Just a quick question if I may, I have searched the Forums but can't seem to find the definitive answer on this.

My prospective employer is offering to get me a 1 year Non Imm B visa and then I can apply for a work permit before I start my position,

Bearing in mind it could be some time before I actually apply for the work permit (a few months) whilst I am setting everything up here in Thailand, I was wondering how exactly this visa works?

I assume it is a multi entry visa, meaning that it extends to 15 months of validity, assuming I do a border run every 90 days?

What I would like to know, is if I have to leave the country between these 90 day periods and come back in, does that use up one of my entries? If that is the case do I actually only have 4 entries? This is the part that is confusing me! It is likely I will need to take trips in and out of the country quite often.

On top of this, once I have a work permit, do I extend the visa for 12 months (based on holding a work permit) from the date the work permit is issued?

If anyone can clear this up I would really appreciate it.

There's no limit to the amount of entries you can make with a multi-entry visa.

There's no limit to the amount of entries you can make with a multi-entry visa.

Ok thank you, my confusion is that if this is the case, why do I need to do a visa run every 90 days (this is my understanding of what I must do) or is it just that I must leave the country at least once every 90 days and that it could be more often than this, without affecting the visa length?

I have also just read an interesting post by Lopburi3 that says if the company is new (less than 1 year tax available) I can't do an extension of stay? The company is being registered right now, with over 20 Thai employees and 6 Million Baht registered capital (and hopefully then 3 work permits can be obtained). Once it has been registered and the capital paid up, can we apply for the WP straight away?

As stated above, there are no limits on the number of entries with this type of visa. Upon each entry you will be stamped permitted to stay for a 90 day period, even if entering just before the visa expiraion date. If you and the company qualify, you may apply for a one year "Extension of Stay", with that you would not need to exit the country every 90 days, but would require a re-entry permit if you do, a single entry is 1,000 Baht, multi is 3,800 Baht.

Far as I know, you can apply for the work permit as soon as the company registration process is complete, for the one year extension, it usuaully past business records, tax and accounting records etc. so new company usually doesn't qualify.

Edited June 27, 201115 yr by beechguy

You are allowed to apply for a work permit after having entered Thailand on any type of visa or even visa-exempt. It is to pick up the work permit, when it is ready, that you need a non-immigrant visa, in your case the non-B visa (if married to a Thai, a non-O visa would also do)

Depending on where you apply for the non-B visa, you may not get it for multiple entries.