What Is The Best Tourist Visa For A Long Trip To Thailand As A US Citizen?

One thing I need everyone trying to give advice about 6 month METV's to know is; just because someone says they 'live' somewhere doesn't mean they meet the requirements posted by the thai consulate in that country to get a 6 month METV. Most of the thai consulates in S/E Asia require people to hold legal long term residency in the country where they're applying not just live there as a tourist..

And seeing as the O/P

@LO ***

never weighed back in at all we're done. They have good advice on how to facilitate a 6 month or more trip here.

Good Luck,

@LO ***

if you want this thread re-opened message me or a member of the moderating team and we will re-open it for you.

i think it would be nice to keep the commenting open, so at least

@LO ***

can answer some questions who are asked and give more information.

As an added possibility...

If you travel to Australia, Brisbane...reports are that they are issuing the METV to Americans.

Perth is NOT.

ONE other is...

@Tod ********

??

Assuming you can not get a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa, I believe the best you can do is maybe eek out a year:

1. Buy a single entry tourist visa in Vietnam. This will give you 60 days in Thailand.

2. Extend that visa when you're in Thailand for 1,900 THB. That'll extend it for another 30 days.

3. TRY to purchase a new tourist visa in Vientiane, Laos. If you are successful, you can stay in Thailand for another 60 days, extendable by another 30,

4. Repeat step 3 at the various consulates close to Thailand (Laos and Malaysia), until a consulate tells you "no".

5. Enter Thai on a visa exempt *BY LAND* (ideally via Laos). You get 30 days visas exempt, extended-able by another 30 days, to collect your things and go elsewhere.

As as US Citizen you can get 2x Non visa entries, 30 days extendable for 30 days plus at least one or two SETV which will last 3 months each. gets you 10 months of the year...

For 6 to 9 months, that would be a multiple entry tourist visa. You can *ONLY* get that in America, OR if you have legal long-term residency in Vietnam.

For five years or more, there is the elite visa.

For 9 month to about 2 years AS A TOURIST, you'll need a combination of the Multiple Entry Tourist Visa, visa exempts, tourist visas, and prayer.

On a tourist visa you can not work.