1 Year Thai Visas
Thailand’s Immigration system has grown increasingly confusing as rules change, visa fees are waived, and some visa categories are placed under more intense scrutiny by Consular officials.
Recently, Consulates that were known as “visa run” destinations began restricting the issuance of multiple tourist visas. Places such as Penang, Malaysia and Vientiane, Laos are seeing a decline in “visa runners” as these new Consular policies drive them elsewhere. Many long term tourists as well as expatriates began toying with the notion of remaining in Thailand on non-immigrant or immigrant visas.
This brings up the issue of long term non-immigrant Thai visas. Non-Immigrant Thai visas can be issued for different durations. For this reason, a properly prepared Thai visa application is essential to acquiring the type of visa one desires. A collateral issue is that of work authorization. In Thailand, much like the United States of America, the right to work and the right to remain in the country are two different types of entitlements. Therefore, one must submit separate applications to separate government agencies in order to obtain a Thai work permit and a Thai visa extension.
Thai Immigrant visas, also known as Thai permanent resident visas, allow the bearer to remain in the Kingdom in perpetuity. However, these types of visas are very difficult to obtain and require one to spend a great deal of time as a non-immigrant resident in the Kingdom of Thailand. For some wishing to remain in the Kingdom for a long period of time, the retirement visa can be an effective method of immigrating. Applicants must be at least 5o years old to apply for this visa category. With that in mind, it is very beneficial for those with bona fide retirement intentions. Those in Thailand on this type of visa are not entitled to apply for a work permit.
Those thinking of staying in Thailand for a long period should seriously weigh all options and do as much research as possible before making the decision to move. This is particularly the case for people who think that they will be allowed to stay in the Kingdom of Thailand for an indefinite period in tourist visa or visa exemption status. An even worse notion is the idea that one can simply remain in Thailand on overstay (in the Kingdom without proper Immigration documentation).
Some people in the past would remain in the Kingdom for years without making certain that their immigration status was kept up to date. People of the opinion that this is an acceptable way of remaining in the Kingdom of Thailand should note that Royal Thai Immigration takes a dim view of visa violators and will detain them if caught. Also, a person without legal status cannot obtain a work permit or other necessities of residence.
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