Asia - Non Immigrant Visa

Living in Thailand on a tourist visa presented itself with more than a few obstacals last year.

I don't work while I'm in Thailand, and don't have 3 million baht for a Investment visa.

Do the wise flyertalkers have any hints.

7 months, in the winter, of course, I'm in and out of the country... regardless of needing to leave every 30 days, so a multi-entry visa is needed.

I've read up on www.thaivisa.com but looking for experience or advice from the people I trust.

PM, email, or feel free to post here... as usual, thanks in advance

Maybe a 60 day Tourist visa, which can be extended in Thailand for an add'l 30 days would knock off at least two visa runs? You can apply for this visa in Canada.

A single-entry or multiple-entry non-immigrant visa (90 days/1 year) typically requires some sort on invitation letter from an enterprise in Thailand. Not sure how easily these letters are to obtain? You would apply for this visa in Canada from a local Thai embassy/consulate.

There are many ads in the Bangkok Post re: "One year visa" with prices ranging from 5,999 - 10,000 THB. Not sure how dodgy this approach is, or if it is tied to your having to create/register a company? ( I assume these fees are in addition to the consular visa fee; a one-year non-immigrant B multiple entry in the USA costs $125 {~ 5,000 THB}. )

Some urls are: (copied from today's Post)

www.kkt-interlaw.com
www.thecriterionlaw.com
www.thailandlaw.com
www.siam-legal.com
www.lawyer.th.com

Edited to add that the at least one of the firms advertising one-year visas is legitimate. Their fee (heard from two first-hand sources) ranges from b6,500 to b8,500 and results in documentation and support yielding a one-year multiple entry B visa obtainable in Canada or the U.S. Provided you leave and re-enter Thailand just before your 12 month visa expires you gain an extra 90 days, so in essence a 15 month visa.