Hi,

I wanted to know if a foreigner arrives in Thailand on a tourist visa, can he convert it to a Non-B visa ?

Also any rules or criteria for such a conversion such as minimum no. of days stayed in Thhailand before applying for change in visa or minimum no. of days left on the tourist visa etc ?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Just make sure you have all the correct company paperwork.

The rule used to be 20 days or something left on the visa, but am sure it is under that now maybe 15 due to the new rules, but a mod will confirm that for you.

You can be in Thailand for a few hours on a tourist visa and try to get it converted.

Edited January 17, 201313 yr by beano2274

Thanks for that, was very helpful

Also wanted to know how long does isssuance of a Non-B take ? and if my Non-B application is accepted, can I start working before i get my Non-B visa? (that is, say in the 1 month period it takes for my Non-B to be approved and acccepted, can i start working since my petition has been accepted and is under process). Also can I travel outside of Thailand during the period my Non-B is under process ?

A non B can be issued on the day you go to Immigration. It used to be that you had to leave Thailand to get a Non B issued, hopefully someone with more knowledge will let you know the actual rules.

Remember Work Permit application should be done first, as this is usually a requirement of Immigration and also of consulates if you are required to leave the country.

You can travel outside of Thailand with your Non B extension but you must get a re-entry permit so as not to cancel the extension if you leave, the re-entry permit keeps your extension valid until the date stamped on it.

Edited January 17, 201313 yr by beano2274

Most people have to travel to a nearby embassy or consulate to get their non-b visas after work permit application has been made and a WP3 given.

Most people have to travel to a nearby embassy or consulate to get their non-b visas after work permit application has been made and a WP3 given.

This is where I was looking for some one to correct me, as I could not remember if you can change from one to another in country.

thanks

It can be done in some circumstances but is not easy and will often be refused.

Thanks for the replies, it has given me a lot of insights into the process .. at the same time, I am a little confused now.

Will I apply for and be granted a Non-B visa first or will I get a work permit first ? If I apply for a Non- B first, will I need an offer letter from the company I plan to work for ?

Thanks for the replies, it has given me a lot of insights into the process .. at the same time, I am a little confused now.

Will I apply for and be granted a Non-B visa first or will I get a work permit first ? If I apply for a Non- B first, will I need an offer letter from the company I plan to work for ?

You first get the job then the company employing you applies for a WP on your behalf using Form WP3; when the papers asre successfully filed a WP3 receipt is given (A5 sized slip of paper).

You then take this and all the relavant papers to a Thai Consulate and apply for a non Immigrant Category 'B' visa - you will only get a single entry 90 day one in the SE Asia Region - here is a link to MFA list of required documents: http://www.mfa.go.th...siness-and.html.

You then enter thailand and will get a 90 day Non 'B' Entry stamp in your passport which you then use to collect your WP and are then ready to start work.

Thereafter, how do we go about getting an extension beyond the 90 days? Can we do it in Thailand itself or we must leave the country to get it from home country?

You do not appear to be the same poster so we really do not know what visa you have or for what reason you could extend it. For employment there are specific conditions both you and employer must meet to extend yearly inside Thailand.

A new Company with a one-year work permit plus an initial 3-month non-B visa.

A new company will not have the required tax paperwork for extensions of stay so you will have to obtain visas for entry for the first year or two so that will require visit to a Consulate outside of Thailand to obtain.

You do mean new as the company has just been formed rather than 'new to you'?

It is a newly formed Company. So I have to travel out of Thailand every 90 days to obtain a 90 days non-B visa? Can they issue a one-year non-B visa to me based on my WP or they will only issue me a 90 day non-B visa?

Since it is a new company and your first application for the multiple entry you should be able to get one in KL. It will require company documents. Check this webpage later on MFA website later as it is not working at the moment http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22B%22-(for-Business-and.html

You will need at least 7 or 8 months on your work permit. Check the pinned topic for latest reports of getting a visa.

Since it is a new company and your first application for the multiple entry you should be able to get one in KL. It will require company documents. Check this webpage later on MFA website later as it is not working at the moment http://www.mfa.go.th...siness-and.html

You will need at least 7 or 8 months on your work permit. Check the pinned topic for latest reports of getting a visa.

Sorry, but KL has stopped issuing multiple entry non-B visas.

Yea I read that but there was another topic that was from MFA official saying they would be issued. So I think it may still be up in the air.

I only recall one topic of visa being refused about the same time as the mentioned announcement was made but that was somebody that had been doing it for several years.

Edited January 21, 201313 yr by ubonjoe