I live in Thailand using a 5-year Thailand Elite visa, which works very well for me as I own, but do not work in my Phuket business.

But I have recently leased out that business and have returned to teaching at a school in Thailand (I previously taught outside Thailand to avoid the 'hassles' of applying for a non-imm .

To work legally, I need a WP. I cannot get a WP with an Elite visa and must therefore obtain a non-imm B visa, which will run in parallel to my Elite visa.

What is the correct process to obtain a non-imm B to run in parallel with my Elite visa, and how do I avoid confusing the immigration guys with 2 visas?

I assume that I get the necessary paperwork to apply for a non-imm B from my school/agency. Then I go to eg Penang consulate to apply for a non-imm B, (explaining to them that I already have my 5-year Elite visa, but need the non-imm B for my WP).

I get the non-imm B visa stamp and return to Thailand, again maybe explaining to immigration that they need to stamp 'used' on the non-imm B visa and NOT the Elite visa.

Is there anything that I am missing? Thanks.

Yes. When you enter Thailand (after getting Non Imm B visa from Penang), you just tell the immigration officer that you want to enter via Non Imm B visa. You are aware you can still use TE service though you are entering via Non Immi B visa, right? If you are entering via Suvarnabhumi, just tell the TE staff who waits for you at the gate that you will be entering via Non Imm B visa and she will handle for you. If you are entering via Donmuang, then just tell immigration officer that you are entering via Non Imm B.

Yes. When you enter Thailand (after getting Non Imm B visa from Penang), you just tell the immigration officer that you want to enter via Non Imm B visa. You are aware you can still use TE service though you are entering via Non Immi B visa, right? If you are entering via Suvarnabhumi, just tell the TE staff who waits for you at the gate that you will be entering via Non Imm B visa and she will handle for you. If you are entering via Donmuang, then just tell immigration officer that you are entering via Non Imm B.

Have you done this yourself or where did you get this information from?

• I would have thought that the Consulate will cancel the PE visa before issuing the non 'B'.

Your TE membership can/will continue but all the time you're working the PE visa is of no use.

elviajero, i have done it myself, though the other way around. i still have have a non-b + work permit (which translates to extension of stay) when I applied for the PE visa and has been using interchangeably for almost 6 months before I left my job (and thus, my extension of stay). So I leave Thailand on the day I left my job (using non-b extension of stay) and come in again using PE visa. Just remember whatever visa you use to get into Thailand, you will need to use the same visa to leave the country (though you have PE visa in place).

you can just call TE and they will tell you about it.

elviajero, i have done it myself, though the other way around. i still have have a non-b + work permit (which translates to extension of stay) when I applied for the PE visa and has been using interchangeably for almost 6 months before I left my job (and thus, my extension of stay). So I leave Thailand on the day I left my job (using non-b extension of stay) and come in again using PE visa. Just remember whatever visa you use to get into Thailand, you will need to use the same visa to leave the country (though you have PE visa in place).

you can just call TE and they will tell you about it.

Thanks, but doing it the other way around makes a difference.

My concern is getting the non 'B' visa as Embassies and Consulates will not, usually, issue a new visa without cancelling an existing visa. I doubt TE would have any control over that.

I don't understand why someone with a 1 extension of stay/re-entry permit based on work would need or want the hassle of switching, even if that is possible.

elviajero, i have done it myself, though the other way around. i still have have a non-b + work permit (which translates to extension of stay) when I applied for the PE visa and has been using interchangeably for almost 6 months before I left my job (and thus, my extension of stay). So I leave Thailand on the day I left my job (using non-b extension of stay) and come in again using PE visa. Just remember whatever visa you use to get into Thailand, you will need to use the same visa to leave the country (though you have PE visa in place).

you can just call TE and they will tell you about it.

Thanks, but doing it the other way around makes a difference.

My concern is getting the non 'B' visa as Embassies and Consulates will not, usually, issue a new visa without cancelling an existing visa. I doubt TE would have any control over that.

I don't understand why someone with a 1 extension of stay/re-entry permit based on work would need or want the hassle of switching, even if that is possible.

