Can I apply for a Non-B visa without leaving Thailand if my BOI employment changes to a non-BOI company?

Non-B Visa Visa Regulations BOI Visa Immigration Policy COVID-19 Visa Extensions Employment in Thailand Visa Change Process

May 13, 2021

3 years ago

Benny ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I entered Thailand on a Non (ib) visa and have been employed for a few years under the BOI. My current company wants to move me to another company of theirs that isnt a BOI registered company. It is my understanding that it's not possible to apply for new visa under a non BOI company without first leaving the country and coming back on a standard Non B visa. Given the ongoing covid issues has immigration made allowances for people to apply for Non B visas without leaving the country?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is on a Non (IB) visa and employed under a BOI registered company. Their employer wants to transfer them to a different company that is not BOI registered. The user inquires whether they need to leave Thailand to apply for a new Non-B visa, especially considering potential COVID-19 allowances. Responses suggest that while a transfer is possible, a new Non-B visa application typically requires leaving the country unless specific COVID extensions are applicable.

Tod *********

ahhh, now we're getting somewhere, there is an IB visa AND just a straight B visa and they BOTH can be issued to BOI/IEAT company employees.

SO with that being said and sorry I overlooked the ib notation in your post.

You could take 60 day covid extensions BUT seeing as you already talked to Chaengwattana the people who would have given you a new extension I think you are gonna hafta leave to get a new Non-B visa and then come back in

3 years ago

Tod *********

I would almost wager you're NOT on any VISA but on an extension of stay (possibly a 2 year one that BOI company employees get) instead.

You don't need to get any new Non-B visa,

What you would do is cancel your current extension of stay with documentation from your employer (and if you are in Bangkok you'd do that at the BOI One Stop Service Center at Cham Churi Square)

Then you'd take the new paperwork over to Chaengwattana and apply for a new yearly extension based on employment there.

3 years ago

Benny ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Sorry, let me clarify. I entered on the non (ib) visa. And received the 2 year extension of stay under the BOI. At the start of covid , the company i work for attempted to switch me to the second company. After cancelling the BOI extension, armed with the paperwork to employ me under the new company i went to chaengwatttana. The immigration officer referred to the original non (ib) visa and said that it cant be done and required me to leave the country and get a standard non b as apparently non ib's are for BOI companies only and there for cant get an extension of stay based of of that.

3 years ago

Morten *********

@Benny *******

Are you currently on Covid Extension (since you cancelled your BOI Extension)?

Normally Immigration would allow "Visa Status Alteration" to NON-B for those who arrived with Tourist Visa etc.

3 years ago

Benny ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Morten ********

Sorry i forgot to clarify, after company cancelled the BOI extension to transfer me to the other company they realized at that time it wasnt possible so they switched me back under the company with the BOI again

3 years ago

Morten *********

@Benny *******

All good then :)

3 years ago

Benny ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Morten ********

No im still under the BOI extension

3 years ago

Tod *********

@Morten ********

i think it's because seeing as they haven't left the country their stamps all track back to the IB visa they had issued and that's what C/W won't issue either a new extension for a non-BOI company OR a new Non B visa either

3 years ago

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Tod *********

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Do I need to exit to Laos to change my Non-B visa for a new employer in a different province?

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