Hi All,

I am going to be marrying a thai citizen and likely will be transferring to work in Thailand by my company (which has a division in Bangkok). If I get married to a thai citizen, will it make getting a work permit easier than if I weren't married to a thai citizen?

Also, my job requires me to travel outside of Thailand on a monthly basis. How long will it take me once I get my non-immigrant B-Visa (and entering the country) to be able to work and travel outside Thailand? (I am aware that I need a 1 year work permit and also a re-entry permit)

Does this mean I need to move to Thailand, apply for the 1 year permit and re-entry permit, and basically can't work and travel outside Thailand until I get these permits approved?

Will being married to a thai citizen help expedite any of this

Thanks,

Believe marriage only helps in that more can hire you due to lower requirements and you can obtain extensions of stay at the 40k support Thai wire level of income per month.

You must have a visa first - then the work permit is issued for the time of the visa. So you will probably need several short period work permits before you obtain you extension of stay and can get the full year. Immigration normally only accepts application for extension of stay after 60 days of a 90 day stay. You are not prevented leaving as a re entry permit can be issued to allow travel and keep your current stay alive.

You should first apply for a Non Imm O based on your marriage.

You can only get a Work Permit via the company, marriage has nothing to

do with it, but as Lop says may ease the process.

Once you have the work permit you can use that to extend your Non Imm O visa for one year, provided the salary is high enough.

The exact amount required depends on you nationality.

Since you plan to travel frequently you will also need a multi re-entry permit.

You can come on either a Class O or Class B visa, and you will initially receive a 90 day entry permit. In order to "keep the clock ticking" on that initial entry permit - so that you can reach the point where you are within 30 days of expiration - you need to obtain a re-entry permit - and make a point of emphasizing this to airport Immigration (lest they automatically give you a fresh 90 days - in which case you will be like the legendary Tantalus).

Once you reach the final 30 days - and regardless of whether you started from an O or B visa - you can extend EITHER type entry permit on EITHER basis - "support of a Thai spouse", or "qualifying employment for a qualifying employer."

If you go the "support of spouse" route, you get one 40 day "under consideration" stamp, and then you get your extened entry permit on day 40. If you go the "employer" route, you must first obtain a work permit, and the process takes about 12-14 weeks - and you have to live with a series of interim 30 day "under consideration" mini-extensions. For EACH "under consideration" extension (and also for final long-term extension), you must process a work permit revalidation, and also obtain a fresh re-entry permit. For this reason, the "support of spouse" approach is generally the best way to go.

The folks at my office would be happy to help guide you through the process.

Good luck!

Steve Sykes

Managing Director

Indo-Siam Group

Bangkok

[email protected]

www.thaistartup.com

Thanks Guys,

One last quick question:

1) Upon entering Thailand on either a D or O non-immigrant Visa, and getting a 3 month work visa, can I also get a re-entry permit, or do I need to get that only after getting a 1 year work permit?

Thanks for all your guys help!

Visa type is B or O and yes you can obtain the re entry period with any type of visa - you do not need the one year extension. The re entry permit will be valid to the same days as immigration has stamped you into the country until. You then must use that for any travel and enter that on entry card to avoid getting a new 90 day stamp and catch 22 of never getting down to less than 30 days so that you can file extension.

Hi All,

I am going to be marrying a thai citizen and likely will be transferring to work in Thailand by my company (which has a division in Bangkok).  If I get married to a thai citizen, will it make getting a work permit easier than if I weren't married to a thai citizen? 

Also, my job requires me to travel outside of Thailand on a monthly basis.  How long will it take me once I get my non-immigrant B-Visa (and entering the country) to be able to work and travel outside Thailand?  (I am aware that I need a 1 year work permit and also a re-entry permit)

Does this mean I need to move to Thailand, apply for the 1 year permit and re-entry permit, and basically can't work and travel outside Thailand until I get these permits approved?

Will being married to a thai citizen help expedite any of this

Thanks,

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

All very good answers here, but if you are working for a legitimate MNC of any size, they will take care of your visa and work permit and you should not have to worry about it.

You will probably need one trip to the Labor Dept to sign papers and pick up the WP and then a quick trip to the one stop center to sign some more papers and get the 1 year stamp (did both in one day). All this should be setup by your company's visa person or service.

My type O seemed to have no effect either way.

TH

Thanks Guys,

One last quick question:

1)  Upon entering Thailand on either a D or O non-immigrant Visa, and getting a 3 month work visa, can I also get a re-entry permit, or do I need to get that only after getting a 1 year work permit?

Thanks for all your guys help!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A ' B ' or an ' O ' visa. A 'D' is a diplomatic visa. For mine, the O is the better way for someone married to a Thai.