Switch Of Non-Immigrant B Visa

[aneliane]

Hello evryone,

I have just come to Thailand on a non-immigrant B visa but did not actually made a deal with the company, and I don't have their work permit.

I have now found another job.

I am having to leave the country again to make a new non-immigrant visa.

Here is my question:

Is this like if I had a tourist visa and do I 'just' have to leave the country and switch my B visa for another one ?

Or is there any other complications ?

Thank you in advance for your help

[Lite Beer]

My understanding is that your Non Imm B Visa is still valid and you do not have to get another one.

Make sure you have a Work Permit for the new job.

[tombkk]

You do not have to leave the country, as long as the visa is still valid. You can apply for a work permit with this visa.

[aneliane]

You do not have to leave the country, as long as the visa is still valid. You can apply for a work permit with this visa.

Oh really ? That's great news !!! Thank you !

How do I make sure ?

Cheers

[digitalchromakey]

You do not have to leave the country, as long as the visa is still valid. You can apply for a work permit with this visa.

Oh really ? That's great news !!! Thank you !

How do I make sure ?

Actually if you are on a 90 day stamp obtained at the border using a non immigrant B visa then you are eligible to receive a Work Permit (providing your company meets all the Work Permit requirements from your local Labour Dept).

Even if your visa was single entry only, the above still applies; also if you have a multiple entry non immigrant B visa, then every time you enter Thailand before the 'Enter Before' date on your visa, you will get another 90 day permission stamp in your passport.

[aneliane]

You do not have to leave the country, as long as the visa is still valid. You can apply for a work permit with this visa.

Oh really ? That's great news !!! Thank you !

How do I make sure ?

Actually if you are on a 90 day stamp obtained at the border using a non immigrant B visa then you are eligible to receive a Work Permit (providing your company meets all the Work Permit requirements from your local Labour Dept).

Even if your visa was single entry only, the above still applies; also if you have a multiple entry non immigrant B visa, then every time you enter Thailand before the 'Enter Before' date on your visa, you will get another 90 day permission stamp in your passport.

Even if my actual visa was made with the paperwork of a different company?

I have planned to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tomorow and clarify this.

Anyone has their exact adress ? On their site there is only

Sri Ayudhya road Bangkok

No street number no tel number no email.

Thanks again for your help

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Ayudhya Road, Bangkok 10400 Thailand

[digitalchromakey]

Actually if you are on a 90 day stamp obtained at the border using a non immigrant B visa then you are eligible to receive a Work Permit (providing your company meets all the Work Permit requirements from your local Labour Dept).

Even if your visa was single entry only, the above still applies; also if you have a multiple entry non immigrant B visa, then every time you enter Thailand before the 'Enter Before' date on your visa, you will get another 90 day permission stamp in your passport.

Even if my actual visa was made with the paperwork of a different company?

I have planned to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tomorow and clarify this.

The issue of a Work Permit is nothing to do with the MFA - wrong Governement Dept, you are wasting a journey by going there.

Go to your local Labour Dept and ask them.

[Mario2008]

Correct, as long as yu are not on an extension of stay from immirgation in Thailand it doesn't matter if you work or not or find a new employer. A visa is only a permit to travel to Thailand. Once you go to immigration for an extension of stay you will need to have a work permit and the day you lose your job will be the day you have to leave Thailand.

Note that the Foreign Office only deals with visas (pemits to travel to Thailand), it is immigration that handels your permission to stay in Thailand.

[aneliane]

Correct, as long as yu are not on an extension of stay from immirgation in Thailand it doesn't matter if you work or not or find a new employer. A visa is only a permit to travel to Thailand. Once you go to immigration for an extension of stay you will need to have a work permit and the day you lose your job will be the day you have to leave Thailand.

Note that the Foreign Office only deals with visas (pemits to travel to Thailand), it is immigration that handels your permission to stay in Thailand.

Ok thank you, immigration I will go and see:

I have this as an adress is that correct?

Immigration Bureau

Thung Maha Mek, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thaïlande+66 2 287 2227 ‎

My company sent me a mail saying that the BOI (board of investments) told them that I had to leave the country and make a new non-immigration visa, would they be wrong?

Cheers

[digitalchromakey]

Correct, as long as yu are not on an extension of stay from immirgation in Thailand it doesn't matter if you work or not or find a new employer. A visa is only a permit to travel to Thailand. Once you go to immigration for an extension of stay you will need to have a work permit and the day you lose your job will be the day you have to leave Thailand.

Note that the Foreign Office only deals with visas (pemits to travel to Thailand), it is immigration that handels your permission to stay in Thailand.

Ok thank you, immigration I will go and see:

I have this as an adress is that correct?

Immigration Bureau

Thung Maha Mek, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thaïlande+66 2 287 2227 ‎

My company sent me a mail saying that the BOI (board of investments) told them that I had to leave the country and make a new non-immigration visa, would they be wrong?

