Change Of Visa

[masuk]

I came to Chiang Mai under a 'cultural exchange program' run by a certain university, where it appears I've done my dough. The main problem though is that the visa I arrived here with is an ED VISA.

I have been advised by this Uni that if I fail to attend Thai classes, my visa will be revoked. Having to pay an extra $100.00 to do the course is not big problem. Actually, I came here to be a volunteer teacher, as a result of their advertisements, and did a helluva lot of preparation for course materials before I left Oz. . I'm not so sure at my age that I can take in an intensive course in Thai over the next 8 months.

So the question is this: how much of a problem is it likely to be to change my visa from an ED visa to maybe a non-immigrant visa, which apparently will allow me to do the volunteer English teaching I came here for?

I qualify age-wise for a retirement visa, but the loot is locked up in a fixed deposit for another 8 months.

I don't really want to go overseas and start the whole visa thing again.

Comments/advice appreciated.

[realthaideal]

Goto the visa subforum n you'll get quick pertinent answers.

[eek]

/moving to visa forum. /

[Mario2008]

If your "visa", actually your permission to stay in Thailand, will be revoked depends on if you are currently on an extension of stay or not. Only when you are on an extension of stay would you have to leave the country when you no longer study. So the first question is do you have a single or multiple Ed-visa?

Volunteers can apply for a non-O visa, in a neighbouring country. First you would need to find a foundation where you will be volunteering and with their help apply for a work permit. Instead of th WP you will get a WP3 form, which indicates that you will get a WP once you have the proper visa. With documents from the foundation and the WP3 form you can apply for the non-O visa and return to Thailand.

To volunteer you need a WP, which you wont get on an ED-visa or on an extension of stay based on retirement. The loot being locked up doesn't have to be a problem to get a multiple non-O based on retirement (if you don't have enough income). You could get a multiple non-O and leave the country every 90 days, till you can apply for an extension of stay based on retirement.

[retiredusn]

If you still want to teach a retirement visa will not help you as you will need a work permit.......