Possible to change from Non-O to Non-B without leaving the country?

[d0ndela]

Hi

My wife is currently on a non-o visa based on marriage.

She now needs to start the process of getting a work permit, and because her non-o doesn't allow her to work, she needs to change to a non-b visa.

I know it's normally a simple thing, just go to a Thai embassy in any of the neighboring countries, but unfortunately because my wife's passport is from an African country it poses problems, all the embassies around here refuses to deal with African passports and tells you to go to your home country instead. That being quite a journey away it would be very handy if we could get around this some other way.

She wrote to the Thai embassy in her home-country and they said that the first thing she should try is to go to the immigration here and see if they can change her non-o visa to a non-b visa.

I've never heard about this before, so I just wanted to ask the wealth of knowledge that's usually around in here, if that even sounds remotely like a possibility?

[ubonjoe]

It is not possible to change non immigrant visa classes.

If she could get an approved work permit application done she might be able to apply for an extension of stay based upon working with her non-o visa or extension of stay as you dependent.

[d0ndela]

Thank you for the always quick reply Ubonjoe, much appreciated!

I just need to understand it correctly, so you are saying that she can try to put the work permit application through as it is now, even though the visa in her passport says 'employment prohibited'?

[ubonjoe]

That stamp may not mean anything if the proper documents are presented to apply for a work permit. It will depend upon the office where she applies for it.

People are able to apply for work permits with tourist visas but it will not be issued until a non immigrant visa is obtained.