Honest, I Checked First!

[rrose070]

As a long-time member, trust me I've searched exhaustively for this. Me and my hubby (NOT married; together 15 years but when he gets married he gets cold feet...so, no wedding documentation)

We spent some time at a very poor village far in the outskirts of Chiang Mai, and we would like to go back this coming Oct. to teach English (unofficially) and help make the school and the village better. What kind of Visa would be best for this, considering that we'll be paying our own way and not earning a dime at all the entire length of the trip? Our favorite hope is to spend 7 months (beginning Oct.) on a 1-year visa. What exactly is required, and is it reasonable enough to book the plane tickets asap for the lowest rates, and assume we'll be ok w/ our Visa's?

[bob4you]

Check with the school, I have heard that if you are volunteering for a government entity they can grant you and exemption.

[jdinasia]

As a long-time member, trust me I've searched exhaustively for this. Me and my hubby (NOT married; together 15 years but when he gets married he gets cold feet...so, no wedding documentation)

We spent some time at a very poor village far in the outskirts of Chiang Mai, and we would like to go back this coming Oct. to teach English (unofficially) and help make the school and the village better. What kind of Visa would be best for this, considering that we'll be paying our own way and not earning a dime at all the entire length of the trip? Our favorite hope is to spend 7 months (beginning Oct.) on a 1-year visa. What exactly is required, and is it reasonable enough to book the plane tickets asap for the lowest rates, and assume we'll be ok w/ our Visa's?

In theory you should be able to get a visa with few problems assuming you can get an official letter from the school inviting you. Sadly, you will still not be legal when you get here as volunteer work requires a Work Permit and said school will be unlikely to be able to help you acquire one.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Check with the school, I have heard that if you are volunteering for a government entity they can grant you and exemption.

Only a Work Permit exemption is possible with pushing by the school. He'd still have to have a multiple Non-Immigrant O visa. Presuming that the OP is Thai, and she retained her Thai Passport she'd be OK. If not, she'd need the same O visa.

[bob4you]

As a long-time member, trust me I've searched exhaustively for this. Me and my hubby (NOT married; together 15 years but when he gets married he gets cold feet...so, no wedding documentation)

We spent some time at a very poor village far in the outskirts of Chiang Mai, and we would like to go back this coming Oct. to teach English (unofficially) and help make the school and the village better. What kind of Visa would be best for this, considering that we'll be paying our own way and not earning a dime at all the entire length of the trip? Our favorite hope is to spend 7 months (beginning Oct.) on a 1-year visa. What exactly is required, and is it reasonable enough to book the plane tickets asap for the lowest rates, and assume we'll be ok w/ our Visa's?

In theory you should be able to get a visa with few problems assuming you can get an official letter from the school inviting you. Sadly, you will still not be legal when you get here as volunteer work requires a Work Permit and said school will be unlikely to be able to help you acquire one.

I believe it is highly unlikely if they are in the village with a 1 year visa based on letter from the school that anyone would challenge them to show a work permit.