Non-B Visas--Conditional Extensions

[CWA14]

Hello all. I'm in a conundrum with working in Thailand and my visa. I am currently working as a curriculum developer and teacher in Thailand.

 

After getting my Non-B in Vientiane, and applying for my 1-year extension after just before my initial 90-day entry expired, the immigration office where I'm working (Pathum Thani) gave me a 30-day conditional extension under the guise (per my company) that they need to inspect me teaching as I'm working for a private language school. My company gave them my schedule when I'd be working so they can come inspect. Immigration still has not come yet. The company I'm working for has sent my passport back to them for another 30-day conditional extension as the first one is almost up. My company ran my passport over to them today (they insisted I didn't need to go). This afternoon, I found out that (again, per my company) immigration cannot find my case number. My company says they will go tomorrow to try to sort things out. This seems highly irregular and suspicious. I have a feeling something is not right with immigration and/or my company. I'm making Plans B and C to teach outside of Thailand even though I really enjoy my job and experiences here. Other teachers here have also gone through a similar run-around and waiting period. My questions are:

 

1. How normal is it to get 30-day conditional extensions for Non-B teaching visas before getting a longer-term (6-month to 1-year) extension? I've taught in Thailand for two years from 2011-2013 (with Non-Bs + extensions) and have never been hassled or given this much of a run-around.

2. Is the immigration office (Pathum Thani) being difficult and/or possibly looking for a "donation"? I did go to the office with another teacher previously and they had to pay a 50-baht fee for filing a 90-day report and reporting their address. Their 90-day report was on-time.  

3. Should I be concerned that my company is being sketchy with my visa and work permit? I've had to badger them repeatedly for information and updates? I almost got stranded in Vientiane due to errors they made in the original paperwork they gave me.

4. Is it possible to get a Non-B to work as a stand-alone curriculum developer in Thailand? Part of the problem I think is while my work-permit says I'm teaching (and do teach as part of my current job), I'm working primarily as a curriculum editor and developer.

5. Should I head to the immigration office myself to see what's going on exactly? 

6. If my company can't get this resolved ASAP, what should I do to get my passport back, and if necessary, leave Thailand on short-notice?

 

Other info that may help:

1. I have a valid, 1-year work permit from the local labor office and an teachers license exemption from the TCT.

2. I have a bachelors degree, TEFL, CELTA (both done in person, not online), and 4+ years of teaching experience (Thailand + South Korea + substitute teaching back home). 

3. No overstays, arrests, or late-90 day reports in my previous stays in Thailand. I also have two-visa exempt entries by air and one single-entry tourist visa from two years ago. All of this is spread out over 6 years. 

 

Any and all insight and/or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

[ubonjoe]

1. Not that common for teaching. You apparently have a under consideration stamped with a report back date on it. The stamp allow you to stay until the application is approved. The report back date is not the last day you can stay in the country.

2. I doubt it.

3. I don't know.

4. That falls under the same clause of the police order as teaching as follows.

Quote

Educational Personnel is:
Person performing librarian, guidance, educational technology, registration and evaluation, general administration, supporter of education as specified by the Private Education Commission

5. You could do that.

6. No  Give it more time.

[CWA14]

50 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

50 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

4. That falls under the same clause of the police order as teaching as follows.

  Quote

Educational Personnel is:
Person performing librarian, guidance, educational technology, registration and evaluation, general administration, supporter of education as specified by the Private Education Commission

First and foremost, thank you so much ubonjoe for the quick and detailed response! That's good to know about that date is a "report back by" date as opposed to a deadline extension to where I'd otherwise have to leave Thailand (or have my visa canceled and have 7-days from the cancellation to leave). 

 

I'm a bit confused about the above though. Does the police order you quoted say that those education personnel jobs are OK for foreigners to legally have (and have Non-B Visas + Work Permits for)? Or is that quoted section about jobs that are illegal for foreigners to have (aka foreigners can only teach English or do some other very specific/detailed jobs)?

 

I do plan on meeting my supervisor tomorrow for more information and a more detailed update. Hopefully the company has some kind of plan and willing to clearly communicate that plan. Heading to immigration sounds intimidating but it may be necessary given they have my passport, the visa staff can't really speak English, and I'm sick of badgering my department head for information/updates. 

 

Thanks again for the response ubonjoe. I'll be sure to post an update when this matter is resolved (ideally very soon and with a long-term extension).

[blackcab]

1. I don't know about your Immigration Office, but in Bangkok they write the application number in your passport next to your extension or under consideration stamp.

 

2. Are you sure Immigration have your passport? Most times they hand them back the same day.

[ubonjoe]

11 hours ago, CWA14 said:

I'm a bit confused about the above though. Does the police order you quoted say that those education personnel jobs are OK for foreigners to legally have (and have Non-B Visas + Work Permits for)? Or is that quoted section about jobs that are illegal for foreigners to have (aka foreigners can only teach English or do some other very specific/detailed jobs)?

It is an example of  jobs that can get an extension under that clause of the police order.

[CWA14]

11 hours ago, blackcab said:

1. I don't know about your Immigration Office, but in Bangkok they write the application number in your passport next to your extension or under consideration stamp.

 

2. Are you sure Immigration have your passport? Most times they hand them back the same day.

I don't recall seeing that after getting my initial 30-day, under-consideration extension. That being said, it may be there and I just didn't notice. Unfortunately, I've been told immigration still have my passport. I hope to have it back at the end of the day today. 

 

Thanks for clarifying that ubonjoe! 

[CWA14]

Update: 

 

Yesterday, I finally got my passport extended with a 6-month extension. Apparently, immigration gave my passport back to the company on Thursday. My company never told me this (much to my annoyance). Apparently, the case number was also written in my passport.

 

Anyway, I went into the office with another staff member. The staff member explained what the situation was regarding my initial 30-day "under-consideration" extension. An official took my passport to a different office, came back a few minutes later, and gave my passport to another officer who started to stamp and staple things into my passport. About 10-15 minutes later, the same official who took my passport and explained to the staff member that they had decided to given me a 6-month extension. The staff member asked why I was not given a one-year extension to match up with my 1-year work-permit. The officer told him that the Pathum Thani office will only give 6-month extensions to private/language school teachers. 

 

I also applied for and received a single-entry re-entry permit (not pictured). They did require copies of my passport photo page and most recent visa stamps. There were no issues with applying, paying for, or receiving the re-entry permit. 

 

However, my extension and 90-day report slip were back-dated to when I originally applied for my extension (August 11th). Is this correct? If not, would it be worth heading back to the office to get things sorted out? 

 

Thanks to all who helped out with advice and answering questions! 

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, CWA14 said:

However, my extension and 90-day report slip were back-dated to when I originally applied for my extension (August 11th). Is this correct? If not, would it be worth heading back to the office to get things sorted out? 

Only your 90 day report date started from August 11th which is correct. 

It appears your extension started on the the 13th of August since it ends on the 13th of February which I assume was the date your 90 day entry ended.

The under consideration stamp does not change you permit to stay date.

[CWA14]

OK. I didn't realize that. I was originally under the impression that it'd be a 6-month extension from when I went into the immigration office last Friday (September 8th). Good to know for future reference should this happen again. A few of my colleagues will be up for extensions over the next 2 months. I'll be curious to see how things play out them and hoping they don't face the same issues I had.

 

Thanks again for all of your help/information ubonjoe and blackcat!!