Do you need to stay outside Thailand for a specific duration when applying for a WP3 work permit?

Thanx (y)

If the employee picks up his Work Permit, the officer checks if he was abroad, this because to many people abused the system. No visa no problem, we apply with WP 3 give you the paper and of you go to neighbor country and apply Non B visa. WP 3 is an application form for a foreigner who is abroad, not for one who has the wrong Visa or Visa Exempt stamp and is inside Thailand.

My comments are made based on experience at Krabi's Ministry of labor. I did the applications by myself, not usage of Agents and never had to provide exit stamps or entry stamps neighbor countries in the last few years. Before that my Employer applied using the WP 3 for me and I obtained two days later a Non B visa in Singapore, not a neighbor country and I never send copies of stamps.

Yes - Consistency is King in Thailand / Not

many many companies don't or can't convert a 30 day visa exempt stamp or a tourist visa to a 90 day Non-B inside the country, and instead send their employees out of the country to a thai consulate to get a single entry 90 day Non-B

Ah thanks, I guess I just never did it this way so I never heard about it.

The WP.3 is the one where you physically have to have been stamped out of the country for your employer to apply for a work permit for you. Then many times the employer sends you the receipt of them having applied for one for you so you can get the Non-B at a thai consulate

Lady from office took care that, not sure which company she used, but Hat yai World tour is doing Penang: number is 075 613 131

Staff changes makes enforcemend changes on different things. Crazy sometimes. But honestly I think they had more than enough of people waiting outside or at home and using the wp3 application. All papers in hand, a 2 day Penang and all sorted. Wish you all the luck and hoping things will work out, and for your newly staff enjoy the holiday in Penang, relax there because on return you have to start working every day.

That is definitly a teriible change of application process. Why make this so hard for the applicants. Last time I asked for the letter we got it within 1 hour, just waiting most of the time to get it signed by the boss.

First one is just a the bill that you paid for the application. Second on is indeed the WP3 acknowlegde application that is needed for the Visa, you also need a letter that they have to give you separete to this wp3 form. You have to ask for this letter.

Wp3 is 1 document on 1 page. It s a document, stating u can get a business visa for one company and one position to apply for a wp. Like a wp pre approval. I guess this is a recent move to crack down on "false" business visa and wp. Once u get it, scan it, send to applicant by email. Then he can print and go to embassy along with the whole application documents that are needed of course. How long to get this letter? Well, they have 6 days to give it to you, all embassies knows that, so... They run some basic checks on company and applicant (thus the 6 days I guess), like taxes paid, licenses ok, company actually exist and open, applicant comply with immigration rules and so on...

If the application is in order you get the 2 needed papers for the Visa Application. If it's get denied after 6 days, don't seem any reason why because application is accepted the person can come back to Thailand with his new Visa. There is absolutly no need to wait 10 days abroad.

Official timeframe to get wp3 is 6 days. I ve asked for it 2 times, each time i expected to get the wp3 quicker but finally it was 6 days in both cases. Which means, stay about 10 days abroad. Worth mentioning also that the wp3 can be denied for various reasons... After 6 days waiting 😞

Hope it all works out fine. Good luck.

As you said, if you are nice and correct, Krabi Labor is very friendly and willing to help even doing their best in English. Try to play games and the trash bins are filled up quickly. Be awere that you need a stamped letter from them, next to the A5 paper sized form that the wp is applied for. Sometimes they forget that letter.

Directly after taking in the application papers you get the 2 papers he need, it takes days to make the Work Permit.

Best thing to do, he goes Penang, next day you apply early morning, put the papers in envelope with name and hotel, bring to a minivan service, one normally leavs 11.00 and he has papers same night or next morning. He applies for Visa, next day Visa approved and comes back, so it will be 4 days Penang.

He can only pick up the Work Permit if he shows and deliver new passport copies with his Non Immigrant B visa.

NO, he must be abroad fe Penang when you apply. You get 2 papers from Ministry of Labor which you have to send to him. Those papers and others he needs for his application for the Non B visa. Or if you prefer: He goes outside, you apply get the papers, he comes back with Visa Exempt or Tourist Visa, get the papers, goes back Penang, apply for Non B visa, comes back and pick up the Work Permit. Lots of travel in that way.