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What should I do about my Non-B visa and work permit cancellation before moving to a new school in Thailand?

Non-B Visa Visa Extensions Work Permit Cancellation Immigration Procedures Expats in Thailand Laos Visa Run

Jun 12, 2025

2 days ago

Jonathan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Quick Question

I am working at a school.  I am presently under contract until the end of July, but I will need to start at my new school on July 1st.  Consequently I will go to Laos (Savannakhet) to get a new 90-day Non-B.   

It is not convenient for my current HR to assist with visa and work permit cancellations in the week that I will travel to Laos.  They says that there is no need to cancel my current Non-B before I go to Laos as it will be cancelled automatically when I cross the border.   There will be no issues either at the border or at the Thai consulate in Savannakhet when applying for the new Non-B.  

My current school said that they will cancel my work permit with the Labor office formally in the week after I go to Laos.  I have no reason to believe that they won't do this.  They are honest and reliable.  Once they do this, they say, I will be able to apply for a new work permit. 

I am concerned that if I don't cancel the work permit and visa before going to Laso, then get a temporary 7-day visa, and then go to Laos that I might run into a problem either at the border, or at the Thai consulate.   

If anyone has any insight into this situation, I would greatly appreciate it.  I am just trying to do the right thing, in the right way.  Thank you in advance.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is seeking guidance on whether they need to cancel their existing Non-B visa and work permit before traveling to Laos to obtain a new 90-day Non-B visa for a new school job starting July 1st. Their current school's HR department states it's unnecessary to cancel the existing visa as it will automatically cancel upon exiting Thailand. However, several community comments caution about potential issues if proper cancellation procedures are not followed, recommending that the user should ensure both their visa and work permit are canceled appropriately to avoid complications upon returning.

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Verkpink ******

To be sure, you should ask the immigration office and the provincial labor office. I can give some advice, but I’m not sure if I’m fully correct. I’m in Chiang Mai province where it usually works in two ways:

1. Your situation is that your current job ends on July 31, but your new job starts on July 1. In this case, you might not need to leave the country to get a new visa. You can continue working with your current Non-B visa. You need to arrange between the old and new workplaces so that your old workplace cancels your visa on June 30. You can apply for cancellation 21 days in advance. You must resign from the old job first, for example, resign on June 15, and your old workplace cancels your work permit on June 16. Then you have enough time for the new school to apply for your new work permit as soon as possible. After that, you use the new work permit to extend your visa before June 30 so you can start working at the new school on July 1 according to your contract.

2. If you have to leave the country, you must have your visa canceled and get a cancellation stamp for your work visa at the old job. You should not let the visa be automatically canceled when leaving the country because your work status will still be active, which will cause problems when you apply for a new visa. You must leave the country on the last day of your visa. The old workplace must cancel your work permit after your last working day. If the old workplace does not notify cancellation within 15 days, they will be fined 20,000 baht.

a day ago

Jayone ******************

A friend of mine got into big trouble for not canceling his work permit and visa extension. Cancel everything and head to wherever you wanna go.

2 days ago

Graeme *******

Why don't you just visit immigration and ask them the question, take a person with you if not a Thai speaker. Most advice on this site is good, but why don't people ask Thai immigration, I find them pretty good.

2 days ago

Robert *******

As you write you are on an Extension of Stay and you signed the document that you understand the rules and regulations.

why ask if you understand the rules, but okay, your employer is WRONG.

According to the signed STM2 form YOU need to cancel this Extension of Stay using the last day of working as the last day of this permitted to stay period.

AS you also signed documents to get a Work Permit it is YOU who has to cancel this work permit at the Ministry of Labor.

YOU and ONLY YOU is responsible to do this.

2 days ago

Si ********

Are you on an Extension of Stay or a Non-b ?

2 days ago

Jonathan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Si *******

i have been wiring at my current school more than a year, so I am on an extension of a non-b.

2 days ago

Si ********

@Jonathan *******

Then YOU go and cancel everything before leaving. I wouldn't trust anyone to do anything at immigration other than yourself.

2 days ago

Reply to

Si ********

Richard ********

You won’t have trouble leaving the country or at the embassy. However, you *might* have trouble with the immigration office near your new school. There *may* be a fine for not cancelling your extension based on work.

We just had a bad experience at Samut Prakan Immigration. We were trying to change a visa exempt stamp to a Non B when the immigration officer spotted an old Non B in the passport that hadn’t been cancelled properly. Our new teacher had left the country to work in Vietnam for two years. Then came back. As it turned out, their old school had also neglected to cancel their work permit. Long story short, the IO refused to continue with changing the visa type. So we couldn’t employ this person.

2 days ago

Lloyd ********

@Richard *******

If you could edit this so it says "extension based on work" as opposed to "Non-B", it would be correct.

2 days ago

Paul *******

@Richard *******

That's bureaucratic nonsense though.

2 days ago

Reply to

Paul *******

Jonathan ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I presently have a nonB that will expire at the end of July. This is an extension.

2 days ago

Brandon ************

@Jonathan *******

then you're not on a non-B. You're on an extension based on work. And therefore YOU MUST CANCEL this before you leave. Your school cannot do it. It's in your passport, and it's your extension. You must get a letter from your school stating your last day of work and then take this to get your work permit cancelled, and then take your cancelled work permit and the letter to the immigration office that issued your extension and get it cancelled there. Most immigration offices will allow you to do this 1-2 weeks before the date on the letter. They will cancel your extension and then stamp you in through the date on the letter.

2 days ago

Reply to

Brandon ************

Lloyd ********

Until we know if you are on a VISA or an extension of stay, no-one can answer

2 days ago

Reply to

Lloyd ********

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