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 🙏
TLDR : 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.
