Staying on a creative but legal visa 'construction' how did you do it?

[flyDelight]

I know a lawyer who offers a year visa (with limited work permit) for 35k ThB by becoming a member of his voluntary hill tribe organization, you visit a hill tribe once and bring some pens and books, for a visa. Anyone who has experience with this or other constructions? Or any thoughts/warnings?

[Evilbaz]

Typical shady shyster - caveat emptor

[oncearugge]

I have no idea what a "limited work permit " is ............. and there is no "visiting hill tribes" visa available.

Best distance yourself from what appears to be scam.

[PattayaPhom]

Maybe a Non Imm R visa

[flyDelight]

A basically useless work permit just for the voluntary 'work', but including a one year non O visa.

Sure there are visa for various volunteer jobs, and I'm not talking about scams.

I have no idea what a "limited work permit " is ............. and there is no "visiting hill tribes" visa available.

Best distance yourself from what appears to be scam.

[momtaz]

Kind of innovative scam this ...

[oncearugge]

A basically useless work permit just for the voluntary 'work', but including a one year non O visa.

Sure there are visa for various volunteer jobs, and I'm not talking about scams.

I have no idea what a "limited work permit " is ............. and there is no "visiting hill tribes" visa available.

Best distance yourself from what appears to be scam.

Some must be desperate to gain entry to or remain in the LOS.

If YOU are happy with paying 35k for a visa and "limited " WP then go ahead and sign up to the scam.

[darrendsd]

And people wonder why the visa rules are being tightened? Do Thai Visa posters know that the Government monitor forums such as these? Idiots

[JackThompson]

And people wonder why the visa rules are being tightened? Do Thai Visa posters know that the Government monitor forums such as these? Idiots

These scams are encouraged by tightening the visa rules on those that follow the rules. What is, and has always been the case since I've been watching - "tightening the rules" for any visa-category just means it costs more to get the same deal (legally). So you get more criminals, and fewer honest folks who, to spite following the rules, are made to feel like criminals. Everyone knows where most of those illegally taking jobs in the Thai-market work.

OTOH, anyone know the legal restrictions are for volunteer visas? How many hrs/mo, or similar? It might be a better and more rewarding path than the Edu, if the conditions aren't so crazy as to make sane persons actually consider the above scam.

[BritTim]

This sounds like abuse of the regulations that allow NGOs to employ volunteers. The visa will be technically legal. If only a handful of people use this, it might fly under the radar. However, for ethical reasons, please stay away from this. It has the potential to severely complicate matters for real NGOs using real volunteers.

[oncearugge]

This sounds like abuse of the regulations that allow NGOs to employ volunteers. The visa will be technically legal. If only a handful of people use this, it might fly under the radar. However, for ethical reasons, please stay away from this. It has the potential to severely complicate matters for real NGOs using real volunteers.

Those genuinely interested in volunteering should be very cautious..

There are many scam "volunteer" schemes on offer which will never support the acquisition of an appropriate visa/WP but will charge "volunteers" large sums of money.

Only genuine,registered NGO's should be supported

[Maestro]

Removed a nonsensical post.

[ubonjoe]

A basically useless work permit just for the voluntary 'work', but including a one year non O visa.

Sure there are visa for various volunteer jobs, and I'm not talking about scams.

I have no idea what a "limited work permit " is ............. and there is no "visiting hill tribes" visa available.

Best distance yourself from what appears to be scam.

A one year non-o visa would be a multiple entry visa that allows 90 day entries for a year. Meaning you have leave the country every 90 days.

Many volunteers are only getting 90 day extensions of stay since they changed the rules last year. They get 90 day extensions up to one year from the date they entered with a single entry non-o visa. After that year they have go out for new visa.

[JackThompson]

I've looked into this further, as volunteer work may be a good fit for me. I don't need income from taking a Thai job with a "B" visa (though I have the qualifications), nor am I interested in the 9-5 routine. But if I can volunteer a reasonable amount of time, in return for permission to stay, that would be a perfect fit.

