American Teacher seeking volunteer position Chang Mai

[tlchurch1]

Hello, I'm a high school English teacher in PA, USA, taking sabbatical next year to live in Bali in Sept/Oct and Thailand from Nov - May. I'll be in Chang Mai area with my wife and three young children from November 2014 - February 2015. I'm looking for an opportunity to volunteer teach English to any age group in Chang Mai. I'd like to set up a volunteer teaching arrangement soon in order to get a work visa. Any connections or suggestions as to how I can go about setting this up?

Thanks,

Tom

[Loaded]

If you are going to volunteer for 3 months, expect to do it without the appropriate visa and work permit.

There is a non-immigrant B (Business) visa which allows you to obtain a work permit. There isn't a 'work visa'. You will need a school to sponsor the paperwork to support your visa and work permit. If you find a school that is willing to accept you as a volunteer, it's probable they haven't processed visas and work permits for foreign teachers before. The fact you are prepared to work for no money is irrelevant to the visa/wp process. 3 months is too short a period for any school to seriously consider the headache of preparing paperwork for your visa and wp anyway.

Just 3 months with a farang telling them to arrange a visa/wp and I assume telling them when they can volunteer isn't an attractive proposition to most schools I imagine. It's too disruptive.

In the past foundations could sponsor a non-imm O + wp as a teacher volunteer, but this seems to have been stopped now.

Also, unless you volunteer through a commercial organization, it's highly unlikely any school will respond to unsolicited emails and phone calls. You'll need to be here and visit schools.

[Mencken]

The reality of your situation is that no agency or school will ever obtain a wp for you for three mos despite your willingness to teach for free. Imo.

You will also need a non b visa that will require sponsorship of the school as well as a teaching waiver unless you have your original Ed diploma and teaching certificate.

I would also add that whatever you are not being paid, someone is making something off your labor be it agency, school or both.

As a teacher, I would like to ask you to empathize with the situation here. Poor wages, long hours, dicey contracts, dodgy agencies, the sketchy waiver system and an endless muddled bureaucracy.

Imo you will never be legal for 3mos, esp when you are choosing your 3mo period.

If you want to work, work otherwise please do not contribute to the plight of foreign teachers because you are bored or looking for some experience to pad a tesume back home.

Thanks

[Thighlander]

There was a big scandal in 2010 in Chiang Mai involving a good size group, who had paid money in order to volunteer. CMU decided there were too many farang on campus. About the only people that got refunds did it through their credit card. Most had to high tail it out of the country as their visas were cancelled. They were still only giving 15 days at land borders, too. Apparently, a lot of "volunteers" are simply looking for a good visa....same with the Language school students. They're getting some frowns at immigration, when they can't speak a word of Thai after a year.

The 30K they will pay you is almost working for free, anyway. If you're that well to do; I'm sure you could donate your pay back to the school.

[tlchurch1]

Thank you very much for all of your suggestions. It sounds like I should get a tourist visa, and then once I'm in CM and start volunteering, I may be able to extend my visa at that time. I certainly don't want to disrupt any schools. Perhaps I can volunteer at an NGO or monastery that helps some young people learn English. A human trafficking rescue center that I contacted said I might be able to volunteer once I get to CM, so maybe I'll just have to wait until I get there. I'm a bit concerned about visa length and satisfying the requirements of my school district sabbatical, as well as keeping my family safe. What are the possible ramifications if I and my family of 5 stay in Thailand with expired visas while I volunteer?

[Mencken]

Despite my plea to you as a teacher, to respect the fact you are by 'volunteering' harming us indirecting, you seem quite content to proceed. Ironically, you no doubt belong to a union, which we cannot by law form. This is a fundemental human right. So, pretty obvious you have no respect for whomever you will be teaching with.

It has been made very clear that without a non B/O visa you are teaching illegally, which you seem quite intent on doing. Volunteering for an 'NGO' is exactly how the scam works. Most are for profit agencies, not NGOs.

What is the cost of overstay? B500 per person per day. Cost of you getting caught working illegally, b20-60k+ and deportation.

You don't seem to mind the fact that your labor is being exploited as well.

Chaing Mai is the ground zero for all the 'volunteer' scams. Be advised that some teachers readily turn in volunteers.

Think about arriving for second semester. With your degree and credential you dhould find proper work quickly despite CM being glutted with teachers willing to work for food.

