Changing An O Type Visa

[properperson]

Hi Everyone,

i've been in Thailand for 2.5 months on a 1 year "O" type multiple entry visa...

I've now been offered a job and are trying to sort the work permit with my new employer...

The labour office told him that the visa needs to be "changed" to a "B" type visa...

I go to the local immigration office who tell me that i need to leave to Thailand and go to the Thai embassy and apply for a new visa, but the didn't know what docs would be required...

My question is:

Where should i go ? and what is the cheapest way to get there (as the cost will be down to me) - what documentation do i need to take with me to get the new visa and how long is the process likely to take ??

Any advice gratefully received..

[Lite Beer]

There is no need to change. You can get a Work Permit with a Non Imm O Visa.

[thaiphoon]

You can use either Non-O or Non-B visa for WP application, so no need to change.

[properperson]

Thanks for the replies, but Pattaya labour office state that a Type O cannot be amended to a work permit..

only repeating what they said.....

[Lite Beer]

From the Dept. of Employment website. Here

2. Aliens who are not in the Kingdom of Thailand but wish to work in the Kingdom must comply with the following:

- Contact a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in your country for advice and recommendation for granting a non-immigrant VISA.

- Employers in Thailand may apply for a work permit for prospective alien employees who wish to work in the Kingdom. After the work permit has been granted the alien may enter Thailand to receive the work permit and then start working.

3. Aliens who are in the Kingdom of Thailand and wish to work in the Kingdom must comply with the following:

- An alien who wishes to apply for a work permit under the Board of Investment (BOI) law or other similar commercial laws must file an application for a work permit within 30 days from the date he/she is allowed to work under such law. (Any violation thereof shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one 1,000 Baht)

- An alien who lives in the Kingdom or receives a non-immigrant VISA to live in the Kingdom can work in Thailand after having received a work permit. (Any violation thereof shall make the employee liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to a fine not exceeding 5,000 Baht, or to both penalties)

- An alien who performs work that is prescribed by the Royal Decree B.E. 2522 which prohibits alien employment in certain occupations and professions is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to a fine from 2,000 to 100,000 Baht, or both penalties.

[properperson]

Have been to Imigration dept and definately cannot apply for work permit on type O visa...

Does anyone know, if i go on a border run to Cambodia - can i ask for my type O visa to be "cancelled" ?? and come back on a 30 day tourist visa - am i likely to be able to apply for a work permit with that ?

Any help gratfully received...

[lopburi3]

Immigration has nothing to do with work permits.

You can not obtain any visa at the border - that would be a visa exempt entry. You can not obtain a work permit on that or a tourist visa.

If you can not obtain work permit on your current visa you will have to make application (no visa is required for that) and when you get receipt make a trip to a Consulate to obtain the required visa and return to have the work permit issued.

Do you have a valid reason for the non immigrant O visa? Wife or child? People obtain work permits in such cases all the time.

[thaiphoon]

Immigration is responsible for issuing your permission to stay; the Labour Department is responsible for issuing your work permit. The stipulation for issue of a work permit is that you have to hold a valid Non-Immigrant visa that allows working. And both Non-O and Non-B visas do.

In LiteBeer's post above he gave you a link to the Department of Employment website which set out the requirements. You seem to have been talking to immigration about a work permit matter - two completely different departments - and hence are getting incorrect/conflicting information.

There is no need to go to Cambodian embassy for a new visa (you cannot obtain at the border anyway), and you cannot work legally on a tourist visa either. Your employer, who is sponsoring your work permit application, should be helping you here, and would suggest they actually go to the local labour office and talk to them. If necessary, they should ask to speak to someone higher in the chain of command. The situation is not complicated.

Edit: Would be helpful to know which labour office you are dealing with.

[TerryLH]

"Edit: Would be helpful to know which labour office you are dealing with."

From Post #4.

"Thanks for the replies, but Pattaya labour office state that a Type O cannot be amended to a work permit.."

[thaiphoon]

Missed that one!