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Can I switch from a volunteer visa to a non-O visa in Thailand without leaving the country?

Thai Visa RulesVolunteer VisaNon-O VisaVisa TransitionExpat Immigration IssuesThailand Immigration Law
Jan 28, 2021
4 years ago
Jon *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
If i pay for a volunteer visa, can i later switch to a non-o after a year without leaving?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the possibility of switching from a volunteer visa to a non-O visa without exiting Thailand. Several comments clarify that what is often referred to as a 'volunteer visa' may be fake and that transitioning from such visas can be complicated, often requiring the involvement of an agent. It's noted that while a volunteer visa is effectively a non-O visa specifically for volunteering, transitioning back to a non-business visa from a questionable volunteer visa may pose challenges. Overall, many participants recommend obtaining a legitimate paying job with a non-B business visa instead.
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Bo ***********
No, if that is fake volunteer​ visa.
4 years ago
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David ********
Just get a paying job and a non-B business visa. Problem solved.
4 years ago
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Ari **********
Volunteering for what? They don’t accept volunteers. If someone offer you volunteer “visa” it’s a scam . Show me me one and we arrested them .
4 years ago
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Ari **********
Maybe not illegal but not easy without money or workpermit
4 years ago
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Ari **********
By the way, volunteering is illegal these days in Thailand for foreign people.
4 years ago
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Ken ********
@Ari *********
 since when
4 years ago
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Ken ********
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Ari **********
I had ten papers from all organizations and that’s nothing. There is no volunteer visa. I have retirement visa and as they want, I stop all volunteer work. So don’t make problems, we are not help anybody anymore. Ask your embassy, well, that’s a joke. They never ever do. We are fed up. Don’t come to Thailand.
4 years ago
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Brendan ********
@Ari *********
4 years ago
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Brendan ********
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Ari **********
4 years ago
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Brendan ********
@Ari *********
 ?
4 years ago
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Ari **********
@Brendan *******
 , yes, but not by volunteer visa . You can be in any organization with retirement visa, just give money to help people, your boat , your car and other things . Volunteer is wrong word these days. Money to give and donate, your welcome but not by volunteer visa. There is not any. We support without any salary or donations to people who are in problems. So, your welcome to our hobby . But be ready to pay about one million bath every year for lawyers, see death bodies, talking to families who don’t have money , pay hotels to bad guys, give food and phone, visit prisons and so on. And absolutely don’t give even one bath to authorities. To doing this, you never can have any “ volunteer “ visa. By the way ,we are cooperating also with Tourist Police. Mostly when they want foreign young people back to home when they facing years in prison. For stupidity.
4 years ago
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Ari **********
4 years ago
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Ari **********
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Giorgio ******
Where did you hear of a "volunter visa" ????🤔
4 years ago
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Kay ***********
I asked the similar question with my agent ,

Is that possible change from “ volunteer visa “ to “non-b” again.

Agent said “ it depends on your company “.

My situation is , I changed from Non-B to volunteer visa.

And now I found a job , and want change from volunteer visa back to Non -B.

Any idea or suggestion ?

Cheers.
4 years ago
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Lauren **********
@Kay **********
 were you able to switch back to non b?
4 years ago
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Kay ***********
@Lauren *********
 if you have non-o extension. You can cancel and apply covid 60 days extension before 30/March.

Then can convert from Covid extension to Non-B.

I didn’t switch yet. I’m coming back to Thailand next week. And will figure it out
4 years ago
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Kay ***********
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Kay ***********
Better to extend for 32k.

And work “under the table “ lol
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
Kay Soon Low. Yes. I'm sure your agent will fix it up for you!! I don't know. I get my extensions every year for 1900 baht! 🤣🤣
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
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Bobby ********
Kay Soon Low. I'm sure if you pay your agent another 50,000 baht they can "fix" it for you!
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
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Kay ***********
Follow up ⬆️
4 years ago
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Tod *********
News flash there
@J**
 a "volunteer visa" IS a Non-O (it's just issued for volunteering)

