Need 'o' Visa Before Getting Non-imm B?

[iyah]

Hi,

I have been told by my school's administration that i need to go to Lao to get an 'O' visa before i can apply for work permit and non imm B visa. I am currently on a tourist (2 month + 1) visa. Last time i applied for my work permit and non imm B visa (about 1 year ago) , all i needed is to have at least 3 weeks left on any visa (or even on a visa exemption) to apply for it. Can anyone shed some light on this please? I just went to Lao to get a TV about 1 month ago and i'm not that excited about having to go back..

Thanks

[lopburi3]

You can not obtain a non immigrant O visa in Laos unless you are married to a Thai (or have reason other than employment). Although you can use such a visa to obtain a work permit if you get it. You can probably obtain a non immigrant B visa with company information for employment. There was a change in employment extension issue this year and that may be the reason you have to travel and obtain the visa rather than convert but not sure of details.

[iyah]

hum...thanks Lopburi..seems like there's some confusion here..

Doesn't sound like it's the "o" visa that they want me to get then.

Would be great if anyone can tell me whether or not i need to get out of the country to obtain non imm B and work permit knowing that i am currently on a TV.

Thanks

[lopburi3]

You obtain the work permit inside Thailand at the Labor Office. Only the visa is from outside Thailand. The previous change of visa requirements basically covered those that were eligible for one year extensions of stay with below requirements. Website has not been updated so not sure if they still are using these.

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION FOR VISA OR VISA STATUS ALTERATION (NON-B ): WORKING AS A TEACHER IN THAILAND

In case of overstaying in Thailand, application could not be submitted.

Application for Visa Status Alteration. (TM.86)

Application for visa. (TM.87)

Copy of passport entries.

4 X 6 cm. Photograph.

Application fee of 2,000 baht.

To be a teacher in a GOVERNMENT school or university.

As a teacher at the University

• A letter from the director of university , requesting visa or visa status alteration.

As a teacher at the school

• A letter from the department concerned under the Ministry of Education or a letter from the governor of province, requesting for visa or visa status alteration.

And

• Employment certification form (Download the form from Labor Dept. website)

• A copy of employment contract. (The start working date shown in employment contract must be the same date with application or after getting approval of visa alteration.)

• Diploma and transcript of the applicant. (Must show the original and copy to the officer as proof)

To be a teacher in a PRIVATE school or university.

As a teacher at the University

• A letter from the rector of university, requesting visa or visa status alteration.

As a teacher at the school

• A letter from the department concerned under the Ministry of Education or in the case of lower academic levels in education, a letter from the governor of province, requesting for visa or visa status alteration.

And

• Employment certification form (Download the form from Labor Dept. website)

• A copy of employment contract. (The start working date shown in employment contract must be the same date with application or after getting approval of visa alteration.)

• Diploma and transcript of the applicant. (Must show the original and copy to the officer as proof)

• A Certified copy of the registration papers of the educational institution. (Certified by authority signature and institute’s seal or stamp.)

• A Certified copy of the license of the school or university administrator(Certified by authority signature and institute’s seal or stamp.)

Remarks

The Applicant must sign every page of application and the applicant must arrange the documents in proper order and must prepare the originals as proof.

Call 02-2873101-10 ext.2237 , 02-287-4948 for details.

[iyah]

..sorry about the confusion, i asked my school again and i guess the meant Non imm B and not 'O'.

So basically, my question is:

Is it now mandatory to go outside Thailand to abtain a non imm B visa? About 1 year ago, i obtained my non imm B IN Thailand. I did not have to go to Lao to get it. I just needed to have at least 3 weeks left on any type of visa (or visa exemption). I believe that at that time this was a new law/regulation and that just months before, one had to go out of the contry to obtain a non imm B. Does anyone know what is the situation/law now?

Thanks ; )