Non-imm B Running Out, What Next?

[gingaa]

My non-imm B Visa runs out next month, and I want to stay in Thailand. I believe this means when I do my next border run, I will be issued a tourist Visa.

Can I do that by exiting Thailand at Mae Sai and going into Myanmar, and how much will it cost?

About how many times can I get "back to back" tourist Visas before it's a problem?

Is it more difficult to find a teaching position if one only has a tourist Visa, as opposed to the Non-imm B? (I have all the necessary qualifications to teach: legit degree and TEFL cert.).

Thanks for your help.

[lopburi3]

You can not legally teach or have any other employment on a 30 day entry without visa (from border) or a tourist visa (from Consulate).

At border you would receive a 30 day stamp and might be asked to show 10,000 upon return to Thailand. Believe the cost is 500 baht on the Burma side but not sure. How long is a string? Most people do not seem to have a problem doing many entry/exits but others are told not to come again after only a few.

[gingaa]

You can not legally teach or have any other employment on a 30 day entry without visa (from border) or a tourist visa (from Consulate).

At border you would receive a 30 day stamp and might be asked to show 10,000 upon return to Thailand. Believe the cost is 500 baht on the Burma side but not sure. How long is a string? Most people do not seem to have a problem doing many entry/exits but others are told not to come again after only a few.

Thanks for the info. Apologies for my newbie questions, but, my last entry stamp is good until mid-August, but my original Non-imm B expires mid July. I assumed this means that my luck runs out in July, and that I can't stay in Thailand beyond mid July without a Visa no matter what my entry stamp says. Now I've read that I don't NEED a Visa if I have the entry stamp. Is that right?

So, is it a Thai consulate in Myanmar that I'll go to for the Thai tourist Visa? When I've obtained Visas for neighboring countries, they were issued at the border.

I don't plan on working illegally. I'll have to find a legit teaching job that will provide work permit and Visa, but don't count on that happening before my Visa expires next montgh. It had just occured to me that I may have a more difficult time landing a job once I've lost my Non-imm B.

While I might be able to cover my expenses without teaching, it sounds like I'll need to teach in order to get the Visa if I want to stay in Thailand. How long of a string? I'd hope to stay another year or more.

Edited June 18, 2006 by gingaa

[meadish_sweetball]

You can not legally teach or have any other employment on a 30 day entry without visa (from border) or a tourist visa (from Consulate).

At border you would receive a 30 day stamp and might be asked to show 10,000 upon return to Thailand. Believe the cost is 500 baht on the Burma side but not sure. How long is a string? Most people do not seem to have a problem doing many entry/exits but others are told not to come again after only a few.

my last entry stamp is good until mid-August, but my original Non-imm B expires mid July. I assumed this means that my luck runs out in July, and that I can't stay in Thailand beyond mid July without a Visa no matter what my entry stamp says. Now I've read that I don't NEED a Visa if I have the entry stamp. Is that right?

Yes. The entry stamp is what Immigration goes by. The visa just states the last date you can enter Thailand and be granted a permission to stay based on that visa.

So, is it a Thai consulate in Myanmar that I'll go to for the Thai tourist Visa? When I've obtained Visas for neighboring countries, they were issued at the border.

I think you may still be confused as to what is a visa and what is an entry stamp. If you cross the border into another country and then come back into Thailand, you will be given a 30 day entry stamp at the Thai border checkpoint. This stamp is not a visa, just a stamp stating a permission to stay for 30 days. In order to get a tourist visa (or any other type of visa) you need to apply in person at a Thai embassy or consulate abroad - in the case of Myanmar that means flying in to the capital Rangoon (Yangon).

While I might be able to cover my expenses without teaching, it sounds like I'll need to teach in order to get the Visa if I want to stay in Thailand. How long of a string? I'd hope to stay another year or more.

Not sure what you mean by 'how long of a string?'... As I said earlier, you can go back to your home country to apply for a double or triple entry tourist visa, but then you are not allowed to work. In order to get a Non Immigrant B visa, you need to find yourself an employer willing to help you obtain the visa - this probably means a teaching job, unless you have any other qualifications.

If you really have the funds to support yourself without working, your best bet is to go to a Thai embassy or consulate abroad and apply for a tourist visa, which gives you 60 days upon entry, and which you can extend by an additional 30 days at an Immigration office within Thailand at the price of 1900 baht. If you are lucky, you may be able to get a double entry or triple entry tourist visa at one of these consulates or embassies, although it looks as if that is rather difficult lately.

Again note that you are only allowed to perform any work if you have a Non Immigrant visa and a work permit. Working on a 30 day entry stamp or a tourist visa is illegal.

[gingaa]

You can not legally teach or have any other employment on a 30 day entry without visa (from border) or a tourist visa (from Consulate).

At border you would receive a 30 day stamp and might be asked to show 10,000 upon return to Thailand. Believe the cost is 500 baht on the Burma side but not sure. How long is a string? Most people do not seem to have a problem doing many entry/exits but others are told not to come again after only a few.

my last entry stamp is good until mid-August, but my original Non-imm B expires mid July. I assumed this means that my luck runs out in July, and that I can't stay in Thailand beyond mid July without a Visa no matter what my entry stamp says. Now I've read that I don't NEED a Visa if I have the entry stamp. Is that right?

Yes. The entry stamp is what Immigration goes by. The visa just states the last date you can enter Thailand and be granted a permission to stay based on that visa.

So, is it a Thai consulate in Myanmar that I'll go to for the Thai tourist Visa? When I've obtained Visas for neighboring countries, they were issued at the border.

I think you may still be confused as to what is a visa and what is an entry stamp. If you cross the border into another country and then come back into Thailand, you will be given a 30 day entry stamp at the Thai border checkpoint. This stamp is not a visa, just a stamp stating a permission to stay for 30 days. In order to get a tourist visa (or any other type of visa) you need to apply in person at a Thai embassy or consulate abroad - in the case of Myanmar that means flying in to the capital Rangoon (Yangon).

While I might be able to cover my expenses without teaching, it sounds like I'll need to teach in order to get the Visa if I want to stay in Thailand. How long of a string? I'd hope to stay another year or more.

Not sure what you mean by 'how long of a string?'... As I said earlier, you can go back to your home country to apply for a double or triple entry tourist visa, but then you are not allowed to work. In order to get a Non Immigrant B visa, you need to find yourself an employer willing to help you obtain the visa - this probably means a teaching job, unless you have any other qualifications.

If you really have the funds to support yourself without working, your best bet is to go to a Thai embassy or consulate abroad and apply for a tourist visa, which gives you 60 days upon entry, and which you can extend by an additional 30 days at an Immigration office within Thailand at the price of 1900 baht. If you are lucky, you may be able to get a double entry or triple entry tourist visa at one of these consulates or embassies, although it looks as if that is rather difficult lately.

Again note that you are only allowed to perform any work if you have a Non Immigrant visa and a work permit. Working on a 30 day entry stamp or a tourist visa is illegal.

I believe you've answered all my questions. Thanks. I suppose as long as I find a decent teaching job in the next couple months I have nothing to worry about except worry itself.