Hi,

I am currently in Bangkok, and I'm not due to start my volunteer work in Thailand until mid-May. I initially had plans to travel to Myanmar before starting my volunteer work. The Thai Consulate in Sydney advised me to apply for the non-immigrant O volunteer visa (they only do single entry) and 'save it till May' as my Australian passport entitles me to a visa exemption on arrival since i'm only in Bangkok for a few days.

On my arrival, the immigration officer told me that I cannot save the visa, and promptly signed it. This was despite my showing the email from the consulate, my Myanmar visa, and my tickets.

So -

Can I apply for another non-immigrant O volunteer visa at a neighbouring embassy (if not Myanmar, I am happy to go to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam...)?

Can I apply for the re-entry permit at the immigration office?

Or, am I stuck in Thailand for the next month?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

If you will start your volunteer work before your current permisison runs out I advise you to get a re-entry permit at an immigration office. Cost is 1,000 baht for a single and cheaper than getting a new visa.

It will be more of a problem getting a new visa based on volunteering in the region, as you will probably have to apply for a work permit first. Note that no work permit is no extension of stay and you would be working illegally without one.

Thank you for your quick response. I will head to the immigration office on Monday and try to get this re-entry permit. The single-entry non-immi volunteer visa expires in July, so I'll be working well before then - and I'll definitely make sure that I have the work permit when it's time for me to start volunteering!!

Cheers.