Is it possible for US citizens to live in Thailand and Vietnam by using tourist visas without tying up funds in a Thai bank?

Feb 28, 2024
8 months ago
Wendy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
We were thinking of dividing our time between Thailand and Vietnam. Rather than getting the 0 visa and having to tie up 800k thb, we were thinking of entering Thailand with a 60-day tourist visa, extending it once for 30 more days, then spending the next 3 months in Vietnam and returning to Thailand with another 60-day visa + 30 day extension.

I saw a post saying that you can't spend more than 3 months in the country on a tourist visa within any 6-month period, so this route may not be possible? If this is the case, is getting the multiple-entry 0 visa the best way to stay longer? We would prefer not to tie up 800k/pp in a bank if we can avoid it.

We're US citizens, age 50+.

TIA.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the feasibility of US citizens splitting their time between Thailand and Vietnam using tourist visas without needing to deposit 800,000 THB in a Thai bank. Suggestions include obtaining a 60-day tourist visa, extending it for 30 days, and then going to Vietnam before returning for another 60-day visa. Various comments clarify that there are no strict limits on how long one can stay in Thailand as long as the visa conditions are met, but caution is advised regarding the frequency of visa renewals at Thai embassies. Additionally, options like the Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) and other visa types are offered as alternatives.
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Adam **********
Looking to rent a resort in Thailand for 20yrs plus, we are currently from the uk. What would I need to do visa wise? Any help would be much appreciated
David *********
@Adam *********
Make your own post
Bernie *************
Wendy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you all for your thoughtful responses. It seems that at least initially, getting the 60-day tourist visa from overseas, then paying to extend it once before heading to Vietnam for 3 months makes good sense. Repeat as needed. Thanks again.
Ken ******
what about air pollution? vs thailand, phuket is better in that respect
Ken ******
that way you probably avoid the new tax law levy? is vietnam very lax about tax resident definition and visa to stay?
Wendy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ken *****
Vietnam issues 3-month tourist visas, but you have to be out of the country for 3-7 days to get a new one issued. Given that, it made sense to use Thailand as a home base but not necessarily as a permanent home, if that makes sense. So I was exploring ways to make that happen easily and without committing 800k baht/pp.
Ken ******
@Wendy ********
thank you for this information, there is also currency exchange risk for thai baht on the down side, for your info, thai law definition of tax resident is stay over 180 days, i don'T know about vietnam tax, but phillippines not tax on retirees
Richard ********
What heppens when the next pandemic hits and borders are closed?
Mark ************
contact visa agent about your money.... they will sort & advise for .... ! :)
Pat *******
I am into 4th month now. Heading back agter that. I do almost this all the time. 90 days, then leave for3 or 4 months, turn 90 days
Jim *********
so how long do you have to leave thailand before you can return to do it over again
Pat *******
@Jim ********
i did same day to kl. A few days hanoi
Dan ********
@Pat ******
but return to your home, or just floating between different countries?
Pat *******
@Dan *******
you can only do 180days, inbetween is not thai concern
Brandon ************
@Pat ******
there's no 180 day rule.
Pat *******
@Dan *******
it doesn't matter. I go home, as well as other countries.
Dan ********
This is a plan for permanent retirement ? Or just for the first few years of retirement ? Or just for a year or two of travelling ? As I think you'll run into problems with immigrations, probably Thailand first. But that's not certain, but will you be leaving a home and possessions in either country, in which case a denial of entry could be more of a problem. Or if you will pack up your life and stick it on your back each time, then its less of a problem. But packing up and carrying your life will become difficult as your possessions will increase with time. With my recent experience of visa juggling, I didnt realise the consequences of doing so until it was too late. Long story short, I now have the Elite Visa, and the sensation of security and permanence when I got the acceptance letter was pretty nice, and made me realise in the years previous I had 'built my castle on sand, and it wasn't going to hold up much longer.
Rok ********
The max 90 days within any 180 days rule is for European Union Schengen Countries. No such rule for Thailand apart from Thailand no longer likes people living in Thailand on tourist visas including border runs. Same in Mexico post covid and they require people to get proper visas.
Terary **********
You've been misinformed. There are no rules about how many times you can come to Thailand. There is a rule about how many times you can come to Thailand by land crossing.

Pre-covid I've done back-to-back METV's without leaving Thailand for more than a week or two. Currently I am on a METV with the plan of staying the full 9 months then switch to a different visa.

I got my current METV from the US Thai Embassy in DC, while I was in Indonesia. The embassies are pretty flexible about what they'll accept as resident papers. In my case, I used my TX Driver's license.
SimĆ£o ****************
I have friends living in Vietnam on tourists visas, doing visa runs every 30 or 90 days since 2022

How long the immigration will put up with it nobody knows, but it's possible
Dan ********
@SimĆ£o ***************
so is it every 30 days or every 90 days ? As that's quite a difference in effort and days spent boarder bouncing. And "since 2022', that could be as shorter time period as 14 months. Not reasoning I would use when planning my retirement or relocation.
Wendy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dan *******
in Vietnam, itā€™s every 90 days but you have to be out of the country to apply for a new visa and that can take several days. And thereā€™s no guarantee that you will get unlimited back-to-back visas.
Brandon ************
@Dan *******
depends on what visa they have as to how often they need to do it
Bobby *************
I just got back from Samui and tried for 60 day visa on arrival. They saidā€¦ ā€œnope you have to go to immigration office on island (even though I was landing and going through immigration???
Graham ******
@Bobby ************
That's because to get 60 days on arrival you have to purchase a Tourist Visa before you travel
Bobby *************
ahhh
Nigel **********
Can you not use the 65,000 per month option with a retirement visa???
Marianne ********
@Nigel *********
You can.

