London Thai Embassy gave me an O-visa? Applied for ED for internship

[SS1]

Hi,

I just recently sent my visa application by post to the Royal Thai Embassy in London, applying for the ED-visa to do an unpaid summer internship. Instead of the ED-visa, they seem to have given me the non-immigrant O-visa and I really don't understand why.

Category "O"
To visit Thai spouse, children, parents, voluntary job, Retirement (with State Pension)

I very clearly stated in the application that I was applying for an ED visa and also submitted all the company documents, along with an invitation letter stating it would be an unpaid internship to be a marketing communications intern.

Do you think I should stick with this O-visa or try to change it? Seems a little weird in my opinion.

[sustento]

Surely an unpaid internship is a voluntary job? An education visa is supposed to be for those signing up at some sort of educational establishment to study.

[wayned]

The "O" visa sounds correct to me, a "B" would have been better. Once you arrive the organization that you will being the internship with will have to arrange a work permit. You can not get a work permit on an ED visa. You will actually be working even though not being paid so, by law, you must have a WP.

[SS1]

Surely an unpaid internship is a voluntary job? An education visa is supposed to be for those signing up at some sort of educational establishment to study.

Hmm that's a good point, but I see "volountary services" more as things like working for a charity.

On the Royal Thai Consulate of Hochiminh it says:

Non-Immigrant Visa "ED" (Education)

1. REQUIREMENT

This type of visa is issued to applicants who wish to study, attend seminar, training session, or internship in Thailand.

I'm just worried in case I would ever get questioned by some officials about working without a work permit, as I would like to clearly state that I am doing the internship to learn programming/online marketing, which is the case. I don't think anyone could classify this as "volounteering", as the organisation is a 100% profitable foreign owned company.

The "O" visa sounds correct to me. Once you arrive the organization that you will being the internship with will have to arrange a work permit. You can not get a work permit on an ED visa. You will actually be working even thought not being paid so, by law, you must have a WP>

But shouldn't it rather be the 'B' visa then in this case? On this 'O' visa it also says in the remarks that "employment prohibited". I know that other interns are working with an ED-visa for the same company..

[ubonjoe]

You probably have no choice but to travel here and then if you have problems go out for another visa.

The embassy would not change the visa they would merely cancel the existing one and issue a new one after you paid the fee for it.

[SS1]

You probably have no choice but to travel here and then if you have problems go out for another visa.

The embassy would not change the visa they would merely cancel the existing one and issue a new one after you paid the fee for it.

Hmm yeah this was what I was wondering, if they could simply change it for me. I don't want to pay the fee again though, thanks for the info.

I'll probably stick with this visa then and ask if the company can process a work permit for me - afterall this would be the safest option.

[PoorSucker]

But shouldn't it rather be the 'B' visa then in this case? On this 'O' visa it also says in the remarks that "employment prohibited". I know that other interns are working with an ED-visa for the same company..

The "employment prohibited" remark is only there as a reminder that you must have a work permit to work.

I had the same on my first non-B visa.

[SS1]

I called the Royal Thai Embassy in London today to ask about why they had given me the wrong visa.. After trying to call there twice, staying on hold for 15 min each time, when I called around 4pm someone finally answered.. and redirected me to a person who redirected me to a person who finally spoke proper English.

They said they gave me the Non-Immigrant O visa because I hadn't submitted a letter from my University as proof that I'm a student. So instead of simply calling/emailing me that an additional document is needed, they decided to give me a completely irrelevant visa instead.

I asked if they can change my visa and the answer was no indeed, that I have to apply for a new one again and also pay again.

I asked if they can use the pile of documents from the Thai company from my first visa application, but the answer was NO. "new application, need new documents". So now I have to request all the company docs and invitation letter again from the company, which takes ages in the post.

Pretty frustrated at this point, but I guess I need to learn to deal with this kind BS if I'm planning to move to Thailand.

Does anyone know if Embassies accept scanned documents instead of originals? Would make this a lot easier if the company could email me them as attachments.

[moe666]

I called the Royal Thai Embassy in London today to ask about why they had given me the wrong visa.. After trying to call there twice, staying on hold for 15 min each time, when I called around 4pm someone finally answered.. and redirected me to a person who redirected me to a person who finally spoke proper English.

They said they gave me the Non-Immigrant O visa because I hadn't submitted a letter from my University as proof that I'm a student. So instead of simply calling/emailing me that an additional document is needed, they decided to give me a completely irrelevant visa instead.

I asked if they can change my visa and the answer was no indeed, that I have to apply for a new one again and also pay again.

