Hi There,

I have searched this forum for an hour to find an answer to this but there doesn't seem to be an unequivocal yea or nay. Apologies if there are indeed threads covering this already.

I am here on a Non Imm Type O Visa from Hull, but am NOT married to a Thai, so the reason for the visa was stated as 'visiting friends'.

I have just got a new job as a teacher in a good school here in Bangkok and found out end of last week that, according to the powers that be, I can't switch my Non Imm Type O visa to anything useable to allow my Work Permit application to go through. I have been given a three month grace period from the Labour Dept (ie July to beginning of October, when the whole school starts its foreign work permit cycle) but will then have to leave the country to get a Non Imm B to allow the process to run smoothly.

Most posters seem to allude to the fact that a Non Imm O cannot be used to back up a work Permit UNLESS it is part of a marriage to a Thai. But I have come across other articles on the web, and a few comment here, which suggest there might be some cases, or some ways to pull strings, to make it so that I DON'T have to leave the country and apply for a new Non Imm B. some way to retain my Non Imm O and still get a Work Permit for a year.

Anyone know of any ways to sort this? My school want to effect this quickly and smoothly, so I suspect they will look favourably and be helpful regarding any loopholes or ways around the general consensus that it is not possible.

Thanks in advance: any thoughts would be most welcome.

---

PS, I know, getting a Non Imm B from Hull would have been only about 1% more difficult. I messed up.

The question is if labor will issue the work permit to you with the visa you currently have. Obviously they should if you are married as that is the proper visa to have and you should be allowed to work and support your spouse. It is not a proper visa for visiting friends and is no longer issued by Hull or anyone else for that reason so it could be a problem. Unless you are sure from Labor Office that they will issue I would take your paperwork and get a B visa entry (this seems to be the preferred method for both labor and schools from reporting). Once you have the work permit it should be easy to obtain one year extensions of stay so a single entry visa should be all you need.

Hi,

Just to clarify, i am NOT married at all.

I got the Non O from Hull six months ago, so before they made the changes I think.

Question still stands: any way to get a work visa with this Non Imm O without having to leave the country and apply for a new Non Imm B?

Thanks in advance.

Yes, just apply for the WP and an extension of stay. They might say no, but probably will allow it. The visa doesn't say why it was issued, so you might be fine. Worst that can happen is that they will tell you to apply for a non-B visa, before you get the WP.

we have applied, they have said no. I'm wondering if anyone has any insights into whether there are any ways around this.

thanks.

we have applied, they have said no. I'm wondering if anyone has any insights into whether there are any ways around this.

thanks.

If you can look around the visa forum you will get a pointer to the solution, meanwhile check immigration Act 777/2551. this is suppose to guarantee you a visa as a teacher without having to go out. since you came in on Non-imm O. I used that act to change my visa, I work in a government school.

Who said no? Labour or immigration.

You still must apply for the work permit first, in order to apply for the non-B visa. Most consulates in the region prefer to see a WP3 form from the labour office, to confirm that you have applied for a work permit.