But you either need to already have 12 months of transfers already into a Thai Bank in your name, OR have a affidavit from your nations Embassy.

A lot of embassies do no longer provide the affidavit.
Graham ******
@Marianne *******
Usually hours can only use the 'income' method for your 2and year unless your Embassy still does the affadavit
Maxim ***********
Everyone you got told, Wendy, is factually incorrect. There is no such rules.
Wendy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Maxim **********
Which part of everything?
Maxim ***********
The part about staying only 6 months out of 12 ("I saw a post"). And the part about 800k in account. With an agent, you don't need the money in the account part. Ofc you pay a premium to get said visa.
JD *******
@Maxim **********
who Is Wendy ?
Tom *********
I've used the TR60 multiple entry visa since 2008. Never any problems.
Mike *******
@Tom ********
itā€™s probably the easiest and less hassle way to do it too
Tom *********
@Mike ******
the TR60 visa is available in your home country. I've used the evisa system twice. It's a bit confusing at first, but it auto saves your application and you can whack away at it at will.
Penny *****
What you suggest sounds fine and cheaper than a 6month visa. šŸ‘šŸ¤—
Ron ********
There is a 6 month visa called a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV).

It cost me $200 dollars. It is good for six months from the date of issue, so do not get it until very close to your departure date. In the states they let me do the E-visa thing.

You get 60 days at entry, which can be extended for 30 days for about $50 if you wish. Then ya gotta leave the country and when you come back you get a fresh 60 day stamp. Plus a 30 day extension if you want it.

The odd thing (but good thing) about it is that you can leave the country just before the 6 months is up, and then return just before it expires, and you can do another 60 + 30. Then it REALLY expires at the end of those days.

So it works out you can get about 9 months out of that 6 month visa if you work it right.
Jim ********
@Ron *******
But it sounds like the OP wants to do this process on an ongoing basis. You can't keep getting METVs year after year
Wendy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jim *******
I was thinking of doing it this way for 1 year, and if itā€™s working out, then getting the type 0 visa.
Jim ********
@Wendy ********
An excellent idea. Many people do it this way as it can give you almost nine months in the country with two strategic border bounces.
Ron ********
I myself am not up on that particular aspect. This is my first use of a METV.
Ron ********
Also keep in mind word is you are limited to two entries per year by land, but by air it is unlimited entries. That is my understanding anyway.
Declan **********
@Ron *******
it is only 2 per land for visa exemption. So long as you are entering on a visa and not visa exemption there is no limit on land borders.
Dan ********
@Declan *********
but some embassies are now limiting visa issuance to 1 per person per year, as Brandon states.
Ron ********
@Dan *******
Roger that. I will be having to get my knees replaced ASAP. Looks like I will need to get a medical extension or even go ahead and shoot for a non-o. Gotta have to do it at that giant BKK Immigration office. Sure not looking forward to that! I hear there is a small office in south BKK, but it deals with migrant laborers, not folks like us.
Ken ***********
@Ron *******
Chaeng Wattana is not so bad. It is often crowded and chaotic but mostly organized. Plus, only once a year with Non O/ Non OA one year visa.
Ron ********
@Ken ******
Good to hear a somewhat positive report about the place. Seems about all I hear are nightmares. Thanks!
Declan **********
@Ron *******
the only complaint I have about CW Immigration is the god awful smell of other people who don't know what soap and deodorant are šŸ¤¢šŸ¤¢. I would highly recommend you take something to smell regularly like the herbal stick from
****
šŸ¤£šŸ¤£šŸ¤£
Ron ********
@Declan *********
oh OK.......very good! Thanks for the good tip!
John **********
If all you're trying to avoid is putting money in a Thai bank then the simplest thing you can do is get a non-oa visa before you leave your home country
Ken ***********
@John *********
the only negative is the Non OA requirement of Thai insurance when most have other adequate insurance that the Thai immigration does not accept
Jim ********
@Ken ******
But perhaps the cost of a cheap insurance to tick the box outweighs the constant hassle of entering/leaving/border runs/visa runs? Some dummies pay agents
*****
+ baht for a visa. You can get insurance for less than that!
John **********
@Ken ******
yep, swings and roundabouts
Brandon ************
There is no rule that says you can only spend xx number of days in xxx amount of time. Anyone that says this doesn't know what they are talking about.

If you want to do
*****
between Thailand and Vietnam then you can do either Tourist visa 60+30, then go to another thai embassy in the area and get another tourist visa for a second 60+30, then go to Vietnam for 6 months. You'll probably have trouble repeating that every year though because most of the Thai embassies in the region are now limiting someone to 1 tourist visa in a rolling 365 days. So you would need to check with whatever embassy you plan on using.

You could also do like you indicated and do 60+30, then go to Vietnam for 3 months, then get another tourist visa and back to Thailand for 60+30. You may run into the same issues as above though.

You also have the 30 day visa exempt (no visa) that is 30 days with a 30 day extension. But you'll be doing a lot more border bounces to get extra days if you want to try that.
Taz **********
@Brandon ***********
you can only enter Thailand 2 times per year by land visa exemption
Brandon ************
@Taz *********
by land yes but have more options by air
Taz **********
@Brandon ***********
yes, by air it is supposed to be unlimited, or at least there are no restrictions , however depending on the airport you arrive and the IO who you deal with, some ppl are denied entry due to the number of times they enter on a tourist visa or visa exempt
Steve *************
@Brandon ***********
can they get a 60 day multi entry visa, then extend for 30 days, a quick trip over a border and fly back into Thailand and will be granted another 60 days as it will be within the 6 months period of the visa, then extend another 30 days? I have done that a few years ago, in fact I went over the border again and returned to Thailand just before the expiry of the 6 month visa, and was given another 60 days. So about 9 months was easily achievable in about 2018.
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