my UK passport is due to expire in April 2022 and was accepted by Thai pass test and go. I've got a new passport whilst visiting the UK and will be travelling in on my new one, with my reentry and visa in my now 'old' one. I'm nervous but this is what I was told to do by the authorities before I applied for Thai pass.
Basically, I was approved on Thai pass with my passport due to expire within 6 months.
awesome. Far from us, keep doing your research. I would suggest that you are firm with your employer and state you will not book flights until your paper work is ready to be collected. That way you can collect and go straight to Laos. It's not fair thay they expect you to keep hopping in and out, it's illegal to work like this and financially unacceptable. The work permit itself can take upto 3 months once you have NonB
You can buy a bus ticket to Cambodia or somewhere cheap as your proof of onward travel. If you come in on a visa exempt dont even mention seeking work. Once you get your paper work you will need to go to a neighbouring country for your NonB, like Malaysia or Laos, you will choose this with your employer.
As Robert says some places are dodgy, however many places are just slow and don't want to post paperwork. I personally came in on Visa exempt and collected my Paperwork within 2 weeks and went to KL for my nonB. All has been plain sailing since.
It's becoming more and more difficult for South Africans to obtain any kind of Visa in neighbouring countries. When recruiting new teachers from South Africa we are aiming to have them get their NonB before they leave. It seems to have got worse in the last 12 months.