B Visa confusion and job offer days before visa run - please advise!

[Tasty Food]

I was fortunate to be offered a job this week after months of looking.

The girl in HR has told me via email that I need to get my work permit BEFORE I get my Non B visa - I thought it was the other way round.

My visa expires at the end of the week and the HR girl has told me I need to come back into Thailand on a TOURIST visa, which I am currently on.

HOWEVER, two months ago (when I realized it could take months to find a job) I sought the services of the very helpful Sunbelt Asia who prepared for me the paperwork I would need to get a Non Imm B visa. Shortly after I booked a return ticket for Australia which is where I am off to at the end of the week to get said visa.

There is no time to get the company paperwork prepared to get a B visa with my employers to be and although the HR girl says I need to come back on a tourist visa, I have been advised against it by Sunbelt as it is not advisable in the current climate to come in on a tourist.

So I am assuming the following is the best course of action:

#1: Go to Australia and get my Non B visa with the Sunbelt paperwork as planned two months ago.

#2: Don't confuse the HR girl by mentioning it now but when I come back to Bangkok, inform her that I didn't get a tourist because I was able to get a Non B.

(Apparently it is easier for a company to get a work permit from a B visa than from a tourist, so this shouldn't be a problem. I am assuming she said come back on a tourist visa because that is what she's used to)

#3: I start new job end of October so presumably this will be enough time to process paperwork for work permit/visa (is paperwork for one the same as for both??) and I am pretty sure I can not get a work permit for the company on the Non B obtained with Sunbelt paperwork, so mid October I assume the company will send me to Singapore or somewhere local to replace my short lived Sunbelt B visa with a COMPANY B visa which will match the work permit which, if HR girl is correct, I will have gotten BEFORE I get my company B Visa but after returning to Bangkok on the Sunbelt B visa. Hope you're keeping up.

#4: I will have gone to Australia pretty much for nothing on already dwindling savings but at least I've seen somewhere new.

Hope that wasn't too much of a mess and if anyone can simplify and confirm my guesses I would be grateful.

[ubonjoe]

You are probably spending a lot of money to get a non-b multiple entry visa that you probably will not need.

Once you have your work permit you will be able to get an extension of stay and may only need to use one entry from the visa.

You can apply for a work permit with a tourist visa and then once you have the approval letter for the application you can get a non-b visa. Once you have the non-b visa the work permit will be issued.

There are no restriction for getting and using tourist visas. Only visa exempt entries are restricted.

[digitalchromakey]

To successfully apply for a Non Immigrant 'B' Visa in SE Asia, (as a non teacher) you/your employer almost always need to successfully file the WP application at Labour and get a Letter of Approval /Filing Receipt prior to your trip to obtain a 90 day Single Entry Non Immigrant 'B' Visa. Return to Thailand, show Labour you sparkling new 90 day non 'b' entry stamp and they will complete processing your WP and move to issue it.

Once the WP is in your hands you can legally start work.

What the law firm proposed 2 months ago was a trip further afield to a country where you can get a non 'b' without prior filing a WP. This is a more expensive route as Ubonjoe has already pointed out and is now unnecessary since you have a legitimate future employer.

[Tasty Food]

Return to Thailand, show Labour you sparkling new 90 day non 'b' entry stamp and they will complete processing your WP and move to issue it.

Does this mean that I am better off returning from Australia on the Non B than I would be a tourist visa as it will make the work permit process quicker and less hassle?

Does returning on the Non B mean that I will not need to make another trip before starting the job?

The job is a temporary fixed term 3 month contract to begin with, if that makes any difference. I'd have some time to do a trip at the end of the year if they were keeping me on.

From my return to Bangkok and my start date there is only a week in which to sort out the WP and visa (if I can't use my Sunbelt Non .

I can bring the return date forward once I have my visa if need be but I don't want to have to cancel the non refundable trip only to then buy a flight somewhere next door and wonder if I get allowed back in.

Thankyou both for replies so far.

