Marriage Visa Or Work Permit

[Newington]

I am very much hoping that someone may possibly be able to help me. For 3 out of the last 5 years I have just had a Marriage Visa but this year I have the choice of either a Marriage Visa or getting a Visa with a work permit. For a whole number of reasons it is easier for me to get a Visa with my work permit this year. However my only concern is that I read on this forum that if you terminate your employment before the completion of your Visa that you have to leave the country almost immediately to renew your Visa from outside of Thailand. I was just wondering if somebody may possibly know if this was also the case if you were married to a Thai Citizen as well. I greatly appreciate your help as I have been unable to find out exactly what would happen.

[mrclough]

As far as I'm aware you can have a marriage visa and a work permit with that visa.

Best bet is to probably take a trip to immigration down by the airport and ask the question.

The people there are more helpful than they get credit for on most forums.

[onthedarkside]

Moving this to Visa Forum for a better response.

[beano2274]

some labour offices will not issue a work permit against a Non Imm O visa based on marriage

[JeffreyMcCollum]

I live in CM area, I have a visa based on marraige and work permit. It is easy to get a work permit if your married,. Prior to being married I had a B visa for work and it was a pain to get with tons of paper work. My married visa was easy, like a letter from my wife, a note from the bank and the form filled out. And no, If I am not working I don't have to run out of the country in 24 hours

[Mario2008]

I guess you mean to say you currently are staying in Thailand on an extension of stay based on employement, instead of based on marriage as before.

In that case, If your employement ends, your permission to stay in Thailand also ends that day and you have cancel your extension of stay based on employement and to leave the country. But, when you go to cancel your permission to stay, you can then ask for a new extension of stay based on your marriage. (If you can show an income of 40,000 a month OR 400,000 in the bank in Thailand for 2 months. If not, you can get a 60 day extension without proof of finances).

[OldeBellPedr]

I currently have a non imm B and WP. We went up the Chiang Mai immigration and they confirmed that I can hold my WP on a non imm o, which is as Jeffrey says is easier to obtain.

[mrclough]

I guess you mean to say you currently are staying in Thailand on an extension of stay based on employement, instead of based on marriage as before.

In that case, If your employement ends, your permission to stay in Thailand also ends that day and you have cancel your extension of stay based on employement and to leave the country. But, when you go to cancel your permission to stay, you can then ask for a new extension of stay based on your marriage. (If you can show an income of 40,000 a month OR 400,000 in the bank in Thailand for 2 months. If not, you can get a 60 day extension without proof of finances).

" For 3 out of the last 5 years I have just had a Marriage Visa but this year I have the choice of either a Marriage Visa or getting a Visa with a work permit."

Doesn't read that way to me.

[beano2274]

I currently have a non imm B and WP. We went up the Chiang Mai immigration and they confirmed that I can hold my WP on a non imm o, which is as Jeffrey says is easier to obtain.

Immigration might say yes, but the rules are made by the labour department. Suggest going there to find out the rules pertaining to WP and Non Immigrant O visas, I know in Bangkok that some Labour offices will not issue a WP against a Non Immigrant O.

[beano2274]

I live in CM area, I have a visa based on marraige and work permit. It is easy to get a work permit if your married,. Prior to being married I had a B visa for work and it was a pain to get with tons of paper work. My married visa was easy, like a letter from my wife, a note from the bank and the form filled out. And no, If I am not working I don't have to run out of the country in 24 hours

So what do you have an extension based on marriage or work?

There is no difference in being married when applying for a Work Permit.

For an extension based on marriage it is less paperwork

[ubonjoe]

Immigration might say yes, but the rules are made by the labour department. Suggest going there to find out the rules pertaining to WP and Non Immigrant O visas, I know in Bangkok that some Labour offices will not issue a WP against a Non Immigrant O.

The most important thing when dealing with the Labour office is to call it an extension of stay based on marriage not an O visa. Also check to be sure extension of stay stamp also says that it is based upon marriage.

There are work permit rules that give special benefits for those married to Thai's (IE: only 2 Thai employees are needed to get the WP).

I cannot understand why anybody should have a problem getting a work permit with an extension of stay based upon marriage. Or an entry from a non-o based based upon marriage (make sure consulate notes on visa that it was issued for marriage).

[beano2274]

Immigration might say yes, but the rules are made by the labour department. Suggest going there to find out the rules pertaining to WP and Non Immigrant O visas, I know in Bangkok that some Labour offices will not issue a WP against a Non Immigrant O.

The most important thing when dealing with the Labor office is to call it an extension of stay based on marriage not an O visa. Also check to be sure extension of stay stamp also says that it is based upon marriage.

There are work permit rules that give special benefits for those married to Thai's (IE: only 2 Thai employees are needed to get the WP).

I cannot understand why anybody should have a problem getting a work permit with an extension of stay based upon marriage. Or an entry from a non-o based based upon marriage (make sure consulate notes on visa that it was issued for marriage).

The rules about 2 thai employees is only when you own the Business.

it has been mentioned on here many times about people having problems getting a WP with a Non Immigrant O visa/extension, and I had the problem too.

[lopburi3]

But how many times were these for retirement or labour suspecting they were for retirement - non immigrant O visa is an official designation for work permit issue so they can not refuse issue on that basis (NGO/volunteer work is non immigrant O).

[beano2274]

But how many times were these for retirement or labour suspecting they were for retirement - non immigrant O visa is an official designation for work permit issue so they can not refuse issue on that basis (NGO/volunteer work is non immigrant O).

Yes this is where the problem lies, but my original visa was a B, but my extensions were based on marriage, the company lawyer reported problems to me at the time.

Am sure they do not realise the fact

[ubonjoe]

The rules about 2 thai employees is only when you own the Business.

Article 7. The criterion under paragraph one shall be reduced by one half in the case where the permit applicant alien has a Thai spouse in a lawfully registered marriage and in open cohabitation.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/18599-new-department-of-employment-regulations/

This does not mention owning the business. It might be old info but don't think it has changed.