What should I do about my work permit and visa situation after changing jobs in Thailand?

May 5, 2017
8 years ago
Sarah ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone,

I have recently changed jobs, and my previous employer had told me they had cancelled my work permit and visa on the 25th April, so on that day I went to cross the border to get my non-b visa extension changed back to a tourist visa - however i have just realised that I had a re-entry permit which I had never used, so the border patrol officer used that and sent me back through to Thailand on the same non-b visa. does this mean my visa is no longer cancelled?? am I now on overstay???

if not then the stamp in the passport says I have until the 16th of June to leave the country again, but my new job begins on the 22nd of May - do I need to apply for a new visa before then?

Thanks very much for any help you can give me! :)
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is confused about their immigration status after changing jobs in Thailand. They mention their previous employer claimed to have cancelled their work permit and visa, but after crossing the border, they re-entered using a re-entry permit and are now unsure if their visa is still valid or if they are in overstay. They also ask if they need to apply for a new visa before starting their new job.
Amornrat **********
You will not get a new Non B without having cleared your "current" wrong record.
Amornrat **********
Sarah Pursey someone gave you wrong advise. You need to cancel the work permit and the extension of stay now or asap.
Sarah ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok that sounds good. Really appreciate the help, I hope one day it all makes sense!
Tod *********
Sarah, I think you should get a new letter of resignation, go to the immigration office, cancel your current extension, get a 7 day to get out of thailand stamp for 1900baht.

Then go to a thai consulate & apply for a new Non-B (with paperwork from your new employer) or get a 60 day tourist visa.

At very least you'd need to exit re-enter thailand to get a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp.
Sarah ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have spoken to my employer and she has told me she can get a new letter of resignation made up for when I re-do the visa run - does this sound right? Would that allow me to apply for a new non-b VISA? I don't want to be fined for overstay!!! ๐Ÿ˜ญ
Amornrat **********
@Tod ********
she has to go Labour first, than take the paper I think TM10 to Immigration to cancel extension and yes, she will get fined for overstay. But that is the correct way.
Tod *********
@Amor****
, thanx (y) ,

so her best bet is to go to the immigration office, cancel her current extension, then either get the "extension denied 7 days to leave" for 1900 baht or immediately exit the country that day to go get either a tourist visa or apply for a new Non-B right?

Do you think she'd be fined for overstay seeing as her termination paperwork is dated the 25 of April, but she's showing up at the immigration office in May?
Amornrat **********
@Tod ********
not in Labour and Immigration records. Immigration record will just show that she left the country and "lost" her extension. Means if she not come back to Thailand no problem, if she come back and apply a new Non B that "unfinished" record will come back and haunt her.
Tod *********
If she were to exit the country on her Non-B extension without a re-entry permit (because she already used the one she had) wouldn't it "cancel" her current extension?
Sarah ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I was advised that this was the easiest way to do it - I still have my work permit with me, but my previous employer submitted a letter of resignation stating the 25th April and told me i had to leave the country on this day, get a tourist visa, and then apply for a new non-B visa after that... i never got a receipt of my work permit being cancelled :S
Tod *********
@Did***
, Umm, in order to cancel a work permit they do indeed to go the Dept of Labor & in order to cancel an extension of stay you do indeed need to go to the immigration office.

Those things can't be done over the phone or just with a letter of termination.

It takes going in person to both offices.

Also no employer can cancel a valid "visa", they are good whether you're working or not, ONLY an extension of stay can be canceled when you're terminated.
Didier ********
An Employer can cancel work permit and visa B easily... application to do that and they don't eed to go to immigration and labor office. But They must to give a letter. with this you can do a visa 7 days.( this is the legal delay to go outside).
Sarah ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
ok brilliant. thanks very much for your help guys! :)
Tod *********
If you have the paperwork from your new company already you could stamp out, go to a consulate and buy the 90 day Non-B visa.
Sarah ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
ok thanks guys! my main concern was that i was now on overstay and would get banned from returning :( so if i leave the country, could I apply for the new non-B visa at the Thai embassy straight away, or would I need to buy a tourist visa first?
Robert *******
So your employer gives you a letter of resignation stating 25th April, you did not go to Ministry of Labor to cancel the work permit and visited Immigration to cancel your Extension of Stay. I support now the idea of Tod, go abroad, get a Tourist Visa and come back in on that visa.
Tod *********
But you didn't go get a tourist visa at a thai consulate, you just stamped out of thailand in&out of Cambodia and then right back into thailand.

IF you had went to a thai consulate and bought a tourist visa they would have stamped you in on that.
Robert *******
How is the I/O supposed to know that your Extension of Stay was not valid? You turned in your WP and than you must visit Immigration to cancel your Extension, just going to another country with a re-entry permit does not cancel your Extension. Other thing, why a tourist visa, which does not allow you to work and you have a job. Go with employer, copies etc, wp to Immigration, explain and ask new extension of stay based on new wp.
Tod *********
Your employer can't cancel your visa OR your extension, you take the receipt of your work permit being canceled to the immigration office and do it yourself.

What I would do is go to the border again, stamp out and back in, because you already used your re-entry permit the extension you're on will cancel when you stamp out.

Then you can stamp back in on a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp.
Tod *********
When you exited and re-entered they used your re-entry permit from the extension you had. That's why they stamped you back in to the date on the extension 16 June 2017
Sarah ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Daniel ************
and the visa/extension stamp or sticker?
Sarah ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Here's the stamp
Daniel ************
if you had a visa, they cant cancel it - if you had an extension it can be cancelled. what does your entry stamp say , permitted to stay until ? can u post the visa/extension stamp u have ...
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