Visa Run question

[tomx2 0]

Hi.

 

I will be moving from NY to Pattaya next year. I hope to get a 60 or 90 day Visa at the Thai consulate in NYC.

 

When my Visa runs out i can apply for a 30 day extension at soi 8, but eventually i will have to leave the country to get a new Visa.

 

Questions:

 

1. What is the cheapest route to take  (excluding air)  leaving Thailand to get a 60 or 90 day Visa?

2. Are those Visa agencies in Pattaya reliable?

3. Explain a little more how long does a 60 day double entry Visa last.

   If i leave the country before the 60 day (double) expires, is it still valid.

 

Sorry for all the questions.

 

Thanks.

tom

[aj 62]

;D the expats club makes a once a month run to cambodia with food and drink include for i think it was 600 baht plus border fees.  check there web site.  that should answer what you need to know.

[PattayaPete 530]

The cheapest place to go is Phnom Pehn, Cambodia,  although the overland route is a bit rough and time consuming.  You can fly from Bkk for US$150.

 

Visa agencies come and go but if they are getting a new tourist visa for you without you leavinging the country then they are breaking the law so be careful.

 

All tourist visas have an expiry date.  For 3 and 4 entry visas that is 6 months after you get the visa, for 1 and 2 entry I think its around 3 months.  Each entry is good for 60 days plus a 30 day extention.  

 

If you leave the country before the 60 days is up that entry is finished although as you can see by the expiry timings above if you get 3 or 4 entries you are probably going to have one spare.

[RayW 1]

Tom, I don't know how old you are but if you are over 50 then why not apply for a non-immigrant OA "retirement" visa if you are moving permanently to Pattaya.  If you are a member of this FLB board then there are lots of postings about getting one of these visas in the members only section, I know I posted a detailed one myself with a couple of small corrections. Briefly you need a clean police record confirmation, at least 800,000 baht per year income or that amount of capital or a combination of both and a medical certification that you are clear of a few infectious diseases like Leprosy, Elephantitis etc (but surprisingly not AIDS).

 

If you are not over 50 then I assume you will be working in LOS to support yourself so you will need a work permit and a non-immigrant B visa.  

 

Both OA and B visa's are valid for 12 months and can be renewed without a visa run though you have to report every 90 days to the local immigration office, but this can be done by post also.

 

One other option is a standard non-immigrant visa (I think it is either "O" or "A" type).  You can apply for 4 multiple entry visa's each valid 90 days with possible extensions for I believe up to 45 days. Then you make the visa run say to Cambodia and come back in with the next of your 4 visa's until you run out.  After that you will need to get a new non-immigrant visa from outside of LOS, but I think you can do this in Cambodia too but not sure of that.

 

Hope that helps

[tomx2 0]

Thanks for the quick response from everyone.

This was extremely helpful.

 

In my case i am 48 years old and plan to live in Pattyay/Bkk for about 7-8 years on my current savings (which having done the math hopefully will be enough w/o getting a job).

 

 

Pattaya Pete the tourist visa maybe the way for me to go, I am from New Yor City and i've  been to thailand more than 15 times... so roughing  the trek  a bit is not a problem.

 

 

How does one join the expat club?

 

Also Ray, if i gets this standard non immigration visa with 4 entries 90 day per entry, then it seems that would last a full year without having to leave Thailand. Is this a difficult visa to acquire or did i misunderstand your explanation.

 

 

Tom.

[RayW 1]

Tom

 

Expats club, look here :-http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com/

 

It costs US$5 per anum to join and stay a member, includes a good downloadable book on relocating to Pattaya.  You need to register with PayPal, if you havent already,  to send them the dosh. PayPal is well worth registering for anyway and is a free service  :)

 

As to the 4 times non-immigrant visas, you have slightly misunderstood me as they are RE-ENTRY visas thus you have to make the visa run when each one expires (remember you can extend each one a little) i.e. you go out of LOS and come straight back in again say at the Cambodia border using the next unused re-entry visa.  You have to get these visas outside of LOS so get them before you come.  I believe you have to show the visa people at your local Thai Embassy or Consulate that you have enough funds to support yourself whilst in LOS, but that does not sound much of a problem for you ... you rich bastard  ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

Hope to see you in Pattaya next year then.  Enjoy  ;D 8) :)