If you are from the United States, you must be knowing about the Thailand-Amity Treaty. If not, you may refer to our previous article for this. This article will help you to understand the process of application and issuance of a Thai visa if you are from the Americas.
Visa Exempt Entry
Citizens of the United States with a tourist passport and an onward or return flight ticket do not need a visa to enter Thailand. For entry, the passport must still be valid for at least six months. It is applicable for arrival by air or land. Thai immigration officers will stamp the passport with an immigration stamp allowing a 30-day stay in Thailand. By paying a charge of 1,900 baht to the Thai Immigration Bureau office, tourists can extend their stay for 30 more days.
Citizens of the United States with a diplomatic or official passport should apply for a visa before travelling to Thailand. It is possible for diplomatic or official passport holders to enter without a visa on occasion. However, this is at the discretion of the airline and/or immigration officials.
Tourist Visa
If a person can have plans to stay in Thailand for longer than 30 days. In this case, he or she should apply for a tourist visa at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in the US before travelling there. The tourist visa is valid within 90 days of its issuance date and provides for a 60-day first stay. One can renew a tourist visa after arrival in Thailand. However, this is at the discretion of an immigration officer for an additional 30 days. The total stay should not exceed 90 days.
Citizens of the United States can stay in Thailand for more than 90 days in any six-month period. For this, they must get a valid Thai visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate authorised to do so. All American nationals who seek to obtain a Thai visa should contact the Thai Immigration Bureau. They can do so for specific visa criteria and procedures, according to the US Embassy. Those who do not follow visa restrictions risk having their entry to Thailand refused at the border.
Work Visa
A Thai work permit and a Thai work visa are mandatory for all foreigners who wish to work in Thailand. A firm, foreign government, or other body in Thailand must file an application on behalf of the work visa application for a work permit. The work visa is valid for one year after its issuance.
Thai Retirement Visa
Foreigners with age 50 and up are eligible for Retirement Visas in Thailand. These visas are only valid for one year with prohibitions in working in any capacity. Applicants must meet the following requirements, according to Thai immigration:
- The applicant must be able to show proof of a pension or other regular income from a source outside of Thailand.
- The applicant’s pension or other regular income must be at least the equivalent of 65,000 Baht per month.
- Alternatively, the applicant can meet the financial criteria by keeping an account in Thailand with a minimum balance of 800,000 Baht.
- When renewing their visa, applicants must show that they have 800,000 Baht in savings each year.
- Instead of retirement, any candidate who is married to a Thai citizen may be eligible for a visa.
Thai Visa Overstays
If a person does not leave Thailand before his or her airport permit or visa expires, he or she is in the country illegally. It will be essential to pay an overstay fine in order to leave Thailand. Overstaying a visa is punishable by a fine of 500 Baht each day, up to a maximum of 20,000 Baht. The fine is due to the Immigration Bureau, the Immigration Office at Suvarnabhumi Airport, or another departure point.
Thai police identify low-budget tourist locations and detain those who have overstayed their visas. Those detained may be imprisoned in the Immigration Detention Center until their fines and tickets out of Thailand are paid. Those who overstay their visas for more than 200 days may face deportation after serving time in the Immigration Detention Center. Tourists must avoid Visa overstays at all costs.
After paying a fine, expired short-term visas can be extended, although the number of days after their expiration is deducted from the extension period. To avoid a fine, you must apply for an extension by the next working day after your visa expires. Please keep in mind that extensions are not possible on Saturdays, Sundays, or Thai holidays.
Thailand’s entry/exit rules are subject to change at any time. Contact the Royal Thai Embassy, 1024 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20007, phone 202-944-3600, or the Thai consulates in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York City for further information on Thailand’s entry/exit regulations. For in-person consultation and guidance throughout the Visa application, issuance or renewal process, mail a request at [email protected].
