I am on a non-immigration O visa that expires on 4 April 2024. I was in the United States for a few months, and when I returned to Thailand last week, the immigration officer stamped my visa with an expiration date of 22 June 2024. He said I could stay with the non-O visa for 90 days, which would be better than a 30-day tourist visa.

I recently got hired by a Thai company that is willing to sponsor my work permit (non-B visa). The company’s lawyer says I should have gotten a 30-day tourist visa because we cannot change a non-O visa to a non-B visa at the Bangkok immigration office. He suggests I go to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and request a 30-day tourist visa.

It seems odd that I cannot change from Non-O to Non-B from within the country. Is this true?