Changing On-entry Visa To Non-b?

[Al26]

Just wondering if anyone can help...

I came to Thailand from Vietnam to teach so only have a 30 day on-entry visa. This expires on Jan 8th so i'm doing a quick visa run to Penang to extend it.

My school haven't asked me to get a non-imm B yet but said i might need to leave the country again in the future to get one. My question is, can an on-entry be changed to a non-imm B within Thailand? Or do I even need an non-imm B if my school is organising the work permit and 1 year visa for me?

There are so many options and nothing seems to be very clear!

Thanks in advance for reading and hope you can help!

[ubonjoe]

A visa exempt entry can be changed to a B. But you have to have 21 days left on your entry.

If you make a border crossing you only get 15 days. So flying in is the only way to do it.

The best thing to do is for your school to apply for your work permit. With that and additional domuments you can get a 90 day non-b visa at a nearby consulate.

Or get a tourist visa that would give you 60 days plus 30 if you extend it.

For info and requirements for changing visa see the following webpage on the immigration website. Click the change visa then teaching buttons. (website requires IE browser). Link: http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/ba...p?page=service#

[beechguy]

Wouldn't the school also have to meet the requiremments for an "extension of stay" to convert the visa (exempt entry to "B") within Thailand?

[Al26]

Brilliant- thanks so much for that. Really puts my mind at ease! Thought I was going to have to leave and then leave again to get my non-imm B.

Can I apply for a tourist visa in Penang then? Do you know if it takes a long time? I was just going to go for the day to get my 30 day stamp, but if a tourist visa can be done quickly there I'll try to get that done on the day. Or is it even possible to go to a consulate in Thailand and get a tourist visa?

The link you sent to the immigration and visa changes was very helpful, so thanks very much!

[Mario2008]

For a visa run go to Vientianne, Laos, more helpful. No, you cannot get a tourist visa in Thailand itself.

[Lite Beer]

Brilliant- thanks so much for that. Really puts my mind at ease! Thought I was going to have to leave and then leave again to get my non-imm B.

Can I apply for a tourist visa in Penang then? Do you know if it takes a long time? I was just going to go for the day to get my 30 day stamp, but if a tourist visa can be done quickly there I'll try to get that done on the day. Or is it even possible to go to a consulate in Thailand and get a tourist visa?

The link you sent to the immigration and visa changes was very helpful, so thanks very much!

You will only get a 15 day stamp if crossing the border by land.

The Consulate used to be apply in the morning and pick up the next day afternoon.

There have been recent reports of it being done on the same day now.

There are no Consulates in Thailand.

Post refering to same day issue.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Koh-Phangan-...06#entry2399706

Another one.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Day-Turn-Pen...=penang+tourist

[ubonjoe]

Brilliant- thanks so much for that. Really puts my mind at ease! Thought I was going to have to leave and then leave again to get my non-imm B.

Can I apply for a tourist visa in Penang then? Do you know if it takes a long time? I was just going to go for the day to get my 30 day stamp, but if a tourist visa can be done quickly there I'll try to get that done on the day. Or is it even possible to go to a consulate in Thailand and get a tourist visa?

The link you sent to the immigration and visa changes was very helpful, so thanks very much!

Yes you can get a tourist visa in Penang or any nearby conulate. It depends on where your are as to which one to go to. If you are going to do it overland and also if cost is a concern.

From Bangkok the consulate in Vientiane is the best.

From the South then Penang or Kota Bharu are best.

You cannot get a visa for here within Thailand.

[Al26]

Ok well i'll be flying into Penang so will at least be able to get a 30 day exempt visa again. After looking at the links Lite Beer sent it seems i'll just have to cross my fingers and hope I might be able to get a tourist visa on the same day. Cost is an issue unfortunately, so I don't really want to be staying overnight in Penang or Laos, or getting other foreign visas just for one day.

Thanks for all the advice!

[Indo-Siam]

Well AI26 - I'll be interested to hear your follow-up report.

Contrary to what you have been told here, I will project to you that you will not, in fact be able to convert an "entry on arrival" entry permit to non-immigrant status.

I have no idea why a ThaiVisa moderator told you that this was possible.

The Immigration web-page referenced is mis-worded, using the term "visa" incorrectly - when they refer to "visas", they are really referring to entry permits issued based on entry with a visa. Entry on arrival (without a visa) is therefore not covered by the rules listed at the referenced web-page

A tourist entry permit (meaning - an entry permit granted against an Embassy-issued tourist visa) can be converted - but not a "no visa" entry on arrival.

And - in the "conversion of tourist entry permit" situation, when the conversion is approved, the new Class B status entry permit is only valid until the expiration of your original 60-day tourist entry permit - which means that it will typically expire within a few days of being converted. So - it only makes sense to do a conversion, if you will IMMEDIATELY be able to apply for an extended entry permit. Normally, you do not even have sufficient time to get a work permit before the new converted entry permit expires - and you cannot even apply for an extension until you have a work permit.

So - anyway - that is my version of reality. Once you report back, we will learn whether the ThaiVisa reality is more valid.

Then again - if you are going to Penang anyway, you might want to go ahead and get a Consulate-issued tourist visa. That will at least give you a fighting chance to execute a conversion, and then get a work permit - within 60 days of your return.

Good luck!

Steve

Indo-Siam

[Mario2008]

You are correct that a visa exempt entry is not a visa. But daily practise learns us that a visa exempt entry can be convereted to a non-immigrant visa.

[ubonjoe]

Well AI26 - I'll be interested to hear your follow-up report.

Contrary to what you have been told here, I will project to you that you will not, in fact be able to convert an "entry on arrival" entry permit to non-immigrant status.

I have no idea why a ThaiVisa moderator told you that this was possible.

