Thanks guys 👍 Since posting this, I've finally seen the documentation from the school, and booked my appointment for next Tues in VN. Looks like I have to pay every part of the process myself 😅

Cool, I think they're just as confused as I am but I'll try to squeeze some info out of them.

Just on your comment about requirements: are you saying a WP is required to apply for a Non-B within Thailand? I'm not quite sure what you mean.

And back to the OP, question for anyone: assuming I do get to choose where I go (and that it can't be Chiang Mai Immigration), where's the best/fastest/cheapest option from Chiang Mai?

...and should my school pay for some things?

So am I correct in understanding that my school is applying on my behalf to a specific Consul, and I have to request an adjustment to that?

Wait wait, doesn't the work permit always come *after* the Non-B?

Sure, but my school keeps telling me they're picking up the pieces left by previous management and that's why things have been a bit chaotic.

They just said they're not sure where I should go. They even said "you're the first model for this Non-B procedure, so you can explain to the next teachers who do it", which freaked me out a bit

Or do you mean I'd have to ask the school to adjust the plans they've already made with a specific Consul? Because nobody at the school seems to know 😅

So I can literally take my paperwork to Chiang Mai Immigration, and convert my visa exemption to a Non-B?

If that's the case, do you know why so many people go to another country to do it?

So there's no such thing as "the school signing a Stat Dec to confirm to Immigration that you're definitely employed and the paperwork is in process"? How cooperative are the different entities here?

Also, can a visa exemption be converted straight to a Non-B or is a Tourist visa an unavoidable step?