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Can I transition from a Non-B work visa to a tourist visa in Thailand by leaving the country?

Thailand Visa RulesNon-B VisaTourist VisaVisa TransitionImmigration Procedures
Oct 12, 2023
a year ago
Gregory *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hey, i might have messed up. I didn’t realize the 13th was a holiday and I had planned to go to immigration as I need to transition from a nonB work visa to a tourist visa before the 17th. Does anyone know if I have to go to immigration or can I just leave the country and come back and it’ll be a normal tourist visa now? Thanks in advance!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is concerned about transitioning from a non-B work visa to a tourist visa before a deadline, but is unsure if they can simply leave Thailand instead of going to immigration due to a holiday. Commenters explain that a tourist visa cannot be obtained while in Thailand. If on a work extension, they must cancel their permit at immigration to avoid fines. Alternatively, if eligible for visa-exempt entry, the user can leave and return for a 30-day entry without a visa.
Wilhelmina ********
@Brandon ***********
e Are you sure about that fine, even if it would show that one went out of Thailand from an exit record or stamp?
a year ago
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Wilhelmina ********
@Brandon ***********
 No, not the agent, but at the border control when you cross and exit. The pre-informed agency rep assists in the process, afaik.
a year ago
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Wilhelmina ********
@Brandon ***********
 It's stamped, so it's legit? I think it still goes technically right with "must inform the immigration of any change ... " so long as it's timely done.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Wilhelmina *******
 I told you, you can only cancel an extension at the office you received it at. No one else can cancel it regardless of what a random agent puts into your passport.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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Wilhelmina ********
@Brandon ***********
 As far as I know, it could really be done at the border for a penalty fee (not sure even with the absence of a cancellation letter). Visa run agencies could assist and it is stamped on your passport during the crossing. That stamp is the reference used when you apply for a future extension.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Wilhelmina *******
 That's not legit at all. Your extension will still be active in the system.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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Wilhelmina ********
@Brandon ***********
 Ah, OK, and that would be stamped again (the visa cancellation), right? And then, I heard visa run agencies could help for the penalty when this is done at the immigration border without the cancellation letter, right?
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Wilhelmina *******
 you can only cancel an extension at the office you received it. You won't have any issues leaving or entering Thailand, only when you apply for another long term extension at immigration.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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Brandon ************
@Wilhelmina *******
 yes. You sign a document when you apply for a work extension that says you'll notify immigration when there's a change in your status. You ending your work is a change in your status and this is what they will fine you for, failure to notify them of the change.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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Brandon ************
You can't get a tourist visa inside of Thailand. Going to immigration won't do anything. When you have a work visa or work extension, the only extension you have available to you as another 1 year work extension.

If you are on a work extension now, you need to take your cancelled work permit to immigration and cancel it before you leave, or you will not be able to get another long term extension again and will be fined 500b per day that you did not cancel up to 20,000 baht.

If you are still on the original non-B visa that you obtained, then you cannot cancel that and you can just leave.

Leaving the country and returning will not put you on a tourist visa, as a tourist visa can only be applied for and purchased from a Thai embassy or consulate outside of the country. If you are from a country that is eligible for visa exempt entry, then you can leave and return without a visa and you will be stamped in for 30 days visa exempt, which is eligible one time for a 30 day extension.
a year ago
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Gregory *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 okay, so that did answer a lot of my questions and I appreciate all the information. So yes I am currently on a work visa but it is being cancelled by the 17th, I just never brought the paperwork to the immigration office because I was planning to do that tomorrow. Now I do not need another long term visa, just a tourist visa and my plan was to do a visa run on Saturday out of the country.

Is the visa run useless if I don’t bring the paperwork to the immigration office beforehand?
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Gregory ********
 it will get you off your visa. But if your have an extension rather than a visa you're going to need to cancel it regardless. The sooner the better to avoid fines.
a year ago
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Gregory *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 okay perfect! So I can do the visa run Saturday to get me on the tourist visa and then bring the paperwork back Monday before the 17th to avoid fines and that would solve it right?
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Gregory ********
 how do you plan to do a visa run on a Saturday when the embassies are closed?
a year ago
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Gregory *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 bangkok buddy said they were still doing. Cambodia runs
a year ago
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Steve *******
@Gregory ********
 You wont get a Tourist visa until Tuesday(in Laos) or Wednesday(in Cambodia). Embassy/Consulate closed at the weekends. Processing time 1 day in Laos, 2 days in Cambodia
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Gregory ********
 that's not a visa run which is where you go apply for and purchase a visa. That's a border bounce. You also aren't changing to tourist visa because you won't have a tourist visa because you're not going to a Thai embassy and applying for one. You'll have NO VISA and enter visa exempt. I explained that all in my first post.
a year ago
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Gregory *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 Is if possible for me to message you?
a year ago
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Wilhelmina ********
@Gregory ********
 Are you even reading? You need to cancel your visa first by taking the paper to the immigration before you go anywhere. Get it?
a year ago
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Wilhelmina ********
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