Cheers

You would go to Immigration after you have obtained a Work Permit, if you wanted to apply for a temporary extension of permission to stay on the basis of employment (once your 90 day entry is near complete).

If you want to discuss Work Permits you should go to the Labour Dept, I don't know Bangkok at all well, but you could maybe try here for starters.

Alien Occupational Control Division,

Department of Employment,

Ministry of Labour,

Mit-Maitree Road,

Din-daeng District,

Bangkok, Tel: 02-245-3209

[tombkk]

Correct, as long as yu are not on an extension of stay from immirgation in Thailand it doesn't matter if you work or not or find a new employer. A visa is only a permit to travel to Thailand. Once you go to immigration for an extension of stay you will need to have a work permit and the day you lose your job will be the day you have to leave Thailand.

Note that the Foreign Office only deals with visas (pemits to travel to Thailand), it is immigration that handels your permission to stay in Thailand.

Ok thank you, immigration I will go and see:

I have this as an adress is that correct?

Immigration Bureau

Thung Maha Mek, Sathon, Bangkok 10120, Thaïlande+66 2 287 2227 ‎

My company sent me a mail saying that the BOI (board of investments) told them that I had to leave the country and make a new non-immigration visa, would they be wrong?

Cheers

Yes, they would be wrong. They may be using a lawyer who isn't up-to-date with law. Also, Thai officials are sometimes not updated. You don't need a new visa if your current non-immigrant visa is still valid, and you can check with immigration if you want. http://www.immigration.go.th as info (I didn't acutally search the site now), and so does the Labour Department.

And in fact, the Immigration Bureau moved to Chaeng Wattana Road some time ago (has iot been a year already?). Unless you are a Burmese migrant worker, you will not have anything to do with the office in Sathorn. If your company is BOI-promoted, they may be eligible to apply for your work permit at Chamchuri Tower in downtown Bangkok, though.

Please note that if your company is a serious one, and BOI promotion indicates that, you don't have to worry about anything as they will take care of everything. If they (mistakenly) think that you have to leave the country to obtain a new non-immigrant class B visa, let them pay for the trip and enjoy two days in Singapore!

[aneliane]

Please note that if your company is a serious one, and BOI promotion indicates that, you don't have to worry about anything as they will take care of everything. If they (mistakenly) think that you have to leave the country to obtain a new non-immigrant class B visa, let them pay for the trip and enjoy two days in Singapore!

erm no it seems like I AM paying ....

[tombkk]

Please note that if your company is a serious one, and BOI promotion indicates that, you don't have to worry about anything as they will take care of everything. If they (mistakenly) think that you have to leave the country to obtain a new non-immigrant class B visa, let them pay for the trip and enjoy two days in Singapore!

erm no it seems like I AM paying ....

Too bad then. So it's your call: Since this is a new job, you might want to do what they say and not go against their advice before you have even started.

The requirement is that you have a non-imm in your passport, and as long as your exisitng visa is still valid, it's good. I also switched from a non-BOI to a BOI company not too long ago, and did not have to leave the country.

[aneliane]

Please note that if your company is a serious one, and BOI promotion indicates that, you don't have to worry about anything as they will take care of everything. If they (mistakenly) think that you have to leave the country to obtain a new non-immigrant class B visa, let them pay for the trip and enjoy two days in Singapore!

erm no it seems like I AM paying ....

Too bad then. So it's your call: Since this is a new job, you might want to do what they say and not go against their advice before you have even started.

The requirement is that you have a non-imm in your passport, and as long as your exisitng visa is still valid, it's good. I also switched from a non-BOI to a BOI company not too long ago, and did not have to leave the country.

Ok just called them and explained, and they seem ok about me not needing another visa.

So that's sorted, thank you for your help

Another question arise yet ;

To make my work permit I think I need a passport valid for a year at least right ? (since the work permit is for one year).

My current passport is valid up to next august, does it mean that I have to make a new passport?

Thank you again for your answer

Aneliane

[tombkk]

Too bad then. So it's your call: Since this is a new job, you might want to do what they say and not go against their advice before you have even started.

The requirement is that you have a non-imm in your passport, and as long as your exisitng visa is still valid, it's good. I also switched from a non-BOI to a BOI company not too long ago, and did not have to leave the country.

Ok just called them and explained, and they seem ok about me not needing another visa.

So that's sorted, thank you for your help

Good news. This problem is solved.

Another question arise yet ;

To make my work permit I think I need a passport valid for a year at least right ? (since the work permit is for one year).

My current passport is valid up to next august, does it mean that I have to make a new passport?

Thank you again for your answer

Aneliane

I suggest you open a new thread for that.

[Mario2008]

Suspect no need for a new passport, as the WP validity is no longer tied to your permssion to stay. But your permission to stay will be till the date your passport is valid, once you have a new passport immirgaiton will then give you the rest of your 1 year permisison to stay.

Note that for most countries your passport needs a validity of at least 6 months, so do get a new passport in Jan/Feb, otherwise you could have problems should you need to travel to another country.