Non-imm B Question

[Jonsam]

I am planning to go to Malaysia to get a non-immigrant B visa. I am an American with a newly registered Thai company, and am one of the major stakeholders. I plan to work under this company name. I have the apprapriate letter w/letterhead addressed to the Thai Embassy in Malaysia. My question is this: Which embassy in Malaysia will be able to process it the quickest and how long will it take? In other words, when would I need to apply and when could I get my passport w/ visa returned to me?

In the past, this has been fairly easy with tourist visas. The embassy's in Laos and Cambodia have specific times they accept applications (either morning or afternoon) and then during the alternate time on the following day return the visas. I assume the embassies in Malaysia will be the same. So basically my questions boil down to this: What time of day will I need to apply, at which embassy, and when should I get my passport back?

My hope is that I will be able to fly down Thursday morning, go to the embassy, sleep, go back to the embassy, and return to Thailand Friday evening. Will I be able to do this?

Tons of thanks to anyone who can help me, and good New Years wishes to all those of you reading.

[lopburi3]

The timing sounds fine but am not sure a letter is going to get a non immigrant visa these days. Suggest you review Sunbelt posts if nobody provides specific information here.

[Jonsam]

I have another question regarding renewing my entry-upon-arrival visa at immigration, so that perhaps I will not have to rush to Malaysia so soon and can better make sure I have all my documents in order before I go. I have heard that with the new laws we can only be here for 90 days out of a period of 180, with the counting beginning October 1st, and that renewals are 30 days.

If I've spent about 75-80 days in Thailand beginning October 1st (and was here continuously before then as well) will I still be able to renew my visa at immigration? What would be the result of such an attempt on my part, would they give me 30 days, or give me just the difference between 90 and what I've already spent here (75 or so), or would it be like it used to be with a 10 day renewal (it did used to be 10, right?),... or, would they tell me to leave the country in an authoritative voice while frowning at me?

Thanks again for the great advice (to anyone who gives it), and again Happy New Years to everybody!

[lopburi3]

You misunderstood. You can not renew any visa at Immigration. The 90 day rule is about entry with 30 day visa exemptions and requires you leave the country - so you would not be allowed to enter the country on the visa exempt program again if you have already spent 90 days here under the program in a 180 day period.

[Jonsam]

Thank you for responding so quickly, I think it's great how helpful people on this site seem to be. But I think we may have both understood eachother, possibly because my writing is too much stream of consciousness, or my tendency to ask one question in seven parts, or maybe it was because I said "renewal" when I meant "extension." Either way, I'm still confused as to what I need to do.

So, unless I'm mistaken, the new visa rules began on Oct 1st. Since that date, I have been in Thailand for less than 90 days (which is good for me), but more than 60 (which I hope is irrelevant). Soon my visa will be finished, but I still will have been here for a total of fewer than 90 days since the new rules took effect.

Can I get an extension at immigration, or have they stopped doing that? Would I have to leave the country and then come back, getting a completely new visa-on-arrival? I am concerned they would not give me a new visa on arrival, because I have been here for more than 60 days, so staying another month would put me over the limit.

From your last post, what I seem to understand is that I cannot go to immigration for an extension like everyone used to do, but even if I have already been here for 89 days than I can still do the old-fashioned kind of visa run, and they will let me back in with a new visa-on-arrival.

Is it something like that?

Thanks again Mr Lopburi, et. al.!

P.S. By "visa-on-arrival" I think what I'm referring to is actually the "visa exemption program."

Sorry I have so many questions and rephrasing of questions, but I spent hours on google, and I couldn't find the info I needed anywhere else, including several Thai embassy websites.

Edited January 2, 2007 by Jonsam

[lopburi3]

You seem to be here on visa exemption 30 day stays? These have never been extended as a policy but only with good reason/good grace for a short period of 7-10 days. At a cost of 1,900 baht it was seldom cost effective.

You must do something about your status as you are not likely to be allowed to enter Thailand without a visa again - or if you are it will only be for a few days. Even if you can only get a tourist visa you should be planning that. If you have the requirement documents for a non immigrant B visa so much the better but I do not know the exact requirements. So if anyone knows the current requirements in Malaysia please advise. But I believe you may be able to find them with a read of Sunbelt Asia posts for the last month, but know that is a lot of material.

If you are really here on a tourist visa 60 day stay then, yes, immigration can extend for 30 days and your stay would not count againt the 90 day rule.

[Jonsam]

Thanks again Mr. Lopburi for all your helpful advice. Just one more thing... can you provide a link to the "Sunbelt posts" website? I've looked at two different sites for the Sunbelt legal firm, but couldn't find any kind of forum or blog on it where people might post about thist sort of stuff.

I'll check back here a few more times tonight and tomorrow in case anyone has added anything here.

thanx!

[lopburi3]

The owner posts here using the name Sunbelt Asia. So you click members at top of page and search his name and then use the drop down menu to find his posts.

This should get it for you Sunbelt Asia posts

[Sunbelt Asia]

I am planning to go to Malaysia to get a non-immigrant B visa. I am an American with a newly registered Thai company, and am one of the major stakeholders. I plan to work under this company name. I have the apprapriate letter w/letterhead addressed to the Thai Embassy in Malaysia. My question is this: Which embassy in Malaysia will be able to process it the quickest and how long will it take? In other words, when would I need to apply and when could I get my passport w/ visa returned to me?

In the past, this has been fairly easy with tourist visas. The embassy's in Laos and Cambodia have specific times they accept applications (either morning or afternoon) and then during the alternate time on the following day return the visas. I assume the embassies in Malaysia will be the same. So basically my questions boil down to this: What time of day will I need to apply, at which embassy, and when should I get my passport back?

My hope is that I will be able to fly down Thursday morning, go to the embassy, sleep, go back to the embassy, and return to Thailand Friday evening. Will I be able to do this?

Tons of thanks to anyone who can help me, and good New Years wishes to all those of you reading.

I surmise you are getting the non B in order to get a work permit. You will need all the company paperwork signed and stamped by a Director. Company paperwork consist of business registration and business license

list of shareholders, company profile, details of business operation( business objectives), value-added tax registration (Por Por 20) You also will need the letter from the company inviting you. KL is your best choice but at most you will get a 90 day business visa without having a work permit.

By the way as your company is a start up, it will be impossible for you to get a extension as well in Thailand. Your only hope is to get a work permit and pay tax for three months ( PND #1) and then you may get a one year multi entry visa. But the odds are very low, you will get that in KL now even being an American. Most people need to fly out of the Asia area to get the one year multi entry visa.

Most people find they cannot arrive in KL early enough to make it to the Embassy and fly in the night before.

Good luck. I'm on a plane in 2 hours and will not be near a computer till the 10th of Jan. But feel free to contact my office if you need help. 02-642-0213. We have a staff of 75 associates that can help you.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com