NOW if you're talking about going from one of those b/s back door under the table volunteer visa/extensions you get thru an agency to an above the table extension for another reason like 'marriage to a thai', or retirement the answer is no, you won't be able to do it. Once you start down the agency route you're pretty much on it from then on
4 years ago
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Dario *************
i need some popcorn ..
4 years ago
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Steve ********
@Tod ********
 I went on that agency route and it was the best decision, they take care of everything, residency certificate, reports, extension and so on... And that's by far the cheapest way for someone who wants to stay here long term anyway, the yearly cost of all that magic comes down to 95baht per day... Cheaper than anything else.
4 years ago
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Milo ****
@Steve *******
 took the same route. Couldn't be happier
4 years ago
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Marc ********
@Steve *******
 roughly about 1000U$ dosn't really sound cheap to me🤷‍♂️
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
@Marc *******
 well it does to me. Less than $100 a month for a leave to stay for a year? Hell yeah. That’s the issue. Some people posting think that’s an outrageous amount of money, others (inc me) often spend that for a 3 night stay in a hotel
4 years ago
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Steve ********
@Marc *******
 compared to all the other visas(Ed, tourist) a bargain, don't need to leave the country, no expenses for flights hotels etc, just stay here and lay back.
4 years ago
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Marc ********
@Jane **********
 yeah probably not all that expensiv. But certainly not the cheapest
4 years ago
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Marc ********
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Tod *********
@Steve *******
, and as long as you're happy doing things "under the table" and continue to use the agency you'll be fine. It's when/if you decide you want to come back "above the table" and push your own paper (get your own extension) that you will see how problematic it can be
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
@Tod ********
 Tod, bless you. I love the way you hold out for the 'don't use an agent thing' and the way you talk about it as being so 'under the table'. But many agents are regularly visited and checked by immigration. I know several people who have got a retirement visa through an agent and then, subsequently, applied and got an extension, or indeed new visa some time later, in their own country. Of course, people should be aware of what their doing but, as
@Steve *******
 says, many of us are (frankly) glad to pay a small amount to take the hassle of paperwork away.
4 years ago
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Tod *********
@Ja**
 if you meet the requirements to get the visa/extension you want on your own there is little upside to using an agent to push paper for you.

Notice I never said they were illegal stamps because they are REAL stamps, from REAL immigration offices by REAL immigration officers, just not from the province you live in AND you got the visa based on "officer discretion" <- the catch all clause that lets people get this b/s back-door, under the table visa extensions :)

It is what it is, my perspective is IF you can meet the requirements, why not know how to push your own paper here and get your own visa/extension.
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
@Tod ********
 but Tod, many of us DON’T WANT TO spend ages sorting tedious paperwork and then spend hours in immigration offices. Here’s why - because of the hassle and time involved. I have a cleaner for the same reason - yes I could clean my house myself but I don’t want to, and I also earn more in the time that’s being done than I pay someone to do it.
4 years ago
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Tod *********
@Jane **********
, I pray for your sake that your "paper pusher" is able to handle things until you decide to leave the glorious "Land 'O Thaiz", because as I said it's only when you have to or want to do things on your own "above the table" that you find out just how deep a hole you dug using someone to push paper for you "under the table" all those years.

