Unanswered8 years ago

Can I apply for a NON-O visa as a volunteer with a non-foundation church in Thailand?

NON-O Visa Volunteer Visa Thailand Immigration Expat Visa Options Religion and Visa Regulations Long-term Stay

Mallory **************

asked May 3, 2018

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Rough day apply for a non-o visa in Laos. I was not able to apply for a visa because the church is not registered as a foundation, but the church is registered with the government. They have an official logo. Am i still able to apply for a non-o visa (volunteer) with this church if its not a foundation?

Summary so far

The original poster faced issues applying for a NON-O visa in Laos due to their church not being registered as a foundation, despite being officially recognized by the government. Commenters pointed out that only registered charities (foundations) are typically eligible for such visas. They recommended considering other options like tourist visas or studying in Thailand for an ED visa, as the chances of obtaining a volunteer visa without the church being a foundation seem slim. Discussions included the complications of the poster's partner's lack of citizenship and potential pathways to legalize their stay in Thailand.

14 repliesnewest first

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Shayne **********

Foundation only. Only tourist visa at the moment.

8 years ago

Lloyd ********

Foundation here = registered charity. Being "Just" a church is not going to cut it. Foundations here have huge amount of both paperwork and money to show. If you could get a visa for every dog shelter the streets would be awash with "volunteers".

8 years ago

Tod *********

If this volunteer visa doesn't fly your options for long term stay are limited. You could go back to your country and apply for a 6 month METV <- multi-entry tourist visa, you could find something to study and get an ED visa, or you can keep getting tourist visas and 30 day extensions for a while

8 years ago

Tod *********

Let's reach out to the volunteer visa expert

@Shayne *********

Any ideas?

8 years ago

Mallory **************

@Shayne *********

ok I return to Thailand tomorrow and Will send you a message. Thank you

8 years ago

Mary ********

Think about going to college. It isn't that expensive and gets you a one year Ed visa.

8 years ago

Shayne **********

Let's talk when you get back.

8 years ago

Shayne **********

8 years ago

Ivan ************

It sounds like he is legally Chinese. There are a lot of people in Thailand in this situation, most commonly Burmese, who grew up here but don't have citizenship. Thailand has been making changes and announced a new policy with regard to eliminating statelessness recently, I don't know if your fiance might qualify as he wasn't born here but he might. If he can naturalize and get citizenship you could get a long term visa quite easily on that basis as his wife. So get started on that if it is possible. But if you think this is going to take years- people do manage to stay here for "years" on a combination of tourist and other entries so you may be ok for a few years at least. Volunteering is an option for sure but you'll need to find an organization that has done this before and knows how to get the visa. I am pretty sure there are churches in Thailand who do this, and apart from the volunteer visa there is also a religious/missionary visa, although that may be difficult to get, there were a load of Filipino Christian missionaries in the Manila embassy trying for that one when I got a visa there a few years back. Key is finding an organization that has done it before, higher chance of success then I think. Good luck, I am sure it will work out ok, you just may have to resign yourself to visa runs for a few years while your fiance tries for citizenship.

8 years ago

Mallory **************

@Tod ********

he doesn’t 😞

8 years ago

Tod *********

If he has at least one parent that's real thai he's thai too by birth no matter where he was born. That's how it works

8 years ago

Mallory **************

@Tod ********

he was born in china but he moved to Thailand when he was 8. He is now 24. For the past 16 years he lived at a children home in Thailand. His name is there and that is how he can stay in Thailand. He has no problem being in Thailand, but yet an official marriage is no benefit for me to stay in Thailand.

8 years ago

Tod *********

@Mal****

Let's see what Shayne says. He really knows the volunteer visa situation very well.

Unfortunately an unofficial marriage isn't gonna help you in the least as far as long term stay. Especially to a thai born in china without paperwork. BTW: if his parents were thai, no matter where he was born, he's thai too, you just need to sort it out.

8 years ago

Mallory **************

Any help is accepted! I am actually getting married to a thai man next month. But it is not an official marriage because he was born in China but has lived in Thailand 16 years. So he doesn't have citizenship, passport,etc. I have to find my own way to stay in Thailand until we can get his documents sorted out,but that could take years. I applied for a 2 month tourist visa since I wasn't able to apply for the other. SOS I need help!

8 years ago