Hello there,

Apologies in advance if this feels like a repetition, but I have been bombarded with so much (often conflicting) information that I felt it'd be best just ask all you well-seasoned veterans of this Thai visa game. Right so here is my situation:

- UK National, 27 year old English teacher (fully CELTA qualified, experienced, not some cowboy backpacker)

- Currently on a tourist visa which expires 30th April

- Looking for work as an English teacher in Chiang Mai

- Here with my girlfriend who is doing voluntary work until December and has her appropriate visa

My question to you guys is: what are my options? My tourist visa runs out next week and I'm still in the process of job hunting. I've hit the streets and handed in applications to the most reputable schools (and some slightly less reputable ones too) so I'm currently playing the waiting game (sabai, sabai). What is the best option for me? From what I've read I seem to have different options...

1) Just go to immigration and get a 30 day extension. But what if my job situation isn't resolved within that time? Do I have other options to extend i.e. leaving the country?

2) Go on a nice holiday to Vientiane for a couple of days and apply for a multiple entry visa. Is this doable? How much time would it give me?

3) Anything else you can suggest.

I'm confident that I'll be able to find work, but it'd just a matter of time, and I want to give myself as much time as possible. I've already had a job offer from a school that I am somewhat wary of and they offered a visa but I really want to wait and see what my options are i.e. just accepting this job because it gives me a visa is my backup backup plan.

Sorry if this has already been asked a million times and hopefully any snarky 'lol what a newbie' comments will be counteracted by some wonderful pearls of wisdom from this lovely community!

Pop over to Laos and get another double entry tourist visa will be the safest option for you. Schools start again on about May 15 so you should have secured a position by then, but always better to be safe than sorry.

If however you extend by 30 days here, find a job starting on the 15th and they have their act together, you could then do the trip to Laos for your Non-B , but of course that hinges on finding work and your employer getting the paperwork sorted in time.

Edited April 24, 201511 yr by bigt3116

The first thing you should do is apply for the 30 day extension. You can do it any time between now and the 30th and loose no days because it will start from the 30th.

Have you checked here for jobs. http://www.ajarn.com/recruitment/browse_jobs/index.html

If no job by the end of the 30 days you can go to Vientiane for a 2 entry tourist visa.

Have looked here for info. Teaching in Thailand Forum

Yeah, the more time I have, the better is what I'm figuring. What type of visa am I most likely to get in Vientiane? Also, as an aside, if I go to Laos and do this can I get a multiple entry visa for there as I'll most likely have to go back there when I find work to get my work permit signed off?

You can only get a single entry visa on arrival for Laos.

Question about visa for Thailand has already been answered.

For teaching you do not need a work permit application done to get a single entry non-b visa. You just need paperwork from your employer. After you get your non-b visa you will be able to get your teaching license or waiver and apply for the work permit.

Cool! I thought as much. There's not really so much on ajarn at the moment, but advice from the site has pointed me in the directions of a couple of schools who have told me they will be hiring in the near future. I'll head down to the immigration office in Chiang Mai on Monday while the job search continues.

Thanks a lot for your help and advice guys!

Chiang Mai is a highly competitive market. Even a fully qualified native speaker with a University degree and teaching certificate has trouble finding work there, and you didn't mention you had either so I'm assuming you don't. If you really want to stay in Thailand, I suggest you broaden your scope of employment area. You've got luck on your side, it is the hiring cycle and the feeding frenzy for teachers is happening right now. Best of luck!

Chiang Mai is probably the hardest place in Thailand to get a teaching job, especially if you havent taught in Thailand before. You would be well advised to look else where at the same time.

Doors should start opening soon if not already as school starts back in mid May. My school has already got its teachers sorted out and also their work permits and extensions for those that needed them.

Once you find your school keep on their backs about paper work for your non B the you can go to Laos and get your visa. On your return the school will be able to get your work permit and to sort out the paperwork i.e. licence waver to get your extension. Keep on their backs or you will end up having to go back to Laos.

Some people have said that the consulate in Vietienne are asking for a letter of application for a work permit from the Labour Office. I am note sure if this is true or not. I do have such a letter but never had to show it but I went to Savannaket and that was nearly two years ago.

Yeah, the more time I have, the better is what I'm figuring. What type of visa am I most likely to get in Vientiane? Also, as an aside, if I go to Laos and do this can I get a multiple entry visa for there as I'll most likely have to go back there when I find work to get my work permit signed off?

You wont need to go back to Laos to get your work permit signed off.