Non B Advice Please

[Mystery Machine]

Hi, I need a little bit of advice from some of you more seasoned experts.

I obtained a one year Non B from the Thai consulate in the UK just over a year ago based upon a job offer and was due to start working early in 2012. Unfortunately the company a couple of problems and asked me to delay starting. This was fine as I have spent the last 9 months exploring Thailand and the region, and in no panic about starting work. The company has kept in touch with me for the past 9 months and now would like me to start mid February 2013.

The issue that I have is my final extension to the Non B will expire at the end of this month, so there is really no chance of getting all the paperwork complete and work permit done before then. So my only option (unless I am corrected) is to visit a consulate in the Asia region and get a 3 month non B.

I have read a lot on these forums and tried follow some of the government links (many don't work) to get clarification as to the correct documents, in particular a WP1 or WP3 document as I will be applying out of country.

Also does anyone have the latest advice as to which local consulate is currently the easiest to get a non b from? as the thread on that seems to be outdated.

any help welcome.

[digitalchromakey]

Presume you are on a 90 day border entry with a Multiple Entry Non Immigrant Category 'B' Visa and not an 'extension' which is something completely diffeent..

When is the 'Use Before' date on the visa? If it is not yet expired you can still leave and re-enter Thailand before that date and you will get another full 90 day non 'B' entry stamp- plenty of time to sort out your W.

If you are alreday past the 'Use Before' date then you/your employer needs to apply for a Work Permit inside Thailand (using WP1 if you do it and WP3 if your employer does it on your behalf).

Once your WP application is successfully filed you get a receipt slip from Labour (WP3 Receipt) then make a trip to say Penang/Kl with all the required papers from your company.

This link lists the paper work you will need from your employers http://www.mfa.go.th...siness-and.html.

If you go to Penang then you will also need the 'Letter of Acceptance' from Labour as well.

With the correct paperwork you will have no problem getting a three month single entry Non B visa and with the entry stamp from this visa in your passport then you can pick up your WP from Labour.

Next step is an Extension of Permission to Stay which depending on your employer's circumstances and tax pad on your salary, you may or may not be eligible for.

[Mario2008]

His visa has expired, he claims to got it just over 1 year ago so he will have to obtain a new non-B.

The OP must apply for teh work eprmit as soon as possible, in order to get a wp3 form and maybe the letter of acceptance if going to Penang.

[Mystery Machine]

Thanks for the reply Mario.

So it seems for a consulate in the Asian region getting the wp3 form is compulsory, or is that just for Penang. And by an acceptance letter you are talking about a job offer with a start date.

Digitalchromakey I am a little confused by your explanation of the wp1 and wp3.

I am here in Thailand so I would go myself and you say use a wp1 form but mario says wp3

sorry but getting more confused

[beano2274]

WP1 is the application form if I remember correctly, and WP3 is the receipt given to you to help you get your Non Immigrant B Visa in another neighbouring country.

[IMA_FARANG]

Somewhere in your post you said your visa expires at the end of the montth?

In that case you can do a quick border run before it expires and get a final 90 entry which will give you another 90 days to get the paperwork ready for the extension and the Work Permit ... IF your company gets their act together.

There are visa run agencies that you can google on the net here in Bangkok that will offer that service.

They take you to the border and bring you back from to Bangkok with a new entry stamp you get by exiting Thailand and then turning arount and re-entering Thailand.

Whole thing can be done in about a 12 hour day trip in a air-conditioned 16 passenger van and runs around 2000 Baht for the whole package.

Uf course, you can do by yourself cheaper, but going with a visa.border run company is the lazy man's way and is relative luxury;

Most multi-entry visas are issued for one year and the date of expiration is written or stamped on that visa.

So just make that border run BEFORE that date and you will get stamped back in for another 90 day stay.

But that's the LAST ONE. After the date your visa expires you have to get another visa lin S.E. Asia and usually most Thai condulates will only issue 90 day non O visas in S.E. Asia ..... then you are expected to get an extension and/or work permit with the required documrntation from your company.

[digitalchromakey]

Thanks for the reply Mario.

So it seems for a consulate in the Asian region getting the wp3 form is compulsory, or is that just for Penang. And by an acceptance letter you are talking about a job offer with a start date.

Digitalchromakey I am a little confused by your explanation of the wp1 and wp3.

I am here in Thailand so I would go myself and you say use a wp1 form but mario says wp3

sorry but getting more confused

Both WP1 and WP3 are application forms for a Work Permit; WP1 is used by the applicant or WP3 by the employer, see links below:

Form WP1 http://wp.doe.go.th/...rm/form_tt1.pdf

Form WP3 http://wp.doe.go.th/...rm/form_tt3.pdf

Normally the employer will use form WP3 to apply for a WP when the prospective employee is not yet in Thailand, some Labour Departments will not accept a WP3 application if the employee is already in Thaiand.

In either case a receipt is issued (A5 Sized slip of paper) when the papers are successfully filed at Labour, which indicates the type of application mode with a ticked box (i.e against field WP1 or WP3) this receipt is what most Thai Consulates want to see.

The 'Letter of Acceptance' is a special letter from Labour which states that a Work Permit application has been successfuly filed with Labour awaiting a non immigrant visa - this document is mentioned on the MFA link I gave in my earlier post, but to date I am only aware of Penang specifically asking for this document.