Hey Everybody-

I am planning on coming to Thailand for at least a year. I am 28 male from Atlanta and the consulate here closed so unless I want to send my passport through the mail (that's what the Thai embassy in DC said) I don't think I can get a tourist visa before I go. Can I stay on 30 days stamp, than go Penang and get one of these triple entry visas I have been reading about? Also I am going to be taking a TEFL and teaching english somewhere hopefully, but only part time as I do alright trading stocks for a living. I have read that I will have trouble getting someone to sponsor a work permit for part time teaching. Does anyone have any experience with this if you offer to pay for the thing yourself? I really don't want to get deported but full time would be too much with trading, and trading alone may not cut it. Thanks everybody in advance,

Dave

Can I stay on 30 days stamp, than go Penang and get one of these triple entry visas I have been reading about?

You could probably do what you suggest, but I would recommend that you obtain your visa before leaving the States. For one thing, you could potentially have a problem checking in for your flight without a valid Thai visa in your passport and no return ticket within the thirty-day period.

Chances are, the honorary Thai consulate in Houston would turn your visa request around faster than the embassy in Washington. Suggest you give them a call (713.229.0636 ). This is actually a law office, ask to speak to somebody at the Thai consulate.

I have read that I will have trouble getting someone to sponsor a work permit for part time teaching. Does anyone have any experience with this if you offer to pay for the thing yourself?

There's no such thing as somebody sponsoring a work permit for independent employment. You cannot apply for a work permit simply as yourself. You need to be employed by a Thai-registered company to obtain a work permit. Nor can you obtain a work permit with a tourist visa or a visa-free thirty-day entry permit. Lots of work permit-reading material in this forum if you do a search or just start browsing.

Thanks. I am hesitant to send my passport through the mail, it's probably just me. The work permit thing is kinda what I figured but I guess that's life. I'll call the consulate in Houston andd see what they say...

Thanks. I am hesitant to send my passport through the mail, it's probably just me.

I recommend that you pay the few extra bucks and use one of the overnight mail services. Houston is known for turning around visa applications fast. If you mailed your passport to them on Monday, you could have it back in your hands on Wednesday (using overnight mail service). In general, don't worry about the mail-in process. Figure that many people apply for visas by mail as a consular office is located nowhere near them.

wasn't your passport mailed to you. Of course you would want to send it

express mail with return paid ( round trip Fed Ex or the likes.