Changing From Non B To Non O - Any Affects Or Changes To Work Permit?

[rixalex]

Situation:

One year work permit and one year non B with extension reason being for work. Both expire on same date in about a year's time.

No plans to change job, but some job insecurity.

Questions:

Possible to change Non B visa to Non O visa (with reason being for marriage) without getting involved in making changes to work permit? Not fully understanding of how the visa document and work permit document are connected, or how dependent they are on each other, or if it is possible to make changes to one without changes to the other.

If it is indeed possible, am i right in thinking that the benefit will be upon losing job, should that happen, work permit is canceled and with it right to work, but visa extension, because of it being for marriage not work, remains intact unaffected, thus avoiding the hassle of having to leave the country?

Thanks for answers and apologies for being unable to find the answer in existing threads.

[lopburi3]

You should have done the extension for the new reason - next time you should be able to change the reason but it really is not that important as you can easily obtain a 60 day extension to visit wife if your current stay should be terminated and make plans from there.

[rixalex]

You should have done the extension for the new reason - next time you should be able to change the reason but it really is not that important as you can easily obtain a 60 day extension to visit wife if your current stay should be terminated and make plans from there.

Thanks lopburi.

Job insecurity has only come to light after having already done the extension.

Appreciate what you are saying about it not really being necessary, but can you advise whether or not it is possible?

[singa-traz]

Lopburi3 is correct.

If your company is outsourcing the work permit/Visa processing to a 3rd party, you may face some challenges, as the 3rd party may not be used to handle non-o visa and work permit.

On my first application for WP, I was told by the 3rd party that I could not get a work permit with a non-O Visa.

On my second application (WP), same, I was told by the 3rd party to leave the country to get a non-B.

It's easy to renew your extension of stay based on marriage, you just need a bit of preparation to collect the required documents.

Prepare the docs a few weeks before to avoid the unecessary stress.

Should you need it, the 60 days extension is light on required documentation.

[lopburi3]

Most anything is possible but there are several issues and do not know how your local office may view them:

1. Normally extensions are only accepted during the last 30 days of current stay so would require cancel current extension to do so and would need to contact immigration office to get there take. They might require you start again with a new non immigrant O entry.

2. You can not change the visa - it would remain non immigrant B that you entered with but that should not be required.

3. Some labor departments do not want to issue work permits for those on a non immigrant O entry - most will if for Thai wife but not all so could be an issue next time.

[rixalex]

Most anything is possible but there are several issues and do not know how your local office may view them:

1. Normally extensions are only accepted during the last 30 days of current stay so would require cancel current extension to do so and would need to contact immigration office to get there take. They might require you start again with a new non immigrant O entry.

2. You can not change the visa - it would remain non immigrant B that you entered with but that should not be required.

3. Some labor departments do not want to issue work permits for those on a non immigrant O entry - most will if for Thai wife but not all so could be an issue next time.

Many thanks again. OK. Sounds a bit complicated.. but if it is possible, any changes made in my passport with regards my reason for stay will not have any consequences on my work permit, right?

[lopburi3]

Do not believe it would be an issue until renewal, and as said most will issue if on Thai wife extension - the same O visa however is used for retirement which they normally will not issue so sometimes confusion.

[Markaew]

You should have done the extension for the new reason - next time you should be able to change the reason but it really is not that important as you can easily obtain a 60 day extension to visit wife if your current stay should be terminated and make plans from there.

That raises a question that I have: Hypothetically, if rixalex loses his job and has the 7 days to get another visa, can he go to immigration and apply for a non-o during that 7 day period?

[ubonjoe]

He would not change to a non-o he would merely change from an extension for working to one based upon marriage.

He would not need the 7 day extension. As soon as he had the letter from employer telling him the date his employment ends he could go to immigration and get the new extension.

[ubonjoe]

Lopburi3 is correct.

If your company is outsourcing the work permit/Visa processing to a 3rd party, you may face some challenges, as the 3rd party may not be used to handle non-o visa and work permit.

On my first application for WP, I was told by the 3rd party that I could not get a work permit with a non-O Visa.

On my second application (WP), same, I was told by the 3rd party to leave the country to get a non-B.

It's easy to renew your extension of stay based on marriage, you just need a bit of preparation to collect the required documents.

Prepare the docs a few weeks before to avoid the unecessary stress.

Should you need it, the 60 days extension is light on required documentation.

This is typical of what can happen when a 3rd party (IE: lawyer) gets involved. It is often not about knowing about it but the lower cost for getting the paperwork together for an extension based upon marriage verses for working. And in this case the additional cost of generating the paperwork for the visa.

[Markaew]

He would not change to a non-o he would merely change from an extension for working to one based upon marriage.

He would not need the 7 day extension. As soon as he had the letter from employer telling him the date his employment ends he could go to immigration and get the new extension.

Thanks for the answer. The 7 days I was referring to is the 7 days they give you when your visa/WP is canceled.

[ubonjoe]

Immigration does not give you 7 days when job is lost unless you are working for BOI listed company. All others must pay for a 7 day extension but if married to a Thai a 60 day extension could be gotten.