A rather specific visa question (maybe)

[IronMan66]

Hey all, new to the forum and would like some advice...

 

I arrived in Thailand earlier in the year on a 60 day tourist visa.

 

Turns out I got my dates wrong so instead of extending it, I had to do a run to Myanmar via Kanchanaburi (due to Chang wattana being closed on the weekend). Not ideal, but no issues.

 

I then extended this (30 days) then went to Malaysia once the extension was up (by air), then again went to Myanmar and extended at immigration. These trips were all visa exempt entries and both Myanmar trips were by land.

 

Now... I've accepted a job here in Thailand and the company is applying for my work permit as of yesterday, however I will not receive the authorisation letter before my extension runs out again.

 

I've used both my land runs for the year and now need to do another visa run to buy me more time before I can apply for a business visa in Vientiane (once accepted for my work permit).

 

Does anyone think I'll have issues doing my next interim visa run? And also applying for the non-B visa in Vientiane? I do have a copy of my employment contract, if this might help. Any and all advice appreciated.

 

Sorry for the long post!

[ubonjoe]

36 minutes ago, IronMan66 said:

Does anyone think I'll have issues doing my next interim visa run?

You will not be able to do it at a land border crossing since you have already done two of them. You could fly out and back to get one. Or get a tourist visa.

No problem to get the non-b visa if you have all the required documents.

[IronMan66]

You will not be able to do it at a land border crossing since you have already done two of them. You could fly out and back to get one. Or get a tourist visa.
No problem to get the non-b visa if you have all the required documents.

Thanks for the clarification. I suppose I'm a little worried about visa exempt back into the country but would rather not stay the night in Laos, pay for a TV only to have to go back a week or so after to get my non-B

[JackThompson]

19 hours ago, IronMan66 said:

Turns out I got my dates wrong so instead of extending it, I had to do a run to Myanmar via Kanchanaburi (due to Chang wattana being closed on the weekend). Not ideal, but no issues.

For future reference, you don't get penalized if you show up for an extension on the first day immigration is open, after your permitted-stay ends.

 

15 hours ago, IronMan66 said:

I suppose I'm a little worried about visa exempt back into the country but would rather not stay the night in Laos, pay for a TV only to have to go back a week or so after to get my non-B

It's cheap insurance, in my opinion. 

 

From the airport-IO's perspective, you could be viewed as a "serial border-runner".   Saying you will "have a job soon" and become yet another long-staying foreigner who they and/or the boss wants gone from Thailand, might not help matters. 

 

I would not only get the visa - I would then enter Thailand by land and fly from the nearest airport domestic only.

 

All that said, your "odds" of getting in Visa-Exempt by air might be good (depending on your full history of stays in Thailand - all in immigration's database) - I just don't like gambling with such matters, when a "sure thing" option is available.
 

[IronMan66]

Thank you for the replies. I'll play it safe rather than risk saving a a couple of thousand baht

[jackdd]

If 7 days are enough for you:

You can apply for another extension on the last day when your current permission to stay ends. This will be denied, but they give you another 7 days to leave the country.

If you then figure out that these 7 days are not enough you would of course have wasted the 1900THB and would still have to get a tourist visa

Edited November 9, 2018 by jackdd

[edwardandtubs]

Go and get the tourist visa and then convert it into a non-b.

 

Ignore the first two responses.

Edited November 9, 2018 by edwardandtubs