Hi,

Have trawled and trawled the internet and my brain is boggling. Currently on an ED visa. Need to get a non-B. Can't get the approval letter using WP1 because of ED, can't get the WP3 because of being in the country at time of application.

The company want me to leave the country, get a 60-day tourist. Come back. Apply for the work permit using WP1. Get a non-B hopefully in Bangkok. Yada. My grumbles are: 1 cost of tourist visa, 2. full passport, 3. convoluted application process once back in Bangkok.

Is there anywhere that can issue me the non-B with the standard company documents? Melbourne, for example, or Singapore?

Any solid help much appreciated - got to make the decision and pressure mounts!

Yours with fingers (and passport) crossed, Wee.

You do not need to go throughout a tourist visa. Apply for WP (it is permitted to apply while being on any type of visa or visa exempt) and you will receive a letter of approval, not the actual work permit. With that you will travel and obtain the non-imm 'B' visa, showing it to labour office you will receive the actual work permit.

You need to go yourself at the labour office and apply, rather than listening to your company.

The problem is that the work permit office will not accept an application with a ED visa.

Dependent upon what country you are from you could do a border run to get a visa exempt entry and apply for the work permit. You can now get a 30 day extension of a exempt entry.

You could go to Cambodia for the border run and save a passport page by getting a e-visa. https://www.evisa.gov.kh

Singapore has been reported as issuing a non-b visa without a letter of approval but the paperwork has to be perfect or you will be turned away.

Thank you! How stupid it all is BUT I am a UK citizen so might well go for the border bounce and e-ticket. Thanks so much for your advice. I was all set on Melbourne for a while but a holiday would be far better! Great stuff, thank you.

Also, it's like you read my mind! The passport is nearly full! Do you think they'll be okay with a bounce on the malaysian border too? (save myself the 30 usd, get a small stamp and maybe fly to hat yai then the bus)? Will there be any likelihood that they will make me stay in the country for a few days?!

Since you are from the UK you will get a 30 day entry at the border (G7 rule).

You should be able to do a crossing to Malaysia and come right back. But don't do the crossing at Sadao they even tell those with valid visas they need to spend the night.

(y) thanks. currently thinking of flying to penang and trying for a non B anyway

You will not get a non-b in Penang without having a work permit application approval letter.

No problem getting a single entry tourist visa though.

with thanks. it's always a choice between some kind of rock and...currently doing the 'pretend it's a holiday' approach, though really it's just a great expense!!