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Answered6 years ago

What are my options for staying in Thailand after my Non-B visa expires on September 26th?

Jess *********
asked Aug 12, 2020
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My non b visa ran out in April. Haven't been able to renew it nor work permit since covid situations are up in the air.

What are my options for staying past 26th Sept?

Considering i haven't been on a tourist visa for a few good years is there some sort of visa available? Or am i best visiting my local immigration center?

Thanks in advanced
Answer summary
The user is seeking advice about options for remaining in Thailand after the expiration of their Non-B visa and work permit, running out on September 26th. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, they have been unable to renew their visa. Comments suggest checking with local immigration for updates on visa options, as recent changes may impact their ability to stay. Options such as securing a new work permit or applying for an educational visa are discussed, but the user may need to prepare for departure if no extensions are possible.
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Robert *******
Robert *******
Things do change, Immigration law only changed on 2 sections on 7 April 2020, the period got extended and extended again,

You can wait until 26 Sep and see what happened, or you can start packing your bags and prepare for departure,
Jess *********
Jess *********
OP
is this guaranteed official information?

Is it worth me visiting immigration and see what they say?

obviously cases are different for each and everyone of us. For all we know they could even extend amnesty until after the 26th Sept. Whats happening with the world at the moment things are changing everyday
Benjamin ******
Benjamin ******
It is guaranteed official information, that was published in both the Royal Gazette and posted by the Thai government. See the attached flyer
Stamma ******
Stamma ******
I have similar case, but I had single-entry non B visa, so I hadnt left the country since last year.

I resigned from my job last June to move to another company. However, my last working day was June 30, and my Non B extension was cancelled that day along with the work permit. I got another job offer last week, but since now I am on amnesty, the immigration office said I cant get new working permit.

Is the answer to stay past Sept 26th the same for me?
Benjamin ******
Benjamin ******
Yes, the same is for you; you're on amnesty and can not stay longer until September 26
Tod *********
Tod *********
Believe me
@Jess ********
you are far from alone in getting caught out on a year-multi-Non-Imm visa and not being able to bounce, going onto amnesty and now facing hard choices when this latest round of amnesty runs out :/

Conversely from the thai view point you have been here since at least the end of March (when the borders closed) and that's SIX months of time in which you could or should have found an alternative long term extension of some sort. That's the reason the thai officials got so hard core about this latest amnesty.

There's not much more that can be added to this post. Sorry

Good Luck, take care, stay safe.
Niels ********
Niels ********
@T**
, What is it about this current amnesty that tells us it will be the last? Besides that unofficial (unsigned) infographic made by immigration? Immigration does not make the calls.
Jess *********
Jess *********
OP
the world of teaching scuba diving is very limited since we have no international flights coming in. Educational visa is not something legal unless I have a proper job given to me
James **************
James **************
Can't you get an Ed visa or get a new job? I got an EFL job a couple of months ago but now probs getting non-b.....
James **************
James **************
@Benjamin *****
ok thx....i'll try and find one! Blimey didn't know that about ed visas....
Benjamin ******
Benjamin ******
They are not issuing ED visas inside Thailand. I have heard *SOME* immigration offices are issuing extension of stay based on employment.
Tod *********
Tod *********
you have limited options. There is no such thing as an in country tourist visa.

You are allowed to stay under the amnesty until the 26th of Sept. BUT if you haven't figured out a long term extension, OR gotten a letter from your consulate stating you can't travel OR gotten a letter from a doctor/hospital stating you can't travel you need to prepare to depart on or by the 26th of Sept.

I'd say the immigration office is a good place to start to see if there is any options other than what I listed
Jess *********
Jess *********
OP
thanks for your help
Jess *********
Jess *********
OP
i had a feeling that would be the case. just doesn't make complete sense. short term visas/visas on arrival have to leave by then. But long term people who have lived here for years are be unable to extend or renew visa's in Thailand. I will contact people who can hopefully give a clearer idea of what our options are
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Jess ********
sadly in the eyes of the thaiz you are NOT a long term person :O

Rather than getting yearly extensions of stays based on employment you were getting yearly multi-entry Non-B visas which ONLY give you 90 days in country at a time. The fact you daisy chained those 90 day stamps into many many years of stay is not enough :( .

Good luck, you have until Sept 26 to figure something out. (y)
Jess *********
Jess *********
OP
yes, had a multi-entry yearly non b visa with work permit where every 90 days we had to boarder bounce.

I haven't checked with them as not actually sure what is available or not due to the work permit expiring.

trying to firgure out if speaking to my old lawyer will help at all. Or just visiting the local immigration
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Jess ********
if you were on a multi-Non-B where you bounce and because of the situation you couldn't and your work permit expired you're done. I don't know anyone whose gotten a work permit renewed after going onto amnesty from a non-B entry.

You're out nothing by going to the Ministry of Labor and the immigration office to check and see what's what but I think you need to be prepared for a worst case scenario where you might hafta leave Sept 26th
Jess *********
Jess *********
OP
My work permit expired similar time to when my non b did. I would of been able to extend for another 3 months if covid didnt happen then organised another work permit during that time.
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Jess ********
so you were on a visa where you bounced out and back every 90 days or what?

AFAIK the ministry of labor is renewing work permits like normal (or they have been) when was the last time you checked with them ??
Jess *********
Jess *********
OP
thanks for the help, the only thing i cant get my head around is from information that has been given its unlikely tourist visas and visa on arrivals are not allowed to claim another visa.
Jess *********
Jess *********
OP
my last visa was neither of them. Been in the country around four years with yearly visas on a work permit. Can you advise any possible options for a long term visa in this situation?
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Jess ********
and why can't you get another yearly extension of stay based on employment from the immigration office with documents from your employer like you did the last few years?

OR

Were you on a year-long, multi-entry Non-B visa that you got from a thai consulate where you bounce out and in every 90 days?

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