Answereda month ago
What visa should I apply for to return to Thailand and conduct academic activities for three months?
The Facebook Gods (aka "the algorithm") has somehow reminded me just this morning (Illinois time) that this Facebook Group and its admin Brandon Thurkettle are by far the BEST source of answers to relatively unusual Visa questions of the type I am about to ask -- Brandon and I and the rest of you had some VERY detailed and interesting conversations back in late 2022, and in a comment on a post dated 26 October 2022 I provided full details on who I am, and I would be happy to re-post those details Privately to whomever requests them (or Publicly to this group if you would all prefer
Basically, I am an experienced "Thailand specialist" (first visit was in 1980) who has been in various roles in Thai churches (especially Hope of Bangkok Church in 1984-1988, Grace of God Church of Tha Sala (Nakhon Si Thammarat) in 2013-2020, and Hat Yai City Church in 2019-2022), Thai universities (Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat,, 2013-2018), a private Thai high school (Benjamarachuthit School, Nakhkon Si Thammat 2018-2019), and Thai-run charitable foundations (especially the Covenant Foundation based in Hat Yai in 2019-2020, followed by several COVID-era visa extensions that were very nice at the time but which created near-fatal problems for me with immigration when I attempted re-entry in late 2022 (fortunately a Thai minister and graduate student friend of my "vouched" for me over the phone and I got in "Visa-Exempt" while being warned to never try that route ever again, nor even to try entry on a TOURIST visa, since I so obviously desired long-term RESIDENCE (smile)), and who also has a fully Thai daughter (adopted in the period 1990-1996 and an American citizen since 1998 or so, and now with an American husband and son), and a Thai ex-wife with whom I am once again sharing a house, and have near-native fluency in spoken Thai and pretty good competency in written Thai, and ALL of this helps explain why my "case" will be kind of unique in the eyes of Thai immigration and my QUESTION to Brandon Thurkettle and the group is this (and, by the way, I would trust you guys FAR more than I would trust ANY commercial visa lawyer or service, because I am not sure of their level of expertise or experience, and my QUESTION is THIS --
I am considering returning to Thailand for JUST THREE MONTHS from early November 2026 to probably mid-January -- I would like to attend a graduate student conference at Chulalongkorn University in November, and ANOTHER academically-oriented conference in Chiang Mai in January, and in the meantime I would like to be able to continue my own research, writing, relationship-building in both academic and ministerial worlds (possibly INCLUDING a little lecturing and graduate student mentoring if asked), and (of course) my inveterate Facebook-writing at my site "Edwin Zehner" (where I list myself as an "Independent Scholar") and another site or two
My CURRENT thinking is that I probably need to obtain a WORK visa (academic or otherwise) from a scholarly or business source that would also allow me sufficient flexibility to do the things I have outlined in the paragraph just above -- I was wondering if (1) the most experienced members of this Group (with or without input from Brandon Thurkettle) would agree with that assessment (my reasons for avoiding most other visa classes are listed below) and (2) do any of you have any connections or suggestions of places that would be LIKELY to be willing and perhaps eager to cooperate with me on this enterprise -- and, incidentally, it is POSSIBLE that this FIRST visit may lead to LATER collaborations as well
My reasons for AVOIDING other visa classes include --
Visa Exempt and Tourist -- I will almost certainly be denied entry
Volunteer (through a charitable foundation) -- I would be willing to CONSIDER this class of visa, but it is POSSIBLE that people may want to offer me compensation or honoraria for the various things that I might be asked to do while there, and I would like to be in a position to accept these payments legally, and I am not sure if I would be allowed to do so -- some clarification on THAT point might be USEFUL to me
Retirement -- (1) I do not have enough savings yet (2) people on Retirement visas are technically not even allowed to VOLUNTEER, let alone WORK
Business -- I don't have the funds, the Thai co-investors, nor the needed business plan, though perhaps at some point in the FUTURE a Business visa might be a possibility
DTV Work-cation -- Experience to date suggests that many Thai people might ask to be my clients, and this visa class would PREVENT me from accepting them
DTV Soft Power -- I don't want to attend any cooking or boxing classes, the attempt to register as a Thai language school student would be laughed at as ludicrous (smile), while registering as a "participant in academic seminars" MIGHT be possible, the people issuing the paperwork through their universities would PROBABLY want me to PARTICIPATE in their programs in some way, and active lecturing and giving of papers and formal mentoring is allegedly "illegal" under this Visa class, because "soft power" is about THAILAND communicating to ME
Marriage -- I am not married, and I ALSO consider it WISE to NOT be in a hurry to get married again, and I also probably don't satisfy the resources test for THIS classification, either
Golden Retirement Visa (or whatever it is called) -- Don't even think about it, ever, in my own case (smile), And--
I THINK that is the total list of possibilities, but if I have OVERLOOK something potentially useful, please let me know
