you commence work. 

 

The penalties for working illegally can be draconian.  

 

 

[lamyai3]

Much better to get a single entry visa, good for sixty days, extendable for a further thirty. You'll have no problem with your visa history arranging further visas regionally. Plus you probably won't meet the financial requirements of a multiple entry visa if no previous and ongoing income.