Answered9 years ago
Can I switch from a Non-B visa to a tourist visa after working in Thailand?
Hello, I'm currently at the consulate in Penang and have a question. I'm on a non b now that will expire April 30 (still have the valid, non-cancelled work permit) and just tried to get a 60 day tourist visa. They took my application and money yesterday and said they weren't sure if they could process it. I came back today and they said they can't give you a tourist visa right after you have a non b and finished working in Thailand. He was nice enough to give my money back. Just wanted to let anyone know in case they try to do the same. He said other consulates might, but not Penang.
He advised me to go back in on a 30 day tourist exemption and attempt to extend that for 30 days at immigration. I don't know what to do after that since I plan to stay until the end of September (not working) but I'll figure that out when the time comes 😬
He advised me to go back in on a 30 day tourist exemption and attempt to extend that for 30 days at immigration. I don't know what to do after that since I plan to stay until the end of September (not working) but I'll figure that out when the time comes 😬
Answer summary
An individual shared their experience of attempting to switch from a Non-B visa to a tourist visa at the consulate in Penang, only to be informed that such a transition wasn't permitted at that location after ending employment. They were advised to enter Thailand on a 30-day tourist exemption and extend it at immigration. The conversation highlights the complexities of visa and work permit cancellations and the various strategies expats may consider to remain in Thailand after ceasing work.
35 repliesnewest first
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Tod *********
at least they gave your money back (y) most consulates that have a pre-pay policy just burn you for the money if they deny you the visa.
Amanda ***********
OPYes I was so glad and surprised! Took away the sting of not getting the visa... 😬
Tony ********
My WP cancelled 1600 one day (and thus the non imm B). Next day went for non imm O- had all documents ready. 2 days overstay!
Tony ********
@Tod ********
correct. My employer went to the MOL and cancelled it and gave me the cancellation slip too late in the day to visit imm. Water under the bridge but lesson learned!Tod *********
canceling your work permit does NOT cancel a visa or an extension you do those at completely different offices.
So you would cancel your work permit at the Ministry of Labour, take the receipt to the immigration office and cancel your extension.
I would bet they canceled your extension on the day you showed up to apply for the Non-O and because you canceled the work permit two days earlier you got the overstay for not going right to the immigration office and canceling your extension the same day. ;)
So you would cancel your work permit at the Ministry of Labour, take the receipt to the immigration office and cancel your extension.
I would bet they canceled your extension on the day you showed up to apply for the Non-O and because you canceled the work permit two days earlier you got the overstay for not going right to the immigration office and canceling your extension the same day. ;)
Tod *********
okay, we need to make sure that you guys know the process and the difference between an extension and a visa when you stop work.
If you stop working on a visa ; either a multi-entry one where you border bounce every 90 days or a single entry one and you're on your initial 90 day stamp you go cancel your work permit at the Ministry of Labour. On a single entry visa you can stay until the end of your current stamp. On the multi-entry visa you can keep bouncing in and out every 90 days until the visa expires.
If you are on an extension of stay (usually issued a year at a time from the immigration office) and you stop working you need to go cancel you work permit at the Ministry of Labour and then immediately go cancel your extension of stay at the immigration office. you CANNOT stay until the extension runs out. If you can't leave the country the day you cancel your extension you can buy a 7 day extension denied stamp for 1900baht to get you a week to get out of the country.
If you stop working on a visa ; either a multi-entry one where you border bounce every 90 days or a single entry one and you're on your initial 90 day stamp you go cancel your work permit at the Ministry of Labour. On a single entry visa you can stay until the end of your current stamp. On the multi-entry visa you can keep bouncing in and out every 90 days until the visa expires.
If you are on an extension of stay (usually issued a year at a time from the immigration office) and you stop working you need to go cancel you work permit at the Ministry of Labour and then immediately go cancel your extension of stay at the immigration office. you CANNOT stay until the extension runs out. If you can't leave the country the day you cancel your extension you can buy a 7 day extension denied stamp for 1900baht to get you a week to get out of the country.
Amanda ***********
OP@Tod ********
I will definitely let you know! Entering Thailand April 30 and will attempt to cancel all May 21... 😬Amanda ***********
OP@Tod ********
wow!!! Hoping it won't be so high. No one reported that I stopped working March 23. I stayed in the country until April 25. If they ask when I stopped working, could I say I did a few English camps after school ended then left the country?Tod *********
@Ama***
, If you can, could you report back and let us know how it went, where you canceled it and if you were charged for overstay? That way we can all learn something :/Tod *********
@Amanda **********
I have seen people leave the country (stamping out on a current extension based on employment) come back into the country on a valid tourist visa they got from a thai consulate, and then when they went for the extension on the tourist visa the officer noticed they never canceled their extension, and fined them 500baht a day for overstaying on the extension based on employment even though they had exited the country and came back on on a valid tourist visa Be prepared to be fined from the date you stopped working, until you cancel your extension of stay. It maxes out at 20K baht or 40 days at 500baht a day.
Amanda ***********
OP@Ron ******
I think I'd get fined from March 23- April 25 cause I'll be on a tourist exemption after that. So I figure it's already too late to erase that potential fine lolAmanda ***********
OPThank you
@Tod ********
! I'll try to figure out if I can cancel it in Chiang Mai. If not, I'll go to Phayao for a day or two.Amanda ***********
OP@Ron ******
I'm entering Thailand on April 30 and won't be back in Chiang Mai until May 19. I'm traveling with a friend until then. Trying to figure out if I'll get fined if I don't cancel both until then, having left the country in the meantime and got a 30 day exemption on April 30
Ron *******
Why are you going to leave it a few weeks with a likely hood of being on 500 baht a day overstay?