Basically, I am an experienced "Thailand specialist" (first visit was in 1980) who has been in various roles in Thai churches (especially Hope of Bangkok Church in 1984-1988, Grace of God Church of Tha Sala (Nakhon Si Thammarat) in 2013-2020, and Hat Yai City Church in 2019-2022), Thai universities (Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat,, 2013-2018), a private Thai high school (Benjamarachuthit School, Nakhkon Si Thammat 2018-2019), and Thai-run charitable foundations (especially the Covenant Foundation based in Hat Yai in 2019-2020, followed by several COVID-era visa extensions that were very nice at the time but which created near-fatal problems for me with immigration when I attempted re-entry in late 2022 (fortunately a Thai minister and graduate student friend of my "vouched" for me over the phone and I got in "Visa-Exempt" while being warned to never try that route ever again, nor even to try entry on a TOURIST visa, since I so obviously desired long-term RESIDENCE (smile)), and who also has a fully Thai daughter (adopted in the period 1990-1996 and an American citizen since 1998 or so, and now with an American husband and son), and a Thai ex-wife with whom I am once again sharing a house, and have near-native fluency in spoken Thai and pretty good competency in written Thai, and ALL of this helps explain why my "case" will be kind of unique in the eyes of Thai immigration and my QUESTION to Brandon Thurkettle and the group is this (and, by the way, I would trust you guys FAR more than I would trust ANY commercial visa lawyer or service, because I am not sure of their level of expertise or experience, and my QUESTION is THIS --
I am considering returning to Thailand for JUST THREE MONTHS from early November 2026 to probably mid-January -- I would like to attend a graduate student conference at Chulalongkorn University in November, and ANOTHER academically-oriented conference in Chiang Mai in January, and in the meantime I would like to be able to continue my own research, writing, relationship-building in both academic and ministerial worlds (possibly INCLUDING a little lecturing and graduate student mentoring if asked), and (of course) my inveterate Facebook-writing at my site "Edwin Zehner" (where I list myself as an "Independent Scholar") and another site or two
My CURRENT thinking is that I probably need to obtain a WORK visa (academic or otherwise) from a scholarly or business source that would also allow me sufficient flexibility to do the things I have outlined in the paragraph just above -- I was wondering if (1) the most experienced members of this Group (with or without input from Brandon Thurkettle) would agree with that assessment (my reasons for avoiding most other visa classes are listed below) and (2) do any of you have any connections or suggestions of places that would be LIKELY to be willing and perhaps eager to cooperate with me on this enterprise -- and, incidentally, it is POSSIBLE that this FIRST visit may lead to LATER collaborations as well
My reasons for AVOIDING other visa classes include --
Visa Exempt and Tourist -- I will almost certainly be denied entry
Volunteer (through a charitable foundation) -- I would be willing to CONSIDER this class of visa, but it is POSSIBLE that people may want to offer me compensation or honoraria for the various things that I might be asked to do while there, and I would like to be in a position to accept these payments legally, and I am not sure if I would be allowed to do so -- some clarification on THAT point might be USEFUL to me
Retirement -- (1) I do not have enough savings yet (2) people on Retirement visas are technically not even allowed to VOLUNTEER, let alone WORK
Business -- I don't have the funds, the Thai co-investors, nor the needed business plan, though perhaps at some point in the FUTURE a Business visa might be a possibility
DTV Work-cation -- Experience to date suggests that many Thai people might ask to be my clients, and this visa class would PREVENT me from accepting them
DTV Soft Power -- I don't want to attend any cooking or boxing classes, the attempt to register as a Thai language school student would be laughed at as ludicrous (smile), while registering as a "participant in academic seminars" MIGHT be possible, the people issuing the paperwork through their universities would PROBABLY want me to PARTICIPATE in their programs in some way, and active lecturing and giving of papers and formal mentoring is allegedly "illegal" under this Visa class, because "soft power" is about THAILAND communicating to ME
Marriage -- I am not married, and I ALSO consider it WISE to NOT be in a hurry to get married again, and I also probably don't satisfy the resources test for THIS classification, either
Golden Retirement Visa (or whatever it is called) -- Don't even think about it, ever, in my own case (smile), And--
I THINK that is the total list of possibilities, but if I have OVERLOOK something potentially useful, please let me know
Answer summary
The user is considering returning to Thailand for three months to attend academic conferences and engage in research and mentoring activities. Given their unique situation, they inquire about the type of visa that would allow them to legally conduct such activities. They express a preference for a work visa due to concerns over entering on a tourist or visa-exempt basis, and seek advice from the community on connections or the suitability of their assessment. Various responses suggest considering an Education Visa sponsored by a university to formalize their intent to lecture and mentor, while others advise on the limited possibilities of other visa types.
