Long Term Visa

Thailand is one of the most popular long term vacation destinations in South East Asia. This is likely due to the great beaches and tropical climate combined with the easygoing nature of the Thais themselves. When it is said that Thailand is a popular "long term" vacation destination this is a relative term as there are those who consider a long stay in Thailand to be 3 weeks, while others routinely will stay in the Kingdom for over three months. When planning a trip to South East Asia one should take time to make a reasonable calculation as to how long one intends to remain in Thailand.

Many Americans dream of coming to Thailand to take up an expatriate or "expat" lifestyle. For US Citizens, there are a number of business opportunities that can be enjoyed under the Treaty of Amity between the United States of America and Thailand. Not least amongst the benefits is the right to own virtually one hundred percent of a company in Thailand. This is an option that practically no other foreign nationals in Thailand can enjoy. Incorporating a Thai Company under the Treaty of amity can provide many legal advantages to the American expat in the form of work authorization (a Thai work permit), multiple entry visas, and Thai visa extensions for the purpose of continuing employment in the Kingdom.

Although long term visas are rather difficult to obtain in Southeast Asia, either in Thailand or at an Embassy or Consulate in the region, it is possible to obtain a 1 year visa at a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in the USA. In many cases, applicants must provide a great deal of documentary evidence to justify their visa application approval, but often it is easier to apply for a visa from the USA before leaving rather than waiting and seeking the same visa in Asia. Royal Thai Immigration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seem to prefer that applicants in Southeast Asia obtain a short term visa at a Consulate close to the Kingdom and then apply for a Thai visa extension. The downside to this process is the fact that Thai visa extension applications are very time consuming to compile and the Immigration procedures can be confusing. Further, many applicants do not wish to receive authorization to stay for one year uninterrupted, which is what the Thai visa extension entails. Anyone wishing to leave the country and return to the Kingdom on the visa extension must first obtain a Thai reentry permit which must be valid to remain in lawful Thai Immigration status. For most business travelers this procedure is far too cumbersome and they would be better served by applying for a multiple entry long term Thai visa from the outset rather than taking this course of action.

Contact Integrity Legal For More Information About the Thai Visa Process!


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