Non Imm B Extension?

[Shoeboat]

I got a Non Imm B from a company I was going to be working for at the beginning of this year but they have since gone bust and the job never started. The 3 month visa came in handy but it will expire on the 22nd which is a Sunday so I need to get a visa extension tomorrow to avoid overstay.

Also, the past month another Bangkok based company keen on employing me have put together almost everything I need to get a work permit with them, however the timing of this is unfortunate as one needs to have a Non Imm B to get the work permit process in motion and I am approaching the end of mine and they have asked me to get an extension on my Non Imm B.

Is this possible, and do I need to take with me (to Silom immigration) my letter of accreditation or any other extras in order to obtain it and how much extension will I get?

Many thanks,

SB

[Mario2008]

You can apply for a WP as soon as you have all the required documents. You do not need a valid non-immigrant visa for that. If you don't have a proper visa they will jus give you a receipt indicating that you will get a WP once you have your non-B.

Your current permission to stay can be extended for a maximum of 7 days. If that is not enough you will have to leave the country and get a new visa from abroad.

[Shoeboat]

You can apply for a WP as soon as you have all the required documents. You do not need a valid non-immigrant visa for that.

Both the company I used to work for and the company I am about to work for have said otherwise, that a Non Imm B is the FIRST step in getting a work permit. I have also had this confirmed by a couple of long stay expat friends, so who do I believe?

[jingjingna]

I just had my Non-B Renewed. The visa was supposed to be ready on 13th March but it wasn't. I was directed to the Labour Department who gave me a receipt stating that WP would be issued once Visa has been issued.

Immigration did not stamp anything in my passport on the 13th...just said come back within 7 days to avoid overstay.

Today is the 6th day and the visa came through this morning. Went straight from Immigration to Labour Dept and got my one year WP.

I don't know if this info is of any help but I too agree that it's Non - B first then WP.

Having said this, I was sat next to a guy at Immigration who already had a one year work permit and wanted a Non-B. They gave him an extension for two months and stamped ' application for visa under consideration' in his passport.

Go figure!

[Mario2008]

Shoeboat, you currently have a valid non-B. Labour knows you will get the extension with a WP and give you the WP-3 receipt if all is fine. With the wp-3 you get the extension from immigration and with the extension from immigraiton you go back to labour to get the WP.

[Shoeboat]

My Non Imm B is only valid until Sunday, so my only choice is to do a Cambodia or Laos tour of duty to get me another 60 days while I figure out how to get another Non Imm B because I have everything I need for a work permit EXCEPT a Non Imm B that has at least 21 days left on it which is the condition.

Failing that, I think i'll just say goodbye to Thailand and go somewhere else, it's not worth the hassle.

[Mario2008]

Just apply for the WP and get a tourist visa, then when you have the wp3-receipt convert your tourist visa into a non-immigrant visa.

[Shoeboat]

I respect and appreciate your advice Mario, and I love the people of Thailand and the monarchy and respect and relate to their patriotism, but the corporate powers that be - and I mean the real owners of this country, are going to spoil it for all of us, Thai and farang - and I'm getting out before that happens. I don't need it, and neither do the decent citizens of this country or the decent foreigners who live here. I'm getting out before the shit hits the fan, I know when I'm not wanted and I can take a hint. As much as I'd love to settle in this beautiful land it just ain't gonna happen. Thankyou for your time.

[Sabio]

Just apply for the WP and get a tourist visa, then when you have the wp3-receipt convert your tourist visa into a non-immigrant visa.

Hi there Mario and other visa experts, I have trawled through the wealth of information on all things visa so apologies in advance if my dilemma has already been addressed previously.

British

Age 41

Please can you confirm advise me on my situation as follows.

I have a Multible non B visa issued in the Uk start date Feb 4 2008. I do not have a work permit as I haven`t worked this year.

I actually arrived in Thailand at the end of March 2008 so my 3 month stamp dates are out of sync with my 12 month B visa start -finish datesb by about 6-7 weeks.

I thought I could extend my 12 months to 15 months as long as I go to the border at Maesai on or before the last exit re-entry date stamped from my last visit 3 months ago( date in passport 28 March 2009) . I have since discovered I should have gone to Maesi on or before the 8th Feb 2009 to get the 3 extra months. Is this correct?

I am about to start a teaching job on 8th May 2009 and they will provide all documents needed to get the work permit.

So now,here`s where I need help. What are my options ...below is how I understand it ....am I correct , do I have any other options ?

Go to Maesai on the 28th March and come back with a tourist 15 day visa and keep going every 15 days until I have all my docs from school to get my work permit....(then where do I go to get my new B visa)

Is there any way to get my 15 months as I planned...after my mistake on the dates?

I hope ive explained my situation clearly and i really appreciate advice on this.

Thanks in advance.

Sabio

[Maestro]

The dates you give are a bit confusing but let’s see what we can do with them and what we can extrapolate:

04 FEB 2008 issue date of multiple-entry non-B visa

03 FEB 2009 "enter before" date of visa

28 MAR 2009 "until" date on latest entry stamp

Based on this, you would have had to enter Thailand not later than 02 FEB 2009 in order to receive your last permission to stay for 90 days. As it is, your visa is now expired and you can no longer use it. Your options are visa-exempt border runs or a trip to a Thai consulate in a nearby country for a tourist visa.

Once you have made your application for a work permit, you go with the necessary documentation again to a Thai consulate and apply for a non-B visa.

--

Maestro