Moving to Thailand from USA

Thailand is a country that the Europeans have never colonized; with its rich history and culture, it is now one of the most popular tourist destinations. As a result, the expat community is increasing in this country. Mostly those people prefer Thailand who want to relocate to the Far East. But before relocating to Thailand from USA, you must apply for a visa which is a requirement by Thai immigration law. However, if you are moving to Thailand from USA as a tourist, you do not need to obtain a visa.

Get in touch with our immigration lawyers in Thailandfor relocation details. They will guide you regarding the time limit and situations where you must obtain a Thai visa as a US citizen. If you are aged 50 or more, and you want to immigrate to Thailand from the USA to enjoy the amazing landscapes and affordable living costs, you can trust the legal services of our lawyers. They will help you obtain a retirement visa.

Visa exemption for US citizens

If you want to immigrate to Thailand from USA with a tourist passport and an onward or return ticket, you do not need to obtain a visa. But this kind of entrance imposes some obligations that tourists must abide by. Your passport must hold a minimum of six months validity remaining to be allowed entry. If you enter Thailand by air or by using the land route, upon arrival, the Thai authorities will place an immigration stamp permitting thirty days to stay in the country. But this stay can be extended to another thirty days, but the Thai immigration Bureau office will impose a fee of 1,900 Baht.

If you want to relocate to Thailand from USA, our lawyers can help you apply for the visa you want.

Types of visas in Thailand

If you are moving to Thailand from USA, you can rely on the legal backing of our Thai attorneys. They will help you select the correct visa type according to your purpose of visit to Thailand. Please find below a general guide to the visas that Thai authorities are offering:

• Tourist visa: if you want to immigrate to Thailand for more than thirty days, you must apply for a tourist visa. This extendible visa allows an initial stay of 60 days, and it can be extended for the next 30 days by paying a fee of 1,900 Baht;
• Work visa: in Thailand, the work visa is valid for one year. So, if you want to relocate to Thailand from USA, you must obtain a Thai work visa and permit. Our immigration lawyers in Thailand can help you obtain a Thai work visa and a permit. So, you can get in touch with our experienced lawyers in this regard;
• Retirement visa: this type of visa is valid for one year. Any employment is strictly prohibited for retirement visa holders, and they must follow the rules of the Thai government for applicants who want to acquire this visa.

You can get details about the requirements for a Thai retirement visa from our attorneys in Thailand. They will provide you with all the relevant information regarding moving to Thailand from the US. Here is also an infographic on this subject:

What are the consequences of visa overstaying in Thailand?

If you immigrate to Thailand from USA and overstay there, you will be considered an illegal resident. So, you will be obliged to pay an overstay fine to the Immigration Bureau. In addition, if you get arrested while living illegally in this country, you may be held in the Immigration Detention Center until you pay your fine and a ticket out of the country. Please find below the fine you will be required to pay for overstaying in Thailand:

• Per day fine for overstaying in Thailand is 500 Baht;
• The maximum amount of fine is 20,000 Baht;
• If you overstay your visa for more than 200 days, you may be required to serve time in the Immigration Detention Center before getting deported from the country.

Feel free to address our Thai law firm for support in avoiding such penalties.

How to obtain a work visa for Thailand as an US citizen

You must apply for a Thai work visa at the embassy or consulate in the United States if you wish to relocate to Thailand for employment reasons. Apart from the work permit, you will also need a Thai residence permit that will enable you to live in the country.

In Thailand, work permit applications are processed by the Department of Employment. The validity of the work permit is for the term of your employment contract or one year.

Here are the main documents required to immigrate to Thailand from the United States based on employment:

• the valid passport and the work permit;
• a letter from your employer detailing your job in the company or organization, along with your position, pay, length of service, and relevance for the Thai work market;
• company records, including balance sheets, shareholder lists, and registration certificate of the company hiring you.

Once your application for an employment permit has been approved, you can start working. However, if you want to stay in Thailand for an extended period of time, you have to apply for an extension of stay at the Immigration Bureau. You have the right to a one-year extension of your work and residence permit. After this year, you can keep renewing it, and after 3 consecutive years of extensions you may become eligible for permanent residency.

You can obtain detailed information on work and residence permits and their extension from our immigration lawyers in Thailand.

Family reunion for US citizens moving to Thailand

It is also possible to relocate to Thailand from the USA based on family reunion visas. Among them, there is the marriage visa.

You must apply for a spouse visa if you are married to a Thai national and wish to move in with your partner. The duration of the visa is 90 days.

The list of documents required when you move to Thailand from the United States based on a family reunion visa implies:

• the marriage certificate (if you’re married to a Thai national).
• birth certificates of any children who are citizens of Thailand, if relevant.
• Thai spouse’s ID card and household registration.

Please note that additional proof of kinship may be required, especially when it comes to applying for a marriage visa.

You can get more information on this subject from our Thai lawyers.

How to immigrate to Thailand from the USA as a retiree

If you are 50 years old you can also relocate to Thailand based on a retirement visa. There are two types of retirement visas available:

• the one-year retirement visa (O-A); 
• the retirement visa for 10 years (O-X).

Please note that you also need health insurance when applying for a retirement visa from Thailand. Feel free to get in touch with our law firm in Thailand for details about the specifics of this visa. Here is also our video on this subject:

Access to Thai permanent residency as a US citizen

After 3 years of continuing residence in Thailand, you are eligible to apply to become a permanent resident. You must apply at the local Immigration Office for a permanent residency visa for this purpose.

In order to obtain the residence permit, you must provide a number of documents. The paperwork may differ significantly depending on your situation, but the following is a common list of documents needed for the application:

• the application form;
• the valid passport in original and copy;
• your latest visa: before submitting an application for permanent residence, you must have held this visa for at least 3 years.
• information about the reason you moved to Thailand from the US;
• a health certificate issued by a local healthcare provider.

Following 5 years of permanent residency, you can apply for Thai citizenship.

Contact the knowledgeable lawyers at our law firm if you want to know whether you can extend your short-term expired visa after paying a fine. Our lawyers will provide you with comprehensive guidance in this regard. In addition, if you want to immigrate to Thailand from the USA and want to initiate a business in this country, you can rely on the legal assistance of our lawyers. They will help you to carry out business regulations in Thailand.