Dart12 Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Does anyone know if this is true? Agents are asking near 70k to acquire a 12-15 month volunteer visa (depending upon agent). Their big scarcity tactic is, you have to apply to get one before today is over. Then their is talk of 270 day tourist visas coming out next week. Then a SMALL chance of further amnesty (yes, there is a chance still. Not one I'm banking on though) I can easily get another 30 day extension right now. But of course, all I'm being told is that I will no longer qualify for a volunteer after today. Any truth to this? I can't see any reason why I wouldn't qualify next month either. It just makes fiscal sense to wait and see if this other tourist visa gets enacted that is a mere 2-8000 baht if I can still get a volunteer visa next month. Any insider peeps lurking here knowledgeable about long term volunteer visas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CorpusChristie Posted September 11, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 11, 2020 Those volunteer visas take 15 days to process , so today is the last day to apply . If you can get a 30 day visa extension, that should give you enough time to apply for a volunteer visa. The talk of a 270 day tourist visa is just talk at the moment and it would probably only be available from Embassys abroad . You could wait until September 24 th and then apply for a 30 day visa extension and then apply for a volunteer visa 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dart12 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 3 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said: Those volunteer visas take 15 days to process , so today is the last day to apply . If you can get a 30 day visa extension, that should give you enough time to apply for a volunteer visa. The talk of a 270 day tourist visa is just talk at the moment and it would probably only be available from Embassys abroad . You could wait until September 24 th and then apply for a 30 day visa extension and then apply for a volunteer visa Yeah. Not banking on the 270 day visa materializing either. But taking another 30 day extension or "Covid" visa makes sense to me before applying for volunteer. Was shocked at their price gouge during this. All 4 are playing the card, "we don't know if they'll allow these next month" to me. 70k is some decent pocket change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FizziBublech Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Technically it is possible to travel to cambodia at the moment, right? So IF they approve the 270 tourist visa plan next week, one should be able to obtain such as visa in cambodia, correct? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 86Tiger Posted September 11, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted September 11, 2020 Until there is official announcement it is nothing except rumor and speculation. But then again, some of TV longest threads are nothing but rumor and speculation. So, carry on. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricTh Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 15 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said: Those volunteer visas take 15 days to process , so today is the last day to apply . If you can get a 30 day visa extension, that should give you enough time to apply for a volunteer visa. The talk of a 270 day tourist visa is just talk at the moment and it would probably only be available from Embassys abroad . You could wait until September 24 th and then apply for a 30 day visa extension and then apply for a volunteer visa 270 days is 9 months. If one can get this, what's the point of putting in 400k or 800k in a bank? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dart12 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 yes, but the border is not open. So goodluck. That would require 2 miracles to happen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treetops Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 7 minutes ago, FizziBublech said: Technically it is possible to travel to cambodia at the moment, right? No visas are being issued AFAIK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Dart12 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 11, 2020 2 minutes ago, EricTh said: 270 days is 9 months. If one can get this, what's the point of putting in 400k or 800k in a bank? Ugly girls have to try harder and put out more. Thailand was in high demand, now it's got excess supply. It has to lure people back. Makes total marketing sense to offer easier rules again. 5 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorpusChristie Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 4 minutes ago, EricTh said: 270 days is 9 months. If one can get this, what's the point of putting in 400k or 800k in a bank? Having to go abroad to get it , the problems with doing that are well known 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritTim Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Anyone banking on using the 30-day embassy letter extension followed by applying for a Non O (conversion) visa at Immigration, beware! The embassy letter extension is taken under consideration, with a report back date that does not leave you the 15 days needed to apply for the visa. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorpusChristie Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 6 minutes ago, 86Tiger said: Until there is official announcement it is nothing except rumor and speculation. But then again, some of TV longest threads are nothing but rumor and speculation. So, carry on. Is that an official announcement ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FizziBublech Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Well, if they are issuing new tourist visa then they will need to open the border for the tourists to come in. Not necessarily the land border to cambodia, but there should be a way to fly back in somehow. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dart12 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 2 minutes ago, BritTim said: Anyone banking on using the 30-day embassy letter extension followed by applying for a Non O (conversion) visa at Immigration, beware! The embassy letter extension is taken under consideration, with a report back date that does not leave you the 15 days needed to apply for the visa. can you elaborate? how does the embassy letter change valid dates to apply next month? