Answered5 years ago
What are recent experiences with obtaining the NON-IMMIGRANT VISA TYPE O Volunteer visa in Thailand?
Interested in hearing peoples recent experiences with obtaining the NON-IMMIGRANT VISA TYPE O Volunteer visa? Thanks 🙏🙏
Answer summary
The discussion revolves around personal experiences and advice regarding the acquisition of the NON-IMMIGRANT VISA TYPE O Volunteer visa in Thailand. Participants inquire about application processes, the reputation of immigration agencies, and the financial implications of obtaining this visa. Some mention concerns about the legitimacy of certain visa agents and their practices, while others advise on the practicalities related to visa extensions and the challenges of finding legitimate sponsoring NGOs.
22 repliesnewest first
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Alan *******
Did you secure a volunteer visa? You mentioned looking for an agent upon arriving into Thailand. If yes, may I contact you for more details? I'm looking to do something similar.
Joe ***************
Pls message me
Tod *********
@Nicola ******
I think you're actually talking about those b/s back door under the table volunteer visas that you get when you hand your passport and a pile of money to an agent/agency and they send it to a province you don't live in, use an immigration office you don't go to and get a 90 day Non-O and then a year extension for a foundation you can't pronounce let alone volunteer at for even one minute.Don't get me wrong they are real stamps from real officers at real offices just not the one you use.
I just call a spade a spade and it is what it is. There's nothing wrong with going down the vlunteer visa route BUT you're going to go thru the agency to do 90 day reporting, and to cancel, renew or change it if you ever want to.
Prices run about 60K for the 3+12 volunteer visa (3 month Non-O and a year extension tacked on) giving you 15 months of trouble free stay
Nicola *******
OP@Tod ********
yes you do call a spade a spade with, it seems, a healthy dose of assumptions thrown into the mix, and we all know what happens when one 'assumes'. That being said I do thank you for your time in penning your response. 
Philip **********
@Nicola ******
@Tod ********
is right on. I went that route. It was a mistake. I paid 17,000 for a volunteer visa when I wanted to switch to a visa based on retirement. The same immigration office wanted what I paid the agent. I did it myself but I still had to pay 17,000 to immigration. Tod knows what he’s talking about. Tod *********
@Nicola ******
The chance of you actually finding a real NGO/Foundation to sponsor you for an above board volunteer visa/extension are slim at best. You want a trouble free visa/extension to stay here then the back-door make believe volunteer visa is the way to go.
I meant no disrespect and I wasn't assuming anything, from your previous responses it was clear you haven't talked to a single real foundation about how the process works.
Good Luck, take care, stay smart (y)
Darren *******
If you're prepared to part with lots of money to get a volunteer visa and not volunteer then go ahead. Just be warned that if you want to change visa then you may need to cough up more money to the agent to help you.
There are a few people on here who have said they've gone down that route, I'm sure they'll share their experience if they read your post.
There are a few people on here who have said they've gone down that route, I'm sure they'll share their experience if they read your post.
Nicola *******
OPThank you. I'm more than happy to volunteer - thats not an issue. I just didnt know if it was legit or not or if agents are just scamming people.
Darren *******
@Nicola ******
the visa is legit as in it's legal but if you're not actually volunteering then you're in breach of your visa terms. There are foundations which you can volunteer for and get a visa through them, again not cheap but at least you don't run the risk of falling foul of immigration nor being held hostage by an agent.Steve *******
@Dar***
Never heard that for legit voluntary work.Darren *******
@Steve ******
yep but I think you have to pay the foundation to actually volunteer there, or at least some foundations charge.Steve *******
@Darren ******
If you're ACTUALLY volunteering for an organization the visa and extentions ARE reasonably cheap, ie 2000bt for the visa and 1900bt for subsequent extentions of stay.Darren *******
@Nicola ******
good luckNicola *******
OP@Darren ******
thank you anyway 🙏Darren *******
@Nicola ******
I don't know of any I'm afraid as I'm working out here, there may be some on here already so take a look at the search function. Alternatively, this may be a case where Google is your friend.Nicola *******
OP@Darren ******
can you recommend any foundations please?Steve *******
What Organization are you volunteering for?
Nicola *******
OP@Steve ******
I am flexible and an open to suggestions. The reason for my post was to enquire of others experiences. I had never heard of this Visa option before.Steve *******
@Nicola ******
You need paperwork from the Organization you'll be volunteering for in order to obtain the Non Imm O visa
Stuart *********
Are you applying in country or at an embassy/consulate abroad? If the latter which one.
Nicola *******
OPI will be applying thru an agent in country if one comes recommended. I do not have access to embassy / consulate before hand so will be arriving into thailand on visa exemption and then hopefully sorting it from there
Stuart *********
@Nicola ******
ok as I believe the volunteer O is not currently allowed as entry into Thailand. Was just checking. Sorry can’t help with agent info. Activity
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