I am working in Bangkok and have a Non-imm B visa and work permit until the end of March 2009, on my British passport. After that my contract ends but I want to remain here to look for another job.

I am going to Australia in December and was planning the following:

1. Leave Bangkok on British passport in Dec.

2. Apply for a Non Imm 'O' in Australia, using my Australian passport

3. Return to Bangkok on British passport in Jan.

Then in March, activate the non-imm "O" in Australian passport by doing a visa run to Cambodia or something.

Is it okay to do this? If I do a visa run would they allow me to leave the country with one passport and come in with another?! I am just trying to avoid having to fly somewhere for a 90 day Tourist visa in March.

Thanks for your advice.

Only if you fly out of the country and fly in again when you will activate the non-O. At land borders they want to see an entry and exit stamp from Cambodia, meaning you can't change passports. For the rest your plan is legal.

But since you would have to leave the country anyway to activate your non-O I would just get a non-O at that moment, not already in Australia. It might avoid unnecesarry questions.

You can only do a passport switch when flying and probably not even then if you do it the same day by going to a nearby country.

There was a recent post by a member that was trying to do the switch by flying to Laos but they would not let him in on his passport without a Thai departure stamp.

yes, i am the person ubon joe speaks of. Tried to switch to a different passport by flying into Lao getting a tourist visa, then coming back across by land. Am back.......after a night of adventure crossing and recrossing the friendship bridge at nong kai..... got lucky by being friendly, but not a good plan, it turns out.

You cannot enter Laos on a passport without Thai exit stamp. Some embassies in Bangkok will also not issue visas in passports that have no Thai entry stamp e.g. China, Burma. Apparently Vietnam does.

A colleague once got a non-imm B visa in the wrong passport at Suan Plu by mistake. The staff didn't notice it had no Thai entry stamps or visas and a different number and issue date from the application form, although it was at least the same nationality. Luckily he noticed before going to the airport and a modest contribution to the police welfare fund got the visa reissued in the correct book with no questions asked.

The Thai consulate in Penang also checks for an entry stamp before issuing a visa.

The general plan on the visas is OK, but you may need to fly further afield to do the swop later.

Watch the use by date on the new visa.