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What are the best options for switching schools and visas in Thailand?

Visa Transfer Non-B Visa Non-O Visa Thai Visa Procedures Work Permit Cancellation Expat Visa Information Immigration Advice Thai Immigration System

Apr 29, 2025

13 hours ago

Jonathan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Visa Conundrum

Hi guys.  I am having some difficulty obtaining current information.  Visas and their procedures have changed and I find myself lost.  My situation.

I am presently employed at a school in Roi Et.  I will leave this school at the end of June and begin working at a school in Bangkok.  Here is the information my new school has given me.  I am unable to convince the new school of changes in their thinking.

1) I must be present in Roi Et to cancel my visa and work permit on June 30.  It is impossible to quickly be in Bangkok on the same day to transfer my Non-B from one school to another (I have checked flights).  The earliest I could arrive at Bangkok Immigration is  01 July.  However, according to the new school, this would put me on a 1 day overstay.  Bangkok immigration will refuse the transfer process if I am in an overstay situation.  I can't use the 7 day visa extension option as Bangkok immigration will not process the visa transfer if my on on this 7 day extension.  Is there a way around this problem?

2)  I am investigating a Non-O marriage visa as I have been married with a Thai citizen for over 5 years.  I do not have 400,000 Baht in the bank but my Thai salary is more than double the required 40,000 Baht.  However I am finding mixed information about using my Thai salary.  Some sources say that the 40,000 Baht must come from abroad.  Some sources say Thai salary is OK, but I will need a letter from my embassy to verify my income.  My embassy (U.S.A.) will not provide such a letter. Some sources say that isn't important and that 12 months of salary slips is sufficient (this I do have).   The other issue is timing.   I have two months before I will need everything processed.   Additionally I have a work permit.  Most websites indicate that I would need to cancel my current work permit when transferring from a non-B to a non-O.   Does anyone have any suggestions about this option or any information that can clarify some of the questions I have posed?

I think this leaves two further options.

3) Get a Thai tourist visa from a Thai Embassy/Consulate in a neighboring country.   I am having trouble finding updated information on this.  Which is the best country (nearby) to do this?  How does the e-visa system work?  It used to be simple, but things seem much more complicated these days.  If I need to do a tourist visa I would like to do it in the cheapest and most time-efficient manner.  Any suggestions?

4) Get a Thai non-B from a Thai Embassy/Consulate in a neighboring country.  My new employer is willing to provide the necessary documents for this.  Again, if I go this route I would be looking for the most economical and efficient process.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you for any assistance and insight.   Sorry for the long post.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is facing difficulties transferring their Non-B visa and work permit while moving from Roi Et to Bangkok. They are required to cancel their current visa in Roi Et by June 30 but cannot reach Bangkok on the same day due to travel constraints, risking an overstay. They are exploring options for a Non-O marriage visa but are uncertain about income requirements and documentation needed. Additionally, they consider applying for a tourist visa or a new Non-B visa from a neighboring country, seeking efficient and cost-effective solutions to their situation.

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Tod *********

Okay lets first get clear that you're not on ANY visa 😮 Because if you are still on the original 90 days of a Non-B visa, your ONLY option is to leave the country.

Now on the other hand if the stamp in your passport says "extension of stay" then what you're trying to do is cancel the extension from the office that issued it, make it down to the new immigration office and apply for a new extension with documentation from your new employer.

Now whether you can actually pull that off is totally dependent on you, your current employer, your current immigration office AND the new employer, new immigration office <- so a LOT of variables almost NONE of them in your control 😮 😕

Most people can't pull it off, then end up cancelling the extension they're on with their current employer at the immigration office where it was issued then border bouncing to get a free entry stamp and after that going to the new province and applying first for the in country 90 day Non-B visa and then after that the extension of stay.

2) - You wouldn't be getting ANY Non-O visa 🙁 You would only be changing the reason for your extension from employment to marriage to a thai and you can use in country wages as proof of funds (you need 3 months of proof of salary, work permit, contract, tax paper, etc) <- but sadly you won't be employed any more when you apply to change the reason from an extension based on employment to one based on marriage to a thai (showing proof of funds via in country employment) 🙁 So that's out

You would have wanted to do this several months ago not just when you're losing this current job and have no income from the new employer yet.

