Can I apply for a 60-day COVID visa extension after relinquishing my work permit in Thailand?

Thailand Visa Rules COVID Visa Extension Non-B Visa Work Permit Immigration Expats in Thailand

Apr 3, 2021

4 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi,

I have a question that I can't seem to find the answer to anywhere. My work permit and corresponding non-B visa extension will end on April 30th. I'd like to stay in Thailand for a couple more months after that. After I relinquish my work permit to the labor department on the 30th, can I then head to immigration and apply for the 60-day covid visa extension? It might be worth noting that my non-B actually ends in September, but because it's tied to my work permit, it will technically on the 30th.

If the answer is yes, then I'll have a couple of follow-up questions. Thanks so much.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

You can apply for a 60-day COVID visa extension after relinquishing your work permit, but you need to do it promptly. Cancel your current extension at the immigration office with documentation from your employer confirming your termination. Then, apply for the COVID extension as soon as possible, especially before the program expires on May 29th.

Tod *********

@Ter****

you are misunderstanding a couple things.

You CAN go cancel your work permit and your extension early. You take documents from your employer stating you stop work on xxx date and go to the immigration office about a week before your termination date. They'll cancel your extension and stamp you in on a new stamp until the date on your termination paperwork.

Then on or before that date you apply for a covid extension. You don't get to wait AT ALL.

When I said you have until May 29th to apply for a covid extension I didn't mean you could stay with NO stamp until then :(

I meant that the PROGRAM allowing 60 day covid extensions expires on that day only.

You need to get a covid extension as soon as you cancel your current extension OR you're gonna go on overstay.

4 years ago

Tod *********

I'd almost bet you don't have ANY Non-B visa and instead if you looked at your current stamp you'd see it says "extension of stay permitted until" <- which is a good thing. :)

You would take documentation from your employer and go to the immigration office and cancel your current extension and then apply for a 60 day covid extension. <- you need to do that before May 29th the last day the covid program is valid for right now

That's how you'd cancel the extension you're on and get a 60 day covid extension

4 years ago

Terrill *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Thank you. Yes, it's an extension of stay. Regarding the covid extension of stay, do I need a TM30 on file to apply for it? My current lease and corresponding TM30 end on April 30th, which is a Friday. I'm worried that I won't have time to go to immigration until May 3rd, which my TM30 doesn't encompass. Might this be a problem?

4 years ago

Tod *********

@Terrill ******

and you're moving to a new address completely <- meaning you will have to file a new TM30

OR

Are you just signing a new lease?

4 years ago

Terrill *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

I was going to move up north for a couple months. So if I need a TM30 on file, and the deadline for applying is May 29th, could I just apply for the covid extension of stay anytime in May? That would give me ample time to find a place and file a TM30.

4 years ago

Ellie *******

@Terrill ******

You have to apply for the first covid extension on or before April 30th. Otherwise, you will be on overstay after 30th April.

Once you get your first covid extension and close the under consideration stamp, you will be able to apply for the next covid extension when you are in the window of the new extension application period. Most of the immigration offices allow you to apply for a new extension when you have 30days or less. At a few IO such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, it's 45days or less. But for Covid extension, you had better check with the immigration office you want to apply to.

4 years ago

Terrill *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ellie ******

Well I can't cancel my non-B extension before April 30th because then I can't legally work, that's why I will do it ON April 30th after my final shift. Also, I will apply for only one covid extension because I only want to stay in Thailand for an extra 60 days anyway.

@Tod ********

commented that I have until May 29th to apply which contradicts your comment saying that I have until April 30th to apply.

4 years ago

Ellie *******

@Terrill ******

No, not contradict. May 29 is the last day anybody can apply for the covid extension, not the last day you can be legally staying here. That does NOT mean that you are not on overstay until you apply for a new extension once after you cancel your extension.

You have to apply for one extension for whatever reason on 30th April then.

You are with any type of active extension or you are on overstay.

4 years ago

Reply to

Ellie *******

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