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How to Get a Non-Immigrant B Visa

Do you want to work in Thailand or visit the country for an extended time? You might want to get a Non-Immigrant B Visa, the type of visa Thailand issues to foreigners who want to work in the country legally. Besides the right to work, this visa gives holders the benefit of not having to make visa runs or visa renewals often.

To get a Non-Immigrant B Visa, you will need a company to sponsor you. Make sure you get a multiple-entry visa. It lasts for a year after the date of your first entry into Thailand. Be careful not to abuse this visa; it's intended for foreigners who are going to work in Thailand.

Sponsoring company in Thailand
Proof of finances
Letter of approval from the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Letter of invitation from company
Valid passport
4-inch-by-6-inch passport photos
Company documents
Lawyer (optional)
Internet for Thai visa / expat forum

Instructions

- 1
  Find a company to sponsor you. If you can't find one, some Thai visa companies, consultants or law firms might be able to help you. Seek input in Thailand expat forums. A law firm or Thai visa company would also advise you on what documents are required for a Non-Immigrant B Visa.
- 2
  Get your passport. If necessary, renew an old one. Make sure it is valid for at least one year to avoid hassles. A multiple-entry Non-Immigrant B Visa is valid for 12 to 15 months, depending on how you use it. You want your passport to be valid for all that time.
- 3
  Have pictures taken of yourself. The photos must be 4 inches wide by 6 inches tall and taken within the past six months.
- 4
  Prepare evidence of adequate finances. For example, you can print out a recent bank statement. Be sure to blot out your account number. As of this writing, the minimum is 20,000 Thai bahts for a single person and 40,000 Thai bahts for a family.
- 5
  Ask your sponsoring company to mail Form WP3 on your behalf. This is a formal request for a Non-Immigrant B Visa to be issued to you since they have offered you a job. It must also state that they intend to get you a work permit. Your company must send this to the Ministry of Labor.
- 6
  Get a letter of approval from the Ministry of Labor. This is after Form WP3 sent by your employer is processed. You cannot get the visa without a Form WP3 receipt.
- 7
  Get all necessary corporate documents. You will need to show several documents about your company when applying for a Thai business visa. Again, your company or sponsor will usually know what to provide. These may include the sponsor's business license, income tax statement, shareholders' list, business nature and company profile.
- 8
  Fill out a Thai Non-Immigrant B Visa application form. Make sure you apply for a multiple-entry visa. Apply at the local Thai embassy where you live. Atttach all the other paperwork and pay the fee. Your passport will be stamped with the visa when it's returned to you and you're approved.
- 9
  Use your visa and renew as needed. With a multiple-entry visa, you can stay in Thailand for 12 months. You will need to leave the country and come back in a visa run every 90 days, but you won't need to apply for a new visa. If you make a visa run at the end of the 12-month period, you will get an extra 90-day stay, for a total of 15 months.

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