Hi,

My new school have told me to leave the country, get a 60 day tourist visa, and when i came back to Bangkok they can convert it to a non-imm B plus work permit (4,000 baht for visa) at the immigration here.

Is this correct?

I have had a one year non-imm B and work permit before, and i had to apply for it outside of Thailand.

I really don't want to go leave for the tourist visa, and then have to leave at a later date for the non-imm.

Thanks for your advice.

What do you have now and how much longer does it last? The key is 21 days remaining on an entry to obtain conversion/issue from Immigration so that is probably why they say you need a new tourist visa to start (although most start with a non immigrant B visa on the basis of a work permit application).

If your employment is eligible a non immigrant visa/change can be obtained for 2,000 baht at Immigration. If that is then extended for a one year stay there would be an additional charge of 1,900 baht for the extension of stay.