Answered8 years ago

Will I need to do a visa run after my job contract was lost at a Thai government school?

work permit visa run Extension of Stay immigration rules Thailand expat guidance

Ashleigh **********

asked Oct 18, 2018

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I work for an English agency that has placed me at a government school. I have a work permit already as I've been working there for a while and my work permit is valid until May 2019. The pages in my passport are all full so I've planned to go to Bangkok to apply for a new South African passport at the end of the month.

However, on the last day of term our agency dumped the news on us that they have lost the contract for the school. And another company will now be taking over employing teachers. They are going to start reinterviewing us for our current positions. But this basically means we have all lost our jobs until they confirm they have rehired us again.

They have told us that we will all need to go on visa runs again. Is this true? Or can the new company just take over responsibility for our current work permits if we are staying at the same school.

I'm concerned because I really don't think I will have my new passport in time if a visa run is necessary.

Thank you in advance 🙏

Answer summary

The user, an expat working at a government school in Thailand, is facing job uncertainty after their agency lost the contract for the school. Concerned about having to go on a visa run due to the job loss, they seek clarity on whether the new company can take over their work permits. Comments confirm that the existing work permit and Extension of Stay will need to be canceled upon termination of employment, requiring a new application process for the new employer. Thus, a visa run might be necessary if the user does not have their new passport in time.

9 repliesnewest first

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Ashleigh **********

OK thank you for your response.

8 years ago

Nic *******

I see, that makes sense, thanks.

8 years ago

Robert *******

No, you apply for an Extension of Stay at Immigration with documents from your employer. You can not use documention from employer A to work for employer B. The changes you point out are from the Ministry of Labor and only changed the responsibility that the Employer is now responsible to add themselves as second employer in the work permit. But if you are fired or quit the job there is no (first) employer and the WP must be cancelled.

8 years ago

Nic *******

Hi, does the new law about work permits not change this at all?

8 years ago

Robert *******

Not the news you like to hear, but it is the way it is. Good luck.

8 years ago

Robert *******

The Extension of Stay and the Work Permit has to be cancelled on your last day of working. a New employer can not take them over and will have to start the whole process over again. You can cancel both in advance so you have time to arrange travel plans.

8 years ago

Ashleigh **********

I have an extension of stay and have to make 90 day reports to immigration in Thailand.

8 years ago

Robert *******

As you are working there for a while I guess you have an Extension of Stay based on working and make every 90 days reports at Immigration. Or do you make every 90 days a visa run to a Thai Consulate or Embasy to buy a new Non Immigrant B visa? There is a difference in what to do when the job stops. Here the examples:

8 years ago