What are my options for visa extensions for myself and my children while volunteering in Thailand?

Feb 20, 2019
6 years ago
Charlie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, looking for some advice. I'm here with my 2 children doing voluntary work in chiang mai, we all participate and currently all have a non o volunteer visa. I've been trying to sort the work permit out for 5 weeks now and starting to get tired of all tooting and throwing. The last piece of paperwork they want they want the volunteer place has never provided for any other volunteer and so aren't. Immigration are trying to get me to swap visas or volunteer somewhere else which we don't want to do. Our visa expires 10th March. I was thinking about just crossing a border and re-entering on a tourist visa. What's best way to do this as we will def be here for another 3 months at least and current costs. . Also do I need to do for the children too they are 9 and 13 and would we be guaranteed reentry as changing visas? Trying to work out our best options. But really don't want to get stuck with 2 children.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice on visa options for themselves and their two children, as they hold NON-O volunteer visas that are about to expire. They are experiencing difficulties obtaining a work permit and are considering making a border run to secure a tourist visa. Commentary from other users suggests various options, including obtaining a tourist visa from a Thai consulate in Vientiane, extending a 30-day visa exemption stamp, and considerations regarding the children’s legal status and potential overstay. The discussion highlights the complexities in navigating immigration procedures in Thailand while volunteering.
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Robert *******
Your options: Convince the organization to follow up the rules and provide the documents for the work permit so you can apply for an Extension of Stay. OR make a border run, stamp out of Thailand, stamp in out neighbor country and stamp in for a new 30 day Visa Exempt Entry, which can be extended with another 30 days at Immigration. OR leave Thailand, apply for a Single Entry Tourist Visa at a Thai Consulate, this gives you 60 days of stay on entry and can be extended once with 30 days at immigration Office. As mentioned before if you like to have your kids legal, take them with you, or go alone as the kids will not be fined for overstay till their 15 years of age.
Charlie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
i know this site isnt about work permits so want to stay clear of that just trying to find out what my other options are.
Charlie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sorry
@Tod ********
make Facebook locked up
Tod *********
and I outlined them

Border bounce for a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp (at the Mae Sai - Tachiliek border with Myanmar) and extend that for 30 more days at the immigration office for 1900baht

OR

Go to the thai consulate in Vientiane and BUY a single entry tourist visa which stamps you in for 60 days and that you can extend for 30 days at the immigration office for 1900baht
Charlie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Its a real volunteer visa, they say theyve never had to provide what they are asking for so they arent going to because they dont know what they mean and the lady doesnt do the paperwork
Shayne **********
@Barefoot ********
well you ask for a sample, copy it change the numbers and get the work permit. I have been a volunteer for eight years and 3 years directly responsible for 170 volunteers. Everything is always changing.
Shayne **********
Your volunteer place needs to change its procedures or you need to find another volunteer place. Coming back as "tourists" means no more volunteering and is just going to mean another trip out and back.

Unless it's not a real volunteer visa.
Shayne **********
There was a meeting last Friday regarding this. If your staff want to listen I have recordings of the event.
Tod *********
You could go to the thai consulate in Vientiane and get a single entry tourist visa (and you could take the kids too IF you wanted to). That would stamp you in for 60 days and you could extend that for 30 more days at the immigration office for 1900baht. That would cover the 90 days you're needing.
Tod *********
Kids under 15 can't be charged for overstay and kids under 18 can't be banned for it. So while it sounds crazy, I'd just let the kids overstay.
Tod *********
You can't just cross the border and re-enter on a tourist visa.

You BUY a tourist visa from a thai consulate in another country BEFORE you come to thailand

So if all you're doing is border bouncing you're gonna get in on a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp.
Tod *********
@Barefoot ********
do you have a single entry Non-O visa?
Charlie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I think my FB is missing words out because that's not what I typed either
Charlie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm sorry I'm not sure I understand what you mean?. We got our non o visas in UK before coming over. But can't extend until work permit is in place, which is what's causing a problem everyone says something different and each time we need something else. So what you are saying is if I go to a land border I can get a 30 day tourist exemption, what do I need to provide? I wouldn't not be allowed in for any reason?
Tod *********
even if you entered on a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp (assuming you're from a country that gets those stamping into thailand without a visa) you could extend that for 30 more days at the immigration office for 1900baht.
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