I have been waiting 4 months on the Phuket Labour Office to process my WP application (for working as manager of my own [new] hotel). The delay (according to my good Thai accountant) was because she/me would not pay 'under the table').

Finally, the papers are ready for me to travel to KL or Penang to get a 90 day non-immigrant B visa, then return to the Labour Office to collect my WP, then go to KL or Penang again to obtain a 1 year non-immigrant B.

All ok, but there is a complication!

Every week I also travel outside Thailand to Myanmar, where I work as a volunteer. So I travel out on Monday via Ranong and come back a few days later. I currently enter Thailand on 14 day tourist VIA stamps.

Once I obtain the initial 90-day NIB visa, how can I continue to enter/leave Thailand every week without screwing up my visa? Will KL or Penang issue a multiple entry 90 day NIB visa with just the WP3 paperwork?

Simon

A multi re-entry permit costing 3,800 baht. No they will not issue a multi entry B visa for work without a valid work permit.

All Labor offices say 7 days. You waited far to long and it has nothing to do with paying money under the table.

I have had 3 going on 4 work permits, 6 to 7 days was the longest wait. I understand yours may have been more complicated running your own business. It was probably your accountant who delayed things, by maybe not having all the correct paperwork.... Always put the blame on someone else.

Familiar story re the long, long delays at Phuket Labour.

Also please be careful if you plan to go to Penang, as currently:

1) For a 90 day Single Non B Penang say that they wil no longer accept a WP3 Receipt alone and are now also asking for a 'Letter of Approval' fron Labour as well; this takes at least a week to obtain in Phuket as the Head of Department (K.Noppadom), who must sign the letter, is only in Phuket for less than one day per week.

2) Penang will only issue a One Year Multi Entry non immigrant Type 'B' Visa if your company has > 8 Million THB Capitalisation.

All Labor offices say 7 days. You waited far to long and it has nothing to do with paying money under the table.

I have had 3 going on 4 work permits, 6 to 7 days was the longest wait. I understand yours may have been more complicated running your own business. It was probably your accountant who delayed things, by maybe not having all the correct paperwork.... Always put the blame on someone else.

No you are misinformed - 4 months delay is quite common at Phuket Labour, in part since the Head of Department is only in the office for less than one day per week!

I know of WP application cases that took up to 8 months and some that are still running after more than one year here!

The situation is excacerbated by the large number of (now) legal Burmese workers who also have Work Permit Applications in process.

My Labour Department agents tell me that K. Noppadom (Head of Department) currently has a huge pile of WP applications sitting on his desk waiting for signature.

Edited May 26, 201214 yr by digitalchromakey

If you have a multiple entry non-b visa you can leave and re-enter as many times as you want getting a 90 days each time. Your trips would not affect your visa but they could be a problem for your work permit since it will be dated to match your 90 day entries unless they give you one valid for a year.

Edited May 26, 201214 yr by ubonjoe

As others have commented, Phuket Labour office has big delays in processing WP applications and that delay can only be shortened by jumping the queue.

I may have to get my single-entry 90 day from KL, then quickly get the WP and return immediately to KL to request a 1 year multi-entry. That sounds feasible, if rather impracticable.

The alternative option is that I forget about these hassles and simply remain in Myanmar for a longer period each week, and perform my hotel work 'online' from Myanmar, (my hotel work is primarily managing all the online/marketing/customer service activities).

sIMON

If you have a multiple entry non-b visa you can leave and re-enter as many times as you want getting a 90 days each time. Your trips would not affect your visa but they could be a problem for your work permit since it will be dated to match your 90 day entries unless they give you one valid for a year.

Work permits are no longer tied to visas or extensions. A work permit will be issued up to the date of work contract.

If the contract is dated for one year the work permit will be too.

Edited May 26, 201214 yr by puchooay