Can I switch from a TR tourist visa to a Non-B work visa while in Thailand, or do I need to leave the country?

Non-B visa Tourist visa Thailand visa rules Visa extension Immigration process COVID extensions

November 29, 2021

3 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hey guys I am on a TR tourist visa with 47 Days left. Told I need to leave country to receive Non-B visa in order to switch to work visa?  Is this correct... I'm worried of leaving Thailand again with all the hoops I had to go through to enter.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The questioner is currently on a TR tourist visa and is inquiring whether they need to leave Thailand to obtain a Non-B visa to switch to a work visa. Responses from the community suggest that a change from a tourist visa to a Non-Immigrant B visa can indeed be done within Thailand, despite some conflicting opinions regarding the immigration office's policy. One commenter emphasizes the potential time required for schools to prepare necessary documentation and suggests exploring COVID-related visa extensions that are available until January 25.

Kevin ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I am also in Phuket if it makes a difference with offices *

3 years ago

Darren *******

Depends on your future employer and the immigration office. Some will do it whereas some won't.

3 years ago

Keven ****

You can change from a tourist visa to a Non-Immigrant B visa inside Thailand. However, it can take 2-7 weeks for a school to prepare the needed documentation to do so.

With 47 days, you don't have much time. However, you can take COVID extensions, which are available until Jan. 25.

The school/company that told you that probably doesn't have very good visa staff. Find one that does.

3 years ago

Donna **********

Richard Swire I don't understand. Know your place? In the southern US we use that saying as something different that I don't think pertains here.

3 years ago

Donna **********

Richard Swire I understand we just moved here as well. When youove to a new place it takes a minute before you can say it is your home. Maybe it will be ours too. But we would like to stay a bit longer then the tourist amount of time to find out. Does the information of waiting a couple weeks for the process sound correct?

3 years ago

Donna **********

Richard Swire wow. That is good my husbands school took two weeks, for a permit and he just got a 90 day visa and was told to come back in 45 days for his 1 year visa. Me and my kids who want to be added as dependents were told we can not be added u til January, we are on a tourist visa.

3 years ago

Kevin ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Richard Swire wow this tells me alot of red flags unfortunately then 😕

3 years ago

Kevin ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Keven ***

Thank you the COVID extension would give me another 60 days ? I also have a deposit already on getting an ED - Education visa? I told them this but they said they could not convert Education Visa to Work Visa either?

3 years ago

Keven ****

@Kevin **********

You can't change Non-Immigrant ED to Non-Immigrant B visa inside the country. Not possible at all.

3 years ago

Kevin ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Keven ***

Thanks! appreciate your help and straight forward answers

3 years ago

Reply to

Kevin ***********

Keven ****

@Kevin **********

Tourist visa to Non-Immigrant B visa is possible. About tourist visa to ED visa, it was possible in the past. There were changes with the Ministry of Education in 2020 about not giving ED visas to private language schools. I have no idea what has changed since then. Contact other schools and see what they say.

3 years ago

Keven ****

@Kevin **********

Yes. COVID extensions would give you another 60 days. The last announcment they said they are going to be a bit more strict. You could be asked by an IO for a flight out of Thailand before giving you it.

3 years ago

Reply to

Keven ****

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Can I change my tourist visa to a Non-B visa in Thailand?

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