Obtaining Non-B visa in Thailand

[NK2020]

Hello everyone, this topic might have been already discussed however I couldn't find the discussion thread so here I go. I am currently on Covid amnesty visa and have been offered a teaching job in a school. I have got in touch with few agencies in Thailand who claim that they can apply for a NON-B visa for me without me having to do a border run however they have all stated the the fee is about 25 to 35 thousand baht. Is this something that you are aware of ? Has anyone obtained a Non-B visa this way? Thanks.

[ubonjoe]

The problem is that immigration does not consider the "automatic extension" under the amnesty an extension of your original visa exempt or tourist visa entry. When you have one of those you need at least 15 days remaining on your entry or the 30 day extension of them to apply for a non immigrant visa (category B).

Others have had the same problem. Apparently the agent can get it done under the table at immigration.

[BangkokReady]

I've seen this also.

 

It is obviously tempting for someone that wishes to work in Thailand in a closer to legal way.

 

I think it's questionable as to whether you can then get a work permit.  I don't know if you can then switch to a work visa with your company, or if immigration would be suspicious about your current non-B, where you got it, why you want to change etc.. 

 

Or would they just see that you have a visa with more than 15 days and let you switch?

 

Or what happens if you are checked in any way?  Does the visa match your work at all?

 

Which is worse, working on a tourist visa/covid extension, or working on a shady non-B?

 

It's a gamble when you get stuff put into your passport.  It isn't really going anywhere until you leave the country.

 

It's sad that Thailand is putting people that would otherwise be able to work legally in the country in this sort of position.

[natway09]

You cannot "work " on a Non B, it simply allows you to apply for a W/P from the Ministry of Labour

if all their  other criteria are met. They are basically different peas in the same pod.

I worked here for 27 years on the above & never once was asked by Immigration to even check my 

blue W/P books. I still have them here somewhere

[Prince77]

On 6/18/2020 at 4:40 AM, ubonjoe said:

When you have one of those you need at least 15 days remaining on your entry or the 30 day extension of them to apply for a non immigrant visa (category B).

Joe, sorry for my ignorance: "when you have one of those..." means when you only have an entry stamp for 30 days you can convert that into a non-immi type B visa?

 

I thought you need to have a non-immi type B visa already from an other country which you can convert into a one year visa?

 

Many thanks

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, Prince77 said:

Joe, sorry for my ignorance: "when you have one of those..." means when you only have an entry stamp for 30 days you can convert that into a non-immi type B visa?

 

I thought you need to have a non-immi type B visa already from an other country which you can convert into a one year visa?

You can apply for a 90 day non immigrant visa (category B) at immigration if you have a 30 day visa exempt or tourist visa entry.

See: http://bangkokimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/01-edit_NON-B.pdf

If you have a 90 day entry from a non-b visa you can apply for a one year extension of stay (it is not a visa) based upon working.