1 year+ stay in Thailand

[underthesky]

I'm under 50. I have funds to support my stay but they are in investments/crypto and my bank account just has a few thousand $.

 

Are my choices and expectations correct for a December entry?

 

1. Enter on visa exempt or SETV, together with Thailand Pass.

2. Apply for Non-O Volunteer visa via agent.

3. Leave Thailand again and get the Non-O Volunteer visa at a Thai embassy of my choice.

4. Re-enter Thailand with another Thailand Pass.

5. Extend the the Non-O Volunteer visa every 90 days at immigration office, up to one year max.

 

 

 

 

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, underthesky said:

. Apply for Non-O Volunteer visa via agent

Also have same agent obtain 12 month extension based on volunteering.

Hence 3+12 months.

No need to exit Thailand.

No reason not to enter visa exempt.

Mind you not cheap. 

[thaibeachlovers]

I assume you have an organisation you will be volunteering at. I don't think they give them out and let one look for somewhere to volunteer at after entering. That'd be like the ed visa thing where people used to enter on an ed visa and not actually do any education.

 

The organisation you are volunteering at will be able to give you the best advice for your situation.

Edited October 31, 2021 by thaibeachlovers

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I assume you have an organisation you will be volunteering at.

He mentioned using an agent.

[ubonjoe]

2. If you do that you will not need to do number 3 or 5.

3. To do that you would need supporting documents from the organization you will be working with then the same documents for number 5.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

He mentioned using an agent.

Which is nothing to do with the organisation he will be volunteering with. As you said, it'll cost using an agent. The organisation may be able to suggest something better. After all, he won't be the first volunteer they've had.

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Which is nothing to do with the organisation he will be volunteering with. As you said, it'll cost using an agent. The organisation may be able to suggest something better. After all, he won't be the first volunteer they've had.

Hopefully the OP will be along to clear things up.

My guess is that he is looking for agent to obtain non O volunteering along with 12 month extension and doing zero volunteering. 

[underthesky]

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Which is nothing to do with the organisation he will be volunteering with. As you said, it'll cost using an agent. The organisation may be able to suggest something better. After all, he won't be the first volunteer they've had.

My apologies for being unclear. I do not have an organisation and I am okay with the agent fee.

[Ohyesuare]

All agents saying volunteer visa is no longer an option as of now.

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, Ohyesuare said:

All agents saying volunteer visa is no longer an option as of now.

Thanks for the update. 

Couple of companies as an example?

[mockingbird]

2 hours ago, Ohyesuare said:

All agents saying volunteer visa is no longer an option as of now.

Not surprising. I suppose all the covid options will be ending. I would imagine the current covid extension will be the last.

[Ohyesuare]

11 hours ago, mockingbird said:

Not surprising. I suppose all the covid options will be ending. I would imagine the current covid extension will be the last.

Agreed.

[ubonjoe]

13 hours ago, mockingbird said:

Not surprising. I suppose all the covid options will be ending. I would imagine the current covid extension will be the last.

It only means agents are having problems doing the under the table volunteer visas now.

It has nothing to with immigration normal requirements or the 60 day covid 19 extensions.

[Lite Beer]

17 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

My guess is that he is looking for agent to obtain non O volunteering along with 12 month extension and doing zero volunteering. 

Then he does not qualify and is looking at doing something illegal.

[Lite Beer]

14 hours ago, Ohyesuare said:

All agents saying volunteer visa is no longer an option as of now.

About time too.

Edited November 1, 2021 by Lite Beer

[Ohyesuare]

3 minutes ago, Lite Beer said:

About time too.

Don't get too excited ????, apparently might be an option again in a few months, especially if their "no quarantine" reopening is a failure. There's always "legal" options for people under 50 who have the money and want to stay without getting married. Agents won't be going hungry.

[mockingbird]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

It only means agents are having problems doing the under the table volunteer visas now.

It has nothing to with immigration normal requirements or the 60 day covid 19 extensions.

Yea I get that. The point of my post was that with everything opening up again, pre covid normality on the visa front is returning. 

It was widely known last month that these agent assisted visas were coming to an end.

[Caldera]

19 hours ago, Ohyesuare said:

All agents saying volunteer visa is no longer an option as of now.

Some seem more optimistic than others about their availability in the near future though. Who knows!

 

Maybe @ThaiVisaCentre could comment on the volunteer visa situation from an agent's point of view.

[Tropposurfer]

Why not do it more legally (not any scam component as in not volunteering) by applying for an ED Visa in your home country and securing the visa prior to entering LOS, and attending school a few hours a week.

If you think this is a viable option and you stay on Phuket try BKK Language School (Patong). Khun Gag the CEO is a decent enough guy. Good 1:1 teaching too. Google will find it easily for you.

A few years back when I did the ED Visa route as a test run of living there before returning to home country to make retirement visa application and returning to live permanently it was a great way to learn language and assimilate more easily. 

Back then it was possible to renew for another year at years end (not sure as to this 2nd year extension now). Reporting to Phuket Town IO every 90 was easy as Gag did all this, all you had to dow as turn up pay the renewal fee @ 1900 baht plus the extra creative fee processes fee ???? (nudge nudge) to make sure it was renewed. 

[Colabamumbai]

Volunteer with Soi Dog Foundation without an agent. 

