Non Imm B From Phnom Penh

[HatchPat]

I booked a flight to Phnom Penh. I have to leave the country to get my Non Immigrant B. Is anyone familiar with the process? Thanks in advance!

[PoorSucker]

You must have the correct paperwork.

Do you have work permit or applied for such (have a WP3).

Other Paperwork:

2.1 Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B” (Business Visa) is issued to applicants who wish to enter the Kingdom to work or to conduct business.

(1) Foreigners who wish to work in Thailand must provide the following documents:

- Passport or travel document with validity of not less than 6 months.

- Completed visa application form.

- Recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) of the applicant taken within the past 6 months.

- Evidence of adequate finance (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family).

- 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. More information is available at www.doe.go.th/workpermit/index.html

- Copy of Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and alien income tax or Por Ngor Dor 91 (only in the case where applicant has previously worked in Thailand).

- Corporate documents of hiring company in Thailand such as:

1) business registration and business license

2) list of shareholders

3) company profile

4) details of business operation

5) list of foreign workers stating names, nationalities and positions

6) map indicating location of the company

7) balance sheet, statement of Income Tax and Business Tax (Por Ngor Dor 50 and Por Ngor Dor 30 of the latest year)

8) value-added tax registration (Por Por 20)

- Document indicating the number of foreign tourists (for tourism business only), or document indicating export transactions issued by banks (for export business only).

N.B.

- An alien who receives a Non-Immigrant visa can work in Thailand once he or she is being granted a work permit. An alien in violation of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) concerning taking up employment without work permit or the Royal Decree B.E. 2522 (1979) concerning holding employment in certain restricted occupations and professions shall be prosecuted and imprisoned or fined, or shall face both penalties.

- 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

[HatchPat]

No, I don't have the work permit, but my school told me that it's a catch-22 with a work permit and a non - imm- B.

[tombkk]

No, I don't have the work permit, but my school told me that it's a catch-22 with a work permit and a non - imm- B.

No. it's not a Catch-22. If you want to work here in business, you need to get a non-imm B. Certain docs are required for this. Once you have this visa, more docs are required to apply for the Work Permit. You can't have a work permit before apllying for the visa.

However, if you want to stay here to teach, you need a different kind of visa. It's someting called a "Research and Education" visa, the experts here will tell you in a moment. Anyway, not a class B.

I'm surprised your school doesn't know that. Do they employ many foreign teachers?

[PoorSucker]

Your school can apply for a work permit for you.

It can be done with a tourist visa or even an visa exempt stamp.

Without the WP3 (shows that you have applied for WP) you have no change to get a non-B in the region.

[Jimbo]

Thats not true. You can get a single entry Non B from KL or Penang for example as long as you have a letter from your employer and all the company paperwork. You won't need anything in regards to a WP. If you want to get a multiple entry Non B in neighboring countries then you you will need the WP or the proof that the application is in progress.

[Mario2008]

It is my understanding that for a non-B, wether it is signle or multiple, one needs to show a work permit or WP3 form before consulates in the region will issue. There is some talk that teachers can get it without a work permit, but as a rule get the WP or wp3 form first. it might save you a trip for nothing and also insures that your employer intends to help you with the work permit.

[Jimbo]

I have gotten a single entry from Penang and KL without a WP. Both times was just before I started a new job. However for the multiple entry Non B they did require a WP.

I have even gotten one in Singapore without WP but with all company documents but that was about 5 years ago. The last company I worked for in Phuket hired expats locally and the first thing they would do is go down to Penang or KL for a (single entry Non B visa. We would only give them the various company documents and a letter of employment. Once they came back we would start the application for a work permit. I have seen people doing this for the 10 years that I have been working and living here. So I am not sure why people here keep saying that its not possible unless its something which changed very recently.

[tombkk]

I was confused about the work permit for teachers and was referring to a Class RS in my posting #4 above. However, it doesn't seem to apply for all teachers, only for those teaching at a research institue so it may not apply for the OP. http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2489

The website also confirms the requirement of a WP3 is applying for a Class B.

@Mario2008: How could one have a Work Permit before applying for a visa at the consulate? Wouldn't the non-imm be a prerequisite for applying for the WP?

[Mario2008]

In he region, they expect you to apply for a work permit first. The labour department will than issue you a wp3 form, it indicates that you will get a work permit once you have the right visa. Many peope come to Thaland on a torist visa and apply for a WP when they found work and then go abroad to get a non-immigrant visa with the WP3 form and when they get back they get the work permit.

Outside the region it is relativly more easier to get a non-B, without needing a work permit. But you would at the least need a letter form a prospective employer.

[Jimbo]

So since when is this the case that you cant get a single entry Non B visa without a WP at nearly consulates? As mentioned, I have done this numerous times and I never had any difficulty in getting one. If you try applying for a multiple entry Non B then thats a different story. Then they will request a WP.

Applying for a WP on a tourist visa? Thats the first time I have heard about that. Even on the Thai Visa page it says:

"How to get a Thai work permit?

