Chaning Non Immigrant Visa Type O To B

[broomboy18]

Hi all,

I travelled into Thailand on a Non Immigrant Visa Type-O to seek employment.

I have been offered a job and have been told I have to upgrade my Visa to a non-immigrant type B before I can apply for a work permit and commence work.

Is this as simple as travelling to the Consolate in Laos with a letter from my company stating I am to be employed?

When my visa is upgraded does anybody know the costs? And will I also receive this visa as a multiple entry as was with the case with my initial type O visa?

Thanks to anybody who can help me with this.

[Crossy]

Assuming your 'O' was not granted for 'retirement' there is no reason you cannot have a work permit with it.

Many on this board have a WP on an 'O' visa (I used to, but now I'm in India so no Thai WP).

EDIT There may be issues if you are to be a teacher with the requirement for a police check, I'll let others more experienced in this respect answer that.

Edited February 15, 2008 by Crossy

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The way he spelt Consulate I'd hope he wasn't going to to teach English. If he is going to give it a go, he would have to have a national police clearance from his homeland to produce for Immigration.

[johnnynmonic]

I was hoping to get a work permit with my o visa as well. It expires in April, but if I get my work permit issued before then, I get another year through that, right? What would be the best visa solution for my kids who obviously wont be working (and obviously are not Thai citizens)? Do they get an extension based on my wife's and my work permits?

[lopburi3]

A work permit does not qualify anyone for extension of stay. You must qualify for that using Immigration requirements for income by nationality and specific company paperwork/requirements. Children under age 14 are not a problem as no overstay is charged. Only those on one year extensions of stay have option to have family members obtain matching extensions of stay.

[johnnynmonic]

A work permit does not qualify anyone for extension of stay. You must qualify for that using Immigration requirements for income by nationality and specific company paperwork/requirements. Children under age 14 are not a problem as no overstay is charged. Only those on one year extensions of stay have option to have family members obtain matching extensions of stay.

Pardon my ignorance (really, I've never had a work permit before), but how does it work then when someone gets a 3 month type B single entry visa, and a one year work permit? I thought the work permit sort of acted as an extension, and the office would stamp you for 90 more days every time you checked in... How does this work?

Thanks,

JN

[dr_Pat_Pong]

A work permit does not qualify anyone for extension of stay. You must qualify for that using Immigration requirements for income by nationality and specific company paperwork/requirements. Children under age 14 are not a problem as no overstay is charged. Only those on one year extensions of stay have option to have family members obtain matching extensions of stay.

Pardon my ignorance (really, I've never had a work permit before), but how does it work then when someone gets a 3 month type B single entry visa, and a one year work permit? I thought the work permit sort of acted as an extension, and the office would stamp you for 90 more days every time you checked in... How does this work?

Thanks,

JN

The work permit will match your visa.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

A work permit does not qualify anyone for extension of stay. You must qualify for that using Immigration requirements for income by nationality and specific company paperwork/requirements. Children under age 14 are not a problem as no overstay is charged. Only those on one year extensions of stay have option to have family members obtain matching extensions of stay.

Pardon my ignorance (really, I've never had a work permit before), but how does it work then when someone gets a 3 month type B single entry visa, and a one year work permit? I thought the work permit sort of acted as an extension, and the office would stamp you for 90 more days every time you checked in... How does this work?

Thanks,

JN

[lopburi3]

The validity of the work permit will match your current permitted to stay until stamp. It will not extend your stay in any way. Unless you also obtain a one year extension of stay from immigration you will have to leave at the end of 90 days, obtain a new visa, enter, re-activate your work permit. This will have to be done each and every 90 days until you can obtain a one year extension of stay from Immigration.

[johnnynmonic]

The validity of the work permit will match your current permitted to stay until stamp. It will not extend your stay in any way. Unless you also obtain a one year extension of stay from immigration you will have to leave at the end of 90 days, obtain a new visa, enter, re-activate your work permit. This will have to be done each and every 90 days until you can obtain a one year extension of stay from Immigration.

I see. Thank you, Lopburi3.

jn