What steps should I take to obtain a Non-B visa and work permit for teaching in Thailand without a TEFL?

Also, you are eligible for a non imm b single (don’t worry about the TEFL) your main concern is:

1. Getting all the (correct) paperwork together to submit an application. At a foreign consulate.

2. Making sure that the school will assist you in applying for a work permit (possibly TWO criminal record checks required now), resident certificate, health certificate WITH drug and disease checks. (Some of the paperwork from your non imm b single will be useful here..)

3. Make sure that after gaining your non imm b SINGLE that they are prepared and willing to submit an application to (internal, not foreign consulate) immigration inclusive of a teaching licence within three months (two better) and that the are NOT expecting you to ‘bounce’ every three months on a non imm b MULTI as you CANNOT get these visas anymore and it’s very expensive and time consuming to get a new non imm b single every three months. I hope this helps.

Good luck James...I loved my time working here as a teacher as well :-)

@Eric ********

nope you're right, some offices can't/won't do it for you (y) Most of the bigger offices will though.

Sorry

@T**

, I meant to transfer from the 60-day tourist visa to the non-imm B--provided there's enough time. If that isn't what you were talking about, sorry for my confusion.

If I may add, some offices within Thailand flat out refuse to transfer the visa over...or at least the office nearest me has refused for the past few years. 😫

@James *******

The only down side IS; in order to get a 90 day Non-B visa from an immigration office INSIDE the country you need at least 15 days left on your current stamp (because they go under consideration for 14 days before you go back to get it stamped into your passport).

Also the requirements to get a Non-B visa INSIDE the country are far more stringent than to get one from a thai consulate in a neighboring country.

Have the school look at the requirements from a thai consulate nearby and get that documentation together so you can go and apply for a 90 day single entry Non-B

@James *******

Okay, so you've pretty much burned the time you had available down.

Now we're getting some where (y)

there is no way to extend a tourist visa outside the country. SO you either BOUGHT a single entry tourist visa from a thai consulate in a nearby country and were stamped in for 60 days when you entered OR you got a 30 day visa exempt entry by just crossing the border and comin' back

Which one of those are you actually on?

@James *******

Then they should go to Immigration with you and find out.

Your employer should know the requirements for you to work legally here and are responsible to provide you with the documents for your Non-B visa.

Sure!

@Eric ********

be very cautious.

@Eric ********

This Is Thailand!

@Eric ********

It makes sense. It could mean that the school is not interested in teachers being lawful. The same for any other company

@Li**

, it's a bit like trying to prove a false negative. Unless I've missed some significant news, there's no such official requirement for a WP related to teaching.

@Eric ********

Robert's answer is related of course!

@Eric ********

we specialise in placement of teachers and were under the same impression. However the dept labour are now insisting on us providing TEFL certificates with the paperwork even for our degree holders and we have had some declined as an Online TEFL not accepted. We are trying to pinpoint the rules however it seems to be different depending on the province our teachers are in ! So any official link etc saying TEFL not required would help us please !

@Eric ********

It is actually....

Another warning sign...the school should be able to supply the docs necessary for the non-imm B application straight away. Delays either mean the school isn't able to supply all the docs (not licensed, not paid up on tax, etc.) or they're stringing you along until they want to commit to making you a legal employee.

I'm not saying you're about to work for a bad school but they're not off to a great start.

@Robert ***********

Absolutely, but also unrelated to the question being asked. ;)

Not a requirement but often preferred and teachers with these credentials usually have better chances of employment.