Job Discussion Forums

loniponi · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 13

Hey,

Heading to ECC in BKK to get a CELTA in Oct. Don't have a visa yet.

I am planning on applying for jobs immediatly after course completion, so if work permits take 3-4 weeks, I think the B visa (90 days) would be way better....gives me more flexibility in time...

I keep hearing different stories about non immigrant B visas are the best, but a rep. of ECC said it is NOT the one to get, that I should get a 60 day tourist visa instead...because it is unlikely that I could even obtain a non im. b!!!

Should I even say that I am going to get CELTA when I apply for the non imm. b visa?

I don't know what to do!!! Any suggestions are WELCOMED!!!! Thanks.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Well kind of right and kind of wrong.

The problem is that you can easily (with just one letter not masses of paperwork as Sig says, that's in Asia, not the West!) obtain a multiple entry Non-immigrant B Visa from most Western countries. These are good for 15 months in 90 day intervals. Now the problem is most schools won't give you a WP right away (if at all) so if you come in on a single entry tourist Visa, you'll either have to do runs every 30 days (once it runs out), or apply for a longer Visa at a Consulate outside of Thailand (which is going to take 2-3 days). NONE of the countries in Asia will issue a multiple Non-imm B without a WP! For sure! So it will make your life that much easier if you get it beforehand!

Do you have a letter or e-mail stating you are attending their course. If so please PM me as to where you are countrywise (as some are very, very, very easy to obtain Non-imms from) and I'll let you know how to do it and where to apply! 'Cos I'm nice like that!

Wisco Kid · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 9 Location: Soka, Japan

I have to agree with sigmoid.
By far the easiest thing to do would come on a tourist visa and then make a 2-day trip to laos to get your Non-Imm B after you get all the paperwork from your employer.
You'll get a 3 month visa which is then extended to a year at the immigration office.

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

How many teachers do you know that get offered a work permit right away? Not many IME! And you need a WP to actually extend the Visa.

A multiple entry Non-imm B or even a triple or quad entry tourist Visa will make your life 110% easier, there's no two ways about it!

Do you know the paperwork they require at Laos? Well one of them's a degree and as far as I know Loni ain't got one. So where should she go now then?