If you are looking to 'work' for some bs animal rescue nonsense, they usually charge for oppty and then give you the worst jobs till you quit.

As you have no experience in Thailand, strolling into a wat and sorting out a volunteer agreement won't be easy and will be time consuming.

For someone that has never been here, you seem to know a lot about certain aspects(?)*

I have nothing more for you. Another thoughtless human being, washes ashore in search of work. This time drags entire family and places them at risk.

You do not even mention your credentials or even interested in persuing anything legal.

People are so self serving.

PS this poster is starting to come off as trollish. Most US teachers do not have/take sabbatical. This persons year off (before states he only has a few mos), moving entire family to Thailand on simple yeachers salary from PA no less. He has no clue and obvious he doesn't want to really teach. Which makes me question the sabatical. One is supposed to engage in something meaningful in the profession, not work at the Tiger Temple™®©

Edited April 28, 2014 by Mencken

[tlchurch1]

I'm just trying to do volunteer work. I don't want to exploit other teachers. I am a Pennsylvania certified 9th grade English teacher with a Master's in Education. My school district is allowing me to take a sabbatical to learn about teaching English to non-English speakers, to use those skills, and to study Buddhism. I have English language learners in my classes, and would like more experience in teaching them. I certainly don't want to participate in a scam NGO. I will do more research on this, but I believe there are legitimate NGOs that work with Burmese refugees and victims of human trafficking in CM. They don't appear to be scams. It also appears that monasteries have small schools where I could help. I am a member of a union. I will try to be mindful of workers' rights. Mencken, I'm not sure what I said that offended, but I am literally trying to figure out how I can volunteer in CM using my skills. I would like to have a longer visa so that I and my family can feel comfortable, but you and the other posters have basically said that that is not possible.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Langsuan Man]

Tom, you have become a Thai Visa warrior after only 7 posts. A TV Warrior is someone that comes here and asks a question, is given an answer, and then wants to argue that, A: The answer doesn't apply to their "special" circumstances, B: That they know better than the answers given, C: The people who answer the question just don't understand the question that they were asked

You cannot legally volunteer here in Thailand without a work permit.

Does you English ability comprehend that statement ? It is the law and is not up for your interpretation or what you think a NGO or any other organization can legally do

And I am sorry but you appear to want to "volunteer" to satisfy some educational requirement that you have that has nothing to do with the spirit of volunteerism:

My school district is allowing me to take a sabbatical to learn about teaching English to non-English speakers

[Mencken]

Apologies for being pedantic.

You have the absolute ability to work easily and legally here, yet you seem to want to take the easiest method available to you which you have been told numerous times is illegal. Getting caught could even impact your job at home, it is a crime that Thailand loves to take all too seriously.

If you are not at least committed to teaching a full semester, do not for the dake of the kids look for such jobs. That leaves you the dodgy 'volunteer' jobs with refugees which you will in all likelihood need to pay and live on the border areas so if you think you are communting from posh condo in central CM that isn't going to work for family either. Most border areas are not very pretty during the time you wish to visit, but it will at least be cool. Your kids will go nuts from boredom, but wife will go crazy first from lack of cleanliness, boredom, food options, boredom, lack of mod-cons, boredom...

There are some nice parks in these areas, but you will need a car.

Be aware that no matter what anyones promises you, you will never be given a wp and most likely not even a proper visa. I would bet on the former, seriously. Any amount.

Edited April 29, 2014 by Mencken

[tlchurch1]

Man, you guys are harsh. So in order to volunteer in Thailand appropriately/legally, I need to:

Get an O visa. In order to get an O visa, according to Thai Embassy Washington, DC, I need:

7. Non-Immigrant Visa Category “O”

(2) Foreigners who wish for volunteering work with the state enterprises or social welfare organizations in Thailand must provide the following documents: (single entry only)

• Letter of invitation or acceptance from the concerned companies/ organizations or institutes with business registration or business license.

Then, once in Chiang Mai, I must apply for a work permit at the Employment Office of Chiang Mai province. Is that correct?

If I arrive in Thailand with just a tourist visa, can I get the tourist visa changed to an O visa once I find an appropriate organization and obtain an invitation letter, then apply for the work permit?

