Work Permit And Visa For Fiance Question

[Windward]

Hey all.

First, thanks for everyone who provides information on Thailand, etc...here. It's been rather helpful over the last few weeks. See, as it turns out, I may be moving to Bangkok for work. There's a company there that is interested in hiring me. First they wanted me in Singapore, but now they would prefer Thailand. Whatever works, I suppose. It just means I'm behind on my research when it comes to making a decision on go or no-go.

The question I've got now is likely pretty basic.

The company will handle my work permit. Along with that do I need to have a Visa as well? I'm totally befuddled by the process (and I'd be the first Western expat within the company so they're trying to figure it out as well). Would that Visa involve border runs? I'd assume not because I'm working and living there, but who knows.

Details:

30 and a US citizen.

Follow up question:

My fiance will be coming over 8 months after me. She needs to wrap up school before she can come over. It's our hope that she can get a job teaching (not English though, she's a certified earth science/chemistry teacher). However, if she can't (or at least not right away) is there anything like the Dependent Pass that Singapore has? What visa will she be looking at and will she need to make the border runs? A quick courthouse marriage isn't out of the cards if it makes things easier.

Thanks for any help, folks! I'm sure it's just the first in a long series of questions from me.

[lopburi3]

You will have to obtain a non immigrant B visa to get a work permit so if Company can supply letter you should be able to obtain that before you leave the US. If not is will likely be an extra run later to get it.

If company is established for several years in Thailand they should be able to provide documents to allow one year extensions of stay (salary above 50k) but if new without tax records you would have to use 90 day visa entry until they could provide.

GF will have no status other than her own. If married she could obtain visas to visit and if you are were on one year extension of stay she could obtain matching dependent extension.

[Soutpeel]

If the company concerned has never done WP's etc before, I would stongly suggest they take on a legal company to it for them first time round to ensure it gets done properly, if its not done properly, you will have to put up with the hassles.

Whether you need to visa run every 3 months all depends if you can get an extension of stay based on employment - this is granted based on salary amongst other things....ie US ciitizen needs to be on the books for a minimum of THB 50k/m.

If you dont qualify for the extension of stay you will be visa running every 3 months.

Your GF has no legal status as your dependent therefore she would have to make her own arrangements for a visa...ie cant be tacked on to your working status.

I stand to be corrected but even in Singapore you need to be married to get the dependent pass, so no different to Thailand in that respect.

[Windward]

Thanks much for the responses, folks! They're greatly appreciated.

Alright, so I'll need to obtain a non-immigrant B visa after I get the letter from the company and before I come over. No problem.

I should be more clear about the company, they've been operating in Bangkok for years now and should have the lay of the land. Part of the confusion for them comes from just recently being purchased by a Singapore based company. It gets into all manner of legal nonsense that I have no hope of understanding, but still...I guess I'm the trial run under the new management.

Good to hear about the company being able to provide one year extensions.

As for my GF, so assuming she moves into the "wife" category before coming over (which was the plan before we even started talking about moving to Thailand) she can obtain a visa to visit and then pick up a dependent extension. She won't love the paperwork, but at least it can be done!

Regarding Singapore's Dependent Pass: You don't actually have to be married. If you can prove "common-law marriage" it is generally enough. This requires a letter from the US embassy in Singapore and proof of the relationship length and dependency (lease agreements in both names, mortgages and bills together, etc..etc..). Of course, it's easier to just be wed and done with it, but you get the idea.

[Mario2008]

She can come over on a (double entry) tourist visa and look for a job. Once she has found a job she can get a non-B from a neighbouring country.

A double entry tourist visa would be good for 180 days of stay in Thailand, with 2 extensions and 1 border run).

[PoorSucker]

Let her come on a double/triple tourist visa first.

Don't get married until you are sure.

She might not like Thailand.

You can get married in Thailand easily.

[Windward]

Well, the first part of the plan is to have her come over a few times between when I get there and when she moves there full-time. You're right, if she doesn't like it well....we'll deal with that a bit later on.

After that it would be ideal if she got a job before coming over, but hoping and being are two different things. Very likely if the move is going to become full-time she'll go with the double entry visa and all the extensions, etc. Thanks for the advice.

Quick thing about the non-B visa for me: If it's in conjunction with a work permit, am I still able to come and go from the country with ease? I'd have to travel a bit for the job but would also like to make the occasional trips home. Is there an entry limit?

[Soutpeel]

Quick thing about the non-B visa for me: If it's in conjunction with a work permit, am I still able to come and go from the country with ease? I'd have to travel a bit for the job but would also like to make the occasional trips home. Is there an entry limit?

Yes easy to come and go provided you have a mutilple re-entry permit (assuming here you will be on extension of stay)

[Mario2008]

With a valid multiple non-B you will not need a re-entry permit, as long as the visa itself remains valid and you don't apply for an extension of stay.

In fact, if you have to travel a lot outside the country it might make more sense getting new multiple non-B's rather than getting extensions of stay. But only if you never stay longer than 90 days in a row in Thailand.