Changing Tourist Visa Or Entry Stamp To B Visa In Bangkok

[Junglejumbo]

My former company hired a lawyer some time when applying for a work permit. My status at that time was as a tourist with a tourist visa. I was also told that it's possible to apply on a transit/entry stamp so long as the documents are submitted within 21 days of entering the country. Has anyone else heard about this?

Now, a new company that wants to hire me is saying I must have the non immigrant B visa first, and I already went to Laos but they wouldn't grant it as I should've brought 14 documents with me when the company had only provided me with the invitation letter. However, when I asked the official should I get the tourist visa or an entry stamp, he advised the entry stamp as it permitted foreign attendance to meetings and conferences whereas the tourist visa didn't. Anyhow, a bit confused here..

[monty]

My former company hired a lawyer some time when applying for a work permit. My status at that time was as a tourist with a tourist visa. I was also told that it's possible to apply on a transit/entry stamp so long as the documents are submitted within 21 days of entering the country. Has anyone else heard about this?

Correct, only it's not within 21 days, but you need to have at least 21 days allowed in Thailand remaining!

To get a non immigrant B in one of the neighboring countries, you need pretty much the same paperwork as would be required to get your 1 year extension.

Basically all the paperwork showing that your employer is qualified to employ you (Thai employees, capital etc), along with a form from the labor department stating that your work permit is applied for.

But, as noted above, as long as you have 21 days remaining in Thailand, regardless of what visa (30 day visa exempt included), you can change to non immigrant B status within Thailand, as long as you'll qualify salary wise (>50,000/month for EU nationals) and the company(employer) qualifies with enough revenue on the audited book keeping.

They do seem to require quite a biit of hard to get paperwork though...

[lopburi3]

You can only change if in the process of one year extension of stay - most people do not qualify for this on new employment/companies so the majority will get at a foreign Consulate but you need to have applied for a work permit first at most local Consulates.

The 21 days refers to time remaining on your permitted to stay stamp - so on a 30 day entry it must be done in the first week.