I just called the British Embassy in London regarding a Non Imm B Visa.. They told me that due to new regulations that I must also submit my work permit along with the other documents when I apply for the Non Imm B Visa..

This is news to me and makes things rather difficult as I don't yet have a work permit and many people I know have previously got their Non Imm B Visa before they applied for their work permit..

Is this correct, am I misinformed or were my assumptions out-dated?

Regards...

I just called the British Embassy in London regarding a Non Imm B Visa.. They told me that due to new regulations that I must also submit my work permit along with the other documents when I apply for the Non Imm B Visa..

This is news to me and makes things rather difficult as I don't yet have a work permit and many people I know have previously got their Non Imm B Visa before they applied for their work permit..

Is this correct, am I misinformed or were my assumptions out-dated?

Regards...

go through the thai consulate in hull if possible, by mail while you are in the UK

Strange. I have never heard of a British Embassy in London.

I thought the Foreign and Commonwealth office handled matters there.

Do you mean the Royal Thai Embassy?

First comes the Non-Imm 'B' visa from the Consulate, which needs a letter from your prospective employer to support the application. When you arrive in Thailand you start the process for getting a Work Permit.

I have been to the Royal Thai Embassy (Certainly correct Khun Astral!) in London and can confirm that the rules have certainly changed and are now a lot harder than before!

Before it was pretty easy to just get a letter from a 'Virtual/Potential' Company saying that they were prepared to employ you when you received your Work Permit. The Thai Embassy would then, pretty much 99.9% of the time, give you a One Year Immigration B Visa.

Now, you have to get an 'Actual' Company to apply for a Work Permit for you via - Form WP2 "Application for Work Permit According to Section 7". Then submit this (once processed) along with Company Registration Documents & (I think) Company Accounts and Tax Information. I also think you might have to furnish Job Descriptions/Company Hierarchy Tree etc...

If anyone can shed any light in my direction of a way around this new process then I would be more than grateful!

Regards to one & all...

TiT - Toss In Thailand!!! (Hopefully)

You have correctly described the process to obtain a business (Non-Imm 'B') visa with intent to get a work permit later. What has changed? It has been this way for years.

Suggest if you are in UK you go and chat with the Consulate in Hull. They are more helpful than most.

Sorry about the dig. I could not resist.

I agree, talk to the consulates, Hull or Birmingham.

They will accept postal applications so no need to waste time on a personal visit.

The Embassy in London has always been a stickler for rules, even 20 years ago, when I was in your position applying for my first Non Imm B visa.

Astral - yes of course the RTE in London... British Embassy in London? Probably a Freudian Slip... ;-) What was I thinking.....

Thanks for all replies... Back in the UK now for a few weeks, near London.. Looks like I'll have to make another trip home sometime soon..

Sorry about the dig. I could not resist.

It gave me a smile

Mistakes happen and a bit of a banter is good for a Monday morning.