Hi,

I knew one consulate where this was easy and possible to do. But that consulate is closed now.

Can someone please tell me where its possible to get a one year non-b visa, without having a work permit yet?

Best regards,

The nearest might be Australia at one of the honorary consulates there.

You home country would be your best choice if you have a registered company or business there. Or can get help from a company there.

NONE nearby

not sure about home country or Oz

Edited November 14, 201411 yr by phuketrichard

Certainly many years ago I walked into the Thai Consulate in Hull with a letter printed on my "trading as" business stationery stating that I had business development interests in a Thai company (a friend's building materials import and distribution business) and £125 and walked out with a 'B' 10 minutes later. I'm not sure whether that would happen now or not.

My home country is in Scandinavia, and the consulate here has just closed. The Thai embassy here are much more strict than the consulate was.

It seems like the consulate in Hong Kong might be able to do it:

http://www.thai-consulate.org.hk/web/3015.php?s=4262

does anyone have experience with them?

Btw, I'm not a teacher.

Edited November 14, 201411 yr by a1012k

NONE nearby

not sure about home country or Oz

I know things have changed. I expect they might want to see a little more evidence than I presented in 2009. I guess that an enquiry to the relevant consulate would help clarify their stipulations.

Hong Kong only if you were a resident and working for a company there.

Perhaps one of the honorary consulates in Europe. I have read reports of the ones in Germany being friendly. See: http://www.guidetothailand.com/thailand-travel-information/honcon-europe.php

My home country is in Scandinavia, and the consulate here has just closed. The Thai embassy here are much more strict than the consulate was.

It seems like the consulate in Hong Kong might be able to do it:

http://www.thai-consulate.org.hk/web/3015.php?s=4262

does anyone have experience with them?

Btw, I'm not a teacher.

There is this

1.2 A letter from the Thai Business Counterpart with authorized signature and Company Seal Stamp, stating the details about the visit to Thailand together with a copy of the Certificate of Company Registration issued by the Thai authority. A copy I.D. card of the Company's authorized signatory is also required.

That looks like a formalised version of the ruling that I utilised. Maybe that was the legislation then but they took a loose interpretation. The consulates are always more "relaxed". They are private businesses that bought into visa issuing generations ago, normally in association with related trade (like import/export through docks, as in Hull's case). Basically they were making money on visas so it was in their interest to take a loose view on the regulations. There was a lot of tightening in Hull last year with the visa "crackdown". With tourism bombing they may loosen up again so you just have to try I guess.

Edited November 14, 201411 yr by draftvader

The consulate in Hong Kong is an official consulate and has the same rules as an embassy.

Hong Kong only if you were a resident and working for a company there.

Perhaps one of the honorary consulates in Europe. I have read reports of the ones in Germany being friendly. See: http://www.guidetothailand.com/thailand-travel-information/honcon-europe.php

Are you sure about this?

I know an American who just went there to get he's visa done, but he only applied for a 3 months visa.

Hong Kong only if you were a resident and working for a company there.

Perhaps one of the honorary consulates in Europe. I have read reports of the ones in Germany being friendly. See: http://www.guidetothailand.com/thailand-travel-information/honcon-europe.php

Are you sure about this?

I know an American who just went there to get he's visa done, but he only applied for a 3 months visa.

There is a big difference between getting a single and a multiple entry visa.

He probably had paperwork from a Thai company and a work permit application done.

Hong Kong only if you were a resident and working for a company there.

Perhaps one of the honorary consulates in Europe. I have read reports of the ones in Germany being friendly. See: http://www.guidetothailand.com/thailand-travel-information/honcon-europe.php

Are you sure about this?

I know an American who just went there to get he's visa done, but he only applied for a 3 months visa.

There is a big difference between getting a single and a multiple entry visa.

He probably had paperwork from a Thai company and a work permit application done.

Hm I see..

I'll get the paperwork needed from a Thai company as well, they can get me everything, just not the work permit yet.

Laos

but you need all the Labour Dept paperwork done before they will issue a non B

Edited November 15, 201411 yr by BlackJack

Laos

but you need all the Labour Dept paperwork done before they will issue a non B

Wrong twice.

