From Non Imm "Ed" To Non Imm "B"

[davedragonfly]

Hi

I'm on a Non Imm "ED" visa expiring on May 18.

I have a job starting on June 1.

The staff reckon I will need to leave Thailand and re-enter on a tourist visa before I can apply for the Non Imm "B" visa.

Is this normal practice, or can I:

• Change my visa at govt complex and not need to leave Thailand?
• Leave Thailand and process my "B" visa at a Thai consulate?

Thanks in advance.

[terak69]

I am afraid staff are right - as far as Phuket is concerned - you used to be able to get letter from school to say you have finished course and they could convert, but no more alas !!

[CMSteve]

I'm not an expert but it sounds like a run around. You should be able to "convert" non-imm to non-imm with the correct paperwork, If the school and new job are on the up and up, it should be no problem. If you leave the country without the doc's for the Non-Imm B, you will come back with a tourist visa and will have to leave again to make the Non Imm B.

I think you should consider an extension on the Non-Imm Ed so you can track down the necessary paperwork rather than make two unnecessary trips out of the country.

[davedragonfly]

Thanks for the replies.

I will need to leave the country soon then, because the staff at the university want to take us to do our visas on the 6th.

Apart from Thaivisa, where else could i find out whether I definitely can only convert from a tourist visa.

It would be so much easier if I could just go from ED to B.

Thanks

[Falcon]

Apart from Thaivisa, where else could i find out whether I definitely can only convert from a tourist visa.

Obvious answer to that question is the immigration office! Who better?!?!?