Can a non-O visa holder switch to a non-B visa for employment without leaving Thailand?

And then this: "His HR tells him if he doesn't apply for a visa in PP he can't apply for a work permit. "

Altough work permit application is not part of this group. the employer is now using the application method 3 because the foreigner does not have a legal stay inside Thailand to apply for the Work Permit, but after he changed into the Extension of Stay based on marriage the employer can apply using application method 1.

Dunno why someone on a marriage to a thai extension (which has less financial requirements AND allows people to legally work here and hold a work permit) would change over to retirement (which doesn't allow work and has DOUBLE the financial requirements) B

BUT be that as it may

He COULD go in, cancel his current extension and immediately apply for a year extension based on marriage to a thai (that's assuming he's still married to one) and that'd let him hold a work permit (although the employer might not like it because they don't have any leverage over him visa-wise because he's here based on marriage not employment)

OR

He leaves the country and go buy a 90 day non-O in a nearby thai consulate like they say.

Pretty sure he can change his extension back to married to a thai. Then he can work on that one.