Job Discussion Forums

skann · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 25

Good to know. Good to know. So due to the bueracratic delays, even with a 60 day tourist visa extended for an additional 30 days, I'd still probably have to do a visa run to Laos or somewhere? What exactly does that involve? Is it just taking the bus over the border and waiting a day or two before coming back? Is there a limit on how many times you can do that? What would you say the average total time frame is to get a work permit, from the day you sign with the school until the day you're "legal"?

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

I already have a 'work permit' in the form of a non-imm 'B" visa which enables me to work legally while my school is doing the paperwork for my teachers' licence. Once I get the leachers' licence, I will be issued an actual work permit - a little book which looks like a passport and is valid until I finish the contract with my English school.

As to the visa run itself, it entails taking a bus to the border of a neighboring country (i.e. Cambodia). You then enter Cambodia (which you also need a visa for!) and re-enter Thailand immediately.

The duration of the extension they give you when you re-enter seems to vary. But, as others have said, wearing nice clothes and being cheerful and polite seems to help a great deal with the border officials.

I wish I knew how long it will be until I have a work permit through the end of my contract, but right now no one seems to know!

ontheroadagain · Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 66 Location: PRC since 07/04

ontheroadagain · Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 66 Location: PRC since 07/04

SHOULD I MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE OF THAI GOV INFORMATION WEBSITE I BOUGHT A RETURN TICKET TO BEIJING.

WHICH TICKET I FORFEITED FOR STAYING AFTER THE DUE DATE.
WHICH DUE DATE I ASSUMED LEGITIMATE, NOT KNOWING - SEEING - NOTICING - A STAMP BEHIND THE CARD...

THE DATE I RED ON THE "visa" WHICH IS TECHNICALLY SPEAKING AN "ENTRY VOUCHER" AND NOT A "VISA" PER SAY ............. WELL THE DATE WAS THE VALIDITY ON MY "ENTRY VOUCHER"

Extraordinary Rendition · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:31 am Post subject:

You were given a 60-day tourist visa. You had a 9 or so day overstay. Did you go to immigration or do a visa run? If you went to immigration, did they give you an extension of stay (after you paid your fine)? Have you found a job yet? After Songkran, there likely will be more hiring...

ontheroadagain · Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 66 Location: PRC since 07/04

I called this agent this AM, thaivisarun.com/map.htm which told me to rush to BKK Immigration Office, and sounded judicious� as I am not into corruption, hippie trips or bordellos...

I arrived and explained my situation, i.e. exit stamp hidden behind the card, misleading validation on the consulate�s visa, including medical bills and 3 x visits to the hospital demonstrating my overstay, one Doctor appointment after the visa�s validity, and also my wish in staying longer for employment purposes.

But that didn�t do it � I paid 6900 Baht, and off I went with a 30 days extension.

One must have a sick mind to staple a blank exit card on an entry/exit stamp!!!!!
From now on I should never hear any Thai complaining about foreigners' bad behaviors.

The Immigration Officer didn�t hide her emotion when realizing that the stamp was hidden behind the card, as she could not find it herself and immediately removed the card to staple it onto the other page.

Apologies? NO!
Racketed by the Thai Immigration Bureau? YES!

To sum it up and to do the math, I paid 1900 BHT for a 30 days extension, when actually Agents guaranty anyone a 60 or 90 extension for a total cost of 2000 BHT round trip AND meals included.

I wasn't raised that way but count me in if next time ~ !

PS - Happy Songkran to all Thai Immigration Officers reading this.

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:59 am Post subject:

Be happy it was a lesson learned relatively inexpensively.

Understand that in Thailand or any other country in the world - you and ONLY you are 100% responsible for your visas and passport.

The first thing you should do ANY time you pass through immigration - or even while you are at the desk - is examine the time during which your stay is valid. Even if the immigration officer makes a mistake - in ANY country - you are responsible for looking at your visa/passport and reporting the problem immediately. Yeah, it can be hassle, those of use who travel a lot and have the 50 page insert - sometimes really have to search to find the stamp. Doesn't matter - do it.

About a year ago I have a problem with non-Imm-B visa here when I came through immigration and they gave me 30 instead of 90 days. Quick trip to immigration and they fixed in on the spot free.

Once you go past the date of expiration, however, never expect help, you won't get it. Right or wrong, that's how it works everywhere. After you live overseas for a while, you'll pick up the habit.

Yours is not a unique situation by any means. The responsibility is yours alone. Don't blame it on anyone else. Even if you are just slightly in doubt - go to immigration and ask - before you are in violation of the law.

I don't mean to sound gruff - but it is a good lesson for everyone to learn.

ontheroadagain · Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 66 Location: PRC since 07/04

Hahaha cute!
I am 45, traveled and lived "all over" the world. I tell you what, I am copying and pasting this here after from my web page:

COUNTRIES WHICH I HAVE LIVED IN:
ALGERIA -
CHINA -
FRANCE -
FRENCH GUYANA -
GUADELOUPE Island -
GUAM Island -
INDONESIA -
SAIPAN Island -
SPAIN -
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -
UNITED STATES -

**********************

COUNTRIES I HAVE VISITED:
AUSTRIA -
BAHRAIN
BELGIUM -
BRAZIL -
CANADA -
CZECSLOVACIA -
ENGLAND -
GERMANY -
HOLLAND -
HONG KONG Island -
INDIA -
ITALY -
LUXEMBOURG -
MEXICO -
MOROCCO -
OMAN -
POLAND -
PORTUGAL -
SENEGAL -
SWITZERLAND -
THAILAND -
TINIAN Island -
TUNISIA -
YUGOSLAVIA -

The only country where I had my passport stolen was in France, and the only country that messed up with my visa was Thailand.
I had to pay brides driving cars between Morocco and Algeria, or to give them my spare tires...

Once riding on dirt roads in 1985 I ended in Oman from the UAE without knowing it. Arriving clueless in a small town/village lookalike I asked Policemen my way back to Al Ain.
All cops jumped off their chair and asked for my passport.... I only had my driving license and was acting strange not understanding yet that I was in Oman indeed.
To make it short we had a tea, smoked a few cigarettes and they sent me on my way back to the UAE. The fact that I was driving alone was what bothered them the most.
Fun enough, I never saw the border on my way back neither... Smile

I have consulted old foxes living in Thailand and for ages, the story about the entry/exit stamp maliciously hidden happens more than twice a month, I showed my passport to Thai friends, all laughed and admitted that it was pure fraud.

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject:

Do you mean to say that you are a mature adult, have done all that traveling and living about and STILL don't know to find the stamp on entry to be sure of the period of your stay??

You have been fortunate indeed. I'm surprised you've not run into more trouble. But, my guess is that, if you don't learn to find the stamp and KNOW when you are to leave a country - you will again find yourself in a similar situation. If not in Thailand - then somewhere else.

Fun to blame it on someone else and have friends and others sympathize, but bottom line - it is your responsibility.

Apparently no lesson learned here - just lesson lost . . .

ontheroadagain · Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 66 Location: PRC since 07/04

tedkarma · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject:

Well . . . you have certainly demonstrated the quality of your character here as well as showing how you deal with disagreement.