The Immigration web-page referenced is mis-worded, using the term "visa" incorrectly - when they refer to "visas", they are really referring to entry permits issued based on entry with a visa. Entry on arrival (without a visa) is therefore not covered by the rules listed at the referenced web-page

A tourist entry permit (meaning - an entry permit granted against an Embassy-issued tourist visa) can be converted - but not a "no visa" entry on arrival.

And - in the "conversion of tourist entry permit" situation, when the conversion is approved, the new Class B status entry permit is only valid until the expiration of your original 60-day tourist entry permit - which means that it will typically expire within a few days of being converted. So - it only makes sense to do a conversion, if you will IMMEDIATELY be able to apply for an extended entry permit. Normally, you do not even have sufficient time to get a work permit before the new converted entry permit expires - and you cannot even apply for an extension until you have a work permit.

So - anyway - that is my version of reality. Once you report back, we will learn whether the ThaiVisa reality is more valid.

Then again - if you are going to Penang anyway, you might want to go ahead and get a Consulate-issued tourist visa. That will at least give you a fighting chance to execute a conversion, and then get a work permit - within 60 days of your return.

Good luck!

Steve

Indo-Siam

Sorry you are wrong these changes are done all time. If you do a search you will find topics where it has been done. From both visa exempt entries and tourist visas.

If you look at the forms that are called out on the immigration website one of those is an application for a non immigrant visa. They can issue up to a 90 day visa with a permit to stay that can be extended.

In some cases it has been reported that immigration has issued a one year extension of stay at the same time that the change was done when the applicant met all the requirements.

I assume you mean permit to stay when you say entry permit.

Also a work permit can be applied for with any type of visa. When applied for it is approved pending visa.

[beechguy]

You are correct that a visa exempt entry is not a visa. But daily practise learns us that a visa exempt entry can be convereted to a non-immigrant visa.

They can only convert if they also meet the "Extension of Stay" requirements. Correct? If for some reason the school can't meet those requirements, isn't the OP going to have to get a "B" outside of Thailand.

[Mario2008]

You are correct that a visa exempt entry is not a visa. But daily practise learns us that a visa exempt entry can be convereted to a non-immigrant visa.

They can only convert if they also meet the "Extension of Stay" requirements. Correct? If for some reason the school can't meet those requirements, isn't the OP going to have to get a "B" outside of Thailand.

Correct, you need to fulfil the requirements for an anual extension of stay to convert.

[ubonjoe]

You are correct that a visa exempt entry is not a visa. But daily practise learns us that a visa exempt entry can be convereted to a non-immigrant visa.

They can only convert if they also meet the "Extension of Stay" requirements. Correct? If for some reason the school can't meet those requirements, isn't the OP going to have to get a "B" outside of Thailand.

The requirements are not exactly the same as the extension requirements.

The requirements to get a single entry B visa at a nearby consulates are about the same. They require a work permit application receipt to get the visa.

[Mario2008]

In practise there is a problem if you want to convert to a non-B from a visa exempt entry, as the paperwork to get a WP aproved will take more then a month. Teachers are an exception, as their WP involves little paperwork and probably the same goes for people who can make use of the one-stop service center. Their WP application is procesed in a few hours.

[Lite Beer]

You are correct that a visa exempt entry is not a visa. But daily practise learns us that a visa exempt entry can be convereted to a non-immigrant visa.

They can only convert if they also meet the "Extension of Stay" requirements. Correct? If for some reason the school can't meet those requirements, isn't the OP going to have to get a "B" outside of Thailand.

You can convert a 30 day stamp to a Non Imm O Visa providing you meet the requirements for a 12 month extension and you have at least 21 days remaining on your stay.

[Indo-Siam]

There is a process by which a "work permit application" may be submitted by a PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER, to obtain an "approved" WP3 certification/letter for an intended employee - which may then be taken by that employment candidate to a Thai diplomatic post outside Thailand, to use in applying for a Class B visa.

I restate - it is NOT routinely possible to "convert" a 30 day entry on arrival into a non-immigrant entry permit. An exception is for Class O retirement status - that status can be obtained from entry on arrival status, with proper coordination and documentation. In certain cases, ED entry permit status can also be obtained from entry on arrival. But not Class B status.

It is also possible - in very unusual circumstances - to obtain a Class B visa issued right at Suan Phlu - but this ONLY occurs in situations where the visa is issued, entry status is granted, and a long-term entry-permit extension is immediately approved. This approach is not available to your average applicant - and there is no routine procedure for this process. If you get a Police General, or an Army General, or a Deputy Prime Minister to walk you in to the Chief of Immigration, this is what they can do.

I invite anyone who has ever converted a no-visa, entry on arrival into a Class B entry permit to enter the discussion, and prove me wrong.

It is normally incorrect that when a visa-based entry permit is converted to a Class B status, that new entry permit is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued. The new non-immigrant entry permit is normally valid until the original expiration of the original entry permit that was converted. There may be rare exceptions - I am not aware of any, but I cannot say for sure.

My comments are based on having a Thai staff dedicated to processing work permits and extensions to entry permits - who have been visiting Immigration and Work Permit offices in Bangkok weekly for almost seven years - processing literally thousands of both types of permits - and occasionally orchestrating non-standard approval processes.

Put bluntly: If conversion of entry on arrival to Class B status was possible - why would anyone have any motivation to go get a Class B visa - or why would that sort of visa even exist?

Steve Sykes

Managing Director

Indo-Siam Group

Bangkok

www.thaistartup.com

[Mario2008]

The conversion is done on a daily base, since about 2 years. Regarding the non-B see my above remarks in post 15. There are lot of teachers who have their visa exempt entry converted. Also you will see a lot of people who are married convert.

Search the site with "convert visa".