Non Imm 'b' Problem

[stuthailand]

Morning all

I have been living and working in Thailand for just over 3 years now.

Last July, I changed my Job, so went back to the UK, and got a new 'B' Visa with the documents provided by the new company I was supposed to be working for.

Upon returning to Thailand with my new visa, I had a dispute with the new company, and never actually started working for them.

I did however stay here, ignorant to the fact that my 'B' visa was not valid if I was not working.

I have since left the country twice to see my Son in Manila, and got back with no problems.

However, I would like to know the implications of using this visa, whilst not working?

Also, after coming into Thailand just a couple of days ago, I only got stamped until January 9th. This is no problem, as I plan to go back to Manila in January anyway.

I would like also to know, the best way of canceling my current 'B' visa, and obtaining an 'O' visa? I have everything I need to obtain the 'O' visa, but not sure of the implications of me being here for 5 months with a 'B' visa whilst not actually working?

Thanks for your help in advance.

[lopburi3]

1. You do not have to work to use a B visa. There should not be any problem using that visa during its validity.

2. You should always receive a 90 day permitted to stay stamp on a multi entry non immigrant visa so something seem to be wrong with your last entry stamp. Were you stamped for 60 days by mistake by chance? That sometimes happens and can be corrected by a visit to immigration.

3. If you want to change your visa just visit a Consulate (Manila is not recommended) and have them issue a non immigrant O visa (I assume you are married to a Thai?).

[stuthailand]

1. You do not have to work to use a B visa. There should not be any problem using that visa during its validity.

2. You should always receive a 90 day permitted to stay stamp on a multi entry non immigrant visa so something seem to be wrong with your last entry stamp. Were you stamped for 60 days by mistake by chance? That sometimes happens and can be corrected by a visit to immigration.

3. If you want to change your visa just visit a Consulate (Manila is not recommended) and have them issue a non immigrant O visa (I assume you are married to a Thai?).

Thanks for your answer.

1: I saw a sigh in Bangkok airport the other day, saying that if you are coming in on a 'b' visa you need to have a work permit?

2: This is the confusing thing. I went out in October for a couple of days, came bac, and they gave me 90 days, until Jan 9th. As I am going out more often now, When I went out a couple of weeks ago, I decided to get a multi re-entry instead of Single. When I cam back two days ago, they STILL stamped me until January 9th, effectively giving me only 31 days...?

[lopburi3]

1. You need a work permit to work - regardless of having a non immigrant B visa is what any such sign would mean. You do not need to have a work permit or to work using a non immigrant B visa for entry.

2. Do you have a multi entry non immigrant B visa? It appears you do. You do not need, or want, a re-entry permit if you do. But if you used a re-entry permit it only allows you to keep the current permitted to stay until date (January 9). So you were stamped in correctly.