galwaygirl

would they really put me in prison? i mean i know i could get deported and fined and would but i assumed prison was reserved for more serious offences like working, earning a wage and not giving the government any tax or something. oh i dont know what to do, im quite scared.

well i've already applied for a non-i visa so i might as well use that. since i'l only be leaving the country and coming back once i think i mightn't bother getting a muli entry non-i visa, my consulate told me i couldnt get one anyway. since i'l only be in thailand for like 10 days max on my second trip in theres no point messing around with visas.

still tempted to volunteer without a wp. i know i shouldnt but i'l be really remote and rural and i dont think i'd get caught. i'm not sure what to do.

my flights booked so i dont have the option of cutting my trip short due to a number of factors. if i dont volunteer i'l be by myself without a purpose for month.

ok doesnt look like i can get a work permit. say i hold this non-i visa but dont work as its illegal. can i still travel around thailand with it? would i get asked for my work permit even though i wouldnt have worked? say on leaving thailand to go to cambodia?

also if i go to cambodia for a week can i re-enter thailand for under 29 days without another visa or extention??

yes thank you Nienke thats exactly what i meant, could i find elephants that were trained fairly. i think one of the earlier posters mentioned the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai too. after reading their website i've decided i'l go there. sounds great. never liked the idea of 'shows' and i was only ever interested in riding one and giving it a good pat on the head. Thanks everyone.

no, i wont be able to go to the islands first as my friend is arriving in late june to go with me down there. shes a few years younger then me and she wouldnt be willing to spend a month alone in a different country. she's already bought her ticket so that isnt really a option (shes not very flexible). Can i not get the ball rolling while here or can the charity?

*sigh* every time i think i've it sorted theres something else to arrange. no wonder everyone goes over illegally to volunteer. i wont do that but i can very well understand why they do it. ok, just so i know, IF i can somehow get this permission off the labour ministry, then what? do i need to do anything else?

any cost to the charity i'l cover myself. they're pretty up right when it comes to legal stuff so i'l send an email now to see whats the story regarding this.

Don't get too excited just yet. Getting the visa that makes you eligible to work as a volunteer here is only half way through the requirements.

PRIOR to working as a volunteer, you'll need a work permit to be processed and approved through the Labor Ministry.

There's no such thing as a "work visa".

sorry my bad i looked up the correct name on the site its called a Non-immigration Visa?

Looked it up. so labour ministry? weird i was talking to my country's consulate and they didnt mention this.

Hi everyone,

I'l be in thailand this summer and a great deal of my time will be spent in Chiang Mai. Since i was a kid i have always loved elephants but i have never got to see one upclose.

when i first started researching my stay in thailand i noticed alot of elephant rides and tours ect. I also came across some worrying pieces about the cruelty against elephants.

I've always wanted to have a ride on a elephant but now im not sure. is there anywhere in chiang mai where you can get a ride on an elephant without the cruelty? Or is this impossible?

any info would be of great help.

some of you might remember me for the question regarding getting a work visa to volunteer. well i achieved the unachievable and found a NGO that could provide me with a letter to get into the country and legally work. very happy now!

small question though, i'l be in thailand for a month and say, ten days volunteering. then i'l be going to cambodia for a week with a mate and after that returning to thailand for another 10 days until i fly to Hong Kong. As an irish citizen i dont need a visa for visits under 29 days so after going to cambodia i wont need a new visa to get back into thailand will i? could they assume i'l be working again (which i wont be, i'l be heading to the islands to bum it on the beach) and not let me enter without a new work visa?

this might be a silly question but i dont want to leave anything to chance!

well i recieved an email basically telling me they havnt got time to deal with me, which i understand, i mean they're a NGO. plus you're right i dont think they want to draw attention to themselves and if they just put it like that i'd understand, i mean im just one person. i just feel like the stupid irish girl bothering them at this stage but i'm just trying to help ya know? i just wish there was a way to volunteer but remain within the law *sigh*. Now i can see why volunteers generally go with companies like i to i. yes they charge you great deals of money and dont give anything to the organisations but at least they get you a work visa!

