Can I change tourist visa to non-immigrants B visa without living thai?

[Jean91]

Hi guys , for now I stay in Thai and I fund a job, but, as you know guys to work legally you should have B visa , I have entered Thai last month ago using tourist visa , so can I can change to B visa without leaving Thai? 

 

Or can I go to Malaysia ( thai embbasy ) directly to change it to B visa ? 

[BritTim]

It is possible to convert from the tourist entry to a non immigrant visa on the basis of working, but it requires a lot of documents. Getting the Non B visa from the consulate (with less documentation) followed by the work permit is easier and done most commonly, especially if not working for a BOI company.

[Jean91]

8 minutes ago, BritTim said:

It is possible to convert from the tourist entry to a non immigrant visa on the basis of working, but it requires a lot of documents. Getting the Non B visa from the consulate (with less documentation) followed by the work permit is easier and done most commonly, especially if not working for a BOI company.

Thanks brah .

 

But still i don't know how to do it , do I need to go to Malaysia ( thai embassy) to change it by myself with Taking all work document ? Or can i do it inside thai at any immigration? 

 

Sorry for asking so many Q: , I have never done working abroad before 

 

Note / Am not working for a BOI C.

[BritTim]

It is easier if your company has employed foreigners before, because both you and they will know what to do. I am going to assume you will take the easier route of getting a Non B from a consulate outside Thailand (Vientiane Laos is a good choice).

 

The list of documents you will need for the Non B visa application is generally

Quote

                  - Passport or travel document with validity of not less than 6 months.
                 - Completed visa application form.
                 - Recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) of the applicant taken within the  past 6 months.
                 - Letter of approval from the Ministry of Labour.  To obtain this letter, the applicant’s prospective employer in Thailand is required to submit Form WP3 at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour Tel. 02-2452745, or at the Provincial Employment Office in his or her respective province.  More information is available at www.doe.go.th/workpermit/index.html 
               - Corporate documents of hiring company in Thailand such as:
                1) business registration and business license
                2) list of shareholders
                3) company profile
                4) details of business operation
                5) list of foreign workers stating names, nationalities and positions
                6) map indicating location of the company
                7) balance sheet, statement of Income Tax and Business Tax (Por Ngor Dor 50 and Por Ngor Dor 30 of the latest year)
            ???? value-added tax registration (Por Por 20)
            -  Document indicating the number of foreign tourists (for tourism business only), or document indicating export transactions issued by banks (for export business only).

(Taken from http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-"B"-(for-Business-and.html)

Note that this implies that your company must apply to the Labour Department indicating their intention to employ you, and receive the provisional approval from the Labour Department in the form of a WP3.

If your company is new to this, I suggest you arrange to visit the Labour Department with a suitable manager from the company to ensure you both know the process.

Furnished with the documents above (and an appointment) you can travel to Vientiane to get the Non B visa. You apply in the morning of one day, and receive your visa the following day in the afternoon.

On return to Thailand, you receive an initial 90-day permission to stay. Your company then applies for the work permit, and you can start work.

Towards the end of your 90-day stay, you can hopefully apply at your immigration office for a one-year extension of your permission to stay. Whether you can do so depends mainly on your monthly salary. The minimum requirement for an extension varies according to your nationality.

[ubonjoe]

It possible to do a change of visa status to get a 90 day non immigrant visa (category B) entry based upon qualifying for extension of stay based upon working at immigration.

General requirements are here. https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_72

[Jean91]

8 hours ago, BritTim said:

It is easier if your company has employed foreigners before, because both you and they will know what to do. I am going to assume you will take the easier route of getting a Non B from a consulate outside Thailand (Vientiane Laos is a good choice).

 

The list of documents you will need for the Non B visa application is generally

(Taken from http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-"B"-(for-Business-and.html)

Note that this implies that your company must apply to the Labour Department indicating their intention to employ you, and receive the provisional approval from the Labour Department in the form of a WP3.

If your company is new to this, I suggest you arrange to visit the Labour Department with a suitable manager from the company to ensure you both know the process.

Furnished with the documents above (and an appointment) you can travel to Vientiane to get the Non B visa. You apply in the morning of one day, and receive your visa the following day in the afternoon.

On return to Thailand, you receive an initial 90-day permission to stay. Your company then applies for the work permit, and you can start work.

Towards the end of your 90-day stay, you can hopefully apply at your immigration office for a one-year extension of your permission to stay. Whether you can do so depends mainly on your monthly salary. The minimum requirement for an extension varies according to your nationality.

Thanks man it was helpful

 

[Jean91]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

It possible to do a change of visa status to get a 90 day non immigrant visa (category B) entry based upon qualifying for extension of stay based upon working at immigration.

General requirements are here. https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_72

Thanks brah 

[dayward1]

I've done it a few years ago (at Chaengwattana before provinces had their own immigration). Your paperwork from employer needs to be IMMACULATE. You used to need need 15 days left on your visa, I'm not sure on that anymore. Be prepared to be denied at least once. Immigration is really getting their magnifying glass out right now on all paperwork. 

[jojothai]

18 hours ago, BritTim said:

 

Note that this implies that your company must apply to the Labour Department indicating their intention to employ you, and receive the provisional approval from the Labour Department in the form of a WP3.

If your company is new to this, I suggest you arrange to visit the Labour Department with a suitable manager from the company

From what happened to me, the company cannot do the wp3 until you are outside thailand

I went outside scanned and sent back evidence of departure and staying in another country ( hotel)

Then they applied. It takes 3 days to get the letter. The wp3 letter was sent to me by courier i got the next day.

Then i applied for the non B at consulate with the original copy of the wp3 letter and other docs. 

So i had to take a week outside.

 

You need to consider this.

[kohmakmaxx]

You need a tourist visa so in case you have a nonO you need to leave the country and come back with a tourist visa and after change in thailand to a non B cost 25000thb, I do that with my agent and works fine and is legal. 

[Jean91]

3 hours ago, kohmakmaxx said:

You need a tourist visa so in case you have a nonO you need to leave the country and come back with a tourist visa and after change in thailand to a non B cost 25000thb, I do that with my agent and works fine and is legal. 

Where did you change it in Thai? 

[Calvin1976]

Departed from TH last month to apply Non-B visa but now stuck at getting WP3 approval. 

Company lawyer did the submission for me to the MOL with all necessary documents. But the officer don't want to give approval as he want more prove to show that I'm qualify to that manager position. Even industry authority help to verify for me, he still wanna discuss with his boss. The officer may not understand the regulations of all industries. Sigh... 

Dragged for few days already with no progress. 

 

Really can't do much now.  I may lost the job offered. 

 

Any similar experience like this? 

Or any advice to get this WP3 approval granted? 

Thank you. 

[Isaanbiker]

On 6/7/2019 at 8:38 AM, kohmakmaxx said:

You need a tourist visa so in case you have a nonO you need to leave the country and come back with a tourist visa and after change in thailand to a non B cost 25000thb, I do that with my agent and works fine and is legal. 

If you've got a Non-O visa and want to change to a Non-B, why would you have to leave Thailand and come back on a tourist visa?

 

   Could you please clarify that? It doesn't make much sense.

   

   What kind of work are you talking about?