Non O (Volunteer) Visa Phnom Penh - Efficient, Easy and almost polite!

[dogeatinghotchips]

For Anyone interested, I very recently just successfully applied and received my Non O visa (Volunteer) in Phnom Penh. As the Thai Embassy there is undergoing renovation the only way of contact is through a slot counter window on the street side. I submitted all the necessary documents including a current bank statement before 11am, I was told to wait for 15mins for the consul verdict, after 10 they were back saying its been approved, I paid the $80 fee and was told to pick it up in the afternoon in two days time. I went back early and was the only one there, they handed me my passport back no problems. I only got a single Entry as I will extend in country here, so not sure if they are issuing multiple entries in this category. Simple and painless - I had to go myself as Agents such as Lucky Lucky wouldn't process this one.

I went through the same procedure for the same visa 3 years ago and the whole process was a nightmare, I had to go back every day for 5 days before the visa was issued, the staff were rude and unhelpful, so it was a nice surprise when this went so smoothly.

The Thai Embassy is at 196 Norodom Boulevard right after the Japanese Embassy heading south.

[Mario2008]

Extensions based on volunteering are now for maximum 1 year only, then you have to leave the country and apply for a new non-O visa.

How much money in the bank did you need to show?

[dogeatinghotchips]

I only needed 20,000bt in my account so no issue there.

Bit of a shit about having to leave for renewal after one year, for the past two years I have been able to renew at immigration in Chiang Mai without having to leave the country. At least there are more trips to Cambodia or elsewhere to look forward to , although it is a bit inconvenient. So have they just recently scrapped renewing a volunteer visa in country? It would be good to know as there are others working in our organisation to whom this will apply.

[Mario2008]

Same as for students at language schools they now as of 29th of August require volunteers to apply for an extension every 90 days and to apply for a new visa abroad after 1 year.

See also: http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/popup_anounce.html

[HooHaa]

i hardly think waiting 2 days for a visa is efficient

[dogeatinghotchips]

i hardly think waiting 2 days for a visa is efficient

Its about as good as it gets, they don't state it will be any quicker for a visa in that category.

Mario2008, thanks for the link.