Hello all,

I've been doing much research on the possibility of acquiring a non immigrant B whilst in Thailand, which correct me if im wrong will require me only to leave to a neighbouring country once to get my work permit instated. This is under the condition of course, that my visa has 21 days left on the date i hand in the tm86 form and supporting documents. Here is my problem, I will not have enough days left on my existing visa on the day the documentation will be ready to hand in. Thus I will need to acquire another one whilst in Hong Kong.

Am i correct in thinking that i order to apply for a non immigrant b visa, i must have a proper visa, and NOT a Visa on arrival (stamp), as in this case, they will refuse my application. Finally, has anyone actually done a visa run in Hong Kong, and can enlighten me on the process. I have done in Korea and Singapore recently, both went without a hitch!

p.s. I hold a British passport

Thanks in advance

Edited June 20, 201016 yr by lopburi3
title change per OP request

You have to have a work permit to work and that requires a job to support the work permit. You do not need an special visa to apply for a work permit but before it is issued you would need the non immigrant visa to allow issue. You normally obtain such a visa in countries of Asia by having a receipt for application for work permit and/or company paperwork. To convert inside Thailand requires you be eligible for one year extension of stay and many people would not be

You have to have a work permit to work and that requires a job to support the work permit. You do not need an special visa to apply for a work permit but before it is issued you would need the non immigrant visa to allow issue. You normally obtain such a visa in countries of Asia by having a receipt for application for work permit and/or company paperwork. To convert inside Thailand requires you be eligible for one year extension of stay and many people would not be

Yes you are correct. From my understanding a person will not be granted a work permit unless they are on a non immigrant visa. I went to the embassy and was told to I could apply for a non-immigrant visa whilst in thailand, providing I have the necessary paperwork which includes various letters from my prospective employer. I could have sworn that I read somewhere that they would not grant you a non immigrant visa if you are on a visa on arrival, only a proper tourist visa done via an embassy with no less than 21 days remaining. Do you have an clarification on this?

A visa on arrival is only 15 days, so you would not have 21 days left. But you migth mistake a visa on arrival with a visa exempt entry, wich at an airport is 30 day and would make it possible.

A visa on arrival is only 15 days, so you would not have 21 days left. But you migth mistake a visa on arrival with a visa exempt entry, wich at an airport is 30 day and would make it possible.

Strange, when I arrivd from London the first time i was given a 30 day visa on arrival? Is it not 15 days if you arrive by land (cross border), and 30 by air?

Hmm from what I was told (my girlfriend did all the talking), there was not mention of qualifying for 1 year extension? Can you tell me a bit more about this?

You are mixing up a visa on arrival with a visa exempt entry, which is indeed 30 days at an airport and 15 days if you enter at a land border.

In your case, take the easy way of applying fro the work permit first. The labour office will give you a receipt that yu have applied for the work permit. With this receipt (WP3 form) and a lot of paperwork from your employer you go to a consulate in a neighbouring country. There you will get a non-B visa and can go back to Thailand and the labour office for your work permit. In the last 30 days of your permission to stay you then go to immigration for a 1 year extension of stay.

If you come on a tourist visa or visa exemt entry you will need at least 21 days left, although some now sugest 15 days would be enough, AND need to qualify for a 1 year extension of stay right away. This requires additional documents from the company, inclusing tax documents. Going abroad gives you mor time to arrange everything than when you convert to a non-B in Thailand itself.

You are mixing up a visa on arrival with a visa exempt entry, which is indeed 30 days at an airport and 15 days if you enter at a land border.

In your case, take the easy way of applying fro the work permit first. The labour office will give you a receipt that yu have applied for the work permit. With this receipt (WP3 form) and a lot of paperwork from your employer you go to a consulate in a neighbouring country. There you will get a non-B visa and can go back to Thailand and the labour office for your work permit. In the last 30 days of your permission to stay you then go to immigration for a 1 year extension of stay.

If you come on a tourist visa or visa exemt entry you will need at least 21 days left, although some now sugest 15 days would be enough, AND need to qualify for a 1 year extension of stay right away. This requires additional documents from the company, inclusing tax documents. Going abroad gives you mor time to arrange everything than when you convert to a non-B in Thailand itself.

Yes you are correct. I am British thus to my knowledge I am under the visa exempt category (30 days). So if I am on this type of visa will they process my application, as I said before, I read somewhere that they did not accept conversion from tourist to non immigrant b applcations on a stamp/v.o.a.?

Hmmm, so this 1 year of extension is only in the case you are convertig WITHIN thailand? I dont fully understand why they ask about this so early on?

Unfortunately I am already in the country and would like to be able to do as much as possible whilst in the country without having to re-enter the country numerous times (its costly). So I am stuck with this complicated process, for which there is no alot of information that is readily accessible,

Thanks

There are two different forms used for conversion/obtaining non immigrant visa entry from Immigration. One is used for a tourist visa and the other for visa exempt entry. But in either case you must present proof of employment (if that is the reason) and meeting one year extension of stay criteria.

Read Police Order 777/2551 for basic requirements for various extensions of stay. It is available from useful information pinned items or a quick Google.

You are mixing up a visa on arrival with a visa exempt entry, which is indeed 30 days at an airport and 15 days if you enter at a land border.

In your case, take the easy way of applying fro the work permit first. The labour office will give you a receipt that yu have applied for the work permit. With this receipt (WP3 form) and a lot of paperwork from your employer you go to a consulate in a neighbouring country. There you will get a non-B visa and can go back to Thailand and the labour office for your work permit. In the last 30 days of your permission to stay you then go to immigration for a 1 year extension of stay.

If you come on a tourist visa or visa exemt entry you will need at least 21 days left, although some now sugest 15 days would be enough, AND need to qualify for a 1 year extension of stay right away. This requires additional documents from the company, inclusing tax documents. Going abroad gives you mor time to arrange everything than when you convert to a non-B in Thailand itself.

I am currently in that situation, a company has offered me a job and proposed to convert my 30 days visa exemption into a 1 year non-B visa + work permit

Therefore I've been abroad then got back again in Thailand last Friday in order that they could make the conversion within this week.

My question is about re-entry permit : I asked especially the company to get me a multiple entries non-B visa..... could they manage to get it right away with that conversion ?

Thanks for your reply :jap:

You can not convert inside Thailand to anything but a single entry 90 day stay (2k). To remain longer would also require and extension of stay for one year (1.9k). To be able to travel would require a re-entry permit (1k single or 3.8k multi).

You would not want to obtain a multi re-entry until the one year extension has been obtained as it is only valid for the current permitted to stay time.