Job Discussion Forums

[greentea]

The more I read about the visas the more confused I get ... can someone confirm ?

I would like to spend a month or two in Thailand looking for teaching work.
Passport holders from a number of countries, such as the UK & USA, can enter as tourists for 30 days without a visa.

The website http://www.thaivisa.com/298.0.html states :

Applying for an extension of a tourist visa

Duration of first permit :

Upon entering the country, as warranted by a tourist visa, permission will be granted for 60 days.

Duration of extension :

Normally, if the applicant wants to continue touring the country, an extension may be granted for not more than 30 days unless there are extenuating circumstances that would entitle the alien to a one year extension. Fee 1,900 baht.

Additional extension:

Normally, the Immigration will extend your Tourist visa once again for an additional 10 days. Fee 1,900 baht.

Another site, http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/living/visa/ , states :

30 day visas
These are issued to most nationalities upon entry to the Kingdom and can be extended once, for 10 days, by visiting your nearest immigration department before the expiry date. The fee for this is 1,900 baht. Overstay fines are 200 baht per day and can jeopardise your future applications. Every time you leave and re-enter Thailand at any border post, a new 30 day visa is issued, no matter how short your exit stay is.

60 day tourist visas
These are issued by Thailand Embassies abroad for a variable fee (about $15/�10) and can be collected on-the-spot. Once in the Kingdom you may renew this visa for a further 30 days at your nearest immigration department before the expiry date. The fee for this is 1,900 baht.


So, when do you apply for this 30 day extension of the 30 day tourist allowance - on arrival or after 30 days ?

And is the tourist visa the best way ( only way?) if entering without a job lined up (& not married to a Thai, not over 50, but considering a long-term stay and with good employment prospects) ? Other suggestions ?

Also, assuming I do find work and stay for a while, what kind of visa would my spouse be eligible for ?

THANK YOU

[tirelesstravelerasia]

Those regulations you wrote do not apply if you come in without a visa -- meaning if you come in on the free 30 days, you don't have a visa - you have a 30 day permit.

If you visit a Thai embassy before you come over, you'll get a tourist visa, usually for 60 days -- this can be renewed for an additional 30 days in-country. I think this is what you would want if you're going to look for work. Some places will send you the paperwork you need for a non-imm B visa if you line up work before you come over -- at least the more reputable ones will.

In short, don't confuse that free stamp at the airport with a visa - that can only be extended for about 10 days in-country, at a cost of nearly 2000 baht; do a bit of footwork before you leave home, and you'll get a 60 day visa, convertible to 90.

[tirelesstravelerasia]

Oh, and once you have work, most employers will help steer you through getting a dependent spouse visa for the Mrs. - but you'll probably have to pay for it yourself.

[greentea]

AH - that makes a lot of sense - thank you !

So, I would apply to the Thai embassy in my current country of residence (China) ?

[kenkannif]

Yes, you have to really apply where you are. See if they'll give you a double or triple/quad entry tourist Visa to get as much time as possible here....they probably will only give you a single though....but it's worth a try.

[greentea]

Thanks, people.