[slowlexrese]

anyone around with information on that topic. where do I hv to apply for a B Visa as basis for a work permit... possible in Th, neighbouring countries or only back home? any informations welcomed so thanks in advance!

[StampNews]

I applied for mine in Australia which isn't my home country. Some people reported they were able to switch to a Non Immigrant visa within the country but that is generally not correct. I guess some money under the table was used. If you get a fake visa (i.e. on Khao San Road) or alter anything in your passport YOU WILL end up in prison for a minimum of one year.

[slowlexrese]

thx krup! but wasn't my plan coz I am afraid food isn't as good there as at my recent Pak Soi. ;-)

Anyone who applied in the neighborhood (Cambodia, Lao, S'pore ...)?

Richard: By the way, thanks for running this wonderful website. Thumbs up!!!

[StampNews]

I only mentioned Australia as an example. If the country has a full embassy then you should have no problem applying. Though, sometimes they are a bit fussy. We once sent a prospective teacher down to the embassy in Penang. Apparently our school wasn't listed and they refused to give him a visa!

[Drysnyaty]

I got my non-B in Laos, my employer provided a pile of documents. I was told however that the embassy guys come up with new regulations and requirements regularly, so employers need to pull some strings regularly so that their prospective staff are not given a hard time. I saw several people refused when I was there.

on the other hand, a friend of mine got a 1-year non-B back home in the EU when he walked into the embassy waving a single fax paper saying that X.Y. firm (a multinational company) is willing to employ him in Bangkok, no contracts, no list of foreign employees, nothing.

go figure....

[flienianO]

"Some people reported they were able to switch to a Non Immigrant visa within the country but that is generally not correct."

Richard, Why do you say this? I am married to a Thai woman and I plan on going to Thailand the first of June as I normally do and obtain entry as I always do upon arrival for the allowed 30 days when I arrive at airport Immigrations. From there I plan on going to the Thai Immigration Bureau in Bangkok, filling out forms TM86 and TM87, submitting all proper docs, and obtain a type 'O' visa to support a Thai spouse and family.

I guess my concern is the next step I need to take, obtaining a work permit. Do you or anyone else think that this would be difficult? I already have a job with US based company seeking to have an expat working and living in Thailand. How long does it usually take to obtain a work permit these days?
NOTE: My job is not teaching, it is high tech mfg.

Any information or details to my particular situation would be very beneficial.

Thanks,
dingdongrb

[M4tHkBw2]

Er dingdong by name or nature?
Just kidding, but your post name begs the question

If you have work lined up it would have made more sence to get their letter of appointment and apply for a NON-B before entering.
I have no doubt you will get the 30 days on nentry, and maybe even the years extension or NON-O to be a provider - provided you can show a bank balance and regular foreign income.
But to get a work permit you need a NON-B, they rarely issue these form Thailand, unless extending an existing NON-B.
You will have to leave the county with the afrementioned letter, go to an embassy, and apply for a NON-B, on your return you will be given a Work Permit.
Another option is if you have Thai residency, then you can come and go, and get a WP whenever you need one, and surrender it whenever you don'y need it.
Thems the rules

[ibiDb4uu]

dingdongrb, regarding aplying for a type O visa to support a thai wife and family. Visiting thailand on a waiver of visa, ( 30 day freebie).?? In time's past, One could only apply for the type O to support a thai wife was if they had a non-immigrant visa stamped in their passport. Lot's of evolving with immigration rules going on in thailand. Today, thing's happen with immigration rules that would have been simply impossible 20 or even 15 years ago. It's difficult to keep up with change's or perceived change's. Just checked thai consulate LA web Site. Non-immigrant visa is still required to apply for type o family long term visa. You may wish to work in thailand, but, think your pssport will be stamped "employment not permitted" Waiver's?? Who know's

[flienianO]

Hey RobinV and Lenss, thanks a lot for all the great information, but you can well guess my head is spinning as what I really need to do. I think that the non-B visa may my best route but let me provide more details of my situation and then possibly maybe you can provide info on my best choices.

My current situation is this. I work for a US based company (I get paid USD direct deposited into my US bank). My job now is an Engineer who works in China for three weeks (no China work permit is needed since I don't work any more than 30 days in a row). After working for three weeks, I then go to what I call 'home' in Thailand for a week (actually my passport is stamped for 10 days each time) off to be with my Thai wife and my daughter (half/half but born in the USA). After my week off I repeat the process. I have been doing this for the past year now. So, I don't need a China work permit (I do have 'multiple' entry China visa good for one year) and I need no visa for Thailand because I am there for only 10 days at a time and this does not violate the new rule (90 cumulative days in a 180 day period). NOTE: I have actually moved away from my past residence in the USA and on all official documentation I list my address in Thailand as my residence. I get my mail there, my US tax return has this address listed, and I even place it on my Immigration Entry card each time I return home to China. (I actually check the box 'returning home'.)

Now my situation is going to be changing. My new employer wants me to be working and stationed in Thailand. This new employer is a Canadian company. It helps me to be in Thailand since this is currently where my family is and where I plan on retiring in 2 to 5 years. My new job will be with a foreign company (not Thai) but working inside a Thai company (a contract mfg for this foreign company). So essentially a Thai company will not be employing me, I will only be working inside one.

So now that you have more details, is the non-B still the way to go? And will I even be required to need a Thai work permit?

Again, any insight or suggestions you could provide would help me tremendously.

Thanks,
dingdongrb (I'm really not a 'ding-a-ling , except in the case of Thai Immigration laws , the name has a different purpose.)

