Do I Need A Wp3 For A Non-B?

[innerspace]

You must have a work permit receipt (W3) to obtain a non immigrant B visa in the local area for company work. You do not need any special visa to apply for a work permit - you only need the non immigrant visa for the actual work permit to be issued.

This I keep reading recently but I know in the past it was not required.

You must have the visa first so the papers and employment letter will do.

This is the reply I got from sun belt asia saying the opposite, presumably as specialists in this they should know....

Does anyone have any recent, first hand experience regarding this matter?

I will be going to Vientiane in the next couple of weeks so need to confirm whats needed ASAP.

If the WP3 is needed can that be obtained same day from the labour office (paperwork permitting)?

[PoorSucker]

It alls depends on where you apply.

In SEA you must have a WP3

- Letter of approval from the Ministry of Labour. To obtain this letter, the applicant’s prospective employer in Thailand is required to submit Form WP3 at the Office of Foreign Workers Administration, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour Tel. 02-2452745, or at the Provincial Employment Office in his or her respective province.

source: MFA

[lopburi3]

And you do not require a non immigrant B visa to apply for a work permit. Only for the final issue of a work permit is a non immigrant visa required.

[naidraw66]

I don't know what country you are applying from, maybe you are already here in Thailand? However in my case as a British citizen the Non Immigrant B visa was applied for first (before entry to Thailand), followed by the work permit once I was in the country. The only paperwork required for the Non Immigrant B visa was a letter from my employer to a Thai consulate from my HOME country, who then issued the visa the same day! It is always easier to get a Non Immigrant B visa from your home country rather than from a South East Asian country!

[Soutpeel]

It is always easier to get a Non Immigrant B visa from your home country rather than from a South East Asian country!

Rather a sweeping statement dont you think, I have never had a problem getting a Non-imm B from a SEA country

[PoorSucker]

It is always easier to get a Non Immigrant B visa from your home country rather than from a South East Asian country!

Rather a sweeping statement dont you think, I have never had a problem getting a Non-imm B from a SEA country

- It is recommended that the applicant should apply for visa at the Thai Embassy/ Consulate in the country where he/she has the residence

Source: MFA

[naidraw66]

It is always easier to get a Non Immigrant B visa from your home country rather than from a South East Asian country!

Rather a sweeping statement dont you think, I have never had a problem getting a Non-imm B from a SEA country

I stick by my statement! You may not have had a problem but that is you, I also have never had a problem! But the fact remains it is always easier and less complicated to get your "Non Immigrant B visa" from your country of residence!!

[innerspace]

I am currently in Pattaya and will be doing my visa run to either Cambodia or Laos.

I know it would be simple to get a visa from Hull back home and was contemplating a trip but decided I wanted to stay well away from England!

How long does it take to get the WP3 from the labour office then?

[inthepink]

Actually I thought you needed the non-imm B to apply for the work permit. Anyway, I got a visa from the Thai consulate in Vientiane a few months ago with no problems. There was a lot more documentation required than just a letter of intent from my prospective employer though. I cannot remember all the details but it was basically the certificate of incorporation of the company, list of shareholders and a whole load of other paperwork relating to the company. Definitely did not need a work permit receipt. 

[innerspace]

Thanks for a recent confirmation inthepink, your scenario is exactly as I have known it to be in the past.

An email response I recieved from siam legal seems to sum it up pretty well.

In Asia, some embassy or some officers of the embassy sometimes do not ask for WP3. But most of the time they ask for it.

Basically no officials talk to each other or other offices and generally don't know what they are doing.

TiT

I think I will apply for the work permit before heading to Vientiane just to be safe, don't want to do that trip for nothing.

Does anyone know how long it takes to get the WP3 receipt from labour office?

Is it the same day you hand in the forms?