Non-Immigrant B visa - renewal or extension?

[tom_bkk]

Hi

I have a multiple entry Non-Immigrant B visa and a work permit from the private limited company that I set up this year.

My visa expires in September. I have been assuming that will I renew it at a Thai consulate outside Thailand and continue as normal.

However, when speaking to my law advisor today, he said:

"Your current year on a Non-B visa will not count towards PR [if I apply] because it is not a visa extension. And if you renew your visa, next year wont count either."

Is he correct? I thought that 'three unbroken years on a Non-Immigrant visa' is the requirement. Also, what is the difference between renewing my visa and extending it?

Thanks in advance for any help with this.

[The Enforcer!]

IF ... you have a Work Permit, then you will have stamps in your passport that say "extension of stay permitted up to". This is an extension and thus if you continue to have your work permit renewed, the stamps will continue. You never need to renew your Visa.

I got my N-I-B Visa in 1995 and was continually stamped "extension of stay permitted up to" until I retired in 2004.


The Enforcer!

[tom_bkk]

Thanks Enforcer, I am beginning to understand. Good advice is often hard to get.

I am on my first year with a Non-B visa. My work permit renewal follows the 'Admitted Until' date on my passport entry stamps. I am a freelance writer, and as it turns out, I make business trips to clients every three months or so, which keeps my stamps in order and I just renew my wp based on that. I don't have any stamp in my passport that says 'extension of stay permitted up to...', only 'Admitted until' (I assume this is because I am not currently on extension of stay and leave Thailand without using a re-entry permit...?)

So, when my Non-B visa expires, I have the choice of getting another one outside Thailand, or applying for a 1 year extension inside Thailand... is that right?

And if I get an extension (instead of renewal), I will need to get a re-entry permit whenever I leave the country to visit a client... would immigration take a dim view of this if I am doing every three months or so?

Thanks for taking the time to look at this for me.

[ncr]

By the way, in case you haven't heard about it - there's a whole website/forum dedicated to these things (though they do talk about other topics, too):

The aptly named www.thaivisa.com.

Many knowledgeable folks hanging around there (http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/), and you should be able to get clarification/advice for such an uncomplicated issue within minutes.

[tom_bkk]

Hi ncr

Thanks for the tip. I use TV quite a lot, and as you say, there is a lot of good advice there. I decided to come here first because:

1. my legal advisor is from Sunbelt, who moderate the TV visa forum, and I wanted to get an independent view - a second opinion.

2. for all the good knowledge stored on TV, it is often hard to find it in amongst the back-biting that sometimes goes on there. Simple questions from unwitting people (i.e. me) sometimes get shot down in flames or hijacked by one-upmanship. I have no time for that. I'm just looking for advice (I do search forums beforehand, to see if my question has already been answered).

Anyway, the Enforcer has put me on the right track. I will go back to Sunbelt armed with more knowledge than before.

Thanks again.

[The Enforcer!]

Advice is free which is why it is not always accurate!

I have often found, to many others surprise,, that a quick trip to Suan Phlu and five minutes with the Duty Officer can help a lot more than advice from a company who is trying to make money out of you.

The Enforcer!