American moving to Thailand
Replies: 37 - Last Post: Aug 9, 2012 8:32 AM Last Post By: pjkcards
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American moving to Thailand
I'm a 23 year old male, currently living in the US in Colorado. I lived in England for 1 year during a year abroad during college. I'm thinking about moving to Thailand for a year or so, so I can explore Asia more. I'm shooting for mid-Oct.Any tips for this? Is anyone interested in traveling as well during this time in the area?
Thanks in advance.
1
Post this on the travel companion branch as well.There are many long term travelers you'll meet in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Find a place you like and just hole up there for a few weeks or months and you'll end up meeting people doing the similar thing. Plus, you'll make friends with locals and have fun.
Enjoy.
2
Any tips for this?
You mean the obvious? Get a tourist visa (single/double/triple) at a Thai consulate in the US
Buy ticket to Bangkok (returns are often as cheap as two singles)
Save up travel funds ($1000/month will do)
Come back with more specific questions.
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Now I work full time online
If you want to legally continue to work online while in Thailand, you had better add getting a work permit to the list from Capt'Bob.
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If you want to legally continue to work online while in Thailand, you had better add getting a work permit to the list from Capt'Bob.
Yep, by the letter of law, that is what is required. However, in practice nobody cares. Nobody will find out. You will be just fine continuing to work online. Be aware that internet speeds in Thailand can be horrible at times.
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Thank you all for the replies. A few more questions:1) For getting a visa, it was suggested to find a Thai consulate in the US. Would a website like this work? http://thailand.visahq.com/
2) For the 90 day tourist visa: I'd like to live there for 8-12 months, minimum. Is it normal to just renew a 90 day Visa 3-4 times? How likely is it to be rejected?
3) As for flights: if I buy a 1 way flight, does that cause a big issue? I don't want to buy a round trip as I have no idea where I'll fly out of or when. That greatly depends on the Visa situation and what I discover when in Asia.
Any further info on the above is much appreciated. Thanks all for your time.
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You can send your passport straight to the Thai embassy to get a visa. Los Angeles is probably the closest location if there isn't one in Denver.You can definitely go to Lao and get another tourist visa.
From America, I've never had a problem with a one way. At the Thai embassy, just tell them you are planning to travel to Lao or Cambodia by land.
9
1) Whatever is the nearest Thai consulate to you in the US. Many are listed on http://www.thaiembassy.org2) For a stay of 8-12 months, either get a triple-entry tourist visa in advance or get another visa at the Thai consulate in Vientiane, Laos (the most user-friendly consulate in the region). Each 60-day entry can be extended 30 days at Immigration for 1900 baht.
3) Some consulates in the States require proof of return flights (some don't) before issuing a visa. Also many airlines require either proof of onward air travel OR a visa as a prerequisit to boarding, although it's not always enforced.
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^^I'm not 'Bob', but I know many people who have gotten a triple entry personally. However, I don't know anyone from America who has gotten one personally. Europeans seem to get them more easily than Americans.12
^^I've always just got doubles in Vientiane, but there are numerous mentions of triples on thaivisa.com forum. Hull, UK consulate for example is well-known to do triples. Every consulate has a slightly different set of allowances/requirements. Back to the OP, just get as many entries as possible in the States, then if you need more hit Vientiane.13
Thanks again for the replies, very helpful.In regards to Captian_Bobs points:
1) I think I found one here in Denver, I will call them: http://www.thaidenver.com/ .
2) How do you get a triple or even a double? When I apply do I just ask for a triple entry? Does this still mean I'd have to leave every 90 days? I'm confused why they'd even give triple's or doubles.
I don't full understand why you leave every 90 days to a different country to get a tourist visa. Do all the countries work together in that sense, or it is more utilizing the tourist visas from each country, and then traveling to wherever you want to be regardless of where the tourist visa was actually given?
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Straight off that website...If requesting more than one entry, please provide a copy of your ticket, confirmed itinerary, or a letter explaining the need for the additional entry.
You said "I'd like to live there for 8-12 months, minimum" so you'll have to explain why. Each entry requires you to physically leave Thailand and return, even on the same day (walk out, enter neighboring country, turn around come back to Thailand, new entry). On a tourist visa each entry would be 60 days then go to immigration pay 1900 baht for 30 day extension. You gotta learn to play the visa game staying here long term. No matter what kind of visa you have you must either leave (tourist visa) or report to immigration (non-immigrant visa for those married to Thai, retired age 50+ or legitimately employed with work permit) every 90 days. So far you only qualify for a tourist visa, so get 2 or 3 entries if possible, then it's time for a visa run to Vientiane, Penang, Phnom Penh, or other Thai consulate.