Not sure embassies and consulates can cancel visas issued by immigration. The PE visa is only issued by immigration.

Also if a visa is of a different class embassies do not always cancel them.

elviajero, i have done it myself, though the other way around. i still have have a non-b + work permit (which translates to extension of stay) when I applied for the PE visa and has been using interchangeably for almost 6 months before I left my job (and thus, my extension of stay). So I leave Thailand on the day I left my job (using non-b extension of stay) and come in again using PE visa. Just remember whatever visa you use to get into Thailand, you will need to use the same visa to leave the country (though you have PE visa in place).

you can just call TE and they will tell you about it.

Thanks, but doing it the other way around makes a difference.

My concern is getting the non 'B' visa as Embassies and Consulates will not, usually, issue a new visa without cancelling an existing visa. I doubt TE would have any control over that.

I don't understand why someone with a 1 extension of stay/re-entry permit based on work would need or want the hassle of switching, even if that is possible.

my reason of applying PE with me having extension of stay/re-entry permit based on work permit is simple: I plan to leave my job (where my extension of stay will therefore be void) but wanting to stay in Thailand

elviajero, i have done it myself, though the other way around. i still have have a non-b + work permit (which translates to extension of stay) when I applied for the PE visa and has been using interchangeably for almost 6 months before I left my job (and thus, my extension of stay). So I leave Thailand on the day I left my job (using non-b extension of stay) and come in again using PE visa. Just remember whatever visa you use to get into Thailand, you will need to use the same visa to leave the country (though you have PE visa in place).

you can just call TE and they will tell you about it.

Thanks, but doing it the other way around makes a difference.

My concern is getting the non 'B' visa as Embassies and Consulates will not, usually, issue a new visa without cancelling an existing visa. I doubt TE would have any control over that.

I don't understand why someone with a 1 extension of stay/re-entry permit based on work would need or want the hassle of switching, even if that is possible.

my reason of applying PE with me having extension of stay/re-entry permit based on work permit is simple: I plan to leave my job (where my extension of stay will therefore be void) but wanting to stay in Thailand

I understand that, but your situation is different to the OP, and you were saying that you were interchanging for 6 months.

It would make more sense to have the PE visa issued after the existing permission to stay is lost. Otherwise you are wasting part of the 5 year validity of the PE visa.

elviajero, i have done it myself, though the other way around. i still have have a non-b + work permit (which translates to extension of stay) when I applied for the PE visa and has been using interchangeably for almost 6 months before I left my job (and thus, my extension of stay). So I leave Thailand on the day I left my job (using non-b extension of stay) and come in again using PE visa. Just remember whatever visa you use to get into Thailand, you will need to use the same visa to leave the country (though you have PE visa in place).

you can just call TE and they will tell you about it.

Thanks, but doing it the other way around makes a difference.

My concern is getting the non 'B' visa as Embassies and Consulates will not, usually, issue a new visa without cancelling an existing visa. I doubt TE would have any control over that.

I don't understand why someone with a 1 extension of stay/re-entry permit based on work would need or want the hassle of switching, even if that is possible.

my reason of applying PE with me having extension of stay/re-entry permit based on work permit is simple: I plan to leave my job (where my extension of stay will therefore be void) but wanting to stay in Thailand

I understand that, but your situation is different to the OP, and you were saying that you were interchanging for 6 months.

It would make more sense to have the PE visa issued after the existing permission to stay is lost. Otherwise you are wasting part of the 5 year validity of the PE visa.

Understand where you are coming from. The reason in getting a PE visa before rather than getting after WP to expire is because I was already 46 (thus, not yet eligible for Non O based on retirement), and when my PE visa does expire, I will be 51, and thus, I will be eligible for (a cheaper) Non O (based on retirement) visa option - which of course is assuming the 50 year old retirement requirement doesn't change by then. To me, even if the retirement requirement does change, i figure that 5 or 6 month extra would not make a difference, besides, I can get another PE (assuming TE it is still in business). But that's just my thought process.

Edited July 5, 201610 yr by linguini