Changing OA "Retirement" Visa to B Visa

[Bodger22]

Hi

I would like to know if there is an issue to change a 12 Month Multiple Entry "Retirement" Visa to a B Visa on the basis of applying for a work permit.

I understand that I cannot work on a Retirement Visa, but towards the end of the year I might want to apply for a job teaching English as a foreign language.

The school would then give me documents to do a Visa run and return with a B Visa, which would then start the work permit application.

But I want to be sure there are no restrictions on changing from the OA to a B?

Thank you

[oncearugge]

No restriction that I am aware of.

Be aware the "B" visa obtained in the region will only give a 90 day entry.

Your employer would also need to acquire you a work permit.

More detail about teaching in Thailand, obtaining a teaching license ect. can be found in the Teaching forum.

[bangmai]

I've been interested in doing the same thing, and get conflicting reports...a few have said you could change the visa at Immigration. A couple have said you could actually get a WP with an O-A, which I seriously doubt. And now somebody is saying only a 90...which would suck compared to being on an O-A....I think only working for a school that has very close ties with Imm. would be the way to go. I'm evn considering working a teaching gig in China, and maintaining my retirement visa here.

[PlastikbinLina]

In Phuket immigration you cannot change direct to a Non B from any other long term extension. You would be asked to leave the country and get a Non Immigrant B 90 day visa in a Thai Embassy/Consulate. On re-entry to Thailand your entry stamp will indicate a 90 day period from the date of entry. After 45 days has expired you can apply for a one year Non B along with the appropriate supporting employee/employer documents.

[Lite Beer]

In Phuket immigration you cannot change direct to a Non B from any other long term extension. You would be asked to leave the country and get a Non Immigrant B 90 day visa in a Thai Embassy/Consulate. On re-entry to Thailand your entry stamp will indicate a 90 day period from the date of entry. After 45 days has expired you can apply for a one year Non B along with the appropriate supporting employee/employer documents.

Wrong.

After 45 days you can apply for a 12 Month Extension based on your work.

It is not a Visa.

[ubonjoe]

If a person has a OA visa and is on is on the one year entry from it they would not be able to do anything until their visa expires and the entry has ended.unless an embassy or consulate canceled it when a non-b visa was applied for.

If on an extension of stay based upon retirement you would not be able to change the reason for your extension to working unless you had at least a work permit application done which would be almost impossible because most work permit offices will not even accept a work permit application if person is on a retirement extension.

[Bodger22]

Thanks for the comments.

Just so I'm clear, if I receive a job offer to teach and the required documents for a B Visa, then I can leave the country and apply for the B Visa at an Embassy. The OA retirement would then be canceld, so I can return on the B Visa and apply for the work permit extension? Is that correct?

[ubonjoe]

It depends upon whether you have a OA visa from an embassy or consulate or an extension of stay from immigration.

If you have a valid OA visa the embassy would have to cancel it.

If you have an extension of stay it would end as soon as you leave the country.