37 repliesnewest first
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Edwin ********
OP@Brandon ***********
, I appreciate the news that a Tourist Visa may again be possible for me. I will try to double-check this with a Thai Consulate this week. Thanks again for all that you do for us.Thai *****
You are coming back to attend a conference and to do some lecturing. You need an Education Visa and one of the university's mentioned to be a sponsor. You need to formalise your intent to deliver lectures, and, especially from a safe guarding point of view, "mentor". Those universities have got to provide you with a role, paid or unpaid.
Edwin ********
OPThai Jag I believe that Education Visas are for students. What YOU just described calls for a WORK visa, which is what my original post said I was hoping to find!), and if through a university the paperwork is indeed extensive, but not as you describe (having been IN a Thai government university for several years, I know what the required paperwork looks like for UNIVERSITY-based Work Visas, but NOT for OTHER kinds of work visas, at least not yet.
Garrett ***********
Thai Jag no one "needs" any education visa. Anyone can study or attend lectures on any visa, and you can NOT work (paid or unpaid) with an education visa.
Edwin ********
OPDave Owen, your earlier posts to the group suggest that you are new to Thai society, so let me give you a word of advice...
Edwin ********
OPBut if you ever speak to a higher status THAI person (policeman, immigration officer, or father or mother in law) the way you just talked to me (and in THAILAND I am normally considered relatively HIGH status though not by far HIGHEST status) you could get into serious trouble socially and otherwise. Been there, done that, and a word to the wise
Edwin ********
OPDave Owen, On a PERSONAL level, I don't care about relative status, and my own personal religion teaches me that I should NOT seek "status," and that I should give special consideration to the poor and unfortunate. So the "status" thing is no big deal to me.
Dave ******
You probably think yourself a cut above everyone else because you're obviously a very academic type. But that don't mean a damn thing in the world where cash is king. Get a job, or sell a book, get the small amount of money required for a tourist trip and take your chances on getting offered a paying gig and having to turn it down. Sounds as though you want a job and that's all this long winded post is all about. Have all the doors closed in your face? I couldn't even begin to wonder why.
Edwin ********
OPDave Owen See my three responses above , take them to heart, and be VERY glad you wrote that to a fellow farang, and NOT to a higher-status Thai.
Erik ******
What did I just read?🤔 So much for so little
Edwin ********
OPErik Buen "So much for so little?" An amazingly uninformed and unsympathetic comment that is probably inappropriate for a forum (this one) meant to help people with specialized visa questions.
Rae ******
I will wait for a film of the book, then a review for the film.
Edwin ********
OPRae Wang And then maybe a ChatGPT summary of the summary, like I often do. (smile)
Steve *******
Get a tourist visa if you want to come but please leave your god fearing bullsh*t at home! Thailand is the last place it's needed
Edwin ********
OPSteve Greir (1) I don't know if you have noticed yet, but in Thailand it is common to talk about religion and religious identities, and even to discuss them "across religious boundaries," whereas in Britain and the USA that whole area of public discussion tends to be socially suppressed, for reasons that many scholars of religion say are historical and possibly a reaction to the devastating religiously based Thirty Years War of the 1600s, a Culturally scarring event that Asian societies have not shared.
Edwin ********
OP3) Most scholars of Comparative Religion consider "public irreligion" to be a form of "religion" that like all other religions and ideologies, can be problematic when forcibly imposed on others, like you have just tried to do to me. Have a great day.
Edwin ********
OP2) In Thailand it is possible for people of dissimilar religions to cooperate on areas of mutual interest, while in "the West" (Britain and the USA, for example) that can often be more difficult for some reason.
Ernest *******
Steve Greir wow dude take a breath!
Ernest *******
Steve Greir I got exhausted reading his post
Edwin ********
OP@Ernest ******
Obviously my post was NOT written for YOUR benefit, it was written for MY benefit, while providing EXACTLY the kinds of clear and specific detail that @Brandon Thurkettle would need to craft his excellent response, and it is indeed an excellent and helpful one. If you cannot follow the conversation between him and me, please don't worry about it, because I had not intended to include less informed people like you in this conversation anyway, as my post was NOT intended for your edification (though if you can learn something from it, please be my guest, because I understand that one of the purposes of this forum is indeed to provide information on situations that, like mine, are not exactly "standard." But I was not exactly "slowing down" for anybody, because I knew that our Group admin could probably figure it out quickly if I gave him the right information, and he did.)
