What visa options do I have to stay in Thailand with my girlfriend until March next year?

Jun 13, 2024
6 months ago
Anonymous ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I’m staying in Thailand with my girlfriend who is a teacher here she is on a work visa. We have been here 4 months now and I was wondering if anyone knew any types of visas I could get to be able to stay till March next year with her untill her contract finishes as I am currently only using tourist visas and info online isn’t very clear. Thank you
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat in Thailand is seeking advice on visa options to stay until March next year with their girlfriend, who is on a work visa. Suggestions include applying for an ED visa for studying, considering a Non-O visa if married, or returning to their home country for a METV. Other comments discuss the limitations faced if not married, mention the possibility of finding employment, and also suggest language schools or educational courses like Muay Thai for visa purposes.
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Durrant ********
I reckon you have a bit of a problem but dont worry someone will take good care of her
Bob **********
Privilege Visa that’s your go to

If you got some money to burn
Thomas *******
Marry her , border bounce, or boot off.
Christian *****
Yoga, Muay Thai and Thai language courses.

You could do any of those on an ED visa
Anonymous ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Christian ****
how does that work? As I already am training Muay Thai twice a week
Anonymous ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Anonymous member thank you! This was very helpful
Christian *****
Anonymous member For example/

They're all over the place in Thailand so, I am sure you can find something near by or convenient.

Good luck bro, hope you find something suitable :)
Christian *****
Anonymous member you sign up for a set period and you have to attend x number of classes a week.

There are numerous Muay Thai places that offer it, you'll have to search for it to find the ins and outs.

Sounds like a good route for you though if you're already training twice a week 🙂

I can't remember the exact details but it's something like 50k baht for 1 year, give or take.
Jae **********
Get an education visa
Andrew *********
Am thinking visa agent. One on every corner of Pattaya.

Also deep pockets.😁
Brian *******
How did you stay 4 months as a tourist? Did you get 30 day extensions twice with a border run in between?
Anonymous ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brian ******
30 day then extend, left, 30 days then extended, then left again and extending next month for the 3rd time
Brian *******
Anonymous member oh nice, I thought you could only do it once. I appreciate the info. I my get an education visa when i get there. want to take thai anyway.
Mikkel *******
Sign up at a known language school learning Thai. That'll give you a year's worth of visa.

Or sign up to study at a university. Theres some cheap bachelor degrees around that will both give you a visa for up to 6 years, and land you a degree if you finish. Cost is somewhere around 15K baht per half year in school fees, to satisfy the minimum requirements for getting a visa from immigration.
Mikkel *******
If doing it at maximum per semester, it's closer to 30K per half year in school fees. It's pay per credit. Theres a minimum amount of credits you need for immigration to accept it and provide a visa, and a maximum of what is allowed per semester. I think minimum is 9 credits, and maximum is 21.
Mikkel *******
All weekend courses. 9 credits would be for example 3 courses (3 credits each) and each course is over 5 school days. Spread out over weekends.
Mikkel *******
There will be assignments etc of course. It's a bachelor. Not a vending machine.but the workload when spread out like that is minimal.
Mikkel *******
I finished a 4 year bachelor in Bangkok last year. You can PM if you want more information
Martin *******
@Mikkel ******
could you Pm me also. In a similar situation
Mikkel *******
Yiba *******
@Mikkel ******
yes, please. I sent you pm
Rene ********
Its game over
Ray ******
@Rene *******
yes,why game over?
Rene ********
@Ray *****
as I said, the options are narrow but I guess there are still some
Tim ********
Raymond ******************
Depends on which country are you from?
Anonymous ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Angelik *******
Just marry her or you will have to get a job :))
Randy ******
@Angelik ******
Or I will marry her..5555555555
**********
*****
*****
Billy *******
Don't waste your life. Go back to your country and get busy earning a pension. Waaahmen come and go.
Anonymous ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Billy ******
I’ve worked non stop for the last ten years I’m having a well deserved break in this beautiful country, plenty in the pension 👍🏼
Janet ***************
If you are married non o visa
Jeffrey **********
@Joeamy ******
Usually girlfriend implies not married
Janet ***************
@Jeffrey *********
hard to get visa here unless you study or ED visa. Or border run every month
Fantasyy *****
Just buy a visa and done . Issues can be solved with money in Thailand
Anonymous ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Fantasyy ****
how would I go about doing this?
Kevin ******
Anonymous member don’t go down this road
Fantasyy *****
Anonymous member find an agent in your province get them to do it , everyone knows this country is full of this system . 99% issues can be solved with money 💰
Garrett ***********
If you were married you could follow her visa. As is you're either limited to tourist visas and border runs or get an ED visa
Jim ********
March next year is nine months away so not many options. Perhaps the best is to return to your home country, get the METV, and come back on that, which will give you the desired time
Anonymous ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jim *******
do you know how many times I can leave and re enter on the tourist visa? Or will they eventually stop me doing so
John **********
Anonymous member there are no rules governing entries on a tourist visa. You can enter until an immigration officer says no, although a number of consulates in nearby countries are now only issuing one tourist visa per annum. Visa exempt entries by land are limited to 2 per annum
Jim ********
Anonymous member Yep. What
@Bra****
said. Entry is never guaranteed, but the chances of being denied on an METV are extremely slim, as this visa is designed for this type of use. It's only if you have a history of bouncing that you may questioned. As Brandon says, if you use a border bounce transport company you'll be ok. If you're in Bangkok I always suggest
***********************
Brandon ************
Anonymous member The METV is valid for 6 months from the day it is issued and is good for an unlimited number of entries during that 6 months. So you can do 60+30 day extension, leave and return 60+30, and then just before the visa expires you do a final 60+30. That's about 9 months.

You're not guaranteed entry by any means, but you have much better odds with an actual visa.

Also if you're worried you can just use a land border bounce agency who will drive you to a land border and make sure you get out and back in without any issues. Since you'll have the multiple entry tourist visa, you wouldn't be subject to the limit of 2 entries by land border without a visa.
Brandon ************
Unless you are 50 years old or older, your only options are probably ED visa or to get a job yourself.
Brian *******
@Brandon ***********
Can he get an ED visa and then a work visa after? I have heard an ED visa may make it hard to get a different kind.
Mikkel *******
@Brian ******
that depends what kind of ed visa. If from some shady language school performing as a visa factory, then yes. Immigration knows what's up with that and will possibly deny changing to other visa types after.

Having had an ed visa from a respected uni? No problem whatsoever.
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