Newbie Non-immigrant "B" Visa holder, need help.

[jethnav]

Hello everyone, I am Mark from Philippines and currently working and living in Koh Tao, Thailand. I got my work permit last December after getting a Non-Immigrant "B" Visa which is valid for 90 days. From all the information I gathered from internet and other people, the next step should I do is to get a MULTIPLE ENTRY Non-immigrant B Visa which is valid for 1 year so I don't have to exit Thailand every 3 months (90 days) and just go to the nearest Immigration office instead. However, when I applied a Multiple Entry Non-immigrant B Visa in Laos, they just granted me a Single entry and I'm very sure that the documents I had during that time are complete for Multiple Entry with my Work Permit. Now this is my question on what should I do next as my present single entry Non-immigrant B Visa will expire on 17th of June:

Do I need to apply for a Multiple Entry Non-immigrant B Visa outside Thailand again or I could just extend my expiring Single Entry Visa to the nearest Immigration office?

It is very confusing what to do next because my English friend with Multiple Entry Visa always go outside Thailand every 3 months but my Filipino friend working in different company just need to go to a nearest Immigration office only every 3 months while he holds only a Single Entry Visa. Does being Asian has something to do with this?

By the way, this is my company's first time to grant a Work Permit and my boss don't have any idea what to do as well.

My salary is just enough for me and I can't afford to exit Thailand and do Visa run every 3 months.

I hope someone experienced here could enlighten and help me. Thank you very much in advance!

[nzexpat]

If you wish to avoid "visa" runs you will need to qualify for an "extension of stay" based on working !

Obtaining a "MULTIPLE ENTRY Non-immigrant B Visa which is valid for 1 year" would require that you leave Thailand every 90 days.

This is not my area of expertise but I can assure you that without the necessary supporting paperwork supplied by your employer you will not be able to obtain an "extension of stay" or a "MULTIPLE ENTRY Non-immigrant B Visa"

Hopefully someone will provide some more detailed advise for you .

[PoorSucker]

You can go to Samui Immigrations and apply for 1 year extension of stay if you qualify.

Then you only have to report every 90 days.

If you do not qualify Penang will issue a multiple entry non-B if you have at least 8 months left on your WP.

This means you will have to exit Thailand every 90 days.

Extension of Thai Business Visa
The Thai "B" or Business Visa can be extended to a one year visa in country as follows.
The extension of the visa is normally based on employment and as such there are certain regulations governing the company who is employing you.

These are the regulations for the extension of the "B" Business Visa:
1. The business must be registered in Thailand.
2. The company must be capitalized to at least Baht 2 Million while operating fund must be at least Baht 1 Million.
3. The company must have a ration of at least 4 : 1 - Four Thais for every foreigner.
4. You must earn at least in accordance with the level specified for each nationality by the Labour Department. (in your case 35,000 baht/month)

Duration of the Extension
- One year at a time.

Documents required for the extension:
1. Application form (T.M. 7 )
2. Passport or document used in lien of passport and its copies .
3. The applicants 4 x 6 cm. photograph .
4. Extension fee Baht 1,900.-
5. The company letters certifying as follows ;
- Nature of business
- Reason or necessity in employing the applicant his / her position, salary and education background.
- Number of Thai and foreign employees.
6. Copies of work permit or receipt of work permit application.
7. Company's annual balance sheets.
8. The juristic persons Annual Income Tax Declaration Form (Form No.50) of the latest year and its receipt of payment.
9. Thai employees Monthly Income Tax Declaration Form (Form No.1 ) of the latest month and its receipt of payment.
10. The applicants Annual Income Tax Declaration Form (Form No.91) of the latest year and its receipt of payment.
11. The official letter that certify the registration of such juristic person.
12. Business Registration or Business License.
13. Value Added Tax Registration and list of share holders.
14. A map that indicate location of the Company.
15. For those who operate export business, the documentary evidence clarifying its export activities is needed.
16. For those who operate tourism business, the documentary evidence clarifying its total number of tourist that brought in by the company is needed.

Some Immigrations offices.
17. Picture of all the company's employees at work
18. Picture of all company's employees in front of the office with clear name of the company showing

N.B. In case of necessity , documents No.7 , 8 , 9 , and 10 can be substituted by the company letters stating its reason.

[jethnav]

Thank you sirs for your quick replies!

Based from your answers, I could assume now that I have two options on what to do next:

1. Multiple Entry Non-Immigrant B Visa, it will require me to exit the country every 90 days right? Practically, this is not the option for me.

Question: What is the possibility why Laos Immigration grant me only Single entry visa even if the documents I present them were good for Multiple entry?

2. One year extension for my Non-Immigrant B Visa (Single Entry).

Question: What if the Immigration did not grant me the extension? So the only option would be left for me is the Multiple Entry Non-Immigrant B Visa right sirs? And if they will grant me a one year extension of my Visa, do I still need to go on the nearest Immigration every 90 days or it would be good for one year without going to any Immigration offices anymore?

Thanks for the help sirs. I really appreciate it.

[PoorSucker]

1. Different consulates have different policies, see this pinned thread about the latest reports from different consulates.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/189375-latest-reports-of-getting-a-visa-in-the-region/

2. If you get yearly extension you must still make 90 day report at your local immigrations office.

However this has not to be made in person, can be made by someone else, mail (if office allows it) or via Internet (just started, so not working for everyone)

You should be able to get extension of stay if there are four Thais per foreigner working there and your salary is over 35.000 baht/month.

The rest of the requirement are the same as securing a work permit.

[ubonjoe]

The only nearby location that will do a multiple entry non-b visa is the consulate in Penang Malaysia.

You need to look closely at the requirement to get the extension of stay (it is not a visa) and be sure your employer and your salary qualifies you for the extension, If the requirements are met the extension will be done.

If you get the extension you just need to 90 day reports to immigration. You can do them online now or by mail.

[allane]

To the OP:

A couple of questions for you:

1. It seems that you have a long-term job but you didn't state the nature of it: Is it some sort of work that requires you to travel in and out of Thailand frequently ?

If not, forget about the "Multiple Entry"; you don't need that, you need only single Entry.

2. I think you might be confusing two different "90 Day" requirements, and the posters above have not clarified that either.

a) If you do NOT have a one year Non-Immigrant "B" visa, and want to work in Thailand, you have to make a "visa trip" outside the country every 90 days.

There is a requirement that all foreigners living in Thailand report their Place of Residence to their local Immigration office every 90 days. This is not connected to your job; any foreigner who is retired here, or here because they are married to a Thai has to do it as well. There have been recent reports that some foreigners in some areas are now able to do this on-line. I tis not possible to get a visa, or extend a visa, online.