I'm on a retirement extension visa right now, and have just been offered a job which will involve the school giving me a work permit. Can I go onto a Non- immigrant "0" 1 year visa, or must I have a "B" visa? How do I go about changing my visa, and where is the best place to od this. I live in Chiang Mai, have my own house, lease on land etc, and four dogs so I don't want to get this wrong and be forced to leave the country for week to get it fixed again.

Is your Visa based on retirement or marriage?

Most labor offices do not seem to allow work permit issue if on a retirement extension of stay so you can try - but be prepared to obtain what they want in the event you can not.

Most labor offices do not seem to allow work permit issue if on a retirement extension of stay so you can try - but be prepared to obtain what they want in the event you can not.

I have been told that it's impossible to get a work permit with a retirement visa extension, (not based on marriage), which is what I have, having converted forma non -omm O multi entry just over a year ago . Can't imagine why I did that. Nut I have also been told that you can work with

work permit and a non- imm O (either one year single entry or multi-entry if you're really lucky).

If I go onto a "B" visa, and either the job fords or I want to quit, I'm in trouble because I will have to leave immediately -- as mentioned before, have house, 4 dogs, etc.

So -- does the labour office issue work permits on Non-Imm "O" visas? If so, what is the best way for me to convert from retirmment extension to non- Imm "O", and where is the best place to go to do it?

Hope I've made myself clear this time round.

okinasan

You have been told wrong - people have and some still seem to be able to obtain on retirement extensions of stay. But most labor offices seem to have decided not to allow it. You have still not answered if you are married (which would allow extension of stay for family). There is no such thing as a one year single entry non immigrant O visa if it is not a multi entry. I suspect you are talking about extension of stay.

You should be able to apply for work permit on any entry - once you have the receipt for application you can then obtain a non immigrant B visa from a Consulate and return for the work permit issue/activation. After that you can either use 90 day visa entry (in which case loss of employment has no effect on current entry) or, if qualified you can extend your stay yearly for employment (or family if married) and if for employment loss of employment would mean loss of extension but if for family you would be free to continue to stay here until next renewal date.

The original poster is in a very similar situation to mine, it appears. Here is the recent thread about mine"

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...=174845&hl=