Wallace ******
Dude... write your book off Facebook...
Edwin ********
OPWallace Dunn Am strongly considering it, though not on this particular topic.
Lynnette *******
Wallace Dunn he's going to need help to write coherently.
Edwin ********
OPLynnette Munoz Please feel free to read that post on my main Facebook page at "Edwin Zehner" (my Facebook profile identifies me as an "Independent Scholar")
Edwin ********
OPLynnette Munoz I posted an extended response to your comment on my main Facebook page, discussing how I have learned to use "free association" to clarify my own thinking to myself, while also opening the door to greater creativity and to new connections among ideas.
Jim *******
On the ground, both you and Brandon are as anyone else when it comes to Thai Immigratrion.
Edwin ********
OPJim Davis Exactly my point, I think. Your phrasing is ambiguous, so I can't be sure I understand you correctly, but if you are saying that the same immigration rules and procedures apply to everyone, then in general you are correct. On the other hand, if you are saying that KNOWLEDGE of those rules and procedures is EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED among us foreigners, then you are clearly IN-correct. @Brandon Thurkettle is clearly unusually well informed, and that is why I came to him. Another commenter, ____, also seems well informed. My own knowledge is based on YEARS of DIRECT interaction with immigration officials at airports, land borders, and especially provincial immigration officials, on both my own behalf, and in NUMEROUS cases helping others for free (for example, an Indonesian graduate student with an inadvertently expired visa or passport (I forget which), a recently married Australian-Thai couple who were having some sort of registration problem at the Main provincial police station, that sort of thing). And of course the extra on-line research and considerations that led to my fairly long list of alternatives and the problems with each, which I posted largely to avoid the usual "Did you try this?" And "Dude, you should have done THAT!" comments that often happen in this Group, and I notice with pleasure that they don't seem to have happened this time.
Sujy *********
I read your whole post. Brandon is correct, you have been out of the country for 4 years, so you won't have issue coming back in. Immigration officers tell the same jargon to many people, but 4 years is way pass any treshold that would led you to be denied entry. Even 1 year is considered well enough to not be denied entry.
Edwin ********
OPSujy Sujaree Thanks for confirming Brandon's advice.
Bob **********
Do yourself a favor and stay off the keyboard,relax and enjoy your life 😎😎😎
Edwin ********
OPBob D'Andrea I thought there were Group Rules against trolling, aren't there? You can enjoy life your way and I will enjoy life my way, OK? And I suspect my way is a bit more fulfilling, because it includes finding ways to contribute back to society (sorry to be rude).
Jo **********
Edwin Zehner hé is not trolling but you are with an unnecessary long rambling
Edwin ********
OPAnd if you think THIS is harsh, you should try being savaged to your face by a Thai scholar in front of a sizable academic audience, as I have been more than once--a VERY verbally adept people, those highly educated Thais (smile)
Edwin ********
OPJo Clemente ANOTHER troll! SO COMMON among white foreigners in Thailand, for some reason. My OWN Facebook presence (5,100 followers and rising fast) has been pretty much troll-free in recent months, PROBABLY because the people joining me THERE actually read my Facebook profile AND a sampling of my Facebook posts BEFORE offering comments.
Lynnette *******
Jeez. That's a nightmare to read. You need to put some proper punctuation in. Things like full stops ( periods) and paragraphs would help.
Edwin ********
OPLynnette Munoz Please look me up on Google Scholar (Google "Google Scholar" and then search my name) and you will find that I can indeed write technically excellent scholarly prose when in a situation that calls for it. However, my task this morning called for speed and clarity, not perfection. I hope you understand.
Brandon ************
If the last time you were in Thailand was 2022, I don't think you have much of a risk anymore for being denied entry. Just apply for a tourist visa which gives a little extra safety.
You cannot work on a tourist visa, but you can seek work on a tourist visa and then switch to a non-work-restricted visa if you find something. But saying you might have Thai clients doesn't help because you will still need a company to sponsor the visa, which means an employer or creating your own company with enough Thai employees to sponsor a work permit.
Volunteer visas are all but extinct because of how much they were abused.
Education visas allow for internships if that internship is done through an accredited university program, but I don't think that helps your situation.
You cannot work on a tourist visa, but you can seek work on a tourist visa and then switch to a non-work-restricted visa if you find something. But saying you might have Thai clients doesn't help because you will still need a company to sponsor the visa, which means an employer or creating your own company with enough Thai employees to sponsor a work permit.
Volunteer visas are all but extinct because of how much they were abused.
Education visas allow for internships if that internship is done through an accredited university program, but I don't think that helps your situation.
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