What should I do if my volunteer visa application is delayed and I have a flight booked to Australia?

NON-O Visa Thai Visa Rules Visa Application Process Overstay Regulations Volunteer Visa Immigration Advice Expats in Thailand

Mar 23, 2019

6 years ago

Alison *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Good afternoon,

Would greatly appreciate some advice on my interesing situation

Firstly- I am a volunteer teacher who has previously had 2x 3 month Non Im o visas :)

I returned from Australia and was stamped in on 8 Jan 2019, so my 3 month is good until 7 April.

My foundation then began an application for a 12 month volunteer visa at end of January. and  I booked a flight back to Australia  that departs Bangok on 1 April to visit my aged father. Assuming that 2 months would be long enough for the paperwork.

Problem is as of today, I am stil waiting for the 12 month visa.

( I believe my application is awaiting the Tak governors signature on a socail services paper.)

My organisation is telling me I should not fly, and should just wait for the 12 month, even though it may not necessarily come through before the expiry of my current 3 month Non O visa. 

Not excited about that prospect and forfeiting an airfare, or paying out a lot for a change, not to mention a week of a three week visit.

They also tell me I would be ineligible to apply for another 12 month visa upon my return, end of April,  as the government alreay considers they offered me one, and I refused.  Thus I would have to go back to applying for 3 months.  This involves further work for them, which it appears they are unhappy to do, and I am sure I will end up paying for.

Is there away around this challenge?? 

TIA

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The individual is facing a dilemma regarding their visa status as a volunteer teacher in Thailand. They are currently waiting for a 12-month volunteer visa approval, while their existing 3-month NON-O visa is expiring soon. They have a flight booked to Australia to visit an ailing parent, but are advised by their organization not to travel until the new visa is granted, even though that may not happen before their current visa expires. Some community members suggest applying for a new NON-O visa from Australia or advising the individual to prioritize their visit to their father and handle visa issues upon return.

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Rod **********

Why not apply for a 12 month non imm. visa from the embassy in Canberra? You can post the application to them and they usually turn them around and post back quite quickly.