[Ohyesuare]

18 minutes ago, Colabamumbai said:

Volunteer with Soi Dog Foundation without an agent. 

Do they help you with the visa?

[underthesky]

4 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

Why not do it more legally (not any scam component as in not volunteering) by applying for an ED Visa in your home country and securing the visa prior to entering LOS, and attending school a few hours a week.

If you think this is a viable option and you stay on Phuket try BKK Language School (Patong). Khun Gag the CEO is a decent enough guy. Good 1:1 teaching too. Google will find it easily for you.

A few years back when I did the ED Visa route as a test run of living there before returning to home country to make retirement visa application and returning to live permanently it was a great way to learn language and assimilate more easily. 

Back then it was possible to renew for another year at years end (not sure as to this 2nd year extension now). Reporting to Phuket Town IO every 90 was easy as Gag did all this, all you had to dow as turn up pay the renewal fee @ 1900 baht plus the extra creative fee processes fee ???? (nudge nudge) to make sure it was renewed. 

I do like learning Thai. Is the ED doable if I'm going to stay in Bangkok?

[underthesky]

13 hours ago, Caldera said:

Some seem more optimistic than others about their availability in the near future though. Who knows!

 

Maybe @ThaiVisaCentre could comment on the volunteer visa situation from an agent's point of view.

A visa agent just told me that the current situation is because of 'a rotation of new officers'. She's hoping for good news by the middle of the month.

Edited November 1, 2021 by underthesky
more info

[Markphuket]

10 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

Why not do it more legally (not any scam component as in not volunteering) by applying for an ED Visa in your home country and securing the visa prior to entering LOS, and attending school a few hours a week.

If you think this is a viable option and you stay on Phuket try BKK Language School (Patong). Khun Gag the CEO is a decent enough guy. Good 1:1 teaching too. Google will find it easily for you.

A few years back when I did the ED Visa route as a test run of living there before returning to home country to make retirement visa application and returning to live permanently it was a great way to learn language and assimilate more easily. 

Back then it was possible to renew for another year at years end (not sure as to this 2nd year extension now). Reporting to Phuket Town IO every 90 was easy as Gag did all this, all you had to dow as turn up pay the renewal fee @ 1900 baht plus the extra creative fee processes fee ???? (nudge nudge) to make sure it was renewed. 

From my correspondence with a few school last month unless anything changed you can’t apply for a ED visa outside Thailand at the moment.

 

i was told I had to come in on a tourist visa and convert within Thailand to get a ED visa by all school I contacted in Phuket at the current time.

 

The prices being quoted were not cheap and involved a 5,000 extension fee every 3 months at immigration also.

 

Thankfully we have the STV option repeated that covers how long I need to stay so didn’t follow up the ED visa route any further.

 

but unless anything changed it a very expensive option at the moment.

[thaibeachlovers]

21 hours ago, Lite Beer said:

About time too.

Not so. The Pattaya orphanage had/ has resident volunteers to help and has done so for many decades.

I was going to volunteer there myself, but got married instead.

Completely legit and above board.

[jimn]

Lets be realistic and forget the volunteer visa. First of all make sure stay in Pattaya. Secondly you can either enter either visa exempt and visit an agent and pay about 25k for a combined Non O and retirement extension or get a Non O outside the country and get a retirement extension for 13K. Just wonder up Soi Bukeau and visit an agent.

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, jimn said:

Lets be realistic and forget the volunteer visa. First of all make sure stay in Pattaya. Secondly you can either enter either visa exempt and visit an agent and pay about 25k for a combined Non O and retirement extension or get a Non O outside the country and get a retirement extension for 13K. Just wonder up Soi Bukeau and visit an agent.

Did you miss OP first words.......

"I'm under 50."

BTW using and agent for non O retirement and extension has nothing to do with living in Pattaya. Even agents in Pattaya use up country immigration.

[Cabradelmar]

12 hours ago, underthesky said:

I do like learning Thai. Is the ED doable if I'm going to stay in Bangkok?

https://dukelanguage.com/

 

The schools can help with the ED visa process.

[jimn]

On 11/2/2021 at 9:24 AM, DrJack54 said:

Did you miss OP first words.......

"I'm under 50."

BTW using and agent for non O retirement and extension has nothing to do with living in Pattaya. Even agents in Pattaya use up country immigration.

Yes of course I did "red face" lol

[matteo73]

On 11/1/2021 at 9:02 AM, Ohyesuare said:

Don't get too excited ????, apparently might be an option again in a few months, especially if their "no quarantine" reopening is a failure. There's always "legal" options for people under 50 who have the money and want to stay without getting married. Agents won't be going hungry.

I would be interested in knowing the other options for people under 50 who have some money and would like to stay. 

 

I also have the Volunteer visa expiring at the end of December and all agents say it cannot be renewed now. As of now, any Volunteer visa cannot be renewed or obtained new.

 

Especially those who have it with the foundation "Prans Hanya" (Chiang Mai), the immigration officers don't want to deal with that as the foundation has been shut down. 

 

Actually an immigration officer at the immigration told me that I should do a Visa run. My visa agent told me the exact same story today. 

 

I don't even know if is possible doing a visa run these days.

Edited November 4, 2021 by matteo73