I am confused because i went to chaengwattana today to have non b but the officer told me that i should have atleast 15 day left.. Some of my friends got their visa and they only had 10 days left...

Sorry I do not understand the question

Hopefully someone else will !

Are you asking for an extension of stay or for a conversion of a visa exempt entry or tourist visa into a non-immigrant visa? I think the last one, and for that sometimes less than 15 days seem indeed to be allowed. But exact guidelines are not known.

My only question is that how many days left should i have to get a new non b visa?

Yes exactly. Converting my tourist visa to non b visa..

As said, there are no official guidelines known and as you have commented some seem to be able to do it nowadays with about 10 days left instead of 15 days.

You could contact the government information line and ask about the official policy at 1111. They will connect you with an English speaking official who can give you the right answer.

Mario

Just as a matter of personal interest is it possible to "convert" a TV to a NON "B" ?

I am aware it is possible to convert a TV to a NON "O" on the basis of retirement or marriage if certain conditions are met.

Yes, it is possible to that for reason of work as well, but there you often run the problem that you will need to have applied for a work permit and gotten a WP3 form indicating that you will gat a work permit once you have the non-immigrant visa. Getting the paperwork ready or the work permit can take a long time, reason why the conversion to a non-B is not popular. Often easier to go abroad and apply for the non-b visa.

It kind of depends on the officers mood...

I've dealt with both of these officers at the Chaengwattana office and their interpretations are, amongst other things, different.

1 officer has been super friendly and helpful dealing with two immigration newbs, in myself and my wife.

The other, straight down the line, ice cold, no waivering of lines.

Are you asking for an extension of stay or for a conversion of a visa exempt entry or tourist visa into a non-immigrant visa? I think the last one, and for that sometimes less than 15 days seem indeed to be allowed. But exact guidelines are not known.

i have never known ANYONE who has managed to convert a tourist visa into an non-imm visa, period. I have seen you give plenty of good advice here, but, sorry, tourist to non-immigrant is not normally possible in my 15++ years experience. Every company i have ever worked for has flown people out to get a non-immigrant visa first, then done the paperwork to submit work permit and extend stay

Believe most use 15 days minimum for tourist visa but may allow a bit less in the case of a 15 day visa exempt entry. It used to require 21 days but 15 or less occasionally seems to be routinely allowed now.

Are you asking for an extension of stay or for a conversion of a visa exempt entry or tourist visa into a non-immigrant visa? I think the last one, and for that sometimes less than 15 days seem indeed to be allowed. But exact guidelines are not known.

i have never known ANYONE who has managed to convert a tourist visa into an non-imm visa, period. I have seen you give plenty of good advice here, but, sorry, tourist to non-immigrant is not possible in my 15++ years experience

The change is into a non immigrant entry of 90 days and both tourist visas and visa exempt entry can be converted to obtain the required non immigrant entry for extensions of stay. There are two specific purpose forms for this called TM86 and TM87.

Personally speaking I have gone out of Thailand to obtain numerous Non B Visas associated with Work Permits.

During the times I have been waiting for employers to have the necessary, correct paperwork, I have been on Tourist Visas, between work, or while waiting for the employer while working.

Previously I was not aware that I could change a TR Tourist Visa into a Non B with Work Permit within Thailand.?? Many MOE offices will not even issue a receipt for W.P. unless you have the Non B in your passport. They will not even take the application, others may give you the receipt, pending.

I have become aware that I can change the TR into a Non O retirement within the country with the financials and embassy letter.

Personal experience: converted a visa exempt entry into a Non-B , had 11 days left, (was told by my school that this was possible because it was a government school)

Another teacher I know tried and was given an information sheet by immigration stating that you need 14 days left on visa exempt or visa in order to convert.

Possible that the difference is in the employer ?