Re: Visas for IETF 103 in Thailand

[Ted Lemon <[e-mail]>]

IANAL, so take this as anecdata, not advice, but what seems to create
sticking points for people who have visa waiver programs is that if you are
going to the country to *work*, you need a work visa, and a visa waiver
visa won't do it.   So the question is, when you go to IETF, are you going
to IETF to work for the IETF?   I always answer this question "no," because
I am working for whatever company I'm working for back home, not for the
IETF.   If you answer "yes," you will probably have an unpleasant
conversation, which will get more and more unpleasant until the person you
are talking to either convinces you that you should be saying "not here for
work" or becomes convinced (I believe incorrectly) that you *are* here for
work, at which point you will probably be denied entry.

Of course every country is different, but whenever I hear people describe
bad experiences they have had at passport control, the conversation seems
to have gone something like what I described.   I once had trouble getting
into Canada because I had a MIDI keyboard in the back of my car, and the
border agent thought I was coming in to play a gig.   I finally managed to
talk them out of this belief, but that definitely would have got me refused
entry.

On Tue, Aug 14, 2018 at 5:10 PM, John Levine <[e-mail]> wrote:

> In article <CAA=duU0ijWy8hxRdDE0arC1MhBZwSt=YQ
> [e-mail]> you write:
> >This page
> >https://www.businesseventsthailand.com/plan-your-events/general-
> travel-information/visa-requirements/
> >seems pretty clear.
>
> That's the Thailand Convention and Exhibitions Bureau, same
> organization whose US rep told us the same thing.
>
> It's a Thai government agency so they are likely as well informed as
> anyone, but as Andrew pointed out, what the rules say or appear to say
> and how they're interpreted don't always agree.
>
> R's,
> John
>
> >On Tue, Aug 14, 2018 at 1:32 PM, IETF Administrative Director <
> [e-mail]>
> >wrote:
> >
> >> The IETF is going to Thailand for the first time this November, and
> we've
> >> received a number of requests to provide guidance on visa requirements
> for
> >> IETF attendees.
> >>
> >> A representative of the Thailand Convention and Exhibitions Bureau
> (TCEB)
> >> informed us that if an attendee does not require a tourist visa to come
> to
> >> Thailand, that attendee does not require a visa to attend a conference.
> >>
> >> However we are also aware that there is information online that
> indicates
> >> that a visa is required to attend a conference, regardless of tourist
> visa
> >> requirements.
>
>