What are the visa processes after immediate resignation from a job in Thailand, and how can I convert my visa to a tourist visa?

Aug 4, 2023
a year ago
Bri ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all,

I was wondering:

If I resign efective immediately from my job and they cancel my visa, what is the process? Do I have 7 days to get out of the country?

Alternatively, if I want to cancel my work permit and visa, can I do so at immigration and have it transferred to a tourist visa in order to take care of wrapping up life here?

Any guidance would be appreciated! I am unable to bottle feed my baby and my school is not helping me find a work around. Their suggestion has been to push her to the point she's starving so that she accepts the bottle. I'm not that kind of parent.

Please help! What are my options? They can be very vindictive.

🙏🏻
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When resigning from a job in Thailand, the visa status largely depends on whether you are on an initial 90-day Non-B visa or a 1-year extension based on your work. If on an extension, your stay is only valid until your employment ends, and you typically do not have a grace period. You can cancel your work permit and visa at immigration, but without backing from your employer, options are limited. Some users suggest discussing with your employer for a smooth transition or paperwork support for a possible visa extension denial, which could grant you a 7-day window to leave. Transitioning to a Non-O visa might be possible if you follow your husband's visa, but it requires cooperation from the employer.
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John **********
Just had a look at your profile and it appears your husband is also a teacher at the same school. Makes me wonder if when you cancel the non-b extension if you could immediately switch to a Non-O based on following your husband and not have to worry about leaving the country. This would require cooperation from the school as they have to provide paperwork to allow this to happen.
John **********
The date you resign is the date you must leave the country. Other than feeding the baby issue are you on good terms with your employer? It might be worth speaking to them and saying you will need to resign due to the issue but would appreciate a few days to sort things out before doing so, then ask them to provide a letter saying you will finish on a particular date. On that date you'll need to leave the country
Paul *******
@John *********
Yes its the date on the termination letter that is the last day you're permitted to remain.

It's almost never a case of being fired or resigning at 5pm and then you have to leave the country before midnight (never mind most border crossings close by 10 or 11pm).

Immigration won't know you've left your job until you submit a termination letter to cancel your extension and work permit anyway.
Kealy ************
I went to cancel my visa before and immigration told me just to cross the border, therefore cancelling my visa and work permit. I came back the next day on a visa on arrival and extended that, then got my new non B after that. People on here said I’d get fined 20,000 baht but I just done what immigration here told me to do and it was grand
Paul *******
@Kealy ***********
I see. That's strange but good it worked out for you.
Paul *******
@Kealy ***********
Interesting. Normally you have to cancel the extension and work permit, leave the country then return.

Now if you were on a visa, nothing happens to it, just your work permit is canceled.
Kealy ************
@Paul ******
I know I went to immigration to cancel the extension and he said to just go into Malaysia and come back again and my work permit and extension would be cancelled so to come back on visa on arrival 🤷🏼‍♀️ it worked anyway
Brandon ************
@Kealy ***********
if you were on a visa, you cannot cancel a visa. You can only cancel an extension.
Kealy ************
@Brandon ***********
I was on an extension
Bob **********
You will need to

Leave on the last day of your employment if your on a visa you’ll not need to cancel that but if your on an extension you’ll have to cancel that as well as your work permit no grace period you may apply for an extension and get denied and given 7 days to leave 1900 baht
Paul *******
@Bob *********
You have until the date printed on your termination letter, which is usually a few days to a week or two after your job ends. Provided you don't go to immigration to cancel on the last day, you have until that last day on the letter. You can also get a 7 day extension on top off that, which is known as a "denied extension" extension and costs 1900 Baht.

If on a non O or non B 3 month single or 12 month multiple entry visa, then the job isn't tied to the visa and can stay for as long as that visa allows.
Brandon ************
Are you on the initial 90 day non-B visa or on a 1 year extension of stay based on your work? It makes a huge difference. If you're on the initial non-B visa, a visa cannot be cancelled and you can stay until the end of your current stamp. But if you're on an extension (the stamp in your passport says "extension of stay") then you don't really have any options.

If you're on an extension then your permission to stay in Thailand ends the same day that your job ends. You do not get 7 days to leave the country. You cannot cancel your work permit or extension without paperwork from your company.

If you do not cancel your extension then in the future you will not be able to apply for another long term extension and will likely be fined 20,000 baht for failing to cancel it when you stopped working. Even if you leave Thailand this will still happen if you return later and try to apply for a long term extension.

Your company holds all the power.

The only thing you "might" be able to do is if your company will give you paperwork stating your last day of work, you can cancel your work permit then take your cancelled work permit and that same paperwork to immigration to cancel your extension. At the same time you can apply for another extension even though you are not eligible for any extension. If they accept your application and 1900â‚ż fee (they do not have to accept it) they will give you a stamp that says "extension denied" and it will give you 7 days to leave Thailand.

You cannot convert to a tourist or anything else.
Bri ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
Thank you. I have worked for the school for two and a half years. I've been in Thailand renewing my visa for 10. Is that an extension of stay?
Brandon ************
Bri ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
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