Hi everyone,
We are busy finalizing our travel plans for Thailand and would like to know if we are missing something.
My wife got a job to teach in Thailand and I'll be her dependent. We will fly into Bangkok one-way this Sunday on tourist visas, stay for 2 nights to collect documents from employer, fly to Laos to apply for work visa (appointments booked), then return to Bangkok on the right visa.
Are there any risks/downsides inherent to this plan? We would like to ensure we don't miss anything important.
Thanks in advance.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster (OP) plans to enter Thailand on a tourist visa for two nights and then travel to Laos to apply for a work visa based on their spouse's employment as a teacher in Thailand. Community members provide various insights, highlighting potential risks like needing an exit flight to avoid being refused boarding, delayed application times for dependent visas after the spouse secures a work permit, and the impracticality of using a tourist visa in this scenario. They also mention that South African passport holders face specific restrictions and must apply for visas in certain locations. Overall, there is a consensus that the OP should reassess their travel strategy to minimize complications.