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What are the options for a South African teacher in Chiang Mai needing a visa waiver while waiting for a new work permit?

Mar 12, 2025
22 days ago
Larry ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have a relatively simple query: I am a South African living in Chiang Mai, currently on a non b visa (teacher). My contract at my current school ends soon, but my new school will take approximately two months to process my paperwork for my new visa and work permit. Where would be the cheapest, and easiest place for me to leave Thailand and return to get a visa waiver? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is a South African teacher in Chiang Mai needing to leave Thailand for a visa waiver while awaiting processing for a new visa and work permit. Recommendations include ensuring the cancellation of the current work extension before leaving, using a local visa run agency for a quick border crossing to Laos, and suggestions for places to wait, such as Cambodia or Malaysia.
Brandon ************
First you need to make sure you cancel your work extension at the immigration office that issued it with a letter from your school. Then you can contact a border bounce agency in Chiang Mai (I've heard of "Chiang Mai Visa Run" that can do same-day bounces) that will drive you up to Chiang Khong to enter Laos and return with a new stamp.

You need to make sure you cancel your work extension first or they might not let you leave through a land border.

And you want to use an agency because they're requiring you to spend 2 nights in Laos at that border but with the agency you can skip that and the other requirements they've added recently.
Braulio *********
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Nongnuch ********
wait it our either in Malaysia or Cambodia. Koh Rong in Cambodia or Kampot is said to be a nice place, or Penang in Malaysia
Phil ******
@Larry *****
Cambodia
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