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What should I do if I cancel my work permit in Thailand but have an active work visa?

David **********
asked Aug 31, 2021
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Does anyone have experience with canceling a work permit in Thailand (quitting a job), but still having an active Work VISA? If I were to quit a job with plans to return to my home country, do I have to switch to a Tourist VISA right away? Or can I stay in Thailand as long as my work VISA is still active?
Answer summary
When canceling a work permit in Thailand, it is crucial to understand the implications on your work visa and extension of stay. If you quit your job, you usually must cancel your work permit and extension of stay immediately, as your permission to stay in Thailand is contingent on your employment. You cannot directly switch to a tourist visa while in Thailand. However, during exceptional circumstances (like the COVID-19 situation), you can apply for a 60-day extension after canceling your work-related permissions. It is advisable to ensure all paperwork, including cancellation documentation from your employer, is processed correctly to avoid overstaying.
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Tod *********
Tod *********
And this train wreck of a thread shows the reason that TERMINOLOGY and knowing what stamp you're on is SO important.

despite the O/P's repeated assertions they are NOT on ANY visa at all. 😮 They are on an extension of stay based on employment (which they would have seen had they heeded the advice to look in their passport and read their current stamp) 😕

They have been given great advice; there is no tourist visa available inside the country, they need to cancel their work permit at the Ministry of Labor that issued it. Then they need to take that paper and documentation from their current employer to the immigration office that issued their extension and get it canceled. AND only after that can they apply for a 60 day covid extension.

We are done, thanx one and all for the valuable contributions. Good luck to the O/P and their endeavor. (y)
Andrew *********
Andrew *********
Take your work permit into the labour office with the cancellation of contract from the employer, you will be given a pink letter confirming no outstanding tax. Next take the letter and go to the immigration and cancel your Non-B. ( I think same day you can apply for another visa.)
Andre ***************
Andre ***************
I did exactly this procedure today. Cancellation of extension of stay and applied for a Covid exemption. Both need to be done at the same day- otherwise every day will count as overstay-500thb.

Best is to ask at your local immigration for the correct way and the templates you will need.
David **********
David **********
OP
@Andre **************
I’m currently in Bangkok. Will I need to go to the Immigration Center in Bangkok or the VISA Extension Center at Muang Thong Thani ?
Andre ***************
Andre ***************
@David *********
The tricky thing is, cancellation of extension of stay normally need to be done where it is issued.

The Visa exemption due to Covid will be issued at immigration where you registered your address.

In my case, I can’t be in Krabi and Kanchanaburi at the same day so my immigration officer gave me upfront clear advices which documents I need.

(1: letter of ending my employment from company

2: a letter in Thai from office of employment)

Luckily with that they did the cancellation in Kanchanaburi.
Benjamin ******
Benjamin ******
@Andre **************
The immigration Center in Bangkok (Changwattana?) and Muang Thong Thani are both "Bangkok immigration".
Ellie *******
Ellie *******
@David *********
, you will go to Chaengwattna Building B.
Frank-Steven ***********
Frank-Steven ***********
If you cancel your job / your job is terminated, and the job was the only basis for your permission to be in Thailand, then normally you would have to leave Thailand right away - on the day your job is terminated.

There is no changing to tourist visa inside of the country. In normal times, you could apply for an additional 7-day grace period @ 1,900 baht.

In current covid times, you can apply for a 60-day covid extension of stay right after your current / work related one is cancelled. So right now you could achieve staying longer even after stopping your job.
Benjamin ******
Benjamin ******
VISAS vs. EXTENSION OF STAY vs. WORK PERMITS

I'm reading these comments, and there are some confusion about the difference between visas and extension of stays that we need to clarify. This comment is NOT about BOI employment. This comment is only for people who entered on a Single Entry Non-B visa.

1. A visa allows a person to enter Thailand. IF purchased outside of Thailand, this is a full page sticker, and allows a person to stay for 90 days. If purchased INSIDE Thailand, the stamp says "visa". For employment, this is known as a "Non-B visa". Features of a visa:

- Cost 2K THB inside Thailand, or equivalent in local currency

- Allows a person to stay for 90 days

- CAN NOT BE CANCELLED! A person can stay for the entire 90 days.

