Working On A Non 'o' Visa

[ajannick]

Hi All, May seem like a silly question as stamped across my Visa is working Prohibited.

I have not been in Thailand for about 4 years as I went back to England to study a degree course to ensure my future in Thailand. I have finished my degree and will return to Thailand in a few weeks. I do not have a job offer so could not get a Non 'B' Visa, got a Non 'O' multiple entry instead. When I was living in Thailand before I heard that there may be a possability of working on a Non 'O' Visa as alot of foreigners who are married to Thais also want to work.

It would make life a lot easier if I could simply keep my Non 'O' and get a WP!, (TIT).

Does anyone know if this may be possible.

Nick.

[thaigene2]

Hi All, May seem like a silly question as stamped across my Visa is working Prohibited.

I have not been in Thailand for about 4 years as I went back to England to study a degree course to ensure my future in Thailand. I have finished my degree and will return to Thailand in a few weeks. I do not have a job offer so could not get a Non 'B' Visa, got a Non 'O' multiple entry instead. When I was living in Thailand before I heard that there may be a possability of working on a Non 'O' Visa as alot of foreigners who are married to Thais also want to work.

It would make life a lot easier if I could simply keep my Non 'O' and get a WP!, (TIT).

Does anyone know if this may be possible.

Nick.

How did you manage to get an "O" visa in the first place? Are you saying you are married to a Thai?

[Murf]

To get a WP you need a NonB

[ajannick]

Hi All, May seem like a silly question as stamped across my Visa is working Prohibited.

I have not been in Thailand for about 4 years as I went back to England to study a degree course to ensure my future in Thailand. I have finished my degree and will return to Thailand in a few weeks. I do not have a job offer so could not get a Non 'B' Visa, got a Non 'O' multiple entry instead. When I was living in Thailand before I heard that there may be a possability of working on a Non 'O' Visa as alot of foreigners who are married to Thais also want to work.

It would make life a lot easier if I could simply keep my Non 'O' and get a WP!, (TIT).

Does anyone know if this may be possible.

Nick.

How did you manage to get an "O" visa in the first place? Are you saying you are married to a Thai?

Yes I am married to a Thai.

[ajannick]

Hi All, May seem like a silly question as stamped across my Visa is working Prohibited.

I have not been in Thailand for about 4 years as I went back to England to study a degree course to ensure my future in Thailand. I have finished my degree and will return to Thailand in a few weeks. I do not have a job offer so could not get a Non 'B' Visa, got a Non 'O' multiple entry instead. When I was living in Thailand before I heard that there may be a possability of working on a Non 'O' Visa as alot of foreigners who are married to Thais also want to work.

It would make life a lot easier if I could simply keep my Non 'O' and get a WP!, (TIT).

Does anyone know if this may be possible.

Nick.

How did you manage to get an "O" visa in the first place? Are you saying you are married to a Thai?

Yes I am married to a Thai.

Looks like if I get a job offer I'll have to apply for a work permit then take a letter stating that I've been offered a job and the receipt of the application for the work permit to a Thai consulate office and fill in the form for a Non B? Pitty this couldn't be done on a O visa.

[tijnebijn]

I thought that when married with a thai,so staying with a non O,it is possible to get a work permit.I don't think you will have to switch to a nonB for that.maybe one of the moderators can confirm that for you!

[thaigene2]

I thought that when married with a thai,so staying with a non O,it is possible to get a work permit.I don't think you will have to switch to a nonB for that.maybe one of the moderators can confirm that for you!

yes I think you should be able to do that. Hopefully a moderator will reply. I had one changed from an "O" to a working visa once - but maybe it's changed. The thing that bugs me is each time you change employers you have to leave the country and start the whole process all over again (rather than just taking your old work permit, visa, etc to the One-Stop Visa place and getting it switched.

[lopburi3]

The requirement for a work permit is a non immigrant visa. You do not have to change to another type. The non immigrant O visa should be fine if your employer will accept it. In some cases they do not know how to process the work permit if anything other than a B type and in others they prefer you not know any other option is open as if you extend your stay for B visa work you lose that extension with loss of job and some like that extra leverage. As you have the visa for marriage you should insist on using the O visa and extend your stay on the basis of your marriage/40k family income.

[Maestro]

Working On A Non 'o' Visa...stamped across my Visa is working Prohibited...

Just a short comment on that stamp in your passport. It is true that the non-O visa itself, or any other visa, does not permit you to work. However, after entering on your non-O visa you are allowed to apply for a work permit, and this work permit will be your permission to work in Thailand.

It is important to make this distinction between visa, respectively permission to stay, on one hand and the work permit on the other hand.

--

Maestro

[ajannick]

Working On A Non 'o' Visa...stamped across my Visa is working Prohibited...

Just a short comment on that stamp in your passport. It is true that the non-O visa itself, or any other visa, does not permit you to work. However, after entering on your non-O visa you are allowed to apply for a work permit, and this work permit will be your permission to work in Thailand.

It is important to make this distinction between visa, respectively permission to stay, on one hand and the work permit on the other hand.

--

Maestro

Thanks very much, I thought that I may be facing a trip to Vietianne or similar to change my visa. I will push the fact that I wish to keep my non imigrant 'O' visa when searching for work and hope they play ball. It will make life alot easier if they process the work permit without me having to change.

Thanks again.

Nick.

[tijnebijn]

I told you Op,when the moderators come out to help in this forum,the doubts and misunderstandings are cleared.

I am sure you can work this out,good luck.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I told you Op,when the moderators come out to help in this forum,the doubts and misunderstandings are cleared.

