Permit to be a volunteer?

[doggie1955]

So to be a volunteer here in Thailand, do I need a permit to be a volunteer?

I have been helping the monks at the temples in my area, to feed, give shots and medical care for the dogs & cats. I was told that immigration will not like farangs volunteering here in Thailand... is this true?

What do I need to do to continue helping the Temple?

 

[jackdd]

Just stop helping them, Thailand doesn't want your help or they wouldn't make it so difficult.

If you want to be 100% safe they would have to be registered as a charitable organization, and you would have to get a non-o visa and a work permit.

This will not happen anyway, so you can decide between:

1) Stop doing it

2) Just continue doing it as you do it now, but risk (even though a very small risk, but not zero) being arrested, deported and banned from Thailand.

Edited July 25, 2020 by jackdd

[ubonjoe]

It could depend upon where you are located.

But in most cases doing a few thing like you are doing to help out is not a problem. 

If you were doing it full time it could be a problem.

[MrMilk]

Keep helping but keep it discreet.

 

What you describe, feeding and taking care of animals, in a private temple area, shouldn't be seen as work nor lead into any problems/attention.

[ChakaKhan]

Did this....volunteered that is...in CNX years ago...volunteer DJ and radio host for english speaking show on one or 2 days a week.....did it with a Japanese guy that somehow pulled a 1 yr vol visa out of it....

 

So it was backed by a thai lawyer in CNX and i had to go to BKK for it...ugh!  the IO did NOT want to give me that visa..ANY visa..had to call the lawyer on my phone...eventually got it and paid 2000 bt..to volunteer!!!!!

 

Another guy was also going for it and they denied him and he gave up and left LOS, I was lucky to get it??

 

but yes, its a volunteer visa and as said I paid 2000 for it in BKK, a hot mess at that office as well...Ive known many that vol without a visa but buyer beware......as we all know WHO will suffer should a thai call you out..

 

Id happily volunteer again just to keep busy but what a pain it was to do it legally, no shock there right....

 

Also worked as a Chef....omg...what a pain that was, took me about a year to jump thru all the hoops..ugh

[scorecard]

Please also note nobody can get a personal work permit which leaves the work/location etc., flexible, Thai work permits are not issued on this basis. 

[tandor]

...what ?...you're asking 'is that true'...what do you think?

 

[Burma Bill]

For 9 years I was a volunteer with the Tourist Police, first in Chiang Rai and then in Khon Kaen. When I was invited to become a volunteer there was discussion about work permits but I was told that one was not necessary (as approved by the Ministry of Employment). It remained that way for the 9 years until I resigned just before leaving Thailand to live in Cambodia earlier this year. Please note - I was invited to be a volunteer by the Tourist Police after hearing my lecture on "Forensic Science at New Scotland Yard, London" in Chiang Rai. What rules and regulations apply these days I have no idea, but I do know 2 foreign volunteers are still based at Khon Kaen without the need for work permits. 

 

My personal advice is to continue your good deeds with the local temple and forget about a work permit. I am sure the local Thai monks and villagers appreciate your help and would not cause problems for you. Here in Thailand, as I know after 20 years residency "out in the sticks", it is WHO YOU KNOW and not what you need to know! Unfortunately these days, there is the dreaded anonymous "grass-up" free call number 1178 to Immigration.  

Edited July 26, 2020 by Burma Bill
additional information

[Tropicalevo]

22 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It could depend upon where you are located.

But in most cases doing a few thing like you are doing to help out is not a problem. 

If you were doing it full time it could be a problem.

This is sooo correct.

On Samui, we were trying to set up a lifeguard volunteer scheme under the auspices of the mayor. When I asked if us foreigners needed wp's the response was that under no circumstances would a volunteer foreigner on Samui have any problem with immigration in relation to this work.

[itsallmine68]

Go to Immigration and ask

[jackdd]

32 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

This is sooo correct.

On Samui, we were trying to set up a lifeguard volunteer scheme under the auspices of the mayor. When I asked if us foreigners needed wp's the response was that under no circumstances would a volunteer foreigner on Samui have any problem with immigration in relation to this work.

