Hi there, we are UK passport holders with Non immigrant 'O' multi entry 12 month visas (we applied on basis of exploring business opportunities here and that's what they gave us).

We are now wanting to get a work permit and hopefully 12m extension of stay with that.

Our visa was issued on 29 Sep 2008 and it says it must be utilized before 29 Sep 2009. We just did our last 90 day border run and have a permission to stay stamp valid until 7 Oct 2009.

1st Question - does the last border run have to be done before 29 Sep or 7 Oct 09? - I am a bit confused about that and what the visa expiry date really means.

2nd Question - can we do the work permit application after the 29th Sept - while we are on the last permission to stay stamp - ie between beg. October and end December? Will there be a problem with getting an extension after the original visa expired - or does the permission to stay stamp just trump all?!

I am hoping we have until December to work on the work permit etc. but just wanted to make sure - thanks!

Jo

You must make your last entry into Thailand not later than 28 Sptember 2009. It is the stamp on the visa that counts for this.

You can make your application for a work permit any time. Not your visa, but your permission to stay (admitted until...) must be valid for this purpose. Note, however, that after your application it may take several weeks or months for your work permit to be ready and if your permission to stay expires during this period you must leave the country. To pick up the work permit, you must be in Thailand based on an entry with a non-immigrant visa.

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Maestro

Do border run on or before 28th September and you'll get another 90 days permission to stay.

You say you both hold UK passports, so are not thai? I'm not sure that Non-O visa will hold for you. I think you may need Non-B visa to support WP application. You will also need to set up a thai company for your business.

Edited July 21, 200916 yr by thaiphoon

Do border run on or before 28th September and you'll get another 90 days permission to stay.

You say you both hold UK passports, so are not thai? I'm not sure that Non-O visa will hold for you. I think you may need Non-B visa to support WP application. You will also need to set up a thai company for your business.

There is no problem getting a WP on a non-immigrant O visa. Many members have a WP in combination with a non-O, yours truly included.

Do border run on or before 28th September and you'll get another 90 days permission to stay.

You say you both hold UK passports, so are not thai? I'm not sure that Non-O visa will hold for you. I think you may need Non-B visa to support WP application. You will also need to set up a thai company for your business.

There is no problem getting a WP on a non-immigrant O visa. Many members have a WP in combination with a non-O, yours truly included.

Mario: I thought for WP issued against Non-O it had to be Non-O based on marriage, not any other reason ... or am I off the mark?

Do border run on or before 28th September and you'll get another 90 days permission to stay.

You say you both hold UK passports, so are not thai? I'm not sure that Non-O visa will hold for you. I think you may need Non-B visa to support WP application. You will also need to set up a thai company for your business.

There is no problem getting a WP on a non-immigrant O visa. Many members have a WP in combination with a non-O, yours truly included.

Mario: I thought for WP issued against Non-O it had to be Non-O based on marriage, not any other reason ... or am I off the mark?

The visa simply statess non-O and not the reason why it is given. Only when you get an extension of stay the reason is also noted in the passport. And with an extension of stay based on retirement one would have trouble.

But the non-O is a category that can be given for many reasons, not only marriage or retirement. Volunteering or visiting family are other examples.

Mario: Thanks for clarifying.

thanks all, that is extremely helpful!

plumski