Currently I am in Thailand on an O type Non-img marriage visa, just lets say that I am having some trouble on the marriage side can I look at letiing my visa run out and continue living here on tourist visas? I read that there are now no restrictions on how many tourist visas that I can recieve, is this true? Or is it still only 3 in one year.
For information I work 4 on 4 off so I would be less than 26/27 days in the country each time with the travelling.
If I can extend my one year O visa how do I do that? Its all very confusing. Help!
And as always thanks in advance.
Working offshore and living in Thailand
You won't have any problem at all. In fact, a mate of mine is happily married but as he also works offshore as you do, he doesn't even bother with a marriage visa or extensions. I was in the same boat myself and until I decided to quit the offshore life, I never bothered either. Also, if you have kids from your wife then you can of course get an O visa based on that.
BTW, sorry to hear your marriage is not going as well as you'd hoped for.
BTW, sorry to hear your marriage is not going as well as you'd hoped for.
Don't try to impress me with your manner of dress cos a monkey himself is a monkey no less - cold fact
As long as you spend more time out of Thailand than in you'll have no problem at all. I go back on tourist visa exemptions all the time and as long as you're coming through the airport there is never a problem; the restrictions are to stop people living in Thailand without a visa by crossing land borders, not to stop people who just want to have a lot of holidays every year.
So to clarify for the OP, I guess we're saying that if he comes from a country which is granted 30 day visa exemptions, he can continue to come in this way with no visa at all.
It seems he will be in for almost a month and then out for a month, then back in again. Is this too often and will this schedule sound any alarms upon entry? Pete
It seems he will be in for almost a month and then out for a month, then back in again. Is this too often and will this schedule sound any alarms upon entry? Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
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margaretcarnes
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Working offshore and living in Thailand
As I understand it from family who work offshore, the travelling time to and from the ship/rig isn't included in the 4 weeks on, so actually eats into the 4 off time. Which as the OP says will give him just under 28 days in LOS each time, and over 28 days out. Can't see a problem really for (as you say) people who get automatic 30 day entrys.
Plans can be made in advance for any extra shore leave days due. In the event of any future problem or crackdown by Thai immigration it would be easy for a Brit for example to re-route to Malaysia.
What does our visa guru Lomu think? (If we can drag him away from avatars!)
Plans can be made in advance for any extra shore leave days due. In the event of any future problem or crackdown by Thai immigration it would be easy for a Brit for example to re-route to Malaysia.
What does our visa guru Lomu think? (If we can drag him away from avatars!)
A sprout is for life - not just for Christmas.
I have to say that the 30 day tourist Visa has been working fine for me for the last 18 months.
I work offshore (in fact am offshore in Vietnamese waters now) and I come in for 27 days every 4 weeks.
I have still managed to get drivers licenses, Green Book, Cert of Residency, bank accounts etc. So its no real drama. The key to it all seems (IMHO) to have a permanent residential address.
This way there is no issue with leaving the country or returning.
Cheers,
Foxy
I work offshore (in fact am offshore in Vietnamese waters now) and I come in for 27 days every 4 weeks.
I have still managed to get drivers licenses, Green Book, Cert of Residency, bank accounts etc. So its no real drama. The key to it all seems (IMHO) to have a permanent residential address.
This way there is no issue with leaving the country or returning.
Cheers,
Foxy
We may be confusing the Op and other readers again. The following are three totally separate and different things per Thai immigration laws:
1) Tourist visa
2) Visa exemption (time permitted in-country based upon traveler's country of nationality)
3) Visa upon arrival
The main thrust of what we're talking about here is #2. Pete
1) Tourist visa
2) Visa exemption (time permitted in-country based upon traveler's country of nationality)
3) Visa upon arrival
The main thrust of what we're talking about here is #2. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
There have never been any restrictions on the number of Tourist visas anyone can have, even consecutively. (Although some neighbouring countries to Thailand make their own rules up).
As has been said, there is a distinction between a Tourist visa and a visa exempt stamp. The former is applied for at a Thai Embassy or consulate outside of the country and grants 60 days on arrival - it can be extended by another 30 days within Thailand.
The visa exempt stamp is simply a "permitted to stay stamp" that is given to certain nationalities (all major western ones). If you arrive at the airport, this allows a stay of 30 days. Arrival overland or by sea allows 15 days. There is no need for a visa - depending on nationality.
Through the airport there are no restrictions on how many of these 30 day visa exempt stamps you can have. If you arrive overland and only get 15 days, the limit is 4 consecutively.
I can't see a problem for the OP as long as he arrives through the airport each time.
As far as annual extensions go, the OP will not get one unless he is "happily married". The Thai wife's co-operation will be essential. There are other ways to extend - ie over 50 years old or you have children. They are separate issues that can be dealt with if the OP requires.
As has been said, there is a distinction between a Tourist visa and a visa exempt stamp. The former is applied for at a Thai Embassy or consulate outside of the country and grants 60 days on arrival - it can be extended by another 30 days within Thailand.
The visa exempt stamp is simply a "permitted to stay stamp" that is given to certain nationalities (all major western ones). If you arrive at the airport, this allows a stay of 30 days. Arrival overland or by sea allows 15 days. There is no need for a visa - depending on nationality.
Through the airport there are no restrictions on how many of these 30 day visa exempt stamps you can have. If you arrive overland and only get 15 days, the limit is 4 consecutively.
I can't see a problem for the OP as long as he arrives through the airport each time.
As far as annual extensions go, the OP will not get one unless he is "happily married". The Thai wife's co-operation will be essential. There are other ways to extend - ie over 50 years old or you have children. They are separate issues that can be dealt with if the OP requires.