Tod *********
@Ama***
, I believe they need to be canceled at the immigration office that issued the extension and the Ministry of Labour that issued the work permit. Unfortunately I don't know though :/Amanda ***********
OPThank you for clearing this up! I will cancel my WP and extension when I get back to Chiang Mai. Is it likely I get charged for overstay if my work permit wasn't cancelled and I cancel both on the same day? Also, they were issued in Phayao but I live in Chiang Mai now. do you know if I can cancel both in Chiang Mai in a few weeks?
Chris ********
I'm in the same situation
@Ama***
and planned to go to Penang to do a SETV for coming back to Thailand. So, what should be done about the Non-B visa to get a SETV after that ?Amanda ***********
OP@Chris *******
no problem! Just wanted to post to let people know in case they try to do the same thingChris ********
@Amanda **********
Ok thanksAmanda ***********
OP@Chris *******
most likely! He said they can't process this in Penang. He didn't know if other consulates would but he said probably not as you can't go from non immigrant to touristChris ********
@Amanda **********
So the same will happen to meAmanda ***********
OPI'm going to enter Thailand on April 30 with a 30 day exemption and hope they'll extend it another 30 days in Chiang Mai. Ill figure out the rest after that. Hoping to stay til end of September then go back to Canada
Dave **********
If you want to switch from non-B (with WP) to SETV then you need you have your WP and visa canceled before you depart.
If they are not canceled then an exit without a re-entry permit will void the visa and you will enter on a 30-day stamp. You can extend that for another 30.
.
Go cancel your WP and then on your next hop you can get a SETV
OR
just out and in for 30 more then extend for another 30.
So... In for 30, extend for 30, repeat for 30+30 more. 4 months gets you pretty close to Sept.
OR
in for 30, cancel the old WP, get a SETV and use that for the next 90 (60+30-day extension).
If they are not canceled then an exit without a re-entry permit will void the visa and you will enter on a 30-day stamp. You can extend that for another 30.
.
Go cancel your WP and then on your next hop you can get a SETV
OR
just out and in for 30 more then extend for another 30.
So... In for 30, extend for 30, repeat for 30+30 more. 4 months gets you pretty close to Sept.
OR
in for 30, cancel the old WP, get a SETV and use that for the next 90 (60+30-day extension).
Amanda ***********
OP@Dave *********
I stayed a month after and am in Penang for 5 days now. I get back to Thailand April 30. I hope I don't get fined. The school definitely didn't report anything though and neither did the agency! I'll still cancel it when I get back to Chiang Mai though. Hoping it'll be okay! 🙏Dave **********
@Amanda **********
Then enjoy the month and exit when needed.Amanda ***********
OP@Dave *********
nothing, they were lazy. 😂Dave **********
As long as nobody knows that you stopped on the 23rd of March then no worry. Just be gone before they expire.
If the school reported your contract ending on the 23rd then you may have a problem. It just depends on what the school did when you finished work.
If the school reported your contract ending on the 23rd then you may have a problem. It just depends on what the school did when you finished work.
Amanda ***********
OP@Dave *********
I stopped working at the school at the end of March, they just didn't cancel the WP. That and my non b expire April 30, which is when I re enter on a 30 day exemptionDave **********
If you are technically still employed and on leave (vacation) then no issue.
If your employer is not on board with it then you may have problems.
As to a 30-day extension of a non-B ... if not extending the WP...
Not in any case I am familiar with.
If your employer is not on board with it then you may have problems.
As to a 30-day extension of a non-B ... if not extending the WP...
Not in any case I am familiar with.
Amanda ***********
OPI didn't cancel my WP or non b and I stopped working march 23. I stayed in the country (not working) until April 25 and am flying into Krabi April 30. I'm doing a few more weeks of traveling and will be back in Chiang Mai (where I live now) on May 19. I will go to Chiang Mai immigration right away and attempt to extend another 30 days. Will they charge me with overstay if my work permit and non b weren't cancelled and I didn't leave the country for another month ?
Chris ********
@Dave *********
thanks for your advice, I didn't know anything aout that and supposed that I had to go out of Thailand at the date of my Non-B stated.Dave **********
I would bet that your WP wasn't canceled then. Most agencies just take the WP and throw it in a drawer until it expires.
Check at the labor office to see if it was actually canceled.
If it was they will give you a form.
If it wasn't then you need to cancel it.
Check at the labor office to see if it was actually canceled.
If it was they will give you a form.
If it wasn't then you need to cancel it.
Chris ********
Receipt/letter from the labor office ???? I didn't get anything as I've just been fired and that's it. Company asked me to give them back the WP and nothing else was said.
Dave **********
Take the receipt / letter from the labor office, go to immigration and cancel it. If this isn't done on the same day you can expect to get clipped for an overstay since your extension of stay was based on the canceled work permit.
Chris ********
I'm in the same situation and planned to go to Penang to do a SETV to come back to Thailand. I got fired and therefore supposed the company cancelled the WP but how to cancel my Non-B valid until May 1st ?
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