MattFromPoland

Your posts have really helped me reconsider my decision. The more research I do and ask people around, the more I realise going to Thailand may well be a bad idea for me. A major problem is that I don't have a very big amount of money that I could use in case something doesn't go as planned. And I don't even have anyone from whom I could borrow money if something goes wrong (not that I'm a fan of borrowing money from people!). I think I have to some extent bought into a narrative that is promoted by TEFL industry, which makes teaching in Thailand look easier and better than it actually is. The comment about competing with Filipinos was really sobering, especially that I followed it by researching groups offering jobs and looking at the salaries (sometimes ridiculously low) that Filipinos are offered. All in all, I think I will now focus on career options that offer more security and stability.

I have a bachelor's degree in English studies, that's what I meant.

Thank you for the answers, it seems that a visa run would indeed be a good option if the borders weren't closed. I want to go to Thailand around October next year and I'm hoping that the situation will become more normal by that time. Visa status alteration suggested by ubonjoe sounds like a good option and I think I will take care of the legalisation and translation of my diploma in my country in hopes I will be able to apply. By work visa I mean non-immigrant B visa of course. On another note, does anyone know how difficult it is to find an ESL job in October in comparison to earlier months? I might have to write some repeat college exams in September in my country, so if I decide to go to Thailand, I'll probably do it at the beginning of October.

Hello, I'm planning to move to Thailand to teach English next year. However, I would like to look for the job in Thailand, which means that work visa would not be available for me; I would have to come there on a tourist visa. The problem is that I'm not sure how to go about it legally; is it possible to somehow turn a tourist visa into a non-immigrant B visa after I find a job? I'm worried after watching the attached video in which it's suggested that only people from a very limited number of countries can get a regular tourist visa (and not a special tourist visa which cannot be turned into a work visa). I've tried typing my country's name on this website: https://thaievisa.go.th and it seems that I'm not able to apply online so I'm not sure I would have any chances in person. What do you think about the idea of going to Thailand on tourist visa to find a TEFL job there? Is there any SEA country in which it's less risky? Any advice is appreciated! ,