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What is the best approach for extending my stay in Thailand or managing border runs as a tourist?

Visa Extension30 Day ExemptionBorder RunsMulti-entry Tourist VisaED VisaTourist Visa OptionsThailand ImmigrationLong-term Stay in Thailand
May 2, 2024
6 months ago
Ian ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello group!

I am an American here on a 30 day exemption currently in Pattaya.

I would like to stay in Thailand for as long as I can. I absolutely love it here.

I have rented a condo with a month to month contract and my landlord has given me the proper paperwork to take to immigration for an extension.

I entered the country on the 10th of April.

My question is: What is the best order to approach renewing my visa or doing border runs?

Should I just apply for the extension now and save my border runs for later? Should I apply for some type of 6 month or 1 year Visa before my current exemption expires?

Any advice from experienced people is appreciated! Thanks 😊🙏
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, an American currently on a 30-day exemption in Pattaya, seeks advice on the best strategy for extending their stay in Thailand. They have the paperwork for an extension and are contemplating whether to apply for it now or pursue border runs, including obtaining a longer-term visa. Commenters advise caution with border runs due to entry restrictions and suggest applying for a multi-entry tourist visa which, along with extensions, could provide nearly nine months of stay. Other visa options, including an Educational (ED) visa, are also mentioned.
Jo **********
Ian if you take care of of your return entries you can manage you mission successfully. After staying 60 days leave the country for 5-7 days via air. Don’t do land border entries and return immediately. I did this for 18 months immediately after Covid never had a problem or a question. That does not guarantee you will be ok, but you are most likely to be fine
6 months ago
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Med *****
Actually you can get an ED visa it’s not cost to much around 85k for living 15 months in Thailand
6 months ago
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Graham ******
You're best option is to fly to your country of residence and apply for a Multi-entry Tourist Visa which with two border bounces and three extensions gets you almost 9 months in Thailand. There are other options if you are over 50, married to a Thai or a parent to a Thai child which I suspect you are not.
6 months ago
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Ian ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 I am also not anywhere near wealthy enough to afford an Elite Visa
6 months ago
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Ian ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 Correct. I am 40, single with no kids 🤣
6 months ago
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Ian ***********
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Brandon ************
Just because you want to stay in Thailand doesn't mean you can.

You're not going to get very far with border bounces, as you can only enter 2 times visa exempt per year. Once you have to start entering through the airport you're probably going to have a rough time of being interrogated by immigration once you've been in the country for more than a few months.
6 months ago
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Ian ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 I understand that and I am not looking to go border hopping indefinitely... I am more looking for the best course of action on how to stay for around a year.

Should I apply for a work permit or an education visa and learn Thai?

Any advice is helpful.
6 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Ian **********
 you cannot apply for a work permit just because you want one. You have to have a job offer first and your company supports your application.

You can apply for an ED visa but you'll need to find a school quickly as it takes 1-2 months for everything to be processed through the ministry of education and you still have to have 14-21 days left on your stamp in order to apply to convert the visa at immigration.
6 months ago
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Sam *********
@Ian **********
 I mean, to get a work permit, you will need a job. I guess you can use an agency to "Hook you Up" but I really dont know how legit that is. Other options would be. Education Visa, Get married to a Thai, get an elite visa (shelling out big money) or, well that's about it. But honestly, don't listen to the people that tell you it's impossible, everyone I know that has wanted to stay in Thailand long term has figured out how. Where there is a will, there is a way my friend. That being said, don't limit your options, there are plenty of other wonderful countries in SE Asia that you could probably find an easier way to stay in Long term, some of these other countries are far more welcoming to long term stays as well...
6 months ago
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Ian ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sam ********
 I'm not looking for shady ways to stay here, only legitimate.

So far, either getting a work or education visa seems my best option to stay.

If I apply for an extension, can I still apply for a work permit or education visa after that?
6 months ago
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Henrik *****
It will be hard to find work unless you are a specialist of some kind ( and if you can stay indefinately, you probably don’t have that kind of job), Thailand has enough people to do basic job, and a foreigner should have over 30.000 Baht a month in salary.

That’s what you are up against.
6 months ago
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Ian ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ****
 I have no interest in taking any jobs away from Thai people.

I have many skills and a few specializations that are not listed on that form.

I also have many opportunities to work remotely, but as I understand it, I still need a work permit to do so within the country.
6 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Ian **********
 the remote worker LTR doesn't require a work permit. Not easy to qualify though
6 months ago
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Ian ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 Is it possible to apply for a work permit if you are self employed? i.e - Youtubers, Streamers, ect
6 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Ian **********
 only if your company is in Thailand and you employ at least 4 Thai employees plus other requirements.
6 months ago
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Ian ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 This information has been very helpful. Thank you.

It seems like I need to plan to leave TH and apply for a 6 month visa, then find another country to live in for the other 6 months.

This group rocks! Thanks ✌️
6 months ago
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Wayne *********
@Ian **********
 you need a job before you apply for work permit
6 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Ian **********
 if you mean a tourist extension then yes. But there's no guarantees you can ever apply for a work visa in Thailand as it requires a huge amount of paperwork to do inside the country. Most jobs will not or cannot provide the amount of paperwork required and send people out of the country to apply for the work visa since it's much easier at a Thai embassy.
6 months ago
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Ian ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 So then the most pain free way will be to apply for my extension, find either a school or a job and if time runs out, Return to my country and apply at the Thai embassy from home and return on the proper visa?

If this is what I must do, I will do it. I absolutely adore Thailand and do not want to make anyone mad.
6 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Ian **********
 Most people just go to Laos and apply for a visa there.
6 months ago
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Ian ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 That is not out of the question. If I can avoid going back to the US, I would prefer that.

Any idea on the time frame for that to process?
6 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Ian **********
 apply in the morning and pick up 1-2 days later
6 months ago
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Ian ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 That sounds alot easier than doing it inside Thailand.... which is strange to me, but ok... I will look into that
6 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Ian **********
 visas are meant to be obtained at embassies. It's much easier to do it that way than trying to convert inside the country which isn't the way things are meant to be done.
6 months ago
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Ian ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 This is all new information to me and much appreciated. The internet has so many conflicting sources that finding definitive answers is almost impossible... even from the Thai embassy website.

I like this idea of going out of country and applying for a longer visa and then returning a few days later.

I just want to do this properly and enjoy my stay, while also finding a way to be a benefit to Thailand. 🙂
6 months ago
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Sam *********
@Ian **********
 I cannot answer those questions sorry. I will say though, that if you want a work permit, you will need to find the job first.
6 months ago
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Sam *********
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