How about we agree to disagree and leave it at that?
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
@Tod ********
 I don't need your prayers. I'm very happy with (and confident about) the decision I've made and I also to live with the consequences. I find your attitude patronising ('until you leave the glorious "Land 'O Thailz'.) I've travelled to, and lived in, over 70 countries, so I (I'm guessing) I have a lot more 'world experience' than you. I don't have a 'a paper pusher', I have a legit agency, and I've even spoken to immigration about it/them. I don't like the way you bully and 'scare monger' about this, and wonder what your motives are beyond 'I don't anyone to be take for a ride'. Happy to leave it at that.
4 years ago
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Chester ********
@Ja**
 with you on this one. Agent means having to do nothing at all. Many have brick and mortar office so very legit. Whilst the expense is much greater the panic esp this prior year of the covid extensions is worth the difference.. of course talking for people not one retirement etc... If that was me I would do first year with agent then explore DIY options.
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
Chester Harris. Big difference between an agent doing the "leg-work" for a legitimate visa or extension and an agent who is paying a bribe to an immigration officer to get a visa/extension which otherwise is unavailable to the applicant. There is nothing illegal about agents, but there most certainly is with some of the services which they offer. As Tod has pointed out, because these services are obtained at immigration offices far from where the applicant lives, so it's difficult to get out of the "agent cycle" whilst remaining in the country. Agents are aware of this, and know they've got you. If you are happy to be paying 35,000+ baht every year for a bogus extension, it's all good. Some of us are happy to pay 1900 baht a year for a legitimate extension. It's all about personal preference.
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
@Bobby *******
 they are not necessarily ‘bogus extensions’ by ‘bribes’. I really suggest you research what you’re talking about prior to posting ( preferably by talking to immigration officials as I have rather than other ‘expats’ with a lot of time on their hands). No one is disputing there are ‘rogue’ agents out there but there is nothing that prevents you, for eg, applying for a visa in district where you don’t permanently live. It’s NOT hard to get out of ‘agent cycle’. If you choose to apply for, for eg, a retirement visa in your home country after using an agent, there is zero problem as long as you fulfil the requirements (like anyone else). Stop spreading misinformation
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
Jane Beresford. Why would someone pay 65,000 baht for a visa which costs 2,000 baht? It's not misinformation. It's fact. BUT, everybody has the freedom of choice to choose how they obtain their visa. I leave it at that. We can agree to disagree
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
@Bobby *******
 it’s not 65K, where did you get that figure from? (More misinformation). Someone (like me) pays because they can more than afford it and they have a life. I don’t want to spend even half a day in immigration if I can pay to avoid it. My visa is no more bogus than yours. It’s been inspected by immigration several times - I even asked immigration about the agent I used! Stop saying bs like ‘common knowledge’ and provide evidence if you have allegations to make. I’m not upset. I just find the way you and people like Tod peddle this stuff disingenuous. And I wonder what your motives for doing so are.
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
@Bobby *******
 because THEY CAN AFFORD IT.
4 years ago
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Tod *********
Jane Beresford nope, I don't discriminate based on sex, creed or color. I'm "an equal opportunity disparager".

I'm not talking down to you Jane, I'm trying to talk to you on your level. Here gimme your hand, I'll pull you up here with me :P

I try to live up to my business card; ;)
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
Jane Beresford. I can afford
*****
baht. It's not that. It's because they know a fair chunk of that is the bribe to the immigration officer for providing a bogus visa. It's common knowledge that's what goes on. But I don't know why you get upset about this. You're happy with your arrangement. I don't believe for one moment your job is paying you in excess of 100,000 baht per day, that you can't spare half a day to go to immigration, but if you say it does, then it must be so!
4 years ago
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Marc ********
@Bobby *******
 with dog rescue, other animal shelter and hanging on the beach you make a fortune... didn't you know?

Well now you do😉
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
@Marc *******
 And what do you do with your life that makes you superior to me?
4 years ago
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Tod *********
Jane Beresford You've already alluded to your wealth, so now I'm waiting for you to work into the conversation how long you've managed to live in this pissant developing third world country (as if it lends any credibility to what you say) :)

Why do you seem to have an axe to grind with me because I advocate that people actually learn and know how to push their own paper (get their own extensions)?

You wanna have an agency hold your hand, push your paper knock yourself out (y) BUT don't denigrate people who want to learn how to push their own paper.
4 years ago
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Marc ********
Jane Beresford nothing at all. I am not and I think caring for animals is a good thing.

But bragging about making more money than paying an agency is ridiculous.
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
Marc Widmer. I knew I was doing something wrong! Thanks for your guidance. Now I can get a life! Poor Jane is confused. She says she never goes to immigration, and yet her genuine visa has been "inspected by immigration several times" and she's even asked them about the agent! I do find that a tad humourous! I don't have to go to immigration to ask about agents, because I go myself and actually see the immigration officer stamping my genuine 1900baht extension in my passport on TOP of the table (as opposed to underneath the table!). 🤣🤣🤣
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
@Bobby *******
 Do you get off on being patronising to women? 'Poor Jane is confused'. Yes, my 'real visa' has been inspected several times because I've left the country several times. And I asked immigration about the agent because I wanted to check they were legit. Seriously, what is wrong with you?
4 years ago
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Marc ********
@Bobby *******
 because as she said she makes more money in the same time with her job🤣
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
@Marc *******
 EXACTLY!!!
4 years ago
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Jon *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 but leaving and return on a tourist visa will reset that, surely?
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
@Jon ********
 totally it will
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
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Jon *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 so it would need a flight to my home country or just another country to transfer?
4 years ago
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Jon *********
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Bobby ********
Are you talking about a fake volunteer visa, which you buy from an agent for
*****
+ baht, and never actually do any volunteering?
4 years ago
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Bobby ********
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