Work permit / visa question

[bkkandy1308]

Dear all,

 

My company somehow managed to obtain my work permit without me having a Non-B. I subsequently obtained the Non-B single entry from Laos and now I need to get the visa to enable me to stay and, I assume, have it tied to my work permit. My question is what documents will I require, and from your combined experience is that unusual - getting a WP before a Non-B?

 

Thanks,

 

Bkkandy

[Mattd]

It is not unusual for a company to apply for a work permit prior to the Non b visa, as you would need to show the WP 3 to the embassy in order to get the visa.

Exact documentation changes per area and type of employment, i.e. BOI, IEAT or normal etc. I'm sure somebody more knowledgeable will be along soon with a list.

[bkkandy1308]

Thanks Mattd, in my case I had the physical work permit whilst on an extension of stay based on supporting my Thai wife. I then went to Laos to obtain the Non-Imm B single entry, and now need to get the Non-Imm stamp. I currently only have the 'admitted to stay until ...". I was wondering because I already have the physical work permit, whether some of the paperwork associated with obtaining the visa would not be required, or whether I need more? I've been in Thailand for more than 10 years and it's the first time I've had a WP before the visa.

 

Thanks again,

 

Bkkandy.

[Mattd]

Just now, bkkandy1308 said:

Thanks Mattd, in my case I had the physical work permit whilst on an extension of stay based on supporting my Thai wife. I then went to Laos to obtain the Non-Imm B single entry, and now need to get the Non-Imm stamp. I currently only have the 'admitted to stay until ...". I was wondering because I already have the physical work permit, whether some of the paperwork associated with obtaining the visa would not be required, or whether I need more? I've been in Thailand for more than 10 years and it's the first time I've had a WP before the visa.

 

Thanks again,

 

Bkkandy.

So you were here on originally using a non o visa that was then extended based on marriage?

If so, then there is no reason why you could not of stayed on that extension, it is perfectly legal to work whilst on an extension of stay for marriage and in fact is better in someways, as you would not be forced to leave should the job finish.

[bkkandy1308]

Actually that's not correct Mattd. I was "in the process" of getting the Non-O but did not go through with it once I got the new job and Work Permit. I left Thailand to get the Non-B in Laos after I got the WP. I agree that it would be easier ... hindsight and all that. :) I'm just somewhat confused. Essentially I need to get a visa to tie with the expiry of the WP next year ... I think. Just seeking clarity on the docs I will need, from myself and from my company. Thanks again for you help.

 

Bkkandy.

[Mattd]

OK understood.

 

Yes, you need to apply for an extension of stay now, I'm not 100% sure, but think that you could, if you wanted to, still apply based on Marriage, I'm sure Joe could answer that.

 

The generic list of documents needed to extend based on work from the immigration website can be found here.  https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_1

[NanLaew]

39 minutes ago, Mattd said:

So you were here on originally using a non o visa that was then extended based on marriage?

If so, then there is no reason why you could not of stayed on that extension, it is perfectly legal to work whilst on an extension of stay for marriage and in fact is better in someways, as you would not be forced to leave should the job finish.

About 6 years ago, I was already in Thailand on a marriage extension of Non-B that had been originally issued in KL on the proof of being married to a Thai. My then Thai employers in Bangkok advised they were unable to apply for a WP against that extension as it had been "already issued for marriage." I subsequently acquired a new Non-B visa in my second passport on provenance of the company offer of work and required bona fides and re-entered the country and worked on that documentation combo.

 

About 18 months ago, my friend was already in Thailand on a retirement extension of a Non-B originally issued on the proof of being married to a Thai. He secured employment and being unable to issue a WP against a retirement extension, his employers arranged to convert his current retirement extension to a marriage extension in Bangkok. After this, he used the marriage extension to support the WP.

 

Consistent in their inconsistency! My take is some employers do try harder. Where some employers do have a 'connected' government affairs person in their HR departments a lot of others, especially schools, don't have such a person and rely on ad hoc agents and lawyers. In the two examples above, neither job was in the education sector.

 

23 minutes ago, bkkandy1308 said:

Actually that's not correct Mattd. I was "in the process" of getting the Non-O but did not go through with it once I got the new job and Work Permit. I left Thailand to get the Non-B in Laos after I got the WP. I agree that it would be easier ... hindsight and all that. :) I'm just somewhat confused. Essentially I need to get a visa to tie with the expiry of the WP next year ... I think. Just seeking clarity on the docs I will need, from myself and from my company. Thanks again for you help.

 

Bkkandy.

Aren't you able to take the WP to your local Immigration and apply for an extension of the current single-entry Non-B visa based on employment?

Edited October 5, 2017 by NanLaew

[Mattd]

The requirement for working is a non immigrant visa, it is inconsistency that causes the issues, usually because either the immigration officer or the employer do not understand the rules, granted it would not be possible to work whilst here on an extension of stay for retirement, marriage is definitely OK, if, of course, the immigration office you deal with allow it!

[bkkandy1308]

4 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Aren't you able to take the WP to your local Immigration and apply for an extension of the current single-entry Non-B visa based on employment?

That is what I am really hoping is possible. All the "paperwork" was submitted when I got my WP so I hope it's possible to just extend my permission to say (based on the expiry of the work permit) without the need for more documents, etc. 

[BritTim]

At the point you had an extension of stay on the basis of marriage plus a work permit, what was the problem? Why did you want to change anything?

 

Most labor offices will issue the work permit if you are in Thailand on a Non Immigrant entry or extension that permit employment. That was nothing unusual.

[bkkandy1308]

BritTim, thanks. I guess I was given incorrect information from my HR dept. that I needed to leave Thailand to get the Non-B single entry to go with the already obtained WP - and then apply for the extension of stay to match the expiry of said WP. So what you're saying is that it was right the WP was issued at that time when I was on the extension with the reason being support for my wife. Right now I'm on a "admitted to stay" with Non-B indicated as the visa/class. That expires shortly, hence my HR is now saying I need to get the Non-B single entry to match the WP expiry. I was just curious that because I already have the WP does it mean I just need to apply for an extension of stay based on the date of the expiry of my WP next year? Whatever I am told at Chaengwattana I will report. Thanks again.

[NanLaew]

22 hours ago, bkkandy1308 said:

BritTim, thanks. I guess I was given incorrect information from my HR dept. that I needed to leave Thailand to get the Non-B single entry to go with the already obtained WP - and then apply for the extension of stay to match the expiry of said WP. So what you're saying is that it was right the WP was issued at that time when I was on the extension with the reason being support for my wife. Right now I'm on a "admitted to stay" with Non-B indicated as the visa/class. That expires shortly, hence my HR is now saying I need to get the Non-B single entry to match the WP expiry. I was just curious that because I already have the WP does it mean I just need to apply for an extension of stay based on the date of the expiry of my WP next year? Whatever I am told at Chaengwattana I will report. Thanks again.

Gotta love these clueless HR departments that fob you off with 'you need to do this'. They probably still have to provide some paperwork for the Non-B to be extended but want you to go find out. The only upside in doing it yourself, you will learn how it works. Don't share that info with them though.