Unanswered6 years ago

What options does my partner have for renewing her work permit in Thailand after her visa issues during COVID-19?

Thailand immigration work permit NON-B visa COVID-19 impact visa extension expat advice

Thierry *********

asked Aug 20, 2020

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My partner's work permit expired at the end of July. She owns a company here in Thailand with 4 staff, etc.. All paperwork ready, legal, etc... She has not been able to go out every 90 days due to Covid.

The Labour department has been very understanding but cannot issue the new work permit because she has not gone out of the country.

We have been to immigration a couple of times now and the reply is the same.... Leave and come back. Leaving and coming back will probably amount to over 100,000 Baht as she has to go into quarantine when back and if she can come back.

My partner has done everything by the book, it is just Covid that put her in this situation.

Anybody in same situation found a solution to this issue?

Summary so far

The post discusses the difficulties faced by an expat's partner in Thailand whose work permit has expired due to pandemic-related travel restrictions. She has been unable to leave the country for her required 90-day exit to renew her work permit, despite having all necessary paperwork. Readers in the comments highlight confusion between the work permit and visa requirements and suggest considering a yearly extension of stay from immigration, given the current situation.

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Tod *********

You're confusing a couple of things I believe.

The work permit does not let her stay here, the VISA does and from what you say she's on a year-long, multi-entry Non-B visa where she bounces out and back every 90 days.

Unfortunately with the borders closed she couldn't do that, and now is on the amnesty.

Why did she not apply for a yearly extension of stay from the immigration office? IF she meets the requirements she could do that. Otherwise she's gonna wait it out like everyone "stuck" here until amnesty runs out and then "prepare to depart"

6 years ago

Sacha ****

@Tod ********

the other thing confusing is why didnt apply to renew the work permit? Labour departments are not giving the blue books back until can show a valid visa or extension stamp but they issue a document to show immigration.

6 years ago

Thierry *********

@Sacha ***

Labour dept have given us the paperwork for immigration.The labour dept has been extremely helpful.

6 years ago

Thierry *********

@T**

, we were never told about this Yearly extension of stay. We did not even know it existed until you just said it. We will look into it right now.

6 years ago

Kool *******

Thierry Bourret, one of the basic elements of getting the one year extension based on owning your business is that it is a registered business, with at least bt1.5million in registered capital. Not having this in place is mostly why a business owner will be required to border jump every 90 days. If you have this in place, and you do have the correct number of Thai workers, you should have no problems getting a full year extension.

6 years ago

Kool *******

Thierry Bourret, by going to immigration yourself, and the department of labour, they are very helpful in advising you of what you need, and have printed lists of the documents needed. If you speak Thai it helps allot, but if you don't, I would suggest you take someone you know that speaks Thai with you. By doing this yourself, you will see how easy it really is, especially for following years. You might ask immigration about changing your extension of stay status, from multi-entry, leaving every 90 days, to a one year extension that you do not have to leave every 90 days on. They are different, and that might be a solution. You usually have to ask immigration directly of what you want to do, or know.

6 years ago

Thierry *********

@Kool ******

We have more than 1.5M so really should not be an issue. The issue we have had from the beginning is out accountant unwillingness to be helpful in anyway with the work permit. He gave us the contact for a third party who helped us with the first work permit and visa. This person gave us wrong advice, it took us months to get the first work permit and visa.

6 years ago