How long does it take to transfer work permit to new company?

[DjChris28]

Hi,

 

So here's the situation. I scored a new job at another company and the start date on the employment contract is 17th January. Before