Ok I need some advise. I'm from The US. 47 years old. Not married and want to stay that way. Retired and I do not want to work.

Is there anyway I can stay in Thailand? I would not mind doing boarder runs for three years. But I do not want to stay 9 months and have to leave for months.

One more question. Can I buy a motorcycle?

Thanks!

Well you don't won't to work That eliminates a Non-B visa. How about if you go to school for a year you could get an educational visa. Or you could study to be a Buddhist monk. You not only get a visa, but a place to live and food. This would help cut your expenses.

Get a 1 year visa from a Thai consulate in the States; such as Portland, El Paso, etc. You have to cross the bridge every 3 months.

Jing Jing wrote:Well you don't won't to work That eliminates a Non-B visa. How about if you go to school for a year you could get an educational visa. Or you could study to be a Buddhist monk. You not only get a visa, but a place to live and food. This would help cut your expenses.

Yeah ! FREE board AND FREE Food,Good here,Aint it ???

randerson79 wrote:Ok I need some advise. I'm from The US. 47 years old. Not married and want to stay that way. Retired and I do not want to work.

Is there anyway I can stay in Thailand? I would not mind doing boarder runs for three years. But I do not want to stay 9 months and have to leave for months.

One more question. Can I buy a motorcycle?

Thanks!

First off, I'm no expert on Thai visas, but I have researched it to death for my own benefit and this my opinion as to how I interpret the rules.

I'm guessing you can go for a Non-Imm visa type "ED". You can get this by attending a Thai language course. However, I believe you can only get 3 months at a time. Here's a link for more on this type visa:

http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/v ... php?t=3236

*Unless attending a university than I believe you can obtain multi entry.

The other choice is a Non-Imm "O" (family) which I believe Mackayae eluded to, however you require evidence to support your application such as a marriage or birth certificate or documentation proving a connection to family. You can obtain Multi Entry with this one which is good for one year.
Apparently, the Non Imm "O" (family) visa used to included "for the purpose of visiting friends" which is no longer a valid reason (at least not in the US).

Here the sub-categories for the Non-Imm visa:

For the purpose of conducting business and conference (Type “B”) [not including employment]

For the purpose of employment (Type “B”)

For the purpose of studying (Type “ED”)

For the purpose of visiting family (Type “O”)

For the purpose of research (Type “RS”)

For the purpose of religious activities (Type “R”)

For the purpose of working as a film-producer, journalist or reporter (Type “M”)

For the purpose of official duties (Type “F”) e.g., military exercises or government assignments

For the purpose of retirement (Type “O-A”)

Each of these have requirements which can be found here:

http://www.thai-la.net/visa/visa-non-im.htm

At the end of the day, there is no easy way for someone in your situation to stay long term.

Get a work permit, volunteer half day a week to local school speak english, for free , the school will love you, less paper work than any visa

education thing is good, tho 3 months now. but good reason to cross over to laos, re up visa, grab cheap alcohol, oh, don't drink, bailey's for me, i'll reimburse, plus.

think aua language school could help you out there. plus you get to learn thai, very helpful since, lucky bastaard, single and out and about. that thai will come in real handy, your first priority and don't tell/let anyone know you speak/understand it. ignorance is bliss.

any help in contacting, let me know, i'll forward and pass on what ever i can.

I was in the exact same situation and same age last year and I can vouch that the Consulate in Houston stuck to the rules as Papaguido layed out and would not give me an "O" visa. The best they would do is a multi entry (3 entry) tourist visa good for 180 days. I was able to extend each visa for 30 days to give me a total of 9 months. I don't know if you would be able to extend each entry now, especially in Nong Khai. Reading on Thaivisa it sounds like you can get a 2 entry tourist visa in Vientiene but you may have to go back to the US to get another 3 entry. There is also talk of limiting the number of consecutive tourist visas but I have not seen it as policy yet. Again on Thaivisa they are saying that Penang is limiting consecutive tourist visas. I got married and now have changed to a Non "O" so have less problems now but the first attempt at an extension is not far away.

Craig