I asked if they can use the pile of documents from the Thai company from my first visa application, but the answer was NO. "new application, need new documents". So now I have to request all the company docs and invitation letter again from the company, which takes ages in the post.

Pretty frustrated at this point, but I guess I need to learn to deal with this kind BS if I'm planning to move to Thailand.

Does anyone know if Embassies accept scanned documents instead of originals? Would make this a lot easier if the company could email me them as attachments.

You are creating your own problems the o-visa will be fine for what you want, work permit can be issued on a O-visa. As the person told you no letter from school. If it is only for aa single entry 90 days to enter, you are fine.

[HooHaa]

jesus, it says voluntary job right there in the description. whats the panic?

[HooHaa]

You probably have no choice but to travel here and then if you have problems go out for another visa.

The embassy would not change the visa they would merely cancel the existing one and issue a new one after you paid the fee for it.

why would he have to go out, o and b visas can be changed in country.? i thought it was tourist visas and visa exempt that could not.

am i wrong?

[HooHaa]

I called the Royal Thai Embassy in London today to ask about why they had given me the wrong visa.. After trying to call there twice, staying on hold for 15 min each time, when I called around 4pm someone finally answered.. and redirected me to a person who redirected me to a person who finally spoke proper English.

They said they gave me the Non-Immigrant O visa because I hadn't submitted a letter from my University as proof that I'm a student. So instead of simply calling/emailing me that an additional document is needed, they decided to give me a completely irrelevant visa instead.

I asked if they can change my visa and the answer was no indeed, that I have to apply for a new one again and also pay again.

I asked if they can use the pile of documents from the Thai company from my first visa application, but the answer was NO. "new application, need new documents". So now I have to request all the company docs and invitation letter again from the company, which takes ages in the post.

Pretty frustrated at this point, but I guess I need to learn to deal with this kind BS if I'm planning to move to Thailand.

Does anyone know if Embassies accept scanned documents instead of originals? Would make this a lot easier if the company could email me them as attachments.

haha, you are going to have fun here i tell ya

[SS1]

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jesus, it says voluntary job right there in the description. whats the panic?

Basically the company wants me to get an ED-visa like the other interns have, to get me an "intern work permit", which according to them is only possible on the ED visa.

You probably have no choice but to travel here and then if you have problems go out for another visa.

The embassy would not change the visa they would merely cancel the existing one and issue a new one after you paid the fee for it.

why would he have to go out, o and b visas can be changed in country.? i thought it was tourist visas and visa exempt that could not.

am i wrong?

This would be useful, as I could arrive to the country and then change it there depending on the needs. What would be the right place to do these changes?

[Gumballl]

Pretty frustrated at this point, but I guess I need to learn to deal with this kind BS if I'm planning to move to Thailand.

Doesn't it suck when you screw up (i.e. fail to provide all of the correct documents) and someone else is unwilling to take the blame?

[SS1]

Pretty frustrated at this point, but I guess I need to learn to deal with this kind BS if I'm planning to move to Thailand.

Doesn't it suck when you screw up (i.e. fail to provide all of the correct documents) and someone else is unwilling to take the blame?

No - I would be more than willing to send them any additional documents needed, this is expected. Note: The Royal Thai Embassy reserves the rights to request for other additional documents, depending on the type of Non-Immigrant Visa.

But the fact that instead of simply requesting this one document, they just send me another random visa. I offer to send them the additional paper and pay for a new visa. But no, they wan't me to resend them ALL the exact same documents again instead of using the ones in their file already. - this is what sucks

[apiwan]

Pretty frustrated at this point, but I guess I need to learn to deal with this kind BS if I'm planning to move to Thailand.

Doesn't it suck when you screw up (i.e. fail to provide all of the correct documents) and someone else is unwilling to take the blame?

That's not fair on him.

London is pretty shitty at the moment. And they usually call you to explain that there not issuing that visa but issuing another .

Like me she told me I need another document. But wouldn't state which one .

Even when asking her directly.

She ummed and arred then said goodbye .

That's the London embassy for you.

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[ubonjoe]

You probably have no choice but to travel here and then if you have problems go out for another visa.

The embassy would not change the visa they would merely cancel the existing one and issue a new one after you paid the fee for it.

why would he have to go out, o and b visas can be changed in country.? i thought it was tourist visas and visa exempt that could not.

am i wrong?

It is not possible to change non immigrant visa classes.

The only visa that can be changed is a tourist visa to a non immigrant visa.

[Maestro]

The general idea is to travel to Thailand with the non-O visa, apply for an receive the work permit, then apply for the extension of stay for the season of employment.

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