Job Discussion Forums

ronald_reagan · Joined: 30 Jan 2009 Posts: 50

I will be headed to Siam at the end of April so that I may begin teaching the semester in May. I might as well get there in April for a little R and R, right?

Anyhow, what is the deal with the visa? I have been to Thailand 3 times in the past and all I needed was a passport, mind you I didn't stay more than 3 weeks. I am sure that answers getting a visa. But my question is this: Can I apply for the visa while I am still in the United States at one of the consulates or can I even do it online? What do you actually need for the visa, I was told Passport, diplomas, background check. Is it advisable, even possible to apply for such a visa at one of the consulates? But then, again, going to Cambodia for a weekend might not be so bad.

MaiPenRai · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 390 Location: BKK

If you want to teach legally in Thailand you need a Non-Imm Visa. Type B in most cases unless you are married to a THai or studying Thai language. It's really not that hard to find info on getting Visa's online. If you are going to survive in Thailand, you will need to start finding some of these simple things out for yourself.

Of course you can apply for a Visa while still in the USA. The vast majority of Visa's MUST be applied for in a country OTHER than the country of destination. You are not coming to be a tourist so you will need to stop thinking like one. How would you apply for a Visa online? The consulate or Embassy needs your passport to stamp your Visa inside.

I am assuming that you are in the USA. In that case, the consulate in Houston is well known to be quick and hassle-free. Usually what you need is your passport (make sure it is valid for a least 6 months from the date you will enter Thailand), application form filled out, 2 passport type pics, $65 for a single entry Non-B visa, a letter from the school or company you are working for. Sending a copy of your degree and criminal check is probably due to all the new retsrictions here in Thailand.

It shouldn't take more than a couple of days to process. You can mail in an application to most consulates. Just make sure that you provide a paid envelope or courier bag so the consulate has some way to return your passport to you. When I sent my application in the mail I used a courier because I would never trust the postal system with my passport.

Cambodia does not issue Non-Imm B Visa's to the best of my knowledge, so you couldn't get it there. Laos is usually the country of choice for Non-Imm B Visa runs. But Malaysia is also popular for those in the south. Cheaper to get it in the US if you have a job lined up alreay and can get a sponser letter. If you want to go to Cambodia, just get a re-entry permit at the immigration office in Bangkok before you leave Thailand.

based on your previous posts, I assume you are working with a recuiting company in wich case they should be providing you with this information and again, its really just a 10 minute search to find most of this out as well.

Songkran festival in April is from April 13-15, but the craziness will start on the 10th this year because of the weekend. I suggest you get here before or after those dates and not during. Travel during that time will be insane and unsafe due to DUI's.

adventuramust · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 126

I did searching on the web and came up with the same conclusion, but your summation was better. Anyway, my confusion stems for all the discussion about visa runs. I don't recall what website I was looking at the mentioned 90 days and the need to cross the border to restart the clock, but the bottom line to me is.......If you are in the states, get your multi B visa, do you still have to do visa runs? I thought about the multi for the purpose of going into another country for a vacation!

adventuramust · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 126

I was looking at different consulate sites, and noticed the one in Los Angeles had more items required listed than others. I was wondering if there was a difference in turn around times.

I have two questions. Is a financial statement required? Do I need to include a copy of my airlines ticket and if so, does it have to be round trip?

Bangkok Hound · Joined: 28 Oct 2006 Posts: 66 Location: Bangkok

adventuramust · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 126

If I were to accept a year contract in Thailand and during the break decided to go into Cambodia, for example, what would I want before I left the states? Should I skip getting a multi entry visa or one that's valid for year?

I ask that because if I still have to do visa runs until I get my work permit, what would I gain? Then if I go into another country, I start all over? Shocked

The more I ask, the deeper the.....

Bangkok Hound · Joined: 28 Oct 2006 Posts: 66 Location: Bangkok

With a multiple entry visa you don't do visa runs. You just do border runs. You just get stamped out of Thailand, into the other country, out of the other country, and back into Thailand. You don't go to consulates and apply for and pay for new visas. Most people use one of the services in BKK. For about 2000 baht they take you to Cambodia and bring you back.

The short of it: Get a multiple entry visa if you can. They are gold. Many people here would kill for one.

adventuramust · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 126

Thank you so much for clarifying that. That's a huge difference between crossing the border and returning vs. a visa run. Never saw any posts that indicated that.

Thank you kindly. Smile