Is it possible to change visa type at Immigration without having to leave the country and apply at an embassy?

 

If a person is in the country on a tourist visa or a Non-Immigrant ED visa (studying Thai) and gets a job offer, is it possible to change the visa at Immigration to a Non-Immigrant B type?

 

Seems that Labour Department will not accept a WP application if the person don't have the Non-B visa already, and Immigration won't 'upgrade' a visa until you can show the WP.... So seems to be a bit of a catch 22 situation there...

 

Anyone with experience of this?

You could apply for a Non B from a tourist entry at immigration. But if you had a Non ED you’d need to leave the country and get a Non B.

I don't know about the ED, but I have had a TR visa changed to a non-B before now, in 2009. This was because the embassy in Vientiane told me I didn't have the correct documents for the B, and so I asked for a TR instead. Then with some wizardry I was able to get it changed to a B at Suan Phlu (where the immigration office used to be before they opened the Chaengwattana offices).

 

I don't know if things have changed in the last ten years, and I can't say whether this would work with an ED - but it's got to be worth a try.

With the Aussie dollar slipping down and down an not having enough money coming in from my pension could I change my non o spouse to tourist visa here or have to go out of the country (Savannakhet) to do it .

Edited August 7, 20196 yr by keith101

18 minutes ago, keith101 said:

With the Aussie dollar slipping down and down an not having enough money coming in from my pension could I change my non imm o to tourist visa here or have to go out of the country (Savannakhet) to do it .

Have to exit country.

Thanks and how many times can I go in and out before having to head home .

7 minutes ago, keith101 said:

Thanks and how many times can I go in and out before having to head home .

You get two visa exempt entries per calendar yr. You can extend each by 30 days. You can obtain setv anywhere outside los.

Many ways to stay for some time. Perhaps 6 to 12 month. Eventually it gets more difficult. Where do you live in los. Just related to good border entry and setv that suits.

Edited August 7, 20196 yr by DrJack54

Uttaradit is where I am which is a long drive to Mukdahan but done it a couple of times before . Thanks for the info , can I get the extension locally or have to go back out again .

Edited August 7, 20196 yr by keith101

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You get two visa exempt entries per calendar yr. You can extend each by 30 days. You can obtain setv anywhere outside los.

Many ways to stay for some time. Perhaps 6 to 12 month. Eventually it gets more difficult. Where do you live in los. Just related to good border entry and setv that suits.

So, if you arrive on a 30 day tourist visa from Cambodia you can go to Jomtien immigration and get a 30 day extension? 

10 minutes ago, VYCM said:

So, if you arrive on a 30 day tourist visa from Cambodia you can go to Jomtien immigration and get a 30 day extension? 

 If you entered on a setv you would go towards the end of 60 days to obtain 30 day extension. Visa exempt you would go towards end of 30 days. Extension 1900bht.

17 hours ago, keith101 said:

With the Aussie dollar slipping down and down an not having enough money coming in from my pension could I change my non o spouse to tourist visa here or have to go out of the country (Savannakhet) to do it .

Visas don't get changed or issued in Thailand. Do you have a Visa or an Extension? If you leave and return on a Tourist Visa you will only be stamped in for 60 days. Trying to live in Thailand long term with Tourist Visas or Exempts is being made more difficult.

7 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Visas don't get changed or issued in Thailand. Do you have a Visa or an Extension? If you leave and return on a Tourist Visa you will only be stamped in for 60 days. Trying to live in Thailand long term with Tourist Visas or Exempts is being made more difficult.

Visa exempt and setv can be "changed" to non o inside Thailand. Term used is "conversion" to non o. Let's say non o based on retirement for example. A non o could not be changed.

Edited August 8, 20196 yr by DrJack54

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Visa exempt and setv can be "changed" to non o inside Thailand. Term used is "conversion" to non o. Let's say non o based on retirement. 

I realise that, but it isn't actually a Visa in this case, more converting the entry. Splitting hairs I know, but it helps keep me sane. 

Just now, jacko45k said:

I realise that, but it isn't actually a Visa in this case, more converting the entry. Splitting hairs I know, but it helps keep me sane. 

Yes jack realized you would be well aware. My most post was for anyone thinking they needed to exit to apply for non o.

Personally when I obtained my original non o (retirement), I obtained in Vientiane because no need to show funds came from outside los, as apposed to conversion at imm.

I changed a TR to a Non-O based on 800k baht in the bank. I recently was granted a retirement extension again using the 800k in the bank method.  Lots of hoops to go through to get the Non-O including a home visit and the IO taking photos of me inside and outside the house.

23 minutes ago, lujanit said:

I changed a TR to a Non-O based on 800k baht in the bank. I recently was granted a retirement extension again using the 800k in the bank method.  Lots of hoops to go through to get the Non-O including a home visit and the IO taking photos of me inside and outside the house.

Which imm office. Aware home visit and photo common for extension based on marriage but was not aware done for extension based on retirement.

On 8/8/2019 at 8:24 AM, jacko45k said:

Visas don't get changed or issued in Thailand.

Visas do get changed in Thailand, it is done at the visa office in the MFA. I was wrongly issued with a Non B by the London embassy and didn't have time to have it changed so had it changed here in Thailand.

If the OP wants to change a type ED to a type B I would suggest he rings the MFA and asks, they can only say no.

53 minutes ago, sandyf said:

If the OP wants to change a type ED to a type B I would suggest he rings the MFA and asks, they can only say no.

The MFA in Bangkok cannot do that type of change. They can only correct an error done by an embassy or consulate when they issued the visa.

Your nationality also matters. there are 20 or 22 countries cant take any NON-B (working) visa in thailand or countries around thailand. They need to go back their country and thai embassy there.