Multi-entry Non-imm Visa B

[Mister Fixit]

Last year I obtained a 12 month multi-entry non-imm visa B in the UK. The stamp on the passport says 'No extension of stay' under the visa stamp.

After a few adventures, I have finally managed to get some teaching and suddenly realised that my visa runs out in 5 weeks time. I have just started the application process for a work permit, hampered by the fact that my degree certificate was destroyed in a fire 15 years ago, and although I have applied for a replacement I have not heard from my old Uni so things have been delayed a long time.

To speed things up, I suppose I could go the Khaosan Rd dodgy certificate route but I really don't want to - I'm told things are VERY tight now and checks are made much more rigorously.

It looks like my visa will expire before the WP is sorted, so I wonder what I can do now. I'm very confused by all the different types of visas, but I assume that my employer will provide a letter confirming that the WP application is in progress.

What do I do now? I have just read here that I can get an extension to the visa inside Thailand, but others have told me I can't. And anyway, what about the stamp in the passport saying 'No extension of stay'?

I assume that I must leave the country and then apply from somewhere else, with supporting documentation from my employer. Given the problems in Cambodia and Penang, where would be the best bet? I don't want the expense of returning to the UK to apply for a new visa, so I wonder if Singapore, Vientiane or Kota Bharu would be better, and if so, which one would people suggest was best/easiest?

Or can I get the B visa renewed in BKK on the basis my WP application is in hand?

I really could do with getting a firm grip on the various options, as time has flown by and I did not realise that I was so close to the end of the visa.

Thanks in advance.

[Maestro]

[

Last year I obtained a 12 month multi-entry non-imm visa B in the UK.  The stamp on the passport says 'No extension of stay' under the visa stamp.

After a few adventures, I have finally managed to get some teaching and suddenly realised that my visa runs out in 5 weeks time.  I have just started the application process for a work permit, hampered by the fact that my degree certificate was destroyed in a fire 15 years ago, and although I have applied for a replacement I have not heard from my old Uni so things have been delayed a long time.

…

It looks like my visa will expire before the WP is sorted, so I wonder what I can do now. I'm very confused by all the different types of visas, but I assume that my employer will provide a letter confirming that the WP application is in progress.

What do I do now?  I have just read here that I can get an extension to the visa inside Thailand, but others have told me I can't.  And anyway, what about the stamp in the passport saying 'No extension of stay'?

I assume that I must leave the country and then apply from somewhere else, with supporting documentation from my employer.  Given the problems in Cambodia and Penang, where would be the best bet?  I don't want the expense of returning to the UK to apply for a new visa, so I wonder if Singapore, Vientiane or Kota Bharu would be better, and if so, which one would people suggest was best/easiest?

Or can I get the B visa renewed in BKK on the basis my WP application is in hand?

…

First, something on the terminology, which also took me a while to comprehend.

A visa cannot get renewed (although some posters use this term but they mean “extension of stay”. See below.) Once a visa has expired, i.e. the “utilize before” date stamped on it has passed, it is invalid. Any subsequent visa issued to you will be a new visa, not a renewal of the old visa. (Deciding on an application for a new visa, the consulate can, if it wishes, take into consideration the existence of previous visas issued to you. I remember having read on this forum of a case where an application for a tourist visa was refused because the applicant had a number of previous tourist visas, with hardly any time spent outside Thailand between the expiration of one visa and the application for a new visa. However, this is not your case.)

After having entered Thailand with a visa, one can apply, within Thailand, for an extension of stay. Quite often, this is incorrectly referred to as a visa renewal, which can be confusing. (An application for extension of stay can be made also after entry without visa, with only a so-called “stamp on arrival”, but in such case one should expect only a few days extra) Some links on this site refer to “extension of visa” but again, technically speaking, it is not the visa but the permission to stay that gets extended.

The critical factor in your case, in my opinion, is the stamp “No extension of stay” in your passport. To me, this can only mean that even if you had obtained a work permit during the 12-month validity of your multiple-entry non-B visa you would have had to go abroad and obtain a new visa.

The standard procedure to follow in your case would seem a trip abroad to apply for a new multiple-entry non-B visa. However, as you mention, after reading other threads, notably Work Permits & Penang - Take Care!, this seems to be more difficult to obtain in neighbouring countries nowadays, requiring more paperwork than used to be the case in the past. Not impossible, but more cumbersome. In Penang, applicants with incomplete paperwork, without the form WP3, reportedly were refused the non-B visa and instead were issued a tourist visa.

If your prospective employer gives you the sponsoring letter (example here) and obtains the WP3 for you, there is no reason why you should not go to Penang or some other Thai consulate to apply for a new multiple-entry non-B visa. It might be a good idea to accompany your application with a covering letter stating that if the consulate should be unable to issue a multiple-entry non-B visa you would like to receive a multiple-entry tourist visa.

An alternative would be to apply in Penang straight away for a multiple-entry tourist visa. As you may already know, once you have your work permit you can then, within Thailand, apply at the Immigration Bureau for a change of visa from tourist to non-B. In this case, if a document should be missing or incomplete, you can get the matter rectified without the need of a new trip to Penang.

Edited September 9, 2005 by maestro

[Crossy]

Regarding the 'No extension of stay' stamp.

It would appear to mean nothing, I've had several extensions of my 'O' (originally obtained from Cardiff) with no problems.

I asked about the stamp at my first extension. Apparently it can be used by immigration as a get-out clause if they deem you to be undesirable. All the more reason to visit immigration wearing decent clothing.

Of course, TiT so YMMV

ALSO.

As your visa is a multi-entry type you can do a visa run just before it expires, as long as you return to the Kingdom before the last day of the visa you will get another 90 day stamp. Should give enough time to sort the WP.

Edited September 10, 2005 by Crossy

[Mister Fixit]

Regarding the 'No extension of stay' stamp.

It would appear to mean nothing, I've had several extensions of my 'O' (originally obtained from Cardiff) with no problems.

I asked about the stamp at my first extension. Apparently it can be used by immigration as a get-out clause if they deem you to be undesirable. All the more reason to visit immigration wearing decent clothing.

Of course, TiT so YMMV

ALSO.

As your visa is a multi-entry type you can do a visa run just before it expires, as long as you return to the Kingdom before the last day of the visa you will get another 90 day stamp. Should give enough time to sort the WP.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Many thanks for both sensible and informative posts.

Help me on this, though - my visa was issued in the UK (Brum) and had to be utilised before 17th October this year. It was, of course, (I arrived on 1 November last year) but due to border runs etc, the latest stamp expires on 14th October. So I assume that I can go to Poi Pet or somewhere and just get a new 90 day stamp on 13th October? Is that right?

Then, as you say, I have more time to get the WP sorted.

TIA

[dr_Pat_Pong]

That is exactly the way it works. Go for it

[Mister Fixit]

That is exactly the way it works. Go for it 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great! Is there any reason, other than it's cutting it a bit fine, that I could not go on the 14th?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Immigration might just see you as a smarty. Go on the 13 th.

[LivinLOS]

Or a vehicle breaks down, you miss the bus, you get sick, anything happens and your screwed..

From someone whose been there !!!!!

[dr_Pat_Pong]

You're right. Altogether too risky to chance it.