Hi

In a bit of a pickle here.

My mother-in-law, who is Chinese, but works for some charity highschool close to Chiang Mai, was supposed to visit us in Sweden in April. She is also supposed to reapply for the 90 days Thai visa, work permit and then the 1 year "B" visa (still somewhat fuzzy on differences). Was supposed to do it now in March, but the school staff informed her that "due to gov policy changes, renewal can be applied for earliest 1-2 weeks before previous visa expiration (1st May). Is that even remotely possible, or sounds rather like an attempt of misinformation? All info I could find was that there is no limit to how early you can apply (except for >3 months, as it will expire before entering).

Thanks for any opinion on this.

Sounds as though MIL is seeking an extension of stay based on "volunteering" . Applications for such extensions are normally made 30 days in advance but some immigration offices will accept applications 45 days in advance.

More specific detail would be required before definitive advice could be offered .

Is MIL an employee who receives a salary/wage ?

Thanks for answering.

No, no salary, pure volunteer. She has been there around 3 years, so she's gone through the annual renewal process before, and it wasn't a problem to apply 1-2 months earlier.

Problem is that she is at mercy of the school as she doesn't speak Thai or English.

I am trying to find out if it is real recent local policy change in Chiang Mai or just misdirection from the staff, which would have implications to MIL's future stay there, besides screwing up the trip to Europe.

Edited March 8, 201511 yr by MrW

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Thanks for answering.

No, no salary, pure volunteer. She has been there around 3 years, so she's gone through the annual renewal process before, and it wasn't a problem to apply 1-2 months earlier.

Problem is that she is at mercy of the school as she doesn't speak Thai or English.

I am trying to find out if it is real recent local policy change in Chiang Mai or just misdirection from the staff, which would have implications to MIL's future stay there, besides screwing up the trip to Europe.

No "policy change" that I am aware of.

Seems that the school staff have failed to generate the required paperwork in a timely fashion.

So let me run something through you.

So if 1 year work permit (which I understand also has to be applied for annually) and B-visa are about to expire, you apply for 90 days visa extension, then for work permit again, and then extension of visa for 1 year? Do you need to re-enter in the mean time? I swear this is most confusing bureaucracy, even after growing up in communistic country.

If she already has an extension of stay (it is not a visa) she does not normally need to get a new visa. She would be using non-o visas not a non-b.

But the clause of the police order for volunteers was changed in August of last year. Unless the school can get a signature and approval from a government agency she may have to go out for a new visa and then will only get a 90 day extensions of stay for up to a year and then have to again go out for another non-o visa.

Work permits and visas/extensions are 2 separate things. She may get a one year work permit for volunteer work but only be allowed 90 day extensions.

Thanks for all the help. Trying to coerce the staff to maybe look into the problem faster...