Non-b-visa/wp Help Needed

[jaymcgee]

Hey guys!

I am a student from Germany doing an internship in bkk for nearly two month now.

I got a 1 year multiple entry Non-B-Visa from Thai embassy in Germany.

My problem is, that I'm employed without work permit as a short-time employee for 6 month. My employer didn't consider that I have to extend my visa after 90 days (missunderstanding the one-year validity of the visa). Because noone in my company has a clue about visas, I ask you for help:

I think I won't get a stamp without wp, will I?

I heard that it is very easy (and fast) to get a wp for interns. Is it true?

If there is any other way apart from wp, please tell me!

[jstumbo]

If you have a one year multiple entry B visa, you just need to do a border run and you will be given another 90 days. No need to show any work permit.

You are however working illegally in Thailand without a WP and are subject to arrest, detention and deportation.

I find it really strange that a very efficient country like Germany would send students to a very backwards, inefficient country like Thailand for internship. I guess you will find out how not to do things while here. I guess it might make sense if you are studying something like international trade.

[jaymcgee]

I also thought, that working without wp is illegal, but our accountant (who came up with the idea) told me that there is no problem and it's not illegal to employ me without. Maybe there are some agreements between foreign companies and the board of investment that allow it. However, I have no documents, beside the work contract, to show the immigration officer when I'm going to apply for extension.

Am I (or the company) facing any trouble when applying for a work permit after 2 month?

[jstumbo]

You would not apply for an extension at immigration. You would just take a bus to a neighboring country. Go through exit immigration in Thailand, go through immigration in the country you are going to. Then turn around and leave the country you just entered, and then go back through Thai immigration and get stamped for another 90 days. You will not need a work permit to make another entry into Thailand. But you would still be working illegally without a work permit. A work permit is needed in every case. Most companies do not want to go through the hassles and costs for someone that is only going to be working for a short period.

You would get an extension from immigration if you were staying a year. You would also need to make a salary of a certain level, and you would need to have the work permit.

If you apply for a work permit now, it will not be a problem. You would just fill out stuff saying that you are starting now, not two months ago.

[jaymcgee]

Thank you very much for your quick answer. I will try to get the wp even if our accountant doesn't seem to be that happy about the paperwork coming up with the wp.

If I don't get it, I will go to Malaysia to visit a friend and come back with a nice new stamp in my passport. What a waste of time for people, who have to do a visarun every 30 or 90 days in order to stay in Thailand...

[malcolmswaine]

You just need to do a 'Visa Run' by the sounds of it. If you're worried ask the 'Visa Run' people when you book a ticket.

I would be very wary about advertising employment without a work permit, even in this forum. There are cases where individuals can get a commision for 'dobbing you in'.

Good luck