Non Immigrant B Visa - Sunbelt Asia - Ajarn Forum

duncanlodge · 1st August 2006, 22:27

Dear All,

I would really appreciate your comments on this. I am heading over to Thailand in Feb 07 to complete a CELTA in Bangkok and then look for employment. Many (Thai) TEFL courses offer assistance and sponsorship documents for a Non-Immigrant B visa before heading off to Thailand, however the course I will be attending does not (and generally most students travel over to Thailand and study on a two month Holiday VISA).

I have located a company which will provide the sponsorship documents for the Non-Immigrant B called SunBelt Asia which will essentially give me a multiple entry Non -Immigrant B Visa for up to 12 months.

I would be grateful if you guys could advise me on the following?

I am going to be looking for employment as a English Teacher once the CELTA is complete. I have no degree (groan) but hope to find permanent employment. Will I run into problems if I find a employer who can arrange to set-up a work permit and Non-Immigrant B ( I know this is rare but hey you never know!) if I already have one from SunBelt Asia?

The whole degree thing may mean I need a work on a tourist visa, but with the Non-Immigrant B I would not need to leave the country as often.

I'm really tearing my hear out about this one. Basically I just want to live in Thailand as legally as possible and if not.. well leave the country as little as possible. Sorry I have posted something like this before but now the course is confirmed I just want to arrange things as best I can.

Any comments would be wicked. I just don't know the best next steps.

Cheers!

Duncan

Matthew · 1st August 2006, 22:35

Be careful with the no/fake degree thing, as there seems to be a little bit of a crackdown going on these days? At least at my agency, teachers with no or fake degrees are being asked to go or enroll in something pronto.

I'm really no expert, though. They'll be along soon...

duncanlodge · 1st August 2006, 22:58

Hi Matthew,

I forgot to say. I am studying for a distance BSc - Information Technology and Computing with the Open University in the UK and will continue this whilst in Thailand.

Will this help my case?

Cheers!

Duncan

aging one · 2nd August 2006, 08:19

Your WP and Visa must be done by who you are working for. You will not be working for Sunbelt Asia. No I dont think this is a good option.

MisterStretch · 2nd August 2006, 08:29

I agree with AO. You CAN find permanent work in Thailand without a degree. There are many threads on this forum discussing this.

Your Non-Imm B should be processed by your employer. They are the ones that have to provide the supporting documents for that visa and the subsequent documents for your work permit.

kenkannif · 2nd August 2006, 10:27

Doesn't matter who gets you the Non-imm B AT ALL mate for sure, no diggety, no ruckin' doubt!!! Any employer WILL be able to get a WP on top of it and extend accordingly (and it's possible to get a WP without a degree).

The multi Non-imm B will actually cover you for 15 months all in all.

PM me and I'll help you for free (if you can't PM 'cos of post count let me know and I'll PM you)...well for a PS2 magazine anyway

Chang · 2nd August 2006, 20:26

Ken is right on the money here. sunbelt Asia are well known and respected in the expat community, but speak with ken before doing anything.

Aquaman · 2nd August 2006, 20:42

If you havethe non-b you have the non-b. i worked at a school for three years on the non-b i got from ,well, i dont know who he was. but he had nothing to do with my school.

Matthew · 2nd August 2006, 22:39

KK- what I was gonna email you about has been answered on this thread, so no worries, though I may send some of my original poetry if that's okay. Can you read Basque?

Aqua did you work somewhere for three years? So when you get a WP on top of a Non-B that essentially stretches the visa to the point at which the WP is cancelled, or shortly thereafter, right? So Aqua does that mean you had a WP for three years, or a few consecutive ones? It's so confusing to me.

Asper · 3rd August 2006, 02:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquaman

If you havethe non-b you have the non-b. i worked at a school for three years on the non-b i got from ,well, i dont know who he was. but he had nothing to do with my school.

I'm confused as well by this, and wondering if it might be misleading.

My understanding is that the Non-Immi "B" visa is directly tied to your employment. Your employment ends, so does your visa (and your WP).

kenkannif · 3rd August 2006, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew

KK- what I was gonna email you about has been answered on this thread, so no worries, though I may send some of my original poetry if that's okay. Can you read Basque?

As long as it's in English I'm good to go mate!!!

Quote:

Aqua did you work somewhere for three years?

He was working for a school mate.

Quote:

So when you get a WP on top of a Non-B that essentially stretches the visa to the point at which the WP is cancelled, or shortly thereafter, right?

Yes, WP is tied to Visa and visa versa. Generally you come in on a 3 month Non-imm B...extend by 9 months (giving you a full year) and then at the end of the 9 month extension period if you keep the job you extend (generally) year by year by year.

Quote:

So Aqua does that mean you had a WP for three years, or a few consecutive ones? It's so confusing to me.

In theory it could be either mate, in practice I'd say it was the former (albeit not a WP for three years rather year by year for three years).

kenkannif · 3rd August 2006, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asper

I'm confused as well by this, and wondering if it might be misleading.

A tad although he is kind of right.

Quote:

My understanding is that the Non-Immi "B" visa is directly tied to your employment. Your employment ends, so does your visa (and your WP).

Ish mate....although if your new employer is on the ball it can be extended by them and a new WP obtained on it. So for example if I left my job now I'd have 7-14 days to leave the country etc. BUT if my new employer was quick with the MoE etc. I could get a letter from them and extend at Imm (past the 7 days) and then (hopefuly) have time for them to get me a WP etc. and extend the same Non-imm B I'm working on now.

aging one · 3rd August 2006, 14:08

That is clear and concise, keep a record of this post so you can call it up for future reference.

kenkannif · 3rd August 2006, 14:15

No please don't I'm looking forward to posting it again and again and again and again....add noisey M!

kenkannif · 3rd August 2006, 14:15