Hi all,

My family has been doing volunteer work in Thailand the past couple of months on "O" Visas. We are thinking of coming back early next year for 6-12 months to Chiang Mai....we are currently in Pattaya, but feel Chiang Mai would be a better fit for our young family.

My question is, if we were to get 60 day tourist visas to begin with, then once we find an NGO in Chiang Mai we would like to volunteer with, then apply for 1 year "O" Visas through that NGO. Is this possible to do this in country? Or do you need to fly out to apply?

Thanks!!

I don't don't think volunteering is a reason that immigration will do a conversion to a non immigrant visa. If they did do it would only be done in Bangkok.

If they did do it you would first have to have a work permit application done. It will also require documents from the organization you are working with.

You would more than likely have to get non-o visas from an embassy for consulate in order to get an extension of stay at immigration.

There was a case a few years back, that person was also in Chiang Mai and needed indeed to go to BKK for the conversion. CM-immigration will not do it.