Non-immigrant M (media) visa and a one-year extension to stay
I was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok a few weeks ago. At work, we were told that we all need to go to Bangkok at some point in order to apply for non-immigrant M visas, which are media visas. I haven’t heard of any other companies that have been told to do this, but whatever the reasons behind changing our visas, it’s good news because it means I now have a one-year extension to stay.
Before, I was on a non-immigrant B visa. The company I work for employs too many foreign staff and pays too low a salary to apply for a one-year extension to stay on a non-immigrant B visa. In the past, all employees of the company I work for have had to do visa runs every three months.
This is great news for foreigners working in the media here who have been stuck with only three-month extensions to stay. The process of application was straightforward. I had a half-hour meeting in Bangkok with a young chap who asked me about what I am doing here, why I have chosen to work in Thailand – basic questions.
A few days later I received a number of envelopes from Bangkok, one of which was the paperwork needed to have my visa altered, granting me a one-year extension to stay. I can now apply for a media card, which will require another trip to Bangkok.
Before those of you who dislike me say something along the lines of, “You are a disgrace to journalism and the media and the whole system is a sham,†please hold your horses because all many of you know me from are this blog and my almost-disastrous column in Guru Magazine.
Anyway, I’ve been granted another year’s stay so you are all going to have to put up with me for at least that period of time.
November 23rd, 2007 at 5:07 am
Who exactly can apply to this M Visa?
November 23rd, 2007 at 5:15 am
People working in the media.
November 23rd, 2007 at 6:55 am
does this include photographers.. as in those doing freelance work?
November 23rd, 2007 at 7:50 am
I think you’re a stellar addition to the scene, don’t let ‘em get you down.
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:30 am
Lee, I’m unsure about freelancers. I know that in the past freelancers have had difficulty getting work permits and visas, etc.
November 23rd, 2007 at 11:22 am
I think that the regulations say you need an M visa AND journalist accreditation to work as a reporter or photographer of any kind in Thailand – even if you’re on assignment for a publication overseas.
From the FCCT website:
To work legally as a journalist in Thailand you need:
– A Press Card
– A Visa (usually a Non-Immigrant M)
– A Work Permit
In Thailand, the process starts at the Foreign Ministry Press Division, then moves to the Public Relations Department’s Foreign Office, and lastly to the One-Stop Service Center for Visa and Work Permit. Detailed information is available on the web site of the Public Relations Department:
Check out http://www.fccthai.com/links.html and scroll half way down that page to get some useful links.
I hope this helps someone.
Andrew.
November 23rd, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Lee,
good luck in trying to get any official work permit in Thailand as a photographer. To be honest you’d be better off getting one as a english teacher and then freelancing on the side.
They did not like my UK press pass, or the fact I wanted to concentrate on a story about the increase in cocaine usage in Thailand, because officially there is no coke problem in Thailand. In the end i did the usual visa jumping and decided there was no need.
if you have the cash, pay the million baht and just buy the business visa
November 23rd, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Yes, thanks, “working in a media” doesn’t mean anything. What kind of media and what kind of position? This is what I mean.
November 24th, 2007 at 12:25 am
Bart, and others – I work in the media as executive director for a publishing company. I help my Thai journalists write stories, proof read, check copy and am responsible for the editorial function of our company (along with a lot of other duties that have nothing to do with the media or publishing).
I do not have a M visa or journalist accreditation but if you’re going to be interviewing Thai people at any kind of government level (and increasingly other people too) a lot of them will ask to see your press card.
There are ways around it but, as Matt has said, it’s getting more important to do things correctly and legally.
November 25th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Just landed on this blog after a couple of months… and realized that the first post i read is something that i have been wondering about for quite some time.
We are running a “kinda” news website here (currently being operated as a “Limited Partnership”)… Just considering some options as i am considering making it my full time job…
There are some questions which always puzzles me. I would be really grateful if someone points me in the right direction.
1) Would only employees of accredited media outlets be eligible for a press card?
2) What are the legalities/regulations regarding a Thai company to be recognized as PRESS by the Thai govt.
3) What kind of past experiences do they look for?
4) Is it legal to “steal” news content from government news sites such as PRD – http://thailand.prd.go.th/index.php
November 25th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Someone will have to correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that content on government websites is freely available to be copied and reproduced. As for the press card, that’s something I will need to ask a bit more about. Whatever happens, you must have a non-im M to get one (again, I think).
November 25th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Sorry Bart, I wasn’t trying to be flippant. I will ask a few questions about the media card and get back with some more useful info. I don’t know too much about the process. I had to show that I was actively working for a publication and took clippings and a copy of the newspaper I work for with me. All they really wanted to see was that I was holding down a job on a publication that was of some value. It’s all a bit vague.
November 25th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
ok thanks. no worries.
November 25th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
hmm… thanks a lot for your info… and sorry for kinda going off topic after some searching i got to : http://www.cendi.gov/publications/04-8copyright.html#319 so as per the American law its acceptable… should be similar here…
November 28th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
before you’ve got a VISA M you must past some check form Thai gov’ agency such as Intel,police to check you.