waters

I've just returned from Savannakhet, Laos, where I was granted a one-year, multiple entry Non-O visa (Non-O Thai Spouse). No problems at all.

I took a rather convoluted route, flying to Nakhon Phanom, spending a night in Mukdahan, and then crossing the bridge the following morning. I spent a night in Savannakhet and then returned back to Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom - spent a night in Nakhon Phanom and the flew back to Bangkok today.

It was a fun trip...

Pics are here...

http://photos.58bits.com/a-short-trip-to-savannakhet-laos/

Hi anto - just to be clear, you were using the SavanaVegas service correct?

If you have 400k seasoned it would make more sense for most to obtain immigration extensions of stay for 1,900 baht rather than a visa for 5,000 baht that requires exit of the country every 90 days. If not seasoned a single entry O visa would be all that is required to provide the time.

Understood lopburi3 - and that makes sense. On the other hand, we travel regularly and so leaving the country every 90 days is not a problem.

I suppose at worst I'll come back with a single entry 90 day Non-O and then will have to apply for the extension.

Will be interesting to learn if OP will also be requested to show funds and if so how much.

The OP is interested to learn this as well ;-)

Just returned from Savannket and used SavanaVegas .Now they look for Thai bank book with with B400,000 ,contary to what i was reading on this site .

Yikes - would be really interested to know if this is specific to the SavanaVegas service or not. I do NOT have B400,000 'seasoned' money in my bank account (at least I wasn't planning on putting it there).

Will be interesting to learn if OP will also be requested to show funds and if so how much.

The OP is interested to learn this as well ;-)

Good luck CHANGOVER! I may take along a note from my wife as well just in case ;-)

Awesome - thanks tig28.

Thanks Nana Cowboy, espinoza, and Amusements.

Will report back. :-)

My turn this time...

Going to Savannakhet on Thursday to apply for a 1 year multiple-entry Non-O Thai Spouse visa (my first Non-O application).

Will fly to Nakhon Phanom on Wednesday, travel down to Mukdahan and spend the night there before an early morning crossing over to Savannakhet to submit my documents to the consulate. Was planning on enjoying the scenery, food, generally exploring along the way.

Will take the following as per this post...

http://www.thaivisa....in-savannakhet/

Originals:

My passport

2 photos

Actual marriage certificate and Kor Ror 2 form

Copies:

Marriage certificate and Kor Ror 2 form

My and my wife’s passport name pages

Wife’s Thai ID card, front and back

Wife’s tabien baan book front page and her name page.

Was wondering if the visa application form can be found online anywhere? Wasn't able to find one here.. http://www.thaisavan...et/th/index.php

Any last words of advice before heading over? Have seen other posts reporting that 1 year multiple entry visas maybe getting harder to receive from consulates or embassies in the region.

Will post details of the trip and application process on return....

Thanks lopburi3

A somewhat strange questions I guess, but....

I'm on a Non-B, single, 90 day stamp, and I've just been issued with a Workpermit. (I have about 30 days left on my Non-B entrance stamp).

I 'could' now apply for the one year extension to stay at immigration, and have all the documents ready to do so.

But I was curious to know what would happen if I left Thailand, and instead applied for a multiple-Non O (Thai Spouse) (NOT the 1 year extension to stay from a Non-O Thai-spouse in-country).

Would my Workpermit still be valid?

I'd have to leave the country every 90 days as per my multiple Non-O, but I travel often, so that's fine with me, and I wouldn't have to worry about reporting in every 90 days.

Thoughts?

Thanks Nisa and Mario2008,

Okay - I get the 60 day extension now. You're extending your 15 or 30 day visa waiver, and so at the end of the 60 days you have to leave, and come back and then apply for another 60 days.

As for the 1 year Non-O visa for the reason of Thai Spouse - I've also read and understood that you can apply for a 1 year multiple entry Non-O in Savannaket - and that you will not be asked to show proof of income. You'll come back to Thailand with a Non-O Visa (a real visa, not an extension) and you can use this for up to a 1 year - being given a 90 day stamp each time you come in - and all in - it's a little more convenient that the 60 day extension (since you don't have to visit immigration).

The one year extension to stay (with no 90 day in/out requirements) is a whole 'nother thing, and requires proof of income (40,000 Baht) or 400,000 Baht of 'seasoned' money.

Off to immigration on Thursday morning to apply for a 60 day extension against my 30 day visa waiver which expires on Monday. Fingers crossed.

Thanks Nisa. I think we'll go together for the first one just to be sure.

Can I ask - have you applied for a 60 day extension, right after another 60 day extension? I.e. back to back?

Can anyone confirm whether 'the wife' really has to go as well? This is only the 60 day extension - not the 1 year extension and interview right?

Hi jen1025 - thanks for this. Interesting reading and lots of points there to keep in mindy. Although the list of requirements from the Thai Embassy in Vientiane only ask for copies - I think I'll take my originals along just to be safe.

Best,

waters

Hi Psych01 - I'm not so sure about that one. I've read that for degrees and transcripts that are not in English , that a certified translations may be required - at least for other offices like the TCT. But I've never heard of certified translations being required for a Non-B Visa. Since Visa applications are processed outside of Thailand - this would be a nearly impossible requirement to fill.

And there I was hoping that this thread might turn into a consolidated 'on-topic' discussion about Non-B visas for teachers. :-)

Wow @Colabamumbai - thanks again - all very helpful. Sounds like you have done an amazing job of surviving all the paperwork on your own. :-)

Hi Colabamumbai - thank you for your reply. Very helpful.

