What are you allowed to do on a Non Imm B visa without a work permit? Can you work at all? or is it just part of a process to get you work permit? Thanks for any info!

You cannot work without a work permit, that includes volunteer work. Only a work permit allows you to work. The visa just allows you to come to Thailand.

Exceptions that seems to be made are if you come to do businiss with a Thai company, you will have to represent a foreign company.

Also note that you cannot work while your work permit application is pending. There was recently a case of that in the news and the person was, in fact, arrested by Immigration Police.

www.sunbeltasia.com

26th Floor Fortune Town BR, 1 Ratchadapisek Rd, 10400 Bangkok

Tel: 02-642-0213 Fax: 02-641-1995

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The Alien Working Act 2551 allows working whilst waiting for the labour department to issue work permit, so suspect there is more to the above story than face value:

Extract from part 2 Section 12

During the waiting period for the permits under paragraph two above, such aliens shall be able to work for that time being with the exception that they are not required to comply with Section 24 until the date on which the Registrar has notified them to pick up the permits.

Section 24

A Work Permit recipient must have the Work Permit kept on him/her or at his/her working place during the working hours to be availably produced to the Competent Official or Registrar at all times.

Due to inconsistencies in the enforcement of the rules stated above, we always recommend the client wait until the work permit is in hand as the waiting period has been reduced to 10 business days when historically it was much longer.

www.sunbeltasia.com

26th Floor Fortune Town BR, 1 Ratchadapisek Rd, 10400 Bangkok

Tel: 02-642-0213 Fax: 02-641-1995

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