What's a "Visa
Run"?
Will I have
to do one?
It
depends.
In
some countries it is common to enter the country to look
for work. When entering the country people typically
enter on a tourist visa. Really, technically, you are
not supposed to look for work on a tourist visa - but
almost everybody does. But . . . the problem is that it
is usually the wrong kind of visa for getting a work
and/or residence permit.
So,
you have to leave that country, with papers from your
future employer, and go to another country - visit the
embassy of the country in which you hope to work - and
apply for the correct visa. Only with that visa can you
later get a work permit.
Confusing?! Yes!
Example: I go to Korea to look for a job. I enter on a
30 day tourist visa (the number of days will depend on
your home country). I look for and find an excellent
job. I get the paperwork from my employer and leave and
go to Japan. In Japan, I go to the Korean embassy and
apply for an employment visa. The Korean embassy issues
an employment visa - and I can now go back to Korea to
finalize my hiring. My new visa will allow me, once I
have completed the work permit process - to stay in
Korea for one year.
Still Confused?
Yeah, it's always a bit confusing and different for
every country - and the vocabulary of what you need to
get will also change. Just get the general idea.
That's what is important.
Eternal Visa Runs
In
some countries work visas are hard to come by and many
people do visa runs every month. For them, it is just a
part of life. This is common in Thailand and a few
other countries. There are ways to limit the number of
runs you have to make - but talk to people working in
the specific country to find out exactly how to do it.
Sometimes visa runs are an annoying fact of life. But,
luckily, in countries where this problem is common -
businesses are set up to help you make your visa runs -
easily and relatively inexpensively. Many, many people
do this - and technically they are all working
illegally. But, as they say here, "This is Thailand" -
meaning just go with the flow - that's how we do things
here. Some people have been doing this for years and
years with no real problem except the inconvenience of a
monthly trip. But, they like it here so much it is
worth it to them.
The
Run to Burma
For
example: In Phuket, in Thailand, a big double-decker bus
- with one smoking section - and a non-smoking section -
leaves for Burma - everyday. For B1500 - about US$37
they will drive you - in some comfort - to the border
point with Burma - provide the boat over to Khaw Thong,
Myanmar, get you stamped in - and stamped out - boat
ride back - lunch - and return to Phuket all in the same
day. It's a long day - but not really difficult.
Refreshments are provided on board the bus. Other
similar services run from Bangkok to Cambodia, or Chiang
Mai to Burma.
Now
you know about the two types of visa runs!
