Thai Visa Advice Request

[vpaulch]

Hi there!

I'm planning on going to Bangkok soon to look for an English teaching job. My idea is to get a two month tourist visa and find an employer that will take care of my work permit. However, in my current situation, it doesn't seem likely that I will be able to get the visa before leaving. I know that as an American citizen I can stay in the country for 30 days without a visa. But what I need to know is wether I will be able to get the two month tourist visa, say in Malaysia, if I don't manage to find an employer willing to take care of my work permit during my thirty day permitted stay. If not, what other possibilities are there? How many times can I leave and reenter the country? For how long?

I would really appreciate any advice on this matter.

Thanks!

[monty]

The only visa which allows you to receive a work permit on is a non immigrant visa, with the exception of the ED (education) type and the O (Other) type extended to 1 year based on retirement. Non immigrant O visa extended based on marriage is no problem for work permit.

So even if you have a tourist visa, your employer will have to apply for your work permit, then supply you with a stack of paperwork (including form WP3 which proves that you actually applied for a WP), with which you will have to travel to a neighboring country, apply for non immigrant B (business) visa and return.

After you have returned with the non immigrant visa, the labor department can then proceed and issue your work permit.

And yes, you can get a single entry tourist visa without much problems in any of the neighboring countries.

And remember, it is NOT allowed for you to work until you have the actual work permit in hand!

[lopburi3]

Also be aware the airline may not let you fly until you have a visa or onward ticket within 30 days (which you do not seem to have).