First, no multi entry (aka 1 year) non-imm B. visa is issued in Laos.

Second, the "Labour dept" paperwork, (aka letter of approval), is exactly equivalent to a work permit, tha the OP doesn't have.

read post 12

non B is normally only 3 months

you cant get a Multi until you get your extension of stay

the LOA is not "exactly equivalent" to a WP, it is necessary to apply hence "you need all the Labour Dept paperwork done"

it is as I said in my post

my post was a bit cryptic as I was stating that you cant have one with out the other (sing along)

My home country is in Scandinavia, and the consulate here has just closed. The Thai embassy here are much more strict than the consulate was.

It seems like the consulate in Hong Kong might be able to do it:

http://www.thai-consulate.org.hk/web/3015.php?s=4262

does anyone have experience with them?

Btw, I'm not a teacher.

There is this

1.2 A letter from the Thai Business Counterpart with authorized signature and Company Seal Stamp, stating the details about the visit to Thailand together with a copy of the Certificate of Company Registration issued by the Thai authority. A copy I.D. card of the Company's authorized signatory is also required.

That looks like a formalised version of the ruling that I utilised. Maybe that was the legislation then but they took a loose interpretation. The consulates are always more "relaxed". They are private businesses that bought into visa issuing generations ago, normally in association with related trade (like import/export through docks, as in Hull's case). Basically they were making money on visas so it was in their interest to take a loose view on the regulations. There was a lot of tightening in Hull last year with the visa "crackdown". With tourism bombing they may loosen up again so you just have to try I guess.

The letter you mentioned is indeed sufficient....or was........in most cases it will give you a 90 day single non-B which gives you enough time to take care of a WP + extensions in Thailand.

AFAIK only with a WP you'll get a one-year non-B

Laos

but you need all the Labour Dept paperwork done before they will issue a non B

Wrong twice.

First, no multi entry (aka 1 year) non-imm B. visa is issued in Laos.

Second, the "Labour dept" paperwork, (aka letter of approval), is exactly equivalent to a work permit, tha the OP doesn't have.

thought the receipt for applying for a Work Permit was enough.

My home country is in Scandinavia, and the consulate here has just closed. The Thai embassy here are much more strict than the consulate was.

It seems like the consulate in Hong Kong might be able to do it:

http://www.thai-consulate.org.hk/web/3015.php?s=4262

does anyone have experience with them?

Btw, I'm not a teacher.

There is this

1.2 A letter from the Thai Business Counterpart with authorized signature and Company Seal Stamp, stating the details about the visit to Thailand together with a copy of the Certificate of Company Registration issued by the Thai authority. A copy I.D. card of the Company's authorized signatory is also required.

That looks like a formalised version of the ruling that I utilised. Maybe that was the legislation then but they took a loose interpretation. The consulates are always more "relaxed". They are private businesses that bought into visa issuing generations ago, normally in association with related trade (like import/export through docks, as in Hull's case). Basically they were making money on visas so it was in their interest to take a loose view on the regulations. There was a lot of tightening in Hull last year with the visa "crackdown". With tourism bombing they may loosen up again so you just have to try I guess.

The letter you mentioned is indeed sufficient....or was........in most cases it will give you a 90 day single non-B which gives you enough time to take care of a WP + extensions in Thailand.

AFAIK only with a WP you'll get a one-year non-B

Interestingly enough I got a 1 year multi-B from that application! I seriously doubt that would happen now and I am lucky enough to be many years on a Non-Immi O Dependent as my wife is on a B with WP. Lucky me!

Along the comment about some of the German Honorary Consulates this is something I've heard from my Bavarian Buddies over time.

read post 12

non B is normally only 3 months

you cant get a Multi until you get your extension of stay

Incorrect. There is only one consulate that predictably issues multi-entry non-imm 'B' visa, and that is Penang, Malaysia. But they require a valid work permit with at least 8 months remaining. No extension of stay is necessary.

thought the receipt for applying for a Work Permit was enough.

It used to be the just receipt, now most (all?) consulates have raised the requirement to be actually approved, need a letter signed by labour dep.t director.

