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Hello! I am making my second venture off to Thailand for a training camp. I spent 1 month at sitmonchai about a year and a half ago and loved it. Ended up fighting at the end of my stay was a crazy experience. I have had a handful of Ammy TBA sanctioned Muay Thai fights and K1 fights in America. I leave for my second trip in Jan purchasing a one way ticket. Id like to go back and visit Sitmoncahi first for some time but would like to venture to the Chang Mai/Bangkok area. Do the experienced Thailand vets have any recommendations/ trips for my venture? I was curious how the visa process worked? Thanks!

So, I'm planning to go to Thailand in early October, I wanted to stay for around 2/3 months just depending on how well I spend my money. I'm looking at the 60 day visa 'cause I know it can be extended for 30 days. Anyway, I was just wondering when does the visa start? I've read on some places that it starts as soon as you receive it, but then I've read elsewhere that it arrives when you enter Thailand. The Thai embassy website says 'Single entry tourist visa will be valid for 3 months (you must enter Thailand within the validity of visa from the date of issue)' which means nothing to my simple brain. And when can you extend the visa? Do you have to wait for the 60 days to be up then extend? I'm from England if that matters, thanks.

Visas are pretty much a hassle to deal with, and since the military take over they have gotten more strict in many ways, but it seems that the serious drop in tourism - not only because of change in country image, but also things like Russian currency collapse - has initiated a more friendly approach. A new 6 month multiple entry visa, with 60 day border runs, starting in November. "The visa, costing 5,000 baht (US$139), will be available from November 13 this year. “It will grant travelers multiple entries during a 6-month period, for up to 60 days per entry. All foreign nationals are eligible to apply for METV,” the statement said. The new visa will allow visitors to enter and leave the country as often as they want over the six-month period. It also means tourists can effectively stay in Thailand for six months with the visa, though they will have to leave the country every 60 days to keep the visa valid. In/out ‘border hops’ are a fact of life for many people residing in Thailand, even those with valid, long-term visas."

So I don't even know where to start. I've got a round-trip ticket from the US to Thailand for a total of 220 days (to study and train Muay Thai). I've been clicking links and emailing in circles for weeks trying to figure out this VISA process. I'd like to obtain a non-immigrant visa somehow. The closest I've gotten is "The Royal Thai Embassy, Washington DC" and the page that states the different types of visas and where to mail the documents, fees, etc. but I'm not sure exactly what to apply for. Any advice is greatly appreciated. I have 30 days before my flight (May 19). Thank you