I have been staying here on a ONE year extension of Non Imm O visa based on THAI WIFE and now been offered a job in Thailand. The company says I need to change from Non Imm O to B or they cannot apply for a work permit. Can anyone confirm this is true? They say only option with Non Imm O extensions to work recognized by labor dept is under urgent duty option ( Tor Tor 11) renewable every 15 days which is not going to be practicable.

They will apparently provide a ONE year multi re-entry NON IMM B visa.

If I do change, can anyone advise how this will affect my stay in Thailand with regards getting a ONE year extension based on WIFE in future or any other draw backs - I cannot think of any?

If I do change, can anyone advise how this will affect my stay in Thailand with regards getting a ONE year extension based on WIFE in future or any other draw backs - I cannot think of any?

Your employer is wrong but if the only way for you to get the job is by letting him keep face there is no drawback if you change to a non-B visa now. Let your employer pay you a trip to a neighbouring country to get the non-B visa. Then when you need to apply for your next extension of stay, apply again for the reason of living with your Thai wife.

The basic difference, as you may already know, is that with an extension of stay based on work you must leave the country on termination of employment or apply for an extension for another valid reason. In your case, this other reason would be you marriage to Thai national.

//Edit: Apologies to Mario for editing his post when I meant to make a new reply of my own. For the record, Mario stated correctly that the employer is wrong, that it is possible to get a work permit when on an extension for being married to a Thai, except perhaps in Phuket where the labour office seems to make its own rules. -- Maestro

Edited March 20, 201115 yr by Maestro
Added edit note.

Your employer is wrong but if the only way for you to get the job is by letting him keep face there is no drawback if you change to a non-B visa now. Let your employer pay you a trip to a neighbouring country to get the non-B visa. Then when you need to apply for your next extension of stay, apply again for the reason of living with your Thai wife.

Thanks for your reply, the process is taking place in Bangkok. Can anyone suggest a link to Thai immigration / Labor Dept ruling that says I can get a work permit with a Non Imm O extension based on marriage? I would like to point this out to employer if possible and save an international visa run.

The basic difference, as you may already know, is that with an extension of stay based on work you must leave the country on termination of employment or apply for an extension for another valid reason. In your case, this other reason would be you marriage to Thai national.

The work will only be a couple of months but since the employer is offering a ONE YEAR Non Imm B multi reentry I should be able to stay remainder of year anyway as I would have on the marriage extension?

No you can not stay more than 90 days on a visa entry. It can be used for an unlimited number of entries but you must leave every 90 days.

Now if you are talking about extension of stay for work that would end the day the work ends and any stay after that would be overstay.

If possible, stick on your current extension visa.

No link is availeble, but suggest they call the labour office for confirmation that they do issue a work eprmit without any problems on an extension of stay based on marriage.

Your employer is wrong but if the only way for you to get the job is by letting him keep face there is no drawback if you change to a non-B visa now. Let your employer pay you a trip to a neighbouring country to get the non-B visa. Then when you need to apply for your next extension of stay, apply again for the reason of living with your Thai wife.

Thanks for your reply, the process is taking place in Bangkok. Can anyone suggest a link to Thai immigration / Labor Dept ruling that says I can get a work permit with a Non Imm O extension based on marriage? I would like to point this out to employer if possible and save an international visa run.

Maybe you could suggest that you have heard that the rules had recently changed, so that it is now possible to get a work permit while on a marriage extension. While this is not true, and there hasn't been eny recent change, it would allow your employer's HR department to keep face despite not being fully abreast with the rules.

Sophon

Ok thanks guys, so a work permit can be issued on my Non Imm O THAI WIFE extended stay for one year. I will have to have a face to face with employer (actually a service company that facilitates WP's in the industry) and ask why they want to switch me to Non Imm B?

Ok thanks guys, so a work permit can be issued on my Non Imm O THAI WIFE extended stay for one year. I will have to have a face to face with employer (actually a service company that facilitates WP's in the industry) and ask why they want to switch me to Non Imm B?

Yes it can. My wife (me being the Thai citizen) got a work permit while on an non-O extension of stay based on marriage to me. It should be the same for you.

If it is the services company you are dealing with, I'd be firm with them to do it on the non-O, and casually dropping to the employer (as advised by Sophon) there have recently been changes to the rules...hence will save them cost.

The last thing you really want is going to the hassel of going to another country to get an non-B (which you don't have to), having a work permit issued, and then having to swap back to the non-O (another trip to an embassy?) to get it done and then having to do the exension all over again!

Interestingly the agent, with a few face saving reasons has now said the labor dept will issue a WP on my current Non Imm O extended marriage permit as long as some documents relate to marriage are also included. So a combination of good feedback on this web site up front and some questions to agent before we have met has saved the day.

Thanks to all for help, and to my agent who shall remain nameless, for coming around to my way of thinking (the ThaiVisa way:-).

Yes it can. My wife (me being the Thai citizen) got a work permit while on an non-O extension of stay based on marriage to me. It should be the same for you.

About to apply soon. Can anyone advise what extra docs if any are needed related to staying on WIFE extension and getting a work permit at Chamchuri Square? Presumably marriage cert and her id? Does wife also need to go with me?

Companies I have worked for say the same, it is easier to apply for WP based on 'O' visa/ext............only one company in Phuket I was offered a job at inisted otherwise and that I would have to apply for a Non 'B'..I decided against taking the position as it simply isnt true.