3) - doubtful you need to get a tourist visa from a thai consulate in a neighboring country because since july 15th 2024 over 90 countries can get a free 60 day entry (visa exempt) So just cancel your extension bounce out/back to get a free 60 day entry stamp and go from there

OR

4) - cancel your current extension, get documentation from your new employer, GO to a neighboring country (like Lao) and apply for the 90 day Non-B visa thru Vientiane or Savannakhet consulate online via the eVisa system. You would GO there, apply online, GO to the consulate in person to pay and then wait to get the eVisa approved. <- right now BOTH Vientiane and Savannakhet are pretty fast with "regular visas" (Non-B, Non-ED, Non-O) and once you pay in person at the consulate the visa is usually approved in under 24 hours. So I'd say you'd be in Lao probably 3 or 4 days.

11 hours ago

Amy *******

I just did this (switched schools from Korat to Chiang Mai). Immigration would not cancel my work permit and visa ahead of time, so the whole process for me was like this:

-cancel work permit (morning)

-cancel visa (afternoon)

-drive to Cambodia and exit and re-enter with a tourist visa (same day, to avoid overstays)

-move to Chiang Mai and get the paperwork from the new school

-fly out of country to apply for non-B and come back in with the

non-B visa.

You might be able to eliminate one trip by having all your paperwork from the new school and applying for the evisa while in Cambodia or whatever country you can get to same day.

It was a headache. So, I hope you find a better way!

12 hours ago

Jonathan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Amy ******

Thank you. It is exactly your situation that I would like to avoid. The process for changing employers is broken.

12 hours ago

Reply to

Jonathan ********

John **********

Your salary is fine for a Non-O based on marriage, no need for money from overseas. For a Non-B will Your new employer provide all the extensive paperwork for you to get this inside Thailand or will they provide the much less extensive paperwork to get the Non-B outside of Thailand?

If you're wanting to switch inside Thailand you really need both employers to work together to ensure it works correctly.

13 hours ago

Tod *********

@John *********

their salary IF they were still employed would be okay to show for proof of funds to switch their extension from one based on employment to one based on marriage to a thai, BUT stopping working means it is highly unlikely that the immigration office would accept the previous 3 months of tax documents showing their salary, plus they wouldn't have their contract, work permit etc.

I think they can't DO the switch to an extension based on marriage to a thai using FORMER employment and would have to do it based on banked money method

11 hours ago

Jonathan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

That is correct. I went to immigration this afternoon. They were willing to do a Non-O visa only if I had 400,000 in the bank. The fact that I am leaving this position in 2 months raised the flag at immigration about using my previous year of salary. They basically said that I can't use my present employment as a guarantee of funds because I do not have a new contract with my present school for the year ahead.

9 hours ago

Tod *********

@Jonathan *******

right, just as I suspected 😕

9 hours ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Blake ***********

I'm so curious about what happens for you as I will be doing the same thing, but in july and in bkk to another province.

I've been told that I NEED to leave and apply for the visa from another country. I don't really want to, but it looks like it's a 10-15 day ordeal using the evisa system

13 hours ago

Lloyd ********

1. The cancellation of WP and extension can be done ahead of time and backdated. Do that maybe 3 or 4 days early, then jet to BKK and apply for your new extension there.

13 hours ago

Jonathan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I am going to immigration today to ask about the Non-O. I will ask immigration about the 'backdating' option. Thank you for the suggestion.

13 hours ago

Jonathan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Immigration locally in Roi Et was not willing to do a backdating of the visa cancellation. I will talk to HR at my present school. My present school as a good relationship with immigration, and I have a good relationship with my present school. Perhaps the HR representative will get a different answer to the question of backdating.

9 hours ago

Reply to

Jonathan ********

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Can I switch from a Non-B visa to a Non-O marriage visa without leaving Thailand?

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