What Should I Do if My Work Permit Application is Delayed in Koh Samui?

and this seems way more like a "we have to wait for the Ministry of Labour" rather than a visa question.

Post on a f/b page related to where you live in thailand and ask there. I'm sure you're not the only foreigner in this situation.

To covert a tourist visa into non b you don't need staff (last time I checked). I didn't convert mine, I did get a non b visa outside Thailand and where invited of the company (which is mine) to work for the (my) company. This is how 99% does it. They changing rules all the time but this talk about come to visit your office is like 10 steps away.

First of all you need to clear the status of the company. Ask for the dbd documents and then you will see if you are a shareholder and director. Second you need to ask your lawyer what they are trying to do. Convert your tourist visa or try to to send you outside Thailand and get a non b visa.

About Samui, you don't need staff to get a work permit, the latest rule (2 month old) is that you need to register at least 1 staff for social security when renewing (renewing you do 1 year after your first wp) your workpermit.

And when you submit for social security they will probably now visit your office (1 year ago they didn't do that).

I think you need to sort the facts out and also ask some questions to your lawyer. Can they not answer them maybe it's time to go to someone else.

Well...normally to register a new company 2 million or if you need two WP then 4 needs 2 weeks....now the Christmas / new year ....a bit longer....if it's not registered you even can not think about step 2 , means for each foreigner work permit you need 4 thai employees , registered and payed the social security for the 8 Thais.....normally can be done as well in two weeks....and then you get a receipt fir paying and asking at the labor office for 2 work permits .....can be 4 weeks ....depending where you are.....a professional layer should tell you this.....if you want yo get the WP you have yo be outside the country in the moment as the lawyer ask for the recipe ...( new regulation effective since September ) on,y with the picture of your stamp out if thailand they can ask for the WP 3.... .....and then they will proceed the work....you can come back the next day with a 30 days stamp.....but CAN NOT WORK....till the labor office have approved it.....

Now it's " high season as well" means a lot of foreigners ask for this.....so depending on the offices .....can be much more time.....

Sounds amazing to be visiting you in an office where you shouldn't be working 🤔

i heard and seen visits of the Ministry of Labor in the past. They are looking that all the staff is available for work, if needed all dressed in company uniforms, all staff have a work place and know what and how to perform their duty. They might ask to check that payment are done to Social Security and Tax Office for the Thai staff needed for your Work Permit. As you do not have the permit and you applied as being abroad, you should not be in the neighborhood. But I never seen that it take over 3 months and still no end in sight.