2. An Extension of Stay allows a person to STAY in Thailand. This is a half-page stamp that says "Extension of Stay". This stamp is valid for either one year, the length of the contract, or the length of the passport, depending on which one is shortest. Features of an Extension of Stay:

- Cost 1,900 THB at ALL immigration offices

- Allows a person to stay UP TO one year

- MUST be cancelled when the employee stops working. When it is cancelled, a person MUST leave Thailand on the cancellation date.

3. A work permit allows a person to WORK in Thailand. This is a book issued by the labor department that identifies the employer and the job title. This MUST BE cancelled when a person is no longer employed.

Even though the immigration office, human resources office, and labor department may be "sloppy" with the terms, these *ARE* different concept and affects a person's rights to stay in Thailand, and for this group we use the proper, legal terms. Any comments from anyone saying they cancelled a "Work Visa" will simply be deleted.
Ismi ******
Ismi ******
Yeees, how you know
@Robert ******
but Im so confused why would they call and have this sign for visa because I think embassy is the one who gives visa. No?
Benjamin ******
Benjamin ******
@Ismi *****
They call it a visa because they try to make things simple, but it really makes thing more confusing
Ismi ******
Ismi ******
Do you know why Thai immigration call my extension of stay, visa aplication?
Robert *******
Robert *******
@Ismi *****
They may talk like that but you use this form
Ellie *******
Ellie *******
I bet you are on extension based on employment, not visa anymore. There is no stamp from the visa based on teaching longer than 90days.

Your extension is invalid when your work finishes/you quit, even your extension still has remaining days. If you still on that extension after you cancel your workpermit, that means you are on overstay. That's why you need to cancel your extension clearly.

If you don't have a legit work permit, there is no way for you to keep your extension.
Ellie *******
Ellie *******
There is no tourist visa or extension based on tourism inside Thailand for you other than Thailand Elite program (which you will be on tourist status).
David **********
David **********
OP
Dave Allen I had an original non b visa that began in February 2020 to 2021. Then, I continued with the same employer and received a new Non B Work VISA valid from 2021 to 2022. However, I’ll have to confirm whether or not it was simply an extension.
Benjamin ******
Benjamin ******
@David *********
>I’ll have to confirm whether or not it was simply an extension.

You can confirm by looking in your passport (that you kept, and didn't let the agent keep, correct?). An extension of stay looks like this below:

(the key word in the stamp is "Extension of stay")

>If I were to quit a job with plans to return to my home country, do I have to switch to a Tourist VISA right away?

As
@Robert ******
said, you will have to cancel your work permit and extension of stay, and then get either:

1. A new extension of stay that you qualify for. MOST people can get a 60 day extension of stay based on unable to travel due to COVID-19. The last day they are selling this extension of stay is September 27th.

2. Get a 7 day extension of stay denied stamp (IF you don't have any other valid reason to stay in Thailand, like retirement, family, etc). At the end of the 7 days, you *MUST* leave Thailand.
Dustin *******
Dustin *******
@David *********
is it a sticker or a stamp in your passport now?
Bobby ********
Bobby ********
David Gardiner. You can confirm by opening your passport and looking at the stamp
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
YOU DO NOT HAVE A VISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
so you need to plan very carefully your leaving work and plans after that.
David **********
David **********
OP
@Lloyd *******
yikes 😳
Robert *******
Robert *******
I guess you have the stamp in your passport with the text:

Extension of Stay is permitted up to xx/xx/xx. This stamp has to be cancelled when the reason changes as you understood and signed when you got this stamp.

At the end of contract you are responsible to cancel your work permit and your Extension of Stay. You have to apply for a new Extension of Stay if you like to stay inside Thailand but you need to meet the requirements. If not the application will be not approved and you get 7 days to leave the country.
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
where did you get your work visa ?
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
Sorry, if valid until next year you have an extension of stay - not a visa. That extension needs to be cancelled on your last day of work, and then you need to find another way to stay here if you wish to.
David **********
David **********
OP
I have a work VISA valid through February 2022
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
Trying to establish if you actually have a visa or an extension of stay
David **********
David **********
OP
@Lloyd *******
I have plans to return to the United States, but plan to give notice to an employer and then hopefully stay in Bangkok for a few weeks to take care of some things and hopefully travel locally a bit before flying back to the US.
Lloyd ********
Lloyd ********
in Thailand ? How long ago ?
David **********
David **********
OP
@Lloyd *******
through a staffing firm for an English teaching company

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