I am a US citizen working as a consultant for a major international governmental organization here in Bangkok. My contract lasts until 30 June 2006. They have provided me with a letter affirming my consultancy and work until 30 June, and the letter requests that a Thai consulate issue me an appropriate visa. I was told to bring this letter to a Thai consulate and they would issue me a visa. I was thinking of going to the one in Phnom Phen as AirAsia offers cheap BKK-PP flights. Some questions...

* First of all, is it realistic to believe that they will issue me a visa with just a letter and my contract?

* Is Phnom Phen a viable consulate to go to?

* What visa would I likely be issued? I heard it might be either a B or F (official) visa.

* Would they issue me a visa only until the date 30 June, the supposed termination of my employment, or would it be a set time such as 3 or 6 months?

* And, will it be a problem that I have already been working for about a month on a tourist visa; I have been doing this because I have been unable to take time off from work to leave the country for a visa sooner. It will be obvious from my contract that I have been working on a tourist visa.

Any help, info or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

* First of all, is it realistic to believe that they will issue me a visa with just a letter and my contract?

* And, will it be a problem that I have already been working for about a month on a tourist visa; ... It will be obvious from my contract that I have been working on a tourist visa.

Have a look at what is written near the bottum of your tourist visa - what would your own guess for your odds be.

If I were in your shoes, the last thing I'd do was to willingly handing over docomentation for having broken the laws.

Is that "major international governmental organization" Thai - by chance.

Even if your paperwork was totally in order, the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh is probably not a good choice for a visa application. Nothing that has ever been posted on here would lead me to conclude that consular office is particularly visa friendly in any sense.