Im going to contact another volunteer crowd and see about volunteering elsewhere and do they issue work visas. im not giving up on this but i think being garro's maid will be my last option! i'd sooner be your nanny tbh love kids!

thanks for all your help and kind words. this is the third time i've had to change organisations due to problems with being western, work visa ect. i'm starting to get disheartened but not enough to quit yet.

i know, it would be fun but holidaying was never my purpose for coming to thailand even though its meant to be mad craic altogether. i actually shortened my volunteering to a month and a bit just so i could travel with a friend for the last month to the islands, cambodia and finally hong kong. the crowd in thailand said to just forget about it for a few days, cancel my visa and they'll get back to me. i dont have time for that but what else can i do? the guy im emailing needs to check with his boss whether i can get the letter.

i emailed the crowd im working for again and told them im not prepared to do anything illegal as it'll basically be putting my butt on the line and that all they need to send me is a email with my duties on a letter headed piece of email. if they refuse or my letter from the college saying im expected to obtain a degree is not enough, im going to get a tourist visa and talk to the police out there OR not bother and just treat this as a holiday. its slightly upsetting as i've been raising money since christmas for whatever place i'd end up volunteering and now i cant even do any work.

Hi, im hoping you can help me.

I was told by the place where i'l be working at in the north to get a tourist visa. i got a tourist visa but i got a phonecall from the thai consule in Dublin, Ireland yesturday telling me its illegal to volunteer in thailand without a work visa. now i contacted the crowd in the north and they're telling me to just come over and do a visa run. its very fustrating and i have to somehow prove i have a degree for the visa crowd but im going to only do my final year exams this may and im leaving for thailand a week later. plus i need a police clearance cert and a letter from the crowd in the north. i dont want to do anything illegal but im afraid times running out to get all sorted. i'l be volunteering for a month and maybe ten days and then travelling for maybe 2/3 more weeks.

Hi all, first post yay!

im from ireland and here we have girls covering themselves in fake tan, looking very tangoed. i've black hair and extremely pale skin with some freckles on my face and to be honest i'd always assumed all westerners loved tanned skin. I was in NYC last year and the amount of men coming up to me on the street was unreal, all because of my skin they told me. one man explained to me had i noticed they were all black and indeed they nearly all were. apparently its common enough to want the opposite of what you have yourself

I'l be going to thailand this summer for a couple of months so i look forward to be admired lol

As a pale skinned Irishman (i can burn in moonlight!), I can tell you that I use a good quality factor 45. 'Hawaian Tropic' water resistant. Re-apply every few hours and when possible sit under shade. Don't be fooled into thinking cloudy is okay, in cloudy weather you'll burn just as badly!

Good luck and have a great time.

ps what colour are your eyes? Mine are green and green eyed people seem to burn even quicker!

greeny blue. depends on the lighting.

Hey, i was meant to be heading to Thailand this summer to work in a childrens home but it seems likely thats about to fall through as they're reconsidering having non Thai volunteers just for the moment due to unforseen circumstances. They're sending me on other organisations contact details but i just thought i should ask here to see if any of ye knew any that could do with some help. some places i've heard of only accept long term volunteers but due to work/academic committments i can only stay two months

Hi all, first post yay!

im from ireland and here we have girls covering themselves in fake tan, looking very tangoed. i've black hair and extremely pale skin with some freckles on my face and to be honest i'd always assumed all westerners loved tanned skin. I was in NYC last year and the amount of men coming up to me on the street was unreal, all because of my skin they told me. one man explained to me had i noticed they were all black and indeed they nearly all were. apparently its common enough to want the opposite of what you have yourself

I'l be going to thailand this summer for a couple of months so i look forward to be admired lol

Welcome to Thaivisa

STAY OUT OF THE SUN.....

I have seen severely burned white skinned people, mainly from Britain, who were not properly informed about the power of the sun.

The sun is dangerous !

LaoPo

lol why the eye roll?

yes i'l be very careful, i've been burnt before when i've been aboard and i'f be using a very very high factor. will i still need it when the rain season kicks in?

yay the irish have invaded thailand!

Hi, im new to the forum and i'l be coming to maesai/Tachileik this summer for two months to work in a childrens home. the little problem is i dont know if i'l be at childlife or futurelife yet (long story). future lifes accepted me, childlifes restricting non thai volunteers for the moment at least. i was told by my contact that i'd need to go over to thailand every two weeks when i was staying in Tachileik. can someone explain it to me? im guessing its to do with visas and visiting ect.... any irish out there this summer? need advice on a good place to stay...

Hi all, first post yay!

im from ireland and here we have girls covering themselves in fake tan, looking very tangoed. i've black hair and extremely pale skin with some freckles on my face and to be honest i'd always assumed all westerners loved tanned skin. I was in NYC last year and the amount of men coming up to me on the street was unreal, all because of my skin they told me. one man explained to me had i noticed they were all black and indeed they nearly all were. apparently its common enough to want the opposite of what you have yourself

I'l be going to thailand this summer for a couple of months so i look forward to be admired lol