Job Discussion Forums

[shrewsyj]

Hi there,

I've got a voluntary placement for two months teaching in Thailand. I've been advised by the Thai consulate that I need a non-immigrant visa to do this, which would require a letter of invitation from the people I am volunteering with.

However, the organisation says that organising a non-immigrant visa is more complicated than it needs to be. They say I will be alright with a two-month tourist visa and that I can pop over to Burma if I need to renew it.

Should I just get a tourist visa, or insist on getting the non-immigrant one?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks

[Thwartley]

If getting the letter from the agency won't cause any inconvenience or delay your trip, why not make the extra effort to cover all bases?

Odds are not having it wouldn't cause a problem.

However, there are legions of corrupt, money grubbing officials in Thailand. You attract the attention one for whatever reason and they may look for a reason to make your life difficult. Unlikely, but why take the chance when it can easily be avoided?

Carelessness and uneven application of rules are usually more of a concern though. Perhaps those people at the charity you want to work with have never had a problem so they assume there never will be one. Probably the immigration officials at the airport won't pay attention to you but perhaps one officious *beep* is on duty the day you arrive. Ask 5 officials about the rules here and you get 7 different answers etc.

Here's another good reason: maybe you get here and your plans change. You want to help out with another organization and they insist on the non-imm B. If you didn't already have one, you would then have to go to a Thai embassy in a neighbouring country to obtain it.

[shrewsyj]

Many thanks for the advice! Much appreciated.