Dear editors,
Problem, I have been living on a tourist visa (double entry) in Thailand for 3 years as I am too young for retirement visa and do not have 800.000 in the bank for another visa in Thailand.
Now the problem is that I can only get 3 x 14 days by land, or fly 3x and have 3x 30 days or a maximum of 90 days to leave Thailand. My passport is still new and still has 30 pages so I don't think I can apply for a new one.
My family lives in Thailand including wife and two sons 18 and 20 years old.
Regards,
Pete
Dear Pete,
Why a “Tourist Visa”? If you are officially married, you can apply for a Non-immigrant “O” visa. There is no age restriction if you are married to a Thai, which you are according to your information. You can then extend the period of stay that you obtain with that visa (90 days) by one year at immigration. Costs 1900 Baht.
The financial requirements for that extension are not high. Minimum 40.000 Baht income or 400.000 Baht in a bank account. There are some other forms/evidence to provide, but they are also not insurmountable (see Dossier Visa Thailand).
Perhaps also mention that if you are officially married to a Thai, or if you have children with Thai nationality, and your wife/children live in Thailand, you can also extend each period of stay by 60 days.
For example, if you enter Thailand with a “Visa Exemption” (15/30 days) or with a Tourist visa (60 days), you can extend that period of stay by 60 days instead of 30 days. Cost remains 1900 Baht per renewal.
With a “Tourist Visa Single entry” you can stay in Thailand for 120 days (60+60) without interruption.
Maybe also to consider.
Regards,
Ronny
Disclaimer: The advice is based on existing regulations. The editors accept no responsibility if this is deviated from in practice.