Jump to content

Recommended Posts

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 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Your visa begins once it's approved, so don't get it too long before your actual flight. It takes a day or two to process, but anything more than a week before you leave is just wasting the time on your visa.

 

When I first came out my non-immigrant, multiple entry, ED visa was through my camp, Lanna Muay Thai. Only a few camps are allowed to offer an ED visa anymore (the rule changed the year after I got mine) - Master Toddy's is one of the gyms that can offer it. So, I had a letter from the camp owner and passport copies of the gym manager, signed, etc. I take that to mean that you need a letter of guarantee from whatever entity is giving you an ED visa, usually a language school. Depending on where in Thailand you are going, you can find a language school online fairly easily, but obviously proceed with caution if anyone asking you to send money in advance. The Walen school is a good place to start looking - they're pricey, but the most legitimate school I've come across. They have locations in different cities and can give you a good idea of the process. My second year I had the same visa but through a language school instead of the gym. My school sucked in terms of teaching me any Thai; it is designed as a way for westerners to have visas and that's basically all it's good for. Bummer because I wanted to learn Thai, but great because the hours are super flexible and I got my visa.

 

Note, you will still have to either check in with immigration or go to a border every 90 days and pay for a new stamp. That's the multiple entry part.  Another avenue is teaching, which is a work visa. Anyone just do border runs?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi! 

  • I first came on a tourist visa and did visa runs.
  • The second time, I got an ED visa from my gym (Master Toddy's).
  • I'm now on a working visa.

So, I've had experience with all three ways.

 

If you get a tourist visa, you have two options. The first is to get a visa on arrival, which will be valid for 30 days and can be renewed at any border on a visa run. I'm not sure just how many times you can renew it, though. I did it three or four times in a row with no problems. The second is to can apply in advance at your local Thai consulate/embassy for a 60 day double entry tourist visa. During that time, you just need to report to the immigration office every 30 days while you're here. When you reach then end of your second 60-day stay, the visa can be further extended by 30 days at the end on a border run, making it valid for a total of 180 days. I'm not sure if you would have an issue getting a brand new tourist visa to cover the rest of your trip after you're done with that one. Can anyone else help with that?

It seems that with a tourist visa, you will need proof of a return flight This wasn't the case when I had mine (a few years ago), but there has been a recent visa crackdown.

My experiences of border runs were always pretty easy - just take a van, cross the border, get a stamp and come back. They're just a hassle if you're a grump like me. They can be a fun way to meet people, though. There are plenty of companies here which arrange the trips and take care of all the paperwork for you, which is good. I used http://www.thaivisaservice.com/

As Sylvie said, you can do the education (ED) visa for a long-term stay by going through a Thai language school or training at a gym that offers one (although there are not many). Master Toddy is currently working with the Ministry of Education to be able to provide 5 year visas in the future, which I am really excited about! It requires a lot of paperwork, though. You have to build a curriculum for them to assess. We've also had the immigration people come to the gym during training to check up on us a few times, taking photos of us training and stuff. 

If there's anything else I can help with here, please let me know!  :smile:

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm currently here on an ED visa. The only hassle has been going to immigration every 90 days, but they are currently in the process (might be finished now) allowing students to report to immigration online. Fingers crossed for five year ED visas...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I kind of think that if you're coming for less than a year, you (and specifically your wallet) would be better off coming in on a triple-entry tourist visa. Not exactly sure about the States but when I came in from Canada I got a triple entry visa (3 * 60 days for a total of 180 days) for about $100?

 

If you go through a school you're looking at paying about 20,000 baht for a year (about $700) and you won't even use it all. You'll also have to go through the hassle of paperwork and immigration visits. While you're here, you might be interested in seeing Laos or Cambodia or Vietnam for a couple days that you can fit in with your visa runs. You'll also be more free to move around and change camps without being tied to a language school in a specific part of the country.

 

Just some food for thought.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys!

Its looking like I'm going to have to take the triple entry 180 day tourist visa, then head to the Philippines for however long it takes to get a new tourist visa then back to Thailand. Going to the Thai Embassy in Washington to get it all sorted out in person a few days before I fly to Thailand. Fingers crossed it will work out.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually, the US only offers a single or double entry tourist visa.  That means you get 60 days for each entry.  After your first 60 days, you can go to immigration for a 30 day extension; at the end of that you have to do a border run to activate the 2nd entry, and you do the whole process over. It will give you a total of 180 days.  After that, you'd apply for a new tourist visa in a nearby country, but you will only get a single entry.  (That is a risky option since the rule changes last year.)  Your best bet I think would be the ED visa.  Then you only have to report to immigration every 90 days.  Visit the website for the Thai embassy you will applying to in the US (Washington I think you said).  Some embassies are stricter than other as far as required documents.  If you do decide to apply for an ed visa, look into that now, because whomever is sponsoring the visa will have to have documents prepared here and then send them to you in the US to submit with your application.  