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorpusChristie Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 2 minutes ago, FizziBublech said: Well, if they are issuing new tourist visa then they will need to open the border for the tourists to come in. Not necessarily the land border to cambodia, but there should be a way to fly back in somehow. They are probably thinking about the future , next year or when everything gets back to normal (if it ever does) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Who is asking for 70k, immigration ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowtail Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 12 minutes ago, EricTh said: 270 days is 9 months. If one can get this, what's the point of putting in 400k or 800k in a bank? If you live here, 270 days a year is not long enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorpusChristie Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 1 minute ago, Dart12 said: can you elaborate? how does the embassy letter change valid dates to apply next month? When you apply for an extension based on an Embassy letter , you initially get 20 days for consideration and then you have to go back to get the extra 10 days . Immigration may not process the volunteer visa with the 20 day consideration allowance . If you are applying for a normal 30 day visa extension, that 20 day consideration issue shouldn't be a problem (As you would get the full 30 days ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2530Ubon Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 I'm also waiting for further news. I have a 30 days extension from my original visa exempt still to use, and then I can apply for another 30 days with an embassy letter (the UK embassy specifically notes that the extension letter is for the purpose of changing to a long term visa) so i'm not worried. The price will come down again- if you choose to go with this route. My GF is trying to persuade me to do this, but i'm still unsure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritTim Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 6 minutes ago, Dart12 said: can you elaborate? how does the embassy letter change valid dates to apply next month? To apply for the visa, you must (i) be on a confirmed permission to stay (which you do not have when your application is under consideration); and (ii) have 15 days left on your current permission to stay when you apply for the visa. You could check if any agents are able to overcome this issue, but I doubt they could do so at any reasonable cost. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audaciousnomad Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 8 minutes ago, Dart12 said: can you elaborate? how does the embassy letter change valid dates to apply next month? It means that you will not immediately get a 26-Oct stamp. You will get a provisional "Under Consideration" stamp, with instructions to return for example, on 15-Oct to receive your finalized "Permitted to stay until" stamp of 26-Oct. Effectively, this will prevent you from applying for a volunteer visa since "under consideration" is not a valid permission to stay and the passport will not be eligible to apply for a Non-O visa with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardandtubs Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Neeranam said: Who is asking for 70k, immigration ? There are some overpriced agents who have always charged that. Nothing has changed but if you want a volunteer visa you might have to get a 30 day extension or medical visa first. It's probably better to wait it out and see what comes of this long-term tourist visa proposal first. There will always be a way of extending your stay in Thailand through an agent if it comes to nothing. Edited September 11, 2020 by edwardandtubs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2530Ubon Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 If anyone has already got this volunteer, could you tell me, do you also get the blue WP book with this visa? Thanks in advance to anyone who can answer ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorpusChristie Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 1 minute ago, edwardandtubs said: There are some overpriced agents who have always charged that. Nothing has changed but if you want a volunteer visa you might have to get a 30 day extension or medical visa first. It's probably better to wait it out and see what comes of this long-term tourist visa proposal first. There will always be a way of extending your stay in Thailand through an agent if it comes to nothing. How could you extend your visa next week ? What options will be available ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dart12 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 14 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said: When you apply for an extension based on an Embassy letter , you initially get 20 days for consideration and then you have to go back to get the extra 10 days . Immigration may not process the volunteer visa with the 20 day consideration allowance . If you are applying for a normal 30 day visa extension, that 20 day consideration issue shouldn't be a problem (As you would get the full 30 days ) Well, I still have a 30 day extension from when I first arrived. **But I have no idea if they are even honoring those after the amnesty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dart12 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 10 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said: There are some overpriced agents who have always charged that. Nothing has changed but if you want a volunteer visa you might have to get a 30 day extension or medical visa first. It's probably better to wait it out and see what comes of this long-term tourist visa proposal first. There will always be a way of extending your stay in Thailand through an agent if it comes to nothing. Being a relatively new international traveler, I hate to bank on that "always a way". I've met SOME connections. But no godfathers. I've got an hour to make a decision. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dart12 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 Who is charging 70K? 3 Different sources. 2 Agents. I've been quoted 55k for 12 month, and 65k to 77k for 15 month. Told there is no 3, 6, or 15 by first agent. Says big boss retiring in one year and will only do 12. 1 seemed too unreliable. I won't deal with her. I don't do business with people I don't get along with. Last is "inside". With their money window closing, I just got an offer to do a 90 day volunteer for 25k. Not great, but a little softer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwardandtubs Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Dart12 said: Who is charging 70K? 3 Different sources. 2 Agents. I've been quoted 55k for 12 month, and 65k to 77k for 15 month. Told there is no 3, 6, or 15 by first agent. Says big boss retiring in one year and will only do 12. 1 seemed too unreliable. I won't deal with her. I don't do business with people I don't get along with. Last is "inside". With their money window closing, I just got an offer to do a 90 day volunteer for 25k. Not great, but a little softer. Agents are lying to you. 60k for 15 months at Thai Visa Centre in Bangkok and 55k for 15 months at VIP Visa in Pattaya. You can get a medical visa at short notice if you don't have time to get that visa. You're currently being subjected to high pressure sales tactics by scam artists. Ignore them. Edited September 11, 2020 by edwardandtubs 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowtail Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 2 minutes ago, Dart12 said: Who is charging 70K? 3 Different sources. 2 Agents. I've been quoted 55k for 12 month, and 65k to 77k for 15 month. Told there is no 3, 6, or 15 by first agent. Says big boss retiring in one year and will only do 12. 1 seemed too unreliable. I won't deal with her. I don't do business with people I don't get along with. Last is "inside". With their money window closing, I just got an offer to do a 90 day volunteer for 25k. Not great, but a little softer. 90 days for 25K is better than 65K for 15 months? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dart12 Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 3 minutes ago, Yellowtail said: 90 days for 25K is better than 65K for 15 months? next 12 is quoted at 25k too. I'm sure that is subject to change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now