What steps should I take to obtain a Non B visa without leaving Thailand after complications with my ED visa?

Non-Immigrant B Visa ED Visa Visa Extensions Work Permits Thailand Immigration Rules

Aug 7, 2021

3 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi everyone. I hope you are all well. 

I’m in need of advice regarding my visa situation. I graduated last year on an ED visa and because of the pandemic I haven’t been able to travel back so I’ve been getting the covid extensions until now ( I’m not sure if they canceled my ED visa and gave me a tourist one or if they just kept extending the ED one). 

I then got a job offer from a school. They provided me with all the necessary documents. I then went to the immigration office and they told me that they cannot process for me because I was on an ED visa before. They advised that try ask for a work permit first at the Ministry of Labour then come back and try apply for the Non B visa again. 

When the school contacted the Labour Office, they were told that they cannot give me a work permit because I have an ED visa. So now all parties involved are stuck and not sure what to do. This case is also new for my school as they’ve never had to deal with something like this. So they don’t really know how to proceed. 

I’m on my last covid extension and I’m in need of some positive feedback on how I can obtain a Non B visa without having to leave the country. 

Thanks in advance for your feedback:)

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user is facing challenges in obtaining a Non B visa after graduating on an ED visa and receiving COVID-19 extensions. The immigration office and the Ministry of Labour are unable to process a work permit or visa application due to her previous ED visa. The community members comment on potential misunderstandings with her visa status and suggest that she may need to leave the country for proper reapplication.

Cole ***********

It may also be that you need to go to your home country to get a visa. Poping over to singapore may not give you standing to apply for a B visa.

3 years ago

Tod *********

Okay, first off you didn't get a tourist anything AND I would bet you were not on an ED visa either when you started your covid extensions. 😮 😕

I would imagine if you looked at your stamps you'd see that the last ED stamp you had said "extension of stay permitted until" and had a date that it ran out.

Now what you were supposed to do was take documentation from your school/uni go to the immigration office CANCEL that extension of stay based on education and then apply for a covid extension. I don't know if you did this or not when you went on the covid extension for the first time.

We are seeing people who didn't follow the rules when they were coming off ED or other extensions and going onto covid extensions being unable to get an in country Non-Immigrant visa issued because of it. Unfortunately those people DO have to leave the country and re-enter to start the process over AND you might be in that boat.

I would say you're not on your last covid extension because that program has been continued until Sept 27th (so you can apply for another one when this current one runs out).

3 years ago

Tod *********

I would take someone from your school and GO to the Ministry of Labour where you are (the people that issue work permits) ask them if you can apply for the work permit. I wouldn't take anything the school got off the phone from them as gospel because the school doesn't know what they're doing either. Go in person with a rep from your school and see if you can apply for the work permit. IF you can, I'd go back to immigrations and see if there's any way to get the in country Non-B issued. It's a slim chance but you have nothing to lose by trying it. I mean the worst they can say is no, and you're still looking at leaving the country and comin' back before you can start the process of getting a work permit and a Non-B.

I would post on a "teachers in thailand" group. They will have far more advice that is teacher specific

3 years ago

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Tod *********

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Can I switch from an educational visa to a non-immigrant B visa in Thailand?

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