Eligibility For One Year Visa

[GubXram]

I am currently employed and have a work permit. Since my initial entry on non immigrant B I have had my visa extended twice and will be doing another extension later this month. When I asked why I cant get a 1 year Visa I was told, by my employer who handles all the paper work but I pay the fees, that I needed to extend my 3 month visa 3 times (9 months) before I will be allowed to receive a one year visa.

1.Is this correct?

2.If I leave my current place of employment return my work permit will the current visa be revoked?

[lopburi3]

Are you saying your employment stay is being extended for 3 months each visit currently? At what cost/using what paperwork/at what location/for what type of employment? Is it actually a new 90 day entry into Thailand perhaps?

Is this a new company perhaps that does not have financial paperwork allowing you to extend at immigration yet? A normal employment extension of stay is one year and available immediately.

[GubXram]

My work permit is for a year but my Visa only gets extended for a 3 month period on each occasion.

I reside in Phuket and according to my WP I am a language consultant and I pay B1900 every time, I stand corrected but the only documentation is the extension application form and my 90 day report. All is processed at Phuket immigration. My employer has been registered in Thailand for almost 10 years.

I dont know why but I get the feeling that they dont want to do the one year application for an unknown reason, hence me asking whether your visa will be revoked of you left your current place of employment.

Thanks for trying to assist

[digitalchromakey]

In answer to the OP's original Questions:

1). No there is no requirement at Phuket Immigration to have 3x 3 month extensions before you have a one year extension - it would be interesting to know on what basis you are being extended so a scan of the extension (with personal details deleted) would be most helpful.

2) Yes, you are on an extension so as soon as you leave emploment the extension is cancelled and you must exit a Thai Border within 24 Hours.

What is the 'Until' date on the Permission to Stay stamp in in your passport?

What is the expiry/valid until date in your WP?

Maybe your employer is just making 90 days reports to immigration on your behalf (btw which are free) then charging you for the service?

[Mysticyeti]

Same here, i've been working in bkk for 3 years and for these past years i have to go to the immigration every 3 months like the OP. They first issue a visa for 3 months, then at the end of the expiry period i have to submit for an extension. They give me one month extension and ask me to come back on the specified date. The one month is more like a grace period for consideration of visa extension. I then go back to the immigration again at the end of the one month period and get a visa extension of 2 additional months. This process keeps going on and on. Every time i go to the immigration ni have to pay THb 1900 for the extension. The organization i work for is a thai foundation which has been running for over 7 years. I submit all the documents as per their list. Why is it hard for them to issue a 1 year visa? any info would be much appreciated.

[digitalchromakey]

Same here, i've been working in bkk for 3 years and for these past years i have to go to the immigration every 3 months like the OP. They first issue a visa for 3 months, then at the end of the expiry period i have to submit for an extension. They give me one month extension and ask me to come back on the specified date. The one month is more like a grace period for consideration of visa extension. I then go back to the immigration again at the end of the one month period and get a visa extension of 2 additional months. This process keeps going on and on. Every time i go to the immigration ni have to pay THb 1900 for the extension. The organization i work for is a thai foundation which has been running for over 7 years. I submit all the documents as per their list. Why is it hard for them to issue a 1 year visa? any info would be much appreciated.

Suspect your Company is saying that you are a Skilled Worker, Nursing/Medical Expert or Professional who is transferring knowledge to Thais (777/2551 Section 2.15) or that your are Installing/Repairing Machines, Aircraft or Ocean Vessels (777/2551 Section 2.16).

Both of the above categories for some reason only have a maximum extension period of 90 days.

It would be interesting to see a scan of the Thai wording above the extension stamp in your passport to confirm this.

Also, what is the validity period in your Work Permit?

[Mysticyeti]

Same here, i've been working in bkk for 3 years and for these past years i have to go to the immigration every 3 months like the OP. They first issue a visa for 3 months, then at the end of the expiry period i have to submit for an extension. They give me one month extension and ask me to come back on the specified date. The one month is more like a grace period for consideration of visa extension. I then go back to the immigration again at the end of the one month period and get a visa extension of 2 additional months. This process keeps going on and on. Every time i go to the immigration ni have to pay THb 1900 for the extension. The organization i work for is a thai foundation which has been running for over 7 years. I submit all the documents as per their list. Why is it hard for them to issue a 1 year visa? any info would be much appreciated.

Suspect your Company is saying that you are a Skilled Worker, Nursing/Medical Expert or Professional who is transferring knowledge to Thais (777/2551 Section 2.15) or that your are Installing/Repairing Machines, Aircraft or Ocean Vessels (777/2551 Section 2.16).

Both of the above categories for some reason only have a maximum extension period of 90 days.

It would be interesting to see a scan of the Thai wording above the extension stamp in your passport to confirm this.

Also, what is the validity period in your Work Permit?

Thanks for the info. I work in an NGO and hence i think that would fall under the tansfer of knowledge to thais. (i've got a one year work permit validity period)

Appreciate it.