Edited November 16, 201411 yr by paz

Draftvader......I used to get 1 year m.e. Non-B's same as you, bur last year in Amsterdam just a 90 day single entry; strikter rule enforcement was The reason

Draftvader......I used to get 1 year m.e. Non-B's same as you, bur last year in Amsterdam just a 90 day single entry; strikter rule enforcement was The reason

That confirms what I have felt has happened. I have a luckier position now so I don't push it

Certainly many years ago I walked into the Thai Consulate in Hull with a letter printed on my "trading as" business stationery stating that I had business development interests in a Thai company (a friend's building materials import and distribution business) and £125 and walked out with a 'B' 10 minutes later. I'm not sure whether that would happen now or not.

Not anymore; Hull can't even issue a One Year Multiple Entry Non 'B' even with a Work Permit and the correct papers now.

Pay never in any post did I mention multi

^{The only place I know of in south east Asia that does not require a WP3 pre-approval work permit from the Works department is Singapore. However, you still will need a letter confirming your job offer and all the company documentation otherwise you will not be given a Non -Imm B visa. It is always granted on the understanding that you will apply for a work permit when you enter Thailand with this visa.}

Pay never in any post did I mention multi

battery cut out before finishing

Paz suggest you stick to the OP question

as you cant have one without the other

^{The only place I know of in south east Asia that does not require a WP3 pre-approval work permit from the Works department is Singapore. However, you still will need a letter confirming your job offer and all the company documentation otherwise you will not be given a Non -Imm B visa. It is always granted on the understanding that you will apply for a work permit when you enter Thailand with this visa.}

This is correct, providing you follow Singapore's list of requirements to the letter.

Even then they will only issue a single entry 90 day non immigrant 'b' visa in this case.

Otherwise, for non teachers, most SE Asia Thai Consular Facilities now demand the signed Letter of Approval from labour and will no longer just accept the A5 sized WP3/WP1 filing receipt supplied with all the other specified company papers - see link below:

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22B%22-(for-Business-and.html

Best you can hope for in SE Asia with the supply of a Letter of Approval is a 90 days single entry non 'b'

Hi there,

Sorry if I'm going over old ground. I've read through all the posts and just would like some confirmation. I have a job opportunity with a UK company in Thailand. They have no Thai office, so hard to get WP I believe, but have a number of projects in Thailand in the next coming years. Could I therefore apply for a non-immi B from say Singapore that would give me multi-entry 90-day VISA, using all the required documents?

Hi there,

Sorry if I'm going over old ground. I've read through all the posts and just would like some confirmation. I have a job opportunity with a UK company in Thailand. They have no Thai office, so hard to get WP I believe, but have a number of projects in Thailand in the next coming years. Could I therefore apply for a non-immi B from say Singapore that would give me multi-entry 90-day VISA, using all the required documents?

You will not get multiple entry non-b visa in Singapore.

Since you will be working for a UK company you probably could get one at the embassy or one of the consulates in the UK with the proper paperwork.

You still will need a work permit if you doing anything more than attending meetings and such.

The company should set up a representative office here. You could then get a work permit and an extension of stay. Only one Thai employee would be needed to get the work permit and extension.

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Hi there,

Sorry if I'm going over old ground. I've read through all the posts and just would like some confirmation. I have a job opportunity with a UK company in Thailand. They have no Thai office, so hard to get WP I believe, but have a number of projects in Thailand in the next coming years. Could I therefore apply for a non-immi B from say Singapore that would give me multi-entry 90-day VISA, using all the required documents?

You will not get multiple entry non-b visa in Singapore.

Since you will be working for a UK company you probably could get one at the embassy or one of the consulates in the UK with the proper paperwork.

You still will need a work permit if you doing anything more than attending meetings and such.

The company should set up a representative office here. You could then get a work permit and an extension of stay. Only one Thai employee would be needed to get the work permit and extension.

Thanks ubonjoe,

I would really just be attending meetings as Project Manager / Consultant for construction projects anyway and doing general paperwork for them remotely (when I visit Thailand) and for the Thai projects. So if they set-up a representative office are you saying they would only need 1 Thai person? I was on the understanding there would need to be 4x Thai per one foreigner.