What are my options for dependent visas while I wait for my work permit in Thailand?

Aug 1, 2022
2 years ago
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello everyone,

I am waiting on my work permit as I started teaching at a school. I have just been informed that they do not support dependant visas and I need possible solutions from some wise individuals.

My wife is Malaysian and I am British, what solutions are there to our current strife?

Please help
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The poster is awaiting their work permit for teaching in Thailand and is seeking solutions for their Malaysian wife's dependent visa situation. Comments suggest immediate action: while waiting for the work permit, the poster cannot secure an Extension of Stay based on employment. They should clarify the situation with the Ministry of Labor. Importantly, the assumption that the employer can deny dependent visas is incorrect; the wife should apply for a 90-day Non-O visa as a trailing spouse. Additionally, since she is Malaysian, she can utilize her visa-exempt status for flexible travel in and out of the country.
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Lloyd ********
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/5.WORKING-AS-TEACHER-IN-THAILAND-NON-O.pdf
Robert *******
As long as you wait for your Work Permit you can not get any Extension of Stay based on Employment. Talk to the Ministry of Labor and ask them why it take so long.

By the way, working without this Work Permit is officially not allowed, be careful.
Tod *********
Umm, your employer doesn't have the option to "not support dependant visas" <- a visa issued to a trailing spouse based on the other spouse working here legally.

You would be on a 90 day Non-B based on employment, then you would get a yearly extension after that.

Your wife would apply for an in country 90 day non-O visa based on "trailing spouse" <- being married to someone who legally works here.

You two should go to the immigration office where you got the Non-B/extension and get the hand out listing the requirements so she can apply for the in country 90 day Non-O and after that get the matching extension like you have

Just so you know seeing as she's Malay she can exit/re-enter as many times as she needs to get a new 30 day visa exempt entry stamp (as they have no limit like everyone else does) so if she needs more time on her stamp, she could bounce out and back.
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yeah, we know about the Malaysian entry Todd. Looking for it to be completed straight forwardly however seems to be more difficult than I thought. We will need to do this in due course and hope it works out. They just dropped the bombshell this morning.
Tod *********
@Andy ********
good luck with it (y) evidently it is no un-heard of for companies here to say they do NOT offer 'trailing spouse' visa support, but I do not know if they can be compelled to or not. It'd be in your contract I'd imagine. GO talk to the immigration office and see what they say is about the only advice I've got. That's where you'll get answers at least
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you for the information
Tod *********
the place to start would be the immigration office where you got the Non-B visa/extension based on employment. You guys should go over there with your passports and see what's what as far as what you would need.

Worst case, <- as in if your immigration office can't won't issue the in country Non-O (which they should be able to do) once you get the yearly extension based on employment, you send her to a thai consulate in Malaysia to get a 90 day single entry Non-O visa based on marriage to a foreigner legally working in Thailand from Penang or Kota Bharu or Kuala Lumpur. THEN you could get the year extension for her after she came in on that 90 day visa.
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