So here is my situation; I am currently on my third trip to Thailand (each being around six months for a total of a year and a half), but have always been under a student visa so have never had to take a visa run. Long story short I just graduated and am living in Chiang Mai so I need to figure out something to do before my visa expires in a week or so. Right now I'm on a Single entry, Non-Immigrant ED visa which runs out next week. Long story short my previous visa extension plans fell through due to some people failing to contact me during the necessary period of time (I was volunteering to teach English to tribal village kids, "no good deed…" and all that jazz), so I am now planning on going to Vientiane next week to visit a friend and need to know what exactly I need to do before, during, and after my stay there to at least get some kind of extension. Hopefully at least three months so I can have time to work on getting a working permit in order.

I know that there are "visa run" services around, but I'm not sure if those will help for what I need, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe they generally cater to extending tourist visa's and don't usually extend them very long. I also believe they are usually catered towards the "go there-and-back as quickly as possible" solution, however I am planning on staying in Laos for at least a week or so.

So to summarize in case that was to much to actually read:

-21 year old American

-Single entry, Non-Imm ED visa expires next week

-Plans to go visit a friend in Vientiane next week, will be their for a little while.

-Hopes for at least 90 day visa upon return in order to figure out a longer term solution.

What do I need to prepare before, perform during, and do upon return from this? Also any information on services that could help me for what I need (a week or so in Laos, and a 90 day extension upon return), even if going the "service" route is a bit more expensive I'm really okay with that as long as it gets the job done.

Also I am still doing volunteer teaching in the Chiang Mai area but do not think it is enough to qualify for a longer non-imm visa.

I would greatly appreciate any help you all can offer.

Edited June 27, 201214 yr by Crossy
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You can not work without a work permit (and that includes volunteer teaching) so you also have legal issues. You do not seem to qualify for any extension of stay and you do not obtain them outside of Thailand in any case. To stay for 90 days a single or two entry tourist visa from Vientiane would be your best option - once you have employment you can change to the required non immigrant visa entry for work permit issue. A two entry visa would allow 60 day stay, extension for almost 30 days and then do same again so almost six months to find employment.

Thanks, that helps a lot, I didn't realize volunteering required a work permit, I guess that's another thing I have to take care of. So I want to be absolutely certain I am understanding this correctly: I should buy bus tickets to Vientiane and once their go visit the Thai Embassy/Consulate? Is their any type of paperwork that I need to fill out before leaving?

If you have been on an extension of stay for study (rather than a normal 90 day visa entry) and that study has ended the extension would end at that time and you would be required to visit immigration to end it with a letter from school.