[paz]

Since you have the ticket already, the best is for you to go to Australia and come back with a non-imm B visa, multi entry if possible.

The multi-entry part can be important because if in three months the company will not be able to support the paperwork for an extension of stay, that among other things requires you be paid a minimum salary of Bt 50,000, then you can do a border hop and remain in country with a visa that allows you to work legally.

Also, you can obtain a work permit with the non-imm B visa obtained with the lawyers office, because there is nothing in the visa that relates to the company they used, neither you have to submit the original visa paperwork to get the work permit.

[digitalchromakey]

Return to Thailand, show Labour you sparkling new 90 day non 'b' entry stamp and they will complete processing your WP and move to issue it.

Does this mean that I am better off returning from Australia on the Non B than I would be a tourist visa as it will make the work permit process quicker and less hassle?

Does returning on the Non B mean that I will not need to make another trip before starting the job?

The job is a temporary fixed term 3 month contract to begin with, if that makes any difference. I'd have some time to do a trip at the end of the year if they were keeping me on.

From my return to Bangkok and my start date there is only a week in which to sort out the WP and visa (if I can't use my Sunbelt Non .

I can bring the return date forward once I have my visa if need be but I don't want to have to cancel the non refundable trip only to then buy a flight somewhere next door and wonder if I get allowed back in.

Thankyou both for replies so far.

In answer to your questions:

1) No IMHO - not that much compared to the high costs of the lawyer and trip costs and then only if you are sure you are sure that you will get a one year multiple entry non 'b' in Australia.

2) Yes - but is a quick second trip, to say Penang, such a pain when it will be cheaper overall?

If you have a 3 month rolling contract - you may find that new employer is 'very very slow' to file your WP application and expects you to work illegally in the meantime - a non 'b' doesn't make working without a WP ok.

One advantage of having an expensive one year non immigrant 'b' at the start is that it might make it a little easier/less expensive overall, should the first gig/WP not work out.

You can get a Single Entry 90 day entry non 'b' with the exact papers listed on the Singapore web site without a filed WP application, so why go all the way to Australia if it's also only for a 90 day visa?

[Tasty Food]

Does returning on the Non B mean that I will not need to make another trip before starting the job?

2) Yes - but is a quick second trip, to say Penang, such a pain when it will be cheaper overall?

Yes it does mean that I won't need to make another trip? Sorry I'm a little confused by this reply.

I acknowledge that the Australia trip is unnecessary but it's all done and paid for and I have people to stay with and can afford it (just) so I may as well treat it as a holiday and pick up the B visa I've paid for.

The main confusion here is that the girl in admin, who's English isn't perfect, said in her email:

You need to get back as a tourist VISA once you leave the country to Australia, then afterward I could assist you apply for Work Permit then Non immigration - B Visa.

Noted: The applicant need to get a Work Permit Before Non – B Visa. Which mean it impossible for me to prepare documents for you by a few days, As I need to request a document form (1).Revenue Department,(2). Social Security Fun,(3). Bank Statement form Standard Chartered, these docs take up to 4-5days from Thai official office.

This is the first time I have ever heard of getting a WP before the B visa, maybe she's confused. She does not know that I have Sunbelt paperwork for a B visa and at this point it may just complicate matters to inform her of this.

Everyone else says that a B visa is is preferable over a tourist visa in any circumstance.

Also, you can obtain a work permit with the non-imm B visa obtained with the lawyers office, because there is nothing in the visa that relates to the company they used, neither you have to submit the original visa paperwork to get the work permit.

This quote from Paz is the most encouraging so far, can anyone verify this?

[ubonjoe]

There will will be no problem to apply for the work permit and have it issued with the non-b you will get while you are in Australia.

As long as you get the work permit and can get an extension of stay before the end of the 90 day entry you get from the visa there will be no need to go of the country again.

[Tasty Food]

Thanks ubonjoe that is good to know.

I will have a week between arriving back in Bangkok and starting work - in that time I will need to get a WP.