I am sure you can work this out,good luck.

The OP is married to a Thai. He will not have any problem whatsoever getting a WP on an O visa.

[steelepulse]

So if someone is married to a Thai, has a non "O" visa, do they still need to find a company that employs 4 thai's or could they work for the "family business" in whatever capacity that entails?

>>The OP is married to a Thai. He will not have any problem whatsoever getting a WP on an O visa.

Edited June 11, 2007 by steelepulse

[lopburi3]

The bar is lower for those married but do not remember the details. Perhaps someone with a fresher mind?

[Sunbelt Asia]

So if someone is married to a Thai, has a non "O" visa, do they still need to find a company that employs 4 thai's or could they work for the "family business" in whatever capacity that entails?

In order to get a work permit for a employer who is a Thai Limited Company, you will never have a requirement to have a employer who employs 4 Thai employees to GET a work permit.

You would have that requirement of 4 Thai employees ONLY if you desired a extension of stay permit based on business.

If you worked for your family business and was employed by your wife who is a sole proprietor, one option would be she would need two Thai employees. She also could have had gross sales of 350K in the previous year or had paid tax of 25K to hire you and get you a work permit.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[steelepulse]

Thanks sunbeltasia, good info to know.  Cheers!

So if someone is married to a Thai, has a non "O" visa, do they still need to find a company that employs 4 thai's or could they work for the "family business" in whatever capacity that entails?

In order to get a work permit for a employer who is a Thai Limited Company, you will never have a requirement to have a employer who employs 4 Thai employees to GET a work permit.

You would have that requirement of 4 Thai employees ONLY if you desired a extension of stay permit based on business.

If you worked for your family business and was employed by your wife who is a sole proprietor, one option would be she would need two Thai employees. She also could have had gross sales of 350K in the previous year or had paid tax of 25K to hire you and get you a work permit.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[Sunny Valentine]

I have a WP based on a O Visa (married to a Thai). Biggest problem I had duringthe process (apart from the usual silly documentation requirements ... they did not like some of the photos we did for the application ...) was to convince my lawyer that this is possible.

Sunny

[steelepulse]

>>>one option would be she would need two Thai employees. She also could have had gross sales of 350K in the previous year or had paid tax of 25K to hire you and get you a work permit.

Are these the only 3 options ( all are quite doable, just curious if there are other options)?

I have a WP based on a O Visa (married to a Thai). Biggest problem I had duringthe process (apart from the usual silly documentation requirements ... they did not like some of the photos we did for the application ...) was to convince my lawyer that this is possible.

Sunny

[Sunny Valentine]

>>>one option would be she would need two Thai employees. She also could have had gross sales of 350K in the previous year or had paid tax of 25K to hire you and get you a work permit.

Are these the only 3 options ( all are quite doable, just curious if there are other options)?

I have a WP based on a O Visa (married to a Thai). Biggest problem I had duringthe process (apart from the usual silly documentation requirements ... they did not like some of the photos we did for the application ...) was to convince my lawyer that this is possible.

Sunny

I have my WP under employment of "my" Company. Would not be able to comply to the latest regulations re Balance sheet, Employees, etc, but with Marriage Certificate this was no problem.

Sunny

[Sunbelt Asia]

>>>one option would be she would need two Thai employees. She also could have had gross sales of 350K in the previous year or had paid tax of 25K to hire you and get you a work permit.

Are these the only 3 options ( all are quite doable, just curious if there are other options)?

The only three options with a natural employer for the work permit.

By the way, as of last Wednesday. It's no longer possible to get a work permit with a extension of stay based on retirement, education or a ed visa( exception if the school gives you a letter stating this is your place of work to be an intern), or if you are on a dependant extension of stay.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[A_Traveller]

>>>one option would be she would need two Thai employees. She also could have had gross sales of 350K in the previous year or had paid tax of 25K to hire you and get you a work permit.

Are these the only 3 options ( all are quite doable, just curious if there are other options)?

The only three options with a natural employer for the work permit.

By the way, as of last Wednesday. It's no longer possible to get a work permit with a extension of stay based on retirement, education or a ed visa( exception if the school gives you a letter stating this is your place of work to be an intern), or if you are on a dependant extension of stay.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Do you have reference to this in any official site? It was my understanding that this was coming but haven't seen it formally announced.

Regards

/edit mad typist strikes again //

Edited June 13, 2007 by A_Traveller

[Sunbelt Asia]

Do you have reference to this in any official site? It was my understanding that this was coming but haven't seen it formally announced.

Regards

Just started to be implemented.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[Sunny Valentine]

By the way, as of last Wednesday. It's no longer possible to get a work permit with a extension of stay based on retirement, education or a ed visa( exception if the school gives you a letter stating this is your place of work to be an intern), or if you are on a dependant extension of stay.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Does this also mean WP with 1 Year extension based on marriage?

Sunny

[lopburi3]

I believe it if had included family extensions of stay Sunbelt would not have failed to mention it.

[Sunbelt Asia]

I believe it if had included family extensions of stay Sunbelt would not have failed to mention it.

Spot on Lopburi3. still possible to get a work permit with an extension of stay based on marriage with a Thai national.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[my benny rai]

I believe it if had included family extensions of stay Sunbelt would not have failed to mention it.

Spot on Lopburi3. still possible to get a work permit with an extension of stay based on marriage with a Thai national.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

But how does that work out now for teachers married to Thais who are on a Non O? How does this new criminal background check figure in to the application process on an Non O? In fact, how is the process so different on an O than applying on a regular B visa?

Cheers, Sunbelt, for all your help now and in the past!