Non Imm B Visa Expiry

[jackal71]

Hi

I am UK citizen and have a 1 year multi-entry Non immigrant B visa which will expire at the end of May 2010. I also have a work permit for which I used this visa. I have not yet applied for the visa extension, but may now decide to leave my job in the next 1-2 months.

I know that the work permit validity depends on the visa, and that I will need to surrender the WP within 7 days if I my employment ends my job, but if this happens, am I able to stay in Thailand on my non-imm B visa until the end of the valid 90 day stay period, and can I come back in on it using it until it expires?

My wife (UK also) is in the process of applying for a work permit but only expects to get it in April, and my children are at school here on non-imm ED visas.

Any advice?

Tks

[beechguy]

Yes, you can continue to use the visa, and if you re-enter just before the expiration date, you would still get a 90 day permitted to stay period.

[thaiphoon]

As said, do a border run just before your visa expires at the end of May and obtain new 90 day permission to stay on re-entry which will take you through to August. You can use your existing Non-B visa to support any new work permit application. Note that if you were on extension of stay based on employment your permission to stay would end on the day your job ends, and you would have to leave the country that day (or obtain 7 day extension from immigration).

[jackal71]

Thanks for the advice.

I do not have the extension of stay yet so as it stands I will have to do a visa run in March. However if I were to get an extension of stay based on my employement, I presume I can then stay until I leave the job (past March) when I would then have to leave the country, but I could still return on the non-imm B visa for another 90 days?

As said, do a border run just before your visa expires at the end of May and obtain new 90 day permission to stay on re-entry which will take you through to August. You can use your existing Non-B visa to support any new work permit application. Note that if you were on extension of stay based on employment your permission to stay would end on the day your job ends, and you would have to leave the country that day (or obtain 7 day extension from immigration).

[beechguy]

Thanks for the advice.

I do not have the extension of stay yet so as it stands I will have to do a visa run in March. However if I were to get an extension of stay based on my employement, I presume I can then stay until I leave the job (past March) when I would then have to leave the country, but I could still return on the non-imm B visa for another 90 days?

As said, do a border run just before your visa expires at the end of May and obtain new 90 day permission to stay on re-entry which will take you through to August. You can use your existing Non-B visa to support any new work permit application. Note that if you were on extension of stay based on employment your permission to stay would end on the day your job ends, and you would have to leave the country that day (or obtain 7 day extension from immigration).

No, you would not be able to use that visa again. If you get the extension of stay, it effectively cancels your visa. So, when your job ended, you would have to leave immediately or get a 7 day extension. You would then have to enter under a visa exempt entry or obtain another visa.

[jackal71]

Thanks again.

One more question about visa runs. If I go overland for the visa run, and I have my multi entry Non Imm B visa, will I get still get a new 90 day stay when I come back? I heard someone say that for a normal tourist visa they will only give 15 days at a land border instead of 30 days at airports?

[thaiphoon]

You will get new 90 day permission to stay on re-entry, as long as your multiple entry visa is valid. 15/30 days relates to visa exempt entry.