Last resort: from non-B & work permit to non-O via agent?

[EbhB]

So, I need to consider the unthinkable after spending a LOT of energy getting to a 1 year work permit & 1 year multi-entry  non-B with my own company...

 

My current 90-day period expires on the 4th of May, and although I could go back I do not want to fly if it is avoidable in any way. (As far as I've understood NOT being a tourist now counts against me, as there are no clear interpretation of the rules for non-B "overstays"?)

 

With the world going into a serious depression as well as it being very hard to re-build anything here in the near future I might be better off on a non-O. (I'll soon be 52 and had planned on working for another 2-3-5 years, but I could get by without)

 

If I give up the work permit and shares and directorship, would a good agent then be able to get me directly on to a non-O now, without me leaving the country?

 

Doing this myself is NOT an option, I would use an agent or immigration lawyer.

 

Other suggestions, hints & help is very welcome, but the main theme of my thinking around staying here the next days will have to be about this...

[ubonjoe]

Since you are on a multiple entry non-b visa you can stay in the country until the emergency situation ends since your stays in the country require you have  to leave and re-enter the country to stay longer.

The current date of the 30th will certainly be extended.

[EbhB]

Thanks, I certainly trust you more than my lawyer on this! ????

The lawyer suggested I should "just overstay", I guess that was just imprecise wording then...

 

That basically gives me TIME to plan, thats great... But I still need to consider the original option, as I've lost all income from my original company in the West that was interlinked with the company here.

 

Kinda find it hard to think I can rebuild here when I cannot even meet new customers live!

[EbhB]

One tiny detail, as the devil is in those: my 1-year non-B multientry is from Penang, according to the lawyer I would then have to get another one when I eventually return?

 

Would guess that comes from thinking staying on "counts as an overstay" ?

[mixed]

I have WP and am on a non O spouse multi. In the past I'd gone for the one year marriage, but the IOs made it more difficult each year (first one was 2005). Apparently the IOs do not make life as difficult for non-B visa extensions so I had been considering changing.

 

Are you sure you can't keep the WP? So many businesses are currently closed, many with WPs could now be considered unemployed. If the Labour Dept wants to enforce the normal rules for WP holders it will make recovery more difficult. I think they will look at compromises, they are generally more flexible than immigration.

 

If the government was less farang living here changing rules for retirement visas would be one of the simplest ways. Those with work permits are considered necessary.

[EbhB]

5 minutes ago, mixed said:

Are you sure you can't keep the WP? So many businesses are currently closed, many with WPs could now be considered unemployed. If the Labour Dept wants to enforce the normal rules for WP holders it will make recovery more difficult. I think they will look at compromises, they are generally more flexible than immigration.

When Ubonjoe and others here tell me I can just stay here while the emergency decrees are still valid, I will certainly keep it - and who knows, maybe get into a new sector of work or something...

 

Already did get a "compromise" from the department of works when getting the visa I am on now, having a lower initial turnover than they look for in their internal rules, so I would guess that route is open also when I need the next visa ????

 

I'll think about what you say as "deemed necessary", I really felt I was totally golden when there was a brief period when I technically could have done a border run & gotten into Thailand again while some thais were not even able to pull that off!

 

Might consider doing IT security & privacy, been partly in that field for years & it will certainly be something that will soar...

 

Chucking a lot of cash into the company for an unknown period is really what I have to consider here, thats why I think it will be either getting on with it in another sector OR going straight to the agents for me. Seems to me that they certainly give the best ROI when one considers that time & stressful paperwork equals quite some expenses!

[SLG]

In 2014 I retired after having had a Non Immigrant B visa that was annually extended since 2006.  Using a lawyer, I was able to turn in my work permit at the Labor Department in Bangkok and get a new one year extension based on retirement at Chon Buri immigration.  I have been extending every year since then on this basis.  I never had to leave Thailand to get this done.  Turning in my work permit and applying for the extension based on retirement all had to be completed within the same day so it required an early start in Bangkok and then travel to Chon Buri to the lawyer's office so they could get the application in before the IMO closed for the day.  All requirements for an extension based on retirement had to be in place i.e. 800K in the bank and other application documents, etc.  The next day I had my passport in hand with the retirement extension completed.

[EbhB]

Thanks a lot for the info! Although I could somehow raise the 800k I won't do that unless its completely necessary, at some point I should also finally get my marriage certificate... Quite happy right now that I took my own advice last year & bought heavily into gold instead of propping up thai banks! ????

 

Helpful for me to see your story, gives some insight into how immigration thinks, somehow its actually sane haha

[DFPhuket]

In Phuket last July when I stopped working, I was able to change from a B to an extension based upon retirement at immigration (without leaving the country). It did require an extra 8000 "fee", which I paid since I deemed it easier and no more expensive than leaving the country and going to a Thai embassy. I was able to get the changes all done in 2 hours.

 

I'm hoping that when I renew in July, they won't try to force me to get a Thai health insurance policy (I already have an international one). There is nothing in my passport showing that I went from a B to either an O or O-A and then a retirement extension. One stamp shows my B was cancelled and on the next page the stamp says "retirement" at the top. 

[ubonjoe]

23 minutes ago, DFPhuket said:

I'm hoping that when I renew in July, they won't try to force me to get a Thai health insurance policy (I already have an international one).

You will not need insurance when you apply.

It is only required if you had extended a entry from OA visa issued by an embassy in your home country.