So far I have sent admin:

Passport copy

CV

Reference/recommendation

Employment agreement and signed contract

I still need to get:

2. Photos Size 3X4centimeters and Size 4X6 cm = 3 of each size.

(not passport photos) with full face and taken wearing business attire (no hat and some jurisdictions require suit and tie).

(This must have been taken within six (6) months before the application for the Thai work permit.)

5. Medical Certificate = 2 original (Ask a doctor that need to get medical certificate for a VISA and Work Permit.)

· A recent medical certificate from a first-class licensed physician in Thailand stating that the applicant is not of unsound mind and not suffering from leprosy, acute tuberculosis, elephantiasis, narcotic addiction or habitual alcoholism

Today I will get a medical certificate (apparently a 10 minute/400 baht task not as complex as it appears above) and scan it and upon my return I will get the photos, which seem a confusing mix.

Is there anything else I should provide from my end before my trip to make the process as quick as possible upon my return?

[digitalchromakey]

Does returning on the Non B mean that I will not need to make another trip before starting the job?

2) Yes - but is a quick second trip, to say Penang, such a pain when it will be cheaper overall?

Yes it does mean that I won't need to make another trip? Sorry I'm a little confused by this reply.

I acknowledge that the Australia trip is unnecessary but it's all done and paid for and I have people to stay with and can afford it (just) so I may as well treat it as a holiday and pick up the B visa I've paid for.

The main confusion here is that the girl in admin, who's English isn't perfect, said in her email:

You need to get back as a tourist VISA once you leave the country to Australia, then afterward I could assist you apply for Work Permit then Non immigration - B Visa.

Noted: The applicant need to get a Work Permit Before Non – B Visa. Which mean it impossible for me to prepare documents for you by a few days, As I need to request a document form (1).Revenue Department,(2). Social Security Fun,(3). Bank Statement form Standard Chartered, these docs take up to 4-5days from Thai official office.

This is the first time I have ever heard of getting a WP before the B visa, maybe she's confused. She does not know that I have Sunbelt paperwork for a B visa and at this point it may just complicate matters to inform her of this.

Everyone else says that a B visa is is preferable over a tourist visa in any circumstance.

Also, you can obtain a work permit with the non-imm B visa obtained with the lawyers office, because there is nothing in the visa that relates to the company they used, neither you have to submit the original visa paperwork to get the work permit.

This quote from Paz is the most encouraging so far, can anyone verify this?

Your question was

Does returning on the Non B mean that I will not need to make another trip before starting the job?

My answer is yes.

The Amin girl is correct in what she writes - see my earlier post below:

To successfully apply for a Non Immigrant 'B' Visa in SE Asia, (as a non teacher) you/your employer almost always need to successfully file the WP application at Labour and get a Letter of Approval /Filing Receipt prior to your trip to obtain a 90 day Single Entry Non Immigrant 'B' Visa. Return to Thailand, show Labour you sparkling new 90 day non 'b' entry stamp and they will complete processing your WP and move to issue it. Once the WP is in your hands you can legally start work

However if you already have a non 'b' from out of the region, obtained without a WP filing, then that will do just fine for the whole WP issue process, providing there are still a few weeks remaining of your 90 day non 'b' entry.

Clear now?

[Tasty Food]

Okay yes, thank you for the clarification.

I was confused as to why she told me to come back on a tourist but she doesn't know I already have B paperwork which is probably why.

[digitalchromakey]

Okay yes, thank you for the clarification.

I was confused as to why she told me to come back on a tourist but she doesn't know I already have B paperwork which is probably why.

The WP application does not require a specific valid visa for the filing process to start and fro a Letter of Approval to be Issued; although some Labour Departments will not even accept filings for 'ED' Visa or entries made for retirement purposes.

You do need certainly need a valid non 'b' entry for the actual WP issue to proceed.

The Admin Person has told you that there is not enough time to prepare papers for a non 'b', I suspect that's the main reason a Tourist Visa was suggested.