Non-immigrant Single Entry Question

[cerowcroft]

Just wanted to get this clear, please advise if you can:

I have a single entry non-immigrant visa which expires on 9th January.

I want to extend this for another 3 months. Can I do a border cross to do this, or do I need to go to an immigration office inside the Kingdom? If the latter, what papers do I need and requirements are there for an extension, how quickly do you think it can be obtained and what's the likeliness of it being granted?

I am working (without a work permit) as a teacher near Chiang Mai.

I am a British national, 24 years of age.

[lopburi3]

No you can not extend a used visa for three months by a border crossing or a visit to immigration.

You can cross border and return for a 30 day permitted to stay.

((You are likely to find yourself in trouble if you continue to work as a teacher without police clearance or work permit.))

[cerowcroft]

Thanks for your advice.

[justsignedin]

Hi,

Question of my own.

For how long can you extend a single entry non 'O' visa obtained from the uk ?

Am i right in believing you get three months on entry and then you can extend for a further month ?. And can you extend again after that ??.

Many thanks.

[astral]

One month is the most you will get as an extension,

without a work permit,

or evidence of marriage to a Thai citizen,

or aged 50 or more.

[cerowcroft]

Just to confirm, my only option is to cross the border and get a 30 day tourist visa and then I would have to fly home?

Is there no option of applying again for another 90 days non-immigrant visa or for some other form of extension at an immigration office? I find it hard to believe, so ask for this final confirmation! I will be calling the immigration office in BKK first thing tomorrow morning for more advice, but since it's public holiday today I am having to research by other means.

N.b. As for working without a permit, I am doing voluntary work with hilltribe children and my organisation felt it would take them too much time and effort to get me a work permit, so I have had to reluctantly join the ranks of the many other teachers working in Thailand without a permit.

[lopburi3]

Teaching visa approval now appears to require a police background check so I would expect a close check will be a real possibility in the near future. Immigration does not extend visas without valid reasons and they do not issue visas.

[astral]

N.b. As for working without a permit, I am doing voluntary work with hilltribe children and my organisation felt it would take them too much time and effort to get me a work permit,

I wonder if they will feel the same way when they you are locked up in the Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok

and they have to pay your fare for you to be deported back to your home country..............

You are running a BIG risk.

[lopburi3]

The below has just be linked to in another thread and is new information posted on the UK Thai Embassy web site so if you have qualifications for the teaching you are doing it may be possiable to obtain an extension of stay - but am not sure the MFA (who write the rules for Consulates) and Immigration (who will have to issue extension) will be on the same page. Good luck.

2. On Voluntary Basis

The applicant must apply for a non-immigrant visa, type “O”. at the Embassy. The applicant is required to submit an official recommendation letter from the organization in Thailand to the Embassy. Information on the term of voluntary work of the applicant in Thailand have to be provided for the Embassy’s consideration. If the applicant has appropriate qualification, the Embassy will issue a non-immigrant visa, type “O”, single entry with three month validity to the applicant within two working days. With this kind of visa, the applicant will be permitted to stay in Thailand not more than 90 days. In case the applicant wishes to extend the duration of stay in Thailand, the applicant is required to apply with the Immigration Bureau in Thailand by enclosing an official introduction letter of the Organization in Thailand.

Please be informed that a foreigner who is holding a Thai tourist visa is not permitted to work as an English teacher in Thailand, even on a voluntary basis.

[Mahout Angrit]

Is there no option of applying again for another 90 days non-immigrant visa or for some other form of extension at an immigration office? I find it hard to believe, so ask for this final confirmation!

You cannot get a Visa issued in country, but if you do not manage to get your current Visa extended you can go to an Embassy in a neighbouring country with a letter from your voluntary organisation and apply for another Non Imm O Visa. See notes at Royal Thai Embassy, London Edited January 2, 2007 by Mahout Angrit

[cerowcroft]

For the information of anyone who is reading this thread due to being in a similar position to me, this is what my outcome was:

During my first visit to immigration I was told I could extend my visa by applying for a work permit. I contacted my organisation and explained my problem further, and they agreed to help me apply for a work permit - they should have done that in the first place, but nevermind. Immigration then extended my visa for another month while I wait for the permit to be processed, and, hopefully, issued. Then I will be able to extend the visa again, or so immigration told me. I did not need to leave the country to do any of this, just visited the local immigration and employment offices.

Thanks to Lopburi3 for the info regarding voluntary work.