One day somebody might have a problem with it (for example a Thai who lost his job because he was replaced by volunteers) and informs the department of labor in Surat Thani about it. Then these guys come over and demand to see the work permits, which don't exist, and then they request immigration police to arrest the volunteers for working illegally. Do you think immigration would tell them "We won't arrest them, they are allowed to break the law"? Good luck with that.

In the end everybody has to make this decision for himself, but i would not take the risk.

Edited July 26, 2020 by jackdd

[connda]

On 7/25/2020 at 2:06 PM, doggie1955 said:

I have been helping the monks at the temples in my area, to feed, give shots and medical care for the dogs & cats.

That's not 'volunteering.'  You are making merit by giving food and medicine to animals at a Buddhist temple. 

Now repeat that!
"I am making merit by giving food and medicine to animals at my Buddhist temple."

Now every Thai Buddhist in Thailand will understand what you're doing.  Reality.  Nobody's going to bother you for doing what your doing.  I take care of dogs at our local wat: care, feeding, meds, and vet services.  You'll never be questioned, but if you are:
"I am making merit by giving food and medicine to animals at my Buddhist temple."  Easy breezy.

 

[doggie1955]

3 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

For 9 years I was a volunteer with the Tourist Police, first in Chiang Rai and then in Khon Kaen. When I was invited to become a volunteer there was discussion about work permits but I was told that one was not necessary (as approved by the Ministry of Employment). It remained that way for the 9 years until I resigned just before leaving Thailand to live in Cambodia earlier this year. Please note - I was invited to be a volunteer by the Tourist Police after hearing my lecture on "Forensic Science at New Scotland Yard, London" in Chiang Rai. What rules and regulations apply these days I have no idea, but I do know 2 foreign volunteers are still based at Khon Kaen without the need for work permits. 

 

My personal advice is to continue your good deeds with the local temple and forget about a work permit. I am sure the local Thai monks and villagers appreciate your help and would not cause problems for you. Here in Thailand, as I know after 20 years residency "out in the sticks", it is WHO YOU KNOW and not what you need to know! Unfortunately these days, there is the dreaded anonymous "grass-up" free call number 1178 to Immigration.  

Thank You, I will look into it...

Edited July 26, 2020 by doggie1955

[doggie1955]

36 minutes ago, connda said:

That's not 'volunteering.'  You are making merit by giving food and medicine to animals at a Buddhist temple. 

Now repeat that!
"I am making merit by giving food and medicine to animals at my Buddhist temple."

Now every Thai Buddhist in Thailand will understand what you're doing.  Reality.  Nobody's going to bother you for doing what your doing.  I take care of dogs at our local wat: care, feeding, meds, and vet services.  You'll never be questioned, but if you are:
"I am making merit by giving food and medicine to animals at my Buddhist temple."  Easy breezy.

 

Got it...

[Joeb]

You can get a non-immigrant (Volunteer) to work for a registered Foundation. We have done several. 

1. Foundation provides applicant with a letter of invitation stating job duties, expected work hours, etc.

2. Foundation writes a letter to an embassy or consulate outside Thailand where the application will be made describing the work to be done and attaching a copy of the Foundation registration documents

3. Applicant has to go to the embassy or consulate the letter was addressed to

4. As with all Non-imm O visas it is good for 90 days and can be extended

 

We have not gotten so far as to get an extension as the volunteers we had were here for 1-3 months and left the country. Apparently, to get the full year extension requires a letter from some highly placed person in the government agreeing to the extension, but nothing we can find specifies who that person might be. Without the letter the visa can be extended for another 90 days and that can be repeated. Normal Non-imm O visa rules apply, like doing 90 day reports.

 

Person cannot do any work that is paid. We have specified in our letters that we would provide assistance with local transportation and accommodations.

 

In summary, people applying outside Thailand have had no problem getting the visa. The ones we have done were processed in Germany, US and Vietnam.

 

Edited July 26, 2020 by Joeb
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