Non-Imm. B Visa : Which Embassy / Consulate To Apply At?

[Harley62]

Can somebody please suggest which Royal Thai Embassy would be the best / fastest for processing a non-immigrant B (working) Visa, that is geographically CLOSE to Thailand?

I'm thinking either Vientiane (Laos), or Penang (Malaysia), but of course either case would require a stay of at least 2-3 days, so I'd also need to consider the cost of that stay, plus any local areas of touristic interest.

I suppose that Laos would be cheapest (take bus / train from BKK to Udon /Nong Khai area, and then cross boder by bus as needed), but I have no experience with that particular embassy (or country!), so anyone who has used that embassy please advise as to your experience there. Have already been to Cambodia, so would prefer something new--assuming the service in Vientiane is similar to Phnom Phen Thai embassy (which was quite efficient, in my experience).

Thanks in advance!

HB

[Mario2008]

Cambodia will take 4 days.

There are some reports with a lot of information about Laos and Penang and Kuala Lumpur here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/189375-latest-reports-of-getting-a-visa-in-the-region/

[PoorSucker]

KL and Kota Bahru will give you a one-year multiple entry if you have 8 months left on your work permit.

Paneng will also issue 1 year if your company is capitalized with 8 Mbaht.

All other will issue single entry with correct company paperwork.

[Harley62]

KL and Kota Bahru will give you a one-year multiple entry if you have 8 months left on your work permit.

Paneng will also issue 1 year if your company is capitalized with 8 Mbaht.

All other will issue single entry with correct company paperwork.

Thanks for the advice, but this will be a "new" working visa, so NOT a renewal...(although I did have a Thai work visa / permit for another company some years ago).

So, it seems like IF I want / need a multiple entry I should not go to Laos, but rather Malaysia....however, I also understand that changing from a single entry to multiple entry is rather straightforward??

Please correct me if I'm wrong...Thanks again!

[beano2274]

Without a receipt for an application for a Work Permit you might not get a Visa.

[lopburi3]

You do have the required paperwork for such a visa? It is best to use the Consulate your employer has experience with as they differ a bit on what is required.

[Harley62]

You do have the required paperwork for such a visa? It is best to use the Consulate your employer has experience with as they differ a bit on what is required.

Yes indeed, the Company is processing with their in-house lawyer to arrange all the paper work (including company financials, etc..) and send to me by EMS Post...at that point I was under the impression that I could take that to ANY Thai embassy / consulate abroad....but certainly it is worth asking my company where their other foreign employees (and there are several) have gone in the past...

In my particular case, I do not think it matters much whether I get the single or multiple entry visa, but thank you for pointing out the differences and where I'm most likely to receive the multiple...

[PoorSucker]

With correct paperwork you will receive a single entry non-B

Then you can go to immigration and apply for 1 year extension of stay if you qualify.

Extension of Thai Business Visa

The Thai "B" or Business Visa can be extended to a one year visa in country as follows.

The extension of the visa is normally based on employment and as such there are certain regulations governing the company who is employing you.

These are the regulations for the extension of the "B" Business Visa:

1. The business must be registered in Thailand.

2. The company must be capitalized to at least Baht 2 Million while operating fund must be at least Baht 1 Million.

3. The company must have a ration of at least 4 : 1 - Four Thais for every foreigner.

4. You must earn at least in accordance with the level specified for each nationality by the Labour Department.

Duration of the Extension

- One year at a time.

Documents required for the extension:

1. Application form (T.M. 7 )

2. Passport or document used in lien of passport and its copies .

3. The applicants 4 x 6 cm. photograph .

4. Extension fee Baht 1,900.-

5. The company letters certifying as follows ;

- Nature of business

- Reason or necessity in employing the applicant his / her position, salary and education background.

- Number of Thai and foreign employees.

6. Copies of work permit or receipt of work permit application.

7. Company's annual balance sheets.

8. The juristic persons Annual Income Tax Declaration Form (Form No.50) of the latest year and its receipt of payment.

9. Thai employees Monthly Income Tax Declaration Form (Form No.1 ) of the latest month and its receipt of payment.

10. The applicants Annual Income Tax Declaration Form (Form No.91) of the latest year and its receipt of payment.

11. The official letter that certify the registration of such juristic person.

12. Business Registration or Business License.

13. Value Added Tax Registration and list of share holders.

14. A map that indicate location of the Company.

15. For those who operate export business, the documentary evidence clarifying its export activities is needed.

16. For those who operate tourism business, the documentary evidence clarifying its total number of tourist that brought in by the company is needed.

Some Immigrations offices.

17. Picture of all the company's employees at work

18. Picture of all company's employees in front of the office with clear name of the company showing

N.B. In case of necessity , documents No.7 , 8 , 9 , and 10 can be substituted by the company letters stating its reason.

[beano2274]

You do have the required paperwork for such a visa? It is best to use the Consulate your employer has experience with as they differ a bit on what is required.

Yes indeed, the Company is processing with their in-house lawyer to arrange all the paper work (including company financials, etc..) and send to me by EMS Post...at that point I was under the impression that I could take that to ANY Thai embassy / consulate abroad....but certainly it is worth asking my company where their other foreign employees (and there are several) have gone in the past...

In my particular case, I do not think it matters much whether I get the single or multiple entry visa, but thank you for pointing out the differences and where I'm most likely to receive the multiple...

So you have signed the Work permit application as well?

The docs that Poorsucker has listed you should get the company to prepare again before your single entry runs out, so that it is a smooth transition from Visa to 1 years extension.

[digitalchromakey]

KL and Kota Bahru will give you a one-year multiple entry if you have 8 months left on your work permit.

Paneng will also issue 1 year if your company is capitalized with 8 Mbaht.

All other will issue single entry with correct company paperwork.

Thanks for the advice, but this will be a "new" working visa, so NOT a renewal...(although I did have a Thai work visa / permit for another company some years ago).

So, it seems like IF I want / need a multiple entry I should not go to Laos, but rather Malaysia....however, I also understand that changing from a single entry to multiple entry is rather straightforward??

Please correct me if I'm wrong...Thanks again!

If you don't yet have the WP, then 90 Day Single Entry Non Immigrant B is the best you can do in this region with the correct paperwork - you/your employer must also file the WP application before you go abroad to apply for the visa.

Here is the current MFA list of required Non B Visa paperwork link http://www.mfa.go.th...siness-and.html

Note that a number of Consulates in the SE Asia Region are now asking for the Letter of Approval from your local Labour Dept (this can be issued once the WP3 application is successfully filed but is not the WP3 receipt) but note that it can take more than one week to generate in some areas.