gabacho

I have been trying to get a copy of my contract ever since I have been here without success. When I request it, I always get some vague answer about how I will get it "soon". Other teachers here have also been unable to get copies of their contracts.

I have been teaching at a government school for eight months, and I lack three months to receive the one months end of the year vacation pay. I am planning to leave at the end of the year and the school knows this.

Judging from conversations that I have had with several former and current teachers, there is strong reason for me to be worried that the school will attempt to fire me before the end of the year in order to save the vacation pay that they would owe me if I finished the year.

Is there any protection or recourse against this?

Problem not solved!!

I went there. When I finally found the place and walked in, there was no receptionist behind the counter, only a couple of men lounging around who appeared to be friends of the consul. The consul himself seemed to think that it was a bit of a joke that I had any expectation that he would give me a visa (I get the impression that he is a political appointment who does not want to be bothered by actually doing a job). He told me that they had still not received the proper forms from India (after a month and a half?) so they could not issue me a visa. I questioned him about the alternatives but he seemed to know even less about the India visa regulations than I did. He suggested that I go to the passport office in Kolkata and get a visa there. I asked him if I would be allowed to leave the airport to do this and he said to "ask them". I asked if there was was any way if they could send the paperwork to the Bangkok office and receive the passport in return. I received a response that was somewhere in between no "no way" or "ask them". He seemed to know even less about India visas than I do???????

Visiting India has been a dream of mine for years and I have been planning this trip for a couple of months. It is a bitter disappointment

Wow! Thanks!

Problem solved (probably)

I could not find a consulate here on the internet, and a local who has lived here all her life told me that there wasn't one.

The Consulate of India, Songkhla may be able to help.

An update-

In response to another post, I was informed that there was a newly opened (apparently for a month and a half) consulate of india ( I spell it with lower case letters after my experience) in the southern part of Thailand in Songkhla. After having already bought a ticket to India, relying on being able to get a visa here in Songkhla where I live, I went to the consulate here to apply for a visa. When I finally found the place and walked in, there was no receptionist behind the counter, only a couple of men lounging around who appeared to be friends of the consul. The consul himself seemed to think that it was a bit of a joke that I had any expectation that he would give me a visa (I get the impression that he is a political appointment who does not want to be bothered by actually doing a job). He told me that they had still not received the proper forms from India (after a month and a half?) so they could not issue me a visa. I questioned him about the alternatives but he seemed to know even less about the India visa regulations than I did. He suggested that I go to the passport office in Kolkata and get a visa there. I asked him if I would be allowed to leave the airport to do this and he said to "ask them". I asked if there was was any way if they could send the paperwork to the Bangkok office and receive the passport in return. I received a response that was somewhere in between no "no way" or "ask them". He seemed to know even less about India visas than I do???????

Visiting India has been a dream of mine for years and I have been planning this trip for a couple of months. It is a bitter disappointment.

Wow! Thanks!

Problem solved (probably)

I could not find a consulate here on the internet, and a local who has lived here all her life told me that there wasn't one.

The Consulate of India, Songkhla may be able to help.

I live in Songkhla (far South of Thailand). I have a flight booked from Bangkok to Kolkata on Oct. 11. I need to get a tourist visa from the India consulate but am unable to get 5 days off from work to wait in Bangkok for the visa. I could at most, be in Bangkok for one day on any Monday, Or two days Oct. 9,10 before the flight leaves. I am a U.S. citizen with a work permit. I have been in Thailand for 5 months. Would it take 5 days for me to get a visa, or would I qualify for next day service. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

It sounds like they made a special exception in your case. Since I am not Thai, it doesn't soud like something I could depend on. I may not get such a helpful lady at the counter.

If you hold a work permit they will process it overnight. Last summer when my parents were here they wanted to travel to Delhi to see the Taj Mahal on that Friday as Jet Airways has some great deals. Tuesday we went to the embassy and was told come back on Monday. I pleaded with the woman behind the counter and she said if I could show that I actually worked in Thailand they would process overnight because if you are Thai I beleive the process time is 24hours. The woman was quite friendly and helpfull and I practically was begging!

Thanks for confirming my worst fears

I'll try the post in the visa category anyway in case someone knows of a service that can help

Unfortunately I don't think you're going to score

I've had several India visas, and they make me wait every time I'm not even sure if you can apply by post (the embassy is 5 mins from our office) may be an idea to check out their website or give them a call (they don't seem to answer emails).

To qualify for next-day you must be a Thai national or have held a WP for 3 years.

http://www.embassyofindia-bangkok.org/

I live in Songkhla (far South of Thailand). I have a flight booked from Bangkok to Kolkata on Oct. 11. I need to get a tourist visa from the India consulate but am unable to get 5 days off from work to wait in Bangkok for the visa. I could at most, be in Bangkok for one day on any Monday, Or two days Oct. 9,10 before the flight leaves. I am a U.S. citizen with a work permit. I have been in Thailand for 5 months. Would it take 5 days for me to get a visa, or would I qualify for next day service. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

Songkhla City

Walking distance to the beach!

I will be moving to Songkhla to teach and I will need an apartment. Does anyone have any recommendations? Size is not important. A studio is OK so long as it has cooking facilities. I would like an economical apartment near the beach that has availability of high speed internet. I would consider one without air conditioning if it has a good ceiling fan. I will be arriving in Songkhla around May 3. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

I will be moving to Songkhla to teach and I will need an apartment. Does anyone have any recommendations? Size is not important. A studio is OK so long as it has cooking facilities. I would like an economical apartment near the beach that has availability of high speed internet. I would consider one without air conditioning if it has a good ceiling fan. I will be arriving in Songkhla around May 3. Any recommendations would be appreciated.