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Hey guys! I went to DC and got a double entry 60 day tourist visa, and it all worked out okay. I'll go traveling for about 10 to 15 days and return with the regular 30 day visa. Easy Peasy.

Just kidding, it required a ton of paperwork, but the lady at the Embassy was helpful. Much cheaper than the ED route, and more fun because I got to travel to DC and see all the embassies and whatnot.

(now to get my passport back in time for my flight....... ha)

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Most Recent Topics

  • Latest Comments

    • Lev brought to my attention Lankrung Kiatkriangkrai, who happens to be on the Holy Grail card, Christmas Eve of 1982, when Dieselnoi beat Samart. He's fighting Boonam Sor.Jarunee for the vacant 112 lb Rajadamnern title, and displays just a beautiful increasingly tempo'd style showing how boxing and the weapons of Muay Thai went together in early Golden Age. You can watch the fight below. He was a 1984 Olympic Boxer under the name Teeraporn Saengano. The good people of Muay Thai wikipedia, including Lev, have filled out his wikipedia page to give more anchorage of his fighting in history, a hugely important step in preserving the legacy of Muay Thai in Thailand. Without records we just have stories.  You can find his wikipedia page here. This is some of his record context for the fight:   Klaew Tanakul the promoter was a very big supporter of amateur Thai boxing, often financially lifting fighters up out of his own pocket, so its of no surprised that one of the best amateur boxers who was also a top Muay Thai fighter was featured on his promoted card. Video timestamped to about 25 minutes in if anything goes wrong. The fight starts very slow, but watch for his gradual uptempoing, his use of the jab, as he closes the distance round by round.  
    • Hi. Sorry about your situation. Rest assured that everyone (me too) unearths a revelation about a bad habit or poor technique once in a while. Main thing is you've found out and want to fix it. IMO and experience (25 years including teaching), it's an issue because it's every single kick as you said and this detracts from good technique and power and balance etc and longer-term development. It also stifles ability such as kicking and then following immediately with a Thai leg block or follow up weapon e.g. another kick (but I gather you are aware of this though from your post). My advice would be to spend a lot of time on the bag and drill the kick lots in a conscious state of mind so you're aware of how your standing foot behaves on each kick and force the ball of the foot to stay in contact with the floor. Set targets of getting 5, then 10 in a row without jumping. The mind and body will adapt over time. With pad work you'll loose the discipline and repetitions need to correct this - plus a lot of pad holder partners just won't see or bother to correct you. So try and cut that down for a while. Good luck.    
    • Hi. You can't go wrong with Twins or any good, reputable Thai brand like Fairtex. They will last you years if you air and dry that out after every session. I bought a Fairtex pair in 2017 in Thailand and they are still in great shape (I train 2/3 times a week). Before that I had a pair of Windy Sport I bought from the shop near Raja Stadium in BKK, that again lasted me years. For your size and stature, 16oz are perfect, and good all round - so you can spar/play and hit pads and bag comfortably. Don't cut corners with price or quality. If you've got good gear the experience will be more enjoyable. For the record I've been involved in Muay Thai since 2000, lived in Thailand and taught in London. Enjoy the MT journey 🙂
  • The Latest From Open Topics Forum

    • I can only comment on Perth. There's a very active Muay Thai scene here - regular shows. Plenty of gyms across the city with Thai trainers. All gyms offer trial classes so you can try a few out before committing . Direct flights to Bangkok and Phuket as well. Would you be coming over on a working holiday visa? Loads of work around Western Australia at the moment. 
    • Hi, I'm considering moving to Australia from the UK and I'm curious what is the scene like? Is it easy to fight frequently (proam/pro level), especially as a female? How does it compare to the UK? Any gym recommendations? I'll be grateful for any insights.
    • You won't find thai style camps in Europe, because very few people can actually fight full time, especially in muay thai. As a pro you just train at a regular gym, mornings and evenings, sometimes daytime if you don't have a job or one that allows it. Best you can hope for is a gym with pro fighters in it and maybe some structured invite-only fighters classes. Even that is a big ask, most of Europe is gonna be k1 rather than muay thai. A lot of gyms claim to offer muay thai, but in reality only teach kickboxing. I think Sweden has some muay thai gyms and shows, but it seems to be an exception. I'm interested in finding a high-level muay thai gym in Europe myself, I want to go back, but it seems to me that for as long as I want to fight I'm stuck in the UK, unless I switch to k1 or MMA which I don't want to do.
    • Hi all, Does anyone know of any suppliers for blanks (Plain items to design and print a logo on) that are a good quality? Or put me in the right direction? thanks all  
    • The first fight between Poot Lorlek and Posai Sittiboonlert was recently uploaded to youtube. Posai is one of the earliest great Muay Khao fighters and influential to Dieselnoi, but there's very little footage of him. Poot is one of the GOATs and one of Posai's best wins, it's really cool to see how Posai's style looked against another elite fighter.
  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      1.4k
    • Total Posts
      11.5k
×
×
  • Create New...