Visa and Internship

[Thomas253]

Hi All,

 

I know this topic is covered in the past posts but since the laws changed in March I have not found anything that matches exactly. I hope someone here can help.

 

I am in Thailand for a 6 month Internship and prior to arrival was under the assumption I would be working as an employee here with a work permit. I am on a Non-Immigrant B visa which is what my company requested from Immigration and I recieved. I did not get a ED Visa  because I was not paid but they are offering my help with accomodation and things which also apparently counts as remuneration. However I am not on a work permit, this as far as I understand is because the law change in March 2018 made it possible to come for study, training, etc without needing a work permit. However it seems I cannot extend my 90 day without the work permit and I cannot stay without an extension. The HR department at the company I work for says it is possible to get a 30 day extension of my Non-I B Visa to 120 days as well but I cannot find any information anywhere online supporting this being possible. I am not really sure what to do and how to go about this. I am starting to get the feeling that I am stuck in a very grey area without many Legal options to make it to the end of my 60 months.

 

My questions are:

Can I extend a 90 day Visa B for 90 days without a work permit?

Can I extend a 90 day Visa B for 30 days?

Can one apply for a new 90 day Visa B directly after a first one or will they ask lots of questions?

Can I intern on a tourist Visa or would this be illegal?

Do I have any other options I didn´t think of that won´t cost me a fortune?

 

Thanks in advance for the help.

[BritManToo]

Without a work permit, what you are doing is illegal and has always been illegal.

Risk it or don't come, up to you.

[ubonjoe]

The is no extension of the 90 day entry from a non-b visa that can be applied for without a supporting documents and a work permit.

The is no 30 day extension possible for any non immigrant visa entry.

You cannot legally do an internship with a tourist visa entry.

You only option is to get a single entry non-ed visa at a nearby embassy or consulate with paperwork from the university or a educational  institution supporting your internship.

 

[Thomas253]

27 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Without a work permit, what you are doing is illegal and has always been illegal.

Risk it or don't come, up to you.

I assume I am not Illegal as I am technically working under the bellow excemption:

 

According to Decree No 2:

 

A. The following non-Thais can carry out certain activities in Thailand without a work permit:

 

(1) a non-Thai who comes to Thailand on a short-term periodic basis to: hold or to attend a meeting, lecture, seminar, training, exhibition of art or culture, or sports competition; provide an opinion; inspect work of others; or, any other activities, as prescribed by the Council of Ministers.

 

(2) a non-Thai who enters into Thailand to: operate a business; make an investment; or who has knowledge, ability, or skills that are considered beneficial to the development of the country;

 

(3) a non-Thai legal representative (e.g. director) of an alien juristic person that is licensed to operate business under the Foreign Business Act (1999);

[elviajero]

6 hours ago, Thomas253 said:

Can I extend a 90 day Visa B for 90 days without a work permit?

No.

 

6 hours ago, Thomas253 said:

Can I extend a 90 day Visa B for 30 days?

No.

 

6 hours ago, Thomas253 said:

Can one apply for a new 90 day Visa B directly after a first one or will they ask lots of questions?

Yes. You could apply for a new Non ‘B’ from a Thai embassy/consulate in a neighbouring country as long as you have the supporting paperwork from your employer.

 

6 hours ago, Thomas253 said:

Can I intern on a tourist Visa or would this be illegal?

No. You’re working so need a Non ‘B’ visa.