First, you must have a Non-Immigrant visa to apply for a work permit."

http://www.thaivisa.com/288.0.html

[Mario2008]

You can aply for a work permit on any kind of visa, a visa exempt entry or tourist visa will do fine. But they won't issue the work permit, instead you get a wp3 form with which you can get a non-B visa abroad.

I can't comment on your experience regarding getting a non-B in the region without a wp. Reports from other members suggest differently.

[Jimbo]

I guess the Thai Visa information pages should be updated as they clearly mention something different Mario!

But I stand by my experience(s) that both Penang and KL do issue a single entry Non B without a WP.

[lopburi3]

None require an actual work permit to issue a single entry. But most have requested a W3 if not working in education. But several recent reports are of not needing the W3 when using full company paperwork so it does seem to vary.

[Jimbo]

In my case I was working in the hotel and travel industry. Every time myself or one of my staff had full company documentation but never a W3. We even called the consulate in Penang and KL and they said that it wasn't required. The first time I went to get a single entry Non B without W3 was in 2000 and the last time was last year so my experiences are over a span of 10 years.

Perhaps it is best for everyone to let their (future) employer call the consulate for the latest information and requirements.

[Mario2008]

The required documents (Thai embassy in Phnom Phen and many embassies/consuletes state similair rules on their website:

Required documents:

1. One completed and signed application form

2. One photo (colour, size 4 x 6 cm)

* Citizens of following countries are required to provide 5 photos and 5 copies of application form

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, China, Democratic People Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nepal, Nigeria , Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria and Yemen

3. Passport (valid for no less than 6 months)

4. Invitation letter from a company in Thailand (original)

(The letter must be typed in the company's letter head and singed by authorized

person)

5. Employment Contract (follows the form of Labour Department, Ministry of Labour, Thailand)

6. Company's registration documents in Thailand

6.1 List of shareholders

6.2 Business registration and business license (including capital)

6.3 Company profile

6.4 Details of business operation

6.5 List of foreign workers stating names, nationalities and positions

6.6 Map indicating the location of the company

6.7 Balance sheet, statement of income tax and business tax ( Phor Ngor Dor 30 and Phor Ngor Dor 50) of the latest year

6.8 Alien income tax return (Phor Ngor Dor 91)

6.9 Value-added Tax registration (Por Ngor Dor 20) etc

(The company authority must sign to certify all documents and have them stamped with the company seal)

7. Recommendation letter from a company in Cambodia (original in the company's letter head)

8. Airline ticket or confirmation slip with flight no., date of entry

9. Copy of Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Labour (only in case the applicant has previously worked in the Kingdom of Thailand)

10. Financial reference in case the applicant is self-employed

- Applicants not intending to work in Thailand but wishing to obtain Non-immigrant B-visa should submit a letter from a company in Thailand stating the objective of the visit to Thailand instead of invitation letter

- Applicants becoming teachers at any educational organizations (national, public and private) in Thailand are required to submit documents evidence of education, no criminal records in English and a teaching license. Moreover, applicants for private school's teacher are required to submit a letter from Ministry of Education in Thailand.

- Applicant's family members, namely; spouse, parents and children who are unmarried and under 20 years old, are eligible to apply for Non-immigrant O-visa. Required documents are the same as required documents for Non-immigrant B-visa plus marriage certificate or birth certificate (original) issued within three months.

- Citizen of Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka should ask their counterpart in Thailand to fill out the "Form WP3" and submit to the Alien Occupational Control Division for approval. (WP3 form may be obtained at the Alien Occupational Control Division, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour, Mit-Maitree Road, Din-daeng District, Bangkok, Tel: 02-245-3209.) Once approved, the Alien Occupational Control Division will issue a certificate and each applicant has to submit the original together with the required documents to the embassy for visa approval.

- Passport holders of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria Sudan, Yemen, and Palestinian State are requested to file for application at the Thai Embassy / Consulate-General where they have their permanent residence.

Please note that

Consular officers reserve the rights to ask for additional documents as deemed necessary.

In the absence of a required document, a letter indicating the unavailability of such document must be provided.

Indeed most state no wp3 form is required, unles you already work in Thailand and have an old work permit. Only certain nationals need a wp3 prior to applying. But the practise is often that without a wp3 no work permit is issued and they have the right to ask for additional documents. But rules and practises change and it are reports by members who make us aware of that.

It can indeed never hurt to contact the consulate in question to see which documents they require at that moment.

[tombkk]

In he region, they expect you to apply for a work permit first. The labour department will than issue you a wp3 form, it indicates that you will get a work permit once you have the right visa. Many peope come to Thaland on a torist visa and apply for a WP when they found work and then go abroad to get a non-immigrant visa with the WP3 form and when they get back they get the work permit.

Outside the region it is relativly more easier to get a non-B, without needing a work permit. But you would at the least need a letter form a prospective employer.

This sounds like the rules have changed a lot. You didn't use to be able to apply for a work permit without a non-im visa (of any class). And the rules used to be the same, whether you apply in the region or anywhere else. Well, thanks for the update.