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Visas To Visit Thailand Long Term

By Ben Hart

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 21Nov2009 Word count: 459 Viewed: 339 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

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. Only those age fifty and above can apply for this type of visa. That being said, it is extremely useful for those who truly intend to retire. 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 especially true for those who mistakenly believe that they can remain in Thailand for a prolonged period of time on a tourist visa or visa exemption. 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. Those that think this is an effective method of remaining in Thailand should be forewarned that Thai Immigration officers take visa violators very seriously and can place a person in Immigration detention should they be caught. Also, a person without legal status cannot obtain a work permit or other necessities of residence.

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