I found a website which seems to offer what the OP is talking about, and it would appear they are acting as an intermediary for "real" Thai charitable orgs. They collect a fee (the ~30K baht) for handling things like "... necessary security checks with both local police and from your home State or Country," and other paperwork. The site also seems to be advertising this to "digital nomads," though the visa they offer in no way provides a "work permit," for anything other than volunteer work. Their contacts appear to all be in the Chang Mai area. The OP's claim that you can, "visit a hill tribe once..." does not track - the work would be ongoing, though the minimum time contributed is not specified, and the implication is that it is very minimal. Rather than go through an outfit like this, possibly ending with an invalidated visa, one could simply work directly with/for the charitable org of your choice - skipping the middle-man.

The most complete list of qualifications I found was on Sweden's website http://www.thaiembassy.se/visa/types-of-visa/51 (though I invite better links / info). The financial qualifications are about $825/mo - so for a 3 mo visa (all you will get, initially), you would need to show approx $2500. Of course, the invitation letter from the organization, and then the usual passport photos, etc.

In contrast to what we know of the METV, so far, a Non-O for volunteer work does not require an "account history for 6 months" - and the visa can be applied-for and received in nearby consulates such as Laos or Penang. After entering, then applying for and receiving your work-permit, you apply for (an) additional extension(s) in-country.

Some info out there seems to be outdated - things have changed. If there is a thread here, or other info which more clearly specifies the current requirements, please advise.

[impulse]

Rather than go through an outfit like this, possibly ending with an invalidated visa, one could simply work directly with/for the charitable org of your choice - skipping the middle-man.

Given the requirements for documentation from your "Inviting Organization", have you identified any that are recruiting?

I'm not endorsing any particular service, but "middlemen" exist for a reason. Just like employment agencies exist for a reason. The OP's guy may (or may not) be dodgy, but without contacts in country, I'd have a hard time negotiating the process the first time. I'm employed here in Thailand, and my company uses "middlemen" for each expat employee (and pay the middlemen well) because it's a specialty that's not within our core business. Just like arranging visa's isn't in the core "business" of most charities.

You may find that your options are opened up quite a bit if you're not limited to charities that do their own visa work. Or maybe not, but I'd certainly rather spend volunteer time doing something I choose, and not what's chosen for me by visa needs.

The following from your link:

5. A Letter of invitation from a company or an organization in Thailand indicating your position, qualification, responsibilities of your work, any supporting from the company and period of stay in Thailand

6. Financial Statement/saving account, showing amount of money to cover the period of volunteering work in thailand equal 7,000 Sek / month.

7. Document of company/organization as followed:

- Business/organization registration and license

- List of shareholders

- Company/organization‘s profile

- Details of business/organization operation

8. CV-employment certificate or education record

[JackThompson]

Rather than go through an outfit like this, possibly ending with an invalidated visa, one could simply work directly with/for the charitable org of your choice - skipping the middle-man.

Given the requirements for documentation from your "Inviting Organization", have you identified any that are recruiting?

I'm not endorsing any particular service, but "middlemen" exist for a reason. Just like employment agencies exist for a reason. The OP's guy may (or may not) be dodgy, but without contacts in country, I'd have a hard time negotiating the process the first time. I'm employed here in Thailand, and my company uses "middlemen" for each expat employee (and pay the middlemen well) because it's a specialty that's not within our core business. Just like arranging visa's isn't in the core "business" of most charities.

You may find that your options are opened up quite a bit if you're not limited to charities that do their own visa work. Or maybe not, but I'd certainly rather spend volunteer time doing something I choose, and not what's chosen for me by visa needs.

The following from your link:

5. A Letter of invitation from a company or an organization in Thailand indicating your position, qualification, responsibilities of your work, any supporting from the company and period of stay in Thailand

6. Financial Statement/saving account, showing amount of money to cover the period of volunteering work in thailand equal 7,000 Sek / month.

7. Document of company/organization as followed:

- Business/organization registration and license

- List of shareholders

- Company/organization‘s profile

- Details of business/organization operation

8. CV-employment certificate or education record

I have not yet - just beginning to look into this. You make a good point. What makes me skeptical of that particular enterprise, is the way it is marketed. But the cost itself is not bad, if they do all the work for a full year.

Ideally, I'd like to set up my own group, or find one, with the aim to help Thai young folks learn the skills they need to succeed in the digital-marketplace. Essentially, they need a specialty plus the ability to communicate about Tech in English. Perhaps 20 participants with similar goals and experience could make the legal-costs affordable. But, as I say, I am just looking into this for the 1st time.