[NofFoomiTot]

Working in Thailand and no matter in whatever nationality company, you need a Non-B. Get all needed docs from your company (Thailand base) and go to a Thai Royal Embassy anywhere outside Thailand(if this is asking for the first Non-B). Pay the fee and you'll get a 'B'. After entering Thailand, get all docs required in getting a workpermit and go to a labor office in where your company is located. It duzn't take more than half an hour to get one.

Anyway, the most important thing is that.. different officer, different documents required. Be sure the officer who's going to take care of you is in a good mood.

Goodluck.

[NofFoomiTot]

Oh, one more thing. You need a 'B' and a workpermit no matter how long ya work in Thailand. Your first B will last only 30 days. So will your workpetmit.

ah, another thing. lol A workpermit must be issued within 15 days of receiving a Non-B.

Goodluck again,

P.S. New policies regarding immigration have come out the end of last year. Make sure you have it updated or you'd be charged again and again.

[slowlexrese]

special thanx for this one. so subtotal same amount like paying taxes in my home country? lol

[Drysnyaty]

> ah, another thing. lol A workpermit must be issued within 15 days of receiving a Non-B.

not true. the non-B usually comes with a 3-month validity. you need to have a work permit before that. I got my non-B at the end of May last year and my work permit in August, 5 days before the expiry of the visa. employers usually take care of doing all the paperwork and applying for the work permit. you just need to go and sign the very first time, after that, just sign a power of attorney every time the work permit needs extending.

[Matajic]

Dingdong, You will need a Non-Immigrant B visa to conduct business in Thailand. You will need a Work Permit if you are deriving any kind of funds from Thailand. It sounds like you are being paid from Canada into an American bank account and you are merely working as a consultant in Thailand. It is possible to get a Work Permit for that, and it is probably a good idea if you plan on staying here for any extended period of time. See a lawyer.

Secondly, you should get your Business Visa in the US if possible. I've done one in Lao, and I can confidently say that your Canadian Employer will not be able to provide you with enough documents to get that Non-B for you in Lao.

Oh, one more thing. You need a 'B' and a workpermit no matter how long ya work in Thailand. Your first B will last only 30 days. So will your workpetmit.

ah, another thing. lol A workpermit must be issued within 15 days of receiving a Non-B.

Goodluck again,

P.S. New policies regarding immigration have come out the end of last year. Make sure you have it updated or you'd be charged again and again.

For Americans, a Non-Immigrant B is for 90 days. It's advised to start the work permit application by no later than the 75th day.

[NofFoomiTot]

> ah, another thing. lol A workpermit must be issued within 15 days of receiving a Non-B.

not true. the non-B usually comes with a 3-month validity. you need to have a work permit before that. I got my non-B at the end of May last year and my work permit in August, 5 days before the expiry of the visa. employers usually take care of doing all the paperwork and applying for the work permit. you just need to go and sign the very first time, after that, just sign a power of attorney every time the work permit needs extending.

Forgot to mention one thing. You are allowed to submit a form for getting a workpermit before getting/extending a B. By the way, we usually do it the way i mentioned since how long ya allowed to work depends on the period mentioning in your visa.

The first Non-B coems with a 3 month validity. The next will be no longer than 1 year depending on what written on your contract. Ya gotta send them tm47 every 90 day, though.

[NofFoomiTot]

Dingdong, You will need a Non-Immigrant B visa to conduct business in Thailand. You will need a Work Permit if you are deriving any kind of funds from Thailand. It sounds like you are being paid from Canada into an American bank account and you are merely working as a consultant in Thailand. It is possible to get a Work Permit for that, and it is probably a good idea if you plan on staying here for any extended period of time. See a lawyer.

Secondly, you should get your Business Visa in the US if possible. I've done one in Lao, and I can confidently say that your Canadian Employer will not be able to provide you with enough documents to get that Non-B for you in Lao.



For Americans, a Non-Immigrant B is for 90 days. It's advised to start the work permit application by no later than the 75th day.

It is for people who run a business, isn't it? Don't know that much. lol Thanks for telling. I usually take care of foreign employees. lol

[Matajic]

It is for people who run a business, isn't it? Don't know that much. lol Thanks for telling. I usually take care of foreign employees. lol

A non-immigrant B visa is for people doing things related to business activities in Thailand. (holding meetings, discussing terms on a sale, signing contracts, etc).

A work permit is primarily for foreigners working for a business in Thailand at any level, and thusly, receiving income and paying taxes.

The grey area is when someone is working here but not being paid by a Thai company or being paid into Thailand and therefore not taxed in Thailand. Dingdong is in this situation. In this situation, I think it's best to play it safe and get a work permit.

[flienianO]

Thanks all for the overwhelming bits of information. I guess I’ll just hire myself an Immigration lawyer and hope he/she doesn’t dig too deep into my pockets.

I am wondering if any of you are over in Thailand on an expat package. This is basically what I’d be doing. That is, working for a foreign company (foreign meaning not Thai), drawing a foreign wage, reporting this foreign wage to my resident country, the USA, and working within a Thai facility which is basically my company’s vendor.. So with this said, do any of you fit this profile?

I am not sure why I need a work permit, I wouldn’t be working for a Thai company nor paying Thai taxes, would I?

[M4tHkBw2]

I've already said it's a tricky one.
But if you set foot in a Thai facility and give advice or instruct someone to do something without a work permit your feet will not touch the ground if your are reported.
Better safe than sorry.

[slowlexrese]

good website on that and other issues: http://www.thaivisa.com