Tourist to Non B

[pokerman]

I've started working for a university in the North.

My current visa is 90 (60) day tourist which expires on 2nd December.

I get my paperwork for Non B tomorrow.....

My questions are:

Can I change in Chang Mai?

OR does it have to be in Bangkok?

If I have less than 21 days left on my tourist visa.....do I have to leave the country?

Thanks for taking the time to help

[wayned]

I think that you are going to have to take the paperwork including a receipt that shows that you have applied for a work permit to an Embassy/Consulate in a neighboring country, Laos, and get the Non-B visa. I don't think that you can convert a tourist visa to a Non-B in country. But, I might be wrong! Once you get the Non-B you then go back and pickup your work permit.

Edited November 5, 2013 by wayned

[ubonjoe]

I am also sure you will have make a trip to an embassy or consulate. You would need a letter of approval for a work permit application to get the visa.

[pokerman]

I know I get a work pemit after I get a 3 month Non B....that's not the issue.

I'm 99% sure I can change visa in Bk...would like to know about Chang Mai?

Thanks

[thaiexpat21]

I know I get a work pemit after I get a 3 month Non B....that's not the issue.

I'm 99% sure I can change visa in Bk...would like to know about Chang Mai?

Thanks

You could always visit the CM immigration office and ask.

However suspect you will have to obtain the visa outside Thailand. Take with you the paperwork supplied by the university and the approval letter from the Labour office relating to the WP.

[jamhar]

I just did that gig.

My understanding is that you have to go to bkk to do the paperwork.

unless you speak thai, make sure you have a note explaining to the taxi where you want to go when you get off the bus.

my timeline for the last trip

1) 8PM bus to bkk (~750B)

2) arrived at ~6:00AM in bkk

3) got a taxi from the bus station to immigration (~200B)

4) arrived at immigration complex at 7:00 AM. Building was already open so didnt have to wait outside.

5) found a table and chilled until 7:50 AM when the line started to get long, so i jumped in line

6) doors open to the immigration office at 8:30AM

7) Already had my form filled out so went in and got a queue number (#3, wahoo!)

8) my number got called at 9:10 or so. A copy was missing, and she gave me the opportunity to run down stairs to get a copy without losing my place.

9) when i returned, the official took my form, 2000B fee, and asked me to wait.

10) At 10:30, an official called my name, I look up to see what the problem was.

11) My passport was handed to me with the non imm visa already stamped.

DONE

Took the redeye back.

tally, ~36 hours,of it ~20 hours on bus, 2000B fee, 1600B bus tickets, 500B taxis, 200B food and stuff.

Easy as can be.

Except the first time i went, my school forgot a critical doc, and i had to return empty handed!

PM me if you want more detail on how to make things easier.

Good luck and dont forget to take plenty of patience with you

out

[Phil Water]

I don't mean to hi-jack the thread. I am pretty new to this. Can someone explain what is meant by Non-B visa? I carry what I think is called a category B visa, multiple entry. I have been working in Thailand for seven months on and off and am exploring moving here.

Edited November 5, 2013 by Phil Water

[wayned]

Your category "B" visa is a Non-O multiple entry visa. The Non-O is a short for Non-immigrant "O" Visa. There are mant categories of Non-O visas.

[Maestro]

The term non-B visa is used for non-immigrant visa category B.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[wayned]

I know I get a work pemit after I get a 3 month Non B....that's not the issue.

I'm 99% sure I can change visa in Bk...would like to know about Chang Mai?

Thanks

You get the 90 day Non-B in a neighboring country with the proper paperwork form the school AND a receipt from the labor office showing that you have applied for a work permit. Once you get the Non-B you go back to the labor office and pick up the work permit. The labor office will not give you the work permit without the Non-B visa, but the Embassy/Consulate will not issue you the Non-B visa without the receipt, WP3, from the labor office showing that you have applied for a work permit. Once you get the work permit the Non-B can be extended, with the proper paperwork from the school, at the office responsible for the area where you live.

[pokerman]

I just did that gig.

My understanding is that you have to go to bkk to do the paperwork.

unless you speak thai, make sure you have a note explaining to the taxi where you want to go when you get off the bus.

my timeline for the last trip

DONE

Took the redeye back.

tally, ~36 hours,of it ~20 hours on bus, 2000B fee, 1600B bus tickets, 500B taxis, 200B food and stuff.

Easy as can be.

Except the first time i went, my school forgot a critical doc, and i had to return empty handed!

PM me if you want more detail on how to make things easier.

Good luck and dont forget to take plenty of patience with you

THanks loads Jamhar....do yo know if you have to have at least 21 days on your tourist visa left?

[Mario2008]

No longer required to have at least 21 days left, 15 days seems to be the norm now but also have seen reports of only 10 days.

Unsure immirgaiton will go for a conversion, a lot might depend on the university in question. With a big name as Chiang Mai University you stand a better chance than with a small private university.

Be prepared to go abroad and hope that immigration will allow a conversion.

Don't forget you need a work permit to work legally and you need to apply for the work permit first, before you can convert.

[pokerman]

Just to let you all know....I got my tourist visa changed to a NonB at BKK Immigration.....

NO PROBLEM.

Great Service....I left with mt NonB at 9.10am

[Maestro]

Did you get it at the Chiang Mai immigration office or in Bangkok?