[Thighlander]

Yes, correct, but you would need to go to Vientiane Laos, or whatever neighboring country, who is currently issuing those things without a big hassle. For example, they might say you need a work permit to get the visa, but the Labour office will tell you that you need the visa first. Oh and being very familiar with the Consular Services section of the Royal Thai Embassy in DC, they won't even give you a tourist visa without a return ticket. You can get 30 days on entry at the airport....in both cases seeking employment is prohibited, and since a work permit is required to volunteer...you would be in a gray area the moment you got off the plane. It's really a terrible place for young kids, too, and if everyone insist on Western food; your grocery bill will be double what it is in the US. Milk is about 5.50 per gallon.....Beef is also very expensive.

[tlchurch1]

Ok thanks! I will also be wary of scams, exploitation, and the attachment issues outlined in the Guardian article.

[Scott]

I have removed one post which is inflammatory. The OP has asked a question and put forth some circumstances. There are places other than a regular school that can benefit from a native speaker. They could also benefit from a licensed teacher. The Embassy might know of some programs that could benefit from your services. If they are running any programs, then you, as a US citizen may be covered under the bilateral agreements and may not need a work permit. You will need a non-immigrant visa. I don't know of any programs, but it's worth exploring.

[tlchurch1]

Thanks Scott! I'll look into possible programs.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Mencken]

I am also very familar with that monster that doles out visas in DC and she is just that. You at very least will need return tickets (which should be no problem for you). Your family imo should apply for double tourist visas, which could take you up to about 4-6mos depending the validity of the visa. DC has tightened to 90 days from issue I recall.

You can convert a tourist visa to a non O/B visa, teachers do it all the time. No need to go to Vientiane.

Pethaps some of the better organizations, esp out of US are Christian groups although I understand these are pay for play experiences. You will be subjected and asked to be included in their nonsense. May not even be possible unless you sleep in their quarters, follow their game plan.

Why don't you just come here and relax. Let the kids hike up in Pai, see the temples in CM, go to some nice Andaman Marine National Parks and do some camping. On your break between visas, go visit Myanmar (Bagan) and before you go home visit Angkor Wat?

After you burn thru your 2nd visa, you can still come and go on a 30 stamp.

Honestly bro, there is nothing to learn from the Thai educational system. Certainly nothing that won't leave you sad and disheartened lol.

If you are looking for photo ops and pretense of teaching here, just go visit some of these places and villages, make it very clear you ate a teacher. They will ask you to teach. Stay overnight or two, gives the kids a few great lessons, have your wife take pics and your muppets interacting with them. Blow on.out of there. Rinse, repeat.

Don't worry about serving the hilltribe kids well, the govt surely doesn't. Any edumacation for those poor souls better than none.

I think the board is (I) concerned about:

Just another illegal teacher clogging system

Your conviction to work illegally

Persons working illegally notoriously exploited

Concerns you place upon self and family

None of us are govt fanbois. We honestly do not want to see you screw yourself.

BTW many of those NGOs that you pay to play (all) despite paying, you do not recv WP or even B visa. They put you temp in some school happy to have a breathing farang for any amount of time and then double dip, charge school for your presence. You will be assig some school in Nakon Nowhere which yoir wife and kids must endure and stick that out for your tenure. It won't be CM sure!

Think of it as tough love here.

PS if you could secure a non O visa in US and go to work with one of those Christian (ack) groups, I would be inclined to say you have much less to worry. A month or two, assigned by NGO, they have local connections and pay the right people...I would feel somewhat secure with that. The trouble with Thailand is the Thai break the rules to save/make money. The cops and bureaucrats are quite ok because when they catch you, they make money too! Everyone wins except you. You will get hit with fine and deportation. The agency, school will just look for another rube.

Edited April 30, 2014 by Mencken

[tlchurch1]

Thanks for the suggestions!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[zeichen]

"You can convert a tourist visa to a non O/B visa, teachers do it all the time. No need to go to Vientiane."

not true in Chiang Mai.

The problems that you will face have been already answered. Some other things to consider is that you mentioned about growing your skills as an EFL teacher, can you explain how you will end up doing that volunteering for a school that has no idea how to utilize foreign teachers? I would recommend working for a school that has a DOS who actually knows about 2nd language acquisition and how to utilize foreign teaching staff. If you are volunteering for some poor school, you will just go in and wing it and won't really learn anything.

It seems that you are trying to take advantage of a sabatical and trying to make some kind of last minute effort to statisfy a professional development requirement.