Non-O Volunteer Visa

[Ziesche]

My problem: I am working as an academic volunteer at a foundation at Thammasat University's Faculty of Law (Non-O Volunteer). For the extension of this visa, Immigration does not only require me to show a work permit (which I have). They also want to see a letter of recommendation and request issued by at least a department-level unit in a ministry. Could anybody here perhaps advise me on how to get such a letter? Without this kind of document, my application for the extension of my visa is stuck in the second round of four weeks of "under consideration", followed by a two months extension.

 

Thank you.

[ubonjoe]

Since you are volunteering at a University a letter from a department of the Ministry of Education would be needed.

Perhaps ask the university about getting it.

 

[Ziesche]

Thanks for your advice. Indeed, there are two ministries, the one for education and another for higher education. The problem is that people at the university/foundation do not have a clue about what to do and whom to approach (since I am the first such case). My hope was that, perhaps, there is somebody at Thai Visa who also is an academic volunteer and knows who precisely I should approach (since getting on the nerves of the people both at the university and the foundation might make them tired of trying to support me).

[ubonjoe]

I would think the University would have some contact with the relevant ministry they could ask about it.

This is what the police order states.

"(3) Must have been confirmed and requested by the head of a government agency equivalent to or higher than the departmental level or by the head of a state enterprise or by the head of another government agency relating to the organization."

 

The immigration website defines it further for the extension application. https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_21

"7. Only in the case of Criterion (3), the applicant must attach a letter of confirmation or request for
a temporary stay issued by the head of a government agency equivalent to or higher than the
departmental level or by the head of a state enterprise or by the head of another government agency
relating to the organization."

[Ziesche]

Thanks for the additional info. My question was based on the knowledge of both the English and Thai versions of the conditions stipulated by Immigration that you kindly quote here. BTW, the university itself (meaning essentially the rector of TU), in this context, does not count as the required "government agency equivalent to a department relating to this organization" (i.e., the foundation for which I work as an academic volunteer).