In your point 9 - The teachers waiver from Pruksapa. I'm assuming 'Pruksapa' is the Teachers Council? And that this wavier is the two year waiver in lieu of a teaching license?

Also in point 8. The form called 'Form of Employment Certification' - can you tell me a little more about what this is? Is this evidence that the school (or organization) is eligible to employ aliens? Is this a Thai document?

Best,

water

Hi All,

At some point in the next week or two I will need to leave Thailand in order to apply for a Non-B visa for the purpose of teaching employment.

I've been reading information from labor and MFA offices, and of course many posts here and over at Ajarn.com - in particular http://www.thaivisa....332-non-b-visa/, and http://www.thaivisa....n-b-processing/

Here are the official requirements from the Embassy in Vientiane

http://vientiane.tha...consular_check/

If for no other reason than to clarify my own understanding - here is what I believe is a summary of what I may need for a Non-B Visa application at the Thai embassy in Vientiane, or the consulate in Savannakhet in Laos (should I favour one over the other? Savannakhet might be a bit cheaper for me)

Must:

1. Application form + 2 3.5cm x 4.5 cm photos
   
2. Letter of offer/employment from school along with a copy of the employment contact (are both required?)
   
3. A copy of my degree certificate and transcripts along with any other academic qualifications (are originals ever asked for? Should I take originals along just in case?)
   
4. The Fee (2,000 Baht)
   

Maybe:?

1. A Letter of Recommendation from the MoE? or Teachers Council? I still don't know what this is exactly. Is this the 2 year TCs teaching license waiver involved here? Or is this only required for the WP application when I get back?
   
2. A teaching certificate? I don't have one (I have a non-education degree). Is this related to 1) above? Or again, is this only relevant to the WP application when I get back?
   
3. I've read that a receipt/or letter of work permit approval based on a WP3 application may NOT be required for a teacher http://www.thaivisa....-b-processing/. WP3 is an application for an alien work permit while the alien is OUT of the country - and would usually be completed by the employer and then required to support the Non-B visa application (for the purpose of employment) at the Thai embassy or consulate where the Non-B visa application is being made.
   
4. A copy of the school's registration certificate?
   
5. A copy of "Letter from the Ministry of Education of Thailand or other sub-authorities concerned approve the employment of foreign academic personnel."?
   
6. Police clearance certificate (CRB). I don't have this and it will take 120 days to get one from my home country. Iv'e been told by both @Colabamumbai and @ThaiRich in an earlier post - that this will not be asked for (although it is discretionary). I've been living in Thailand for a while now - and was thinking of getting a Thai CRB done to take along just in case.
   

I'm not sure if this will make a difference - but I gather the demonstration school I've been offered a job at is fairly well known. The contract and letter of offer will likely come from the parent university for the school. Staff at either the Thai embassy in Vientiane or the consulate in Savannakhet will also likely have heard of the school.

Any tips, answers or advice related to any of the above would be greatly appreciated before I set off - in particular whether I should go to Vientiane or Savannakhet (or whether it makes any difference). I'm currently waiting for the letter of offer and contract from the school (which will arrive next week when term starts again).

Best,

waters

@Colabamumbai thanks!

Hi Mario2008,

So it does - and so does WP3.

http://wp.doe.go.th/en/downloadform

Thanks!

I'm off to get a new batch of passport, visa, and work-permit photos.

I've read (and been told) that work-permit photos are no longer the large 5x6cm (with a blue background) size.

A post a while back from Sunbelt said the new photos size was 3x4cm - and then someone else said it was 4x5cm.

Does anyone know what the new photo size is for a work-permit?

Hi ThaiRich - thanks for the reply.

I spent 15-20 minutes searching the forums here at ThaiVisa before posting my question. I found several posts concerning individuals who had criminal records (or misdemeanors) and were asking about home country searches (while in their home country). Perhaps my search wasn't as thorough as it could have been - but I tried, and didn't see a recent post that was directly related to my question.

waters

Hi All,

I've been offered a job at a very good demonstration school in Thailand (and therefore the University associated with the school will be my actual employer).

At some point over the next week or two, I'll likely go to Laos to apply for a Non-B visa (90 days) so that on my return - the school can process my work permit application and 1 year extension as they normally would.

The school itself has said specifically that they do not require a criminal record check, however, I've read on the Web site of the Thai Embassy in Vientiane, that when applying for a Non-B because of work at an academic institute - you will be required to show a "copy of police clearance or certificate of no criminal conviction."

http://vientiane.tha...consular_check/

I'm Canadian - and I've been living in Thailand on and off for 12 years now. An official 'fingerprinted' criminal record check from Canada is going to take 120 days.

http://www.canadaint...ire.aspx?view=d

Or I may be able to ask a relative to send me a non-fingerprinted check, from a local police station in Canada (assuming they can do this on my behalf).

Or I may just apply for a Thai criminal record check - from here at the main Bangkok police station.

So my first question is:

1) Does anyone know if the Thai Embassy in Vientiane is forcing Non-B applications for work at an academic institute to supply a criminal record check?

My second question is:

2) Is there anyplace else that might NOT be enforcing this requirement? What about the consular office in Savannakhet?

Thirdly:

3) Having previously worked in Thailand - and having lived here (although not a permanent resident) for close to 12 years - would a Thai Police criminal record check suffice?

I'm concerned about the long delay that will occur if I need a 'fingerprinted Canadian criminal record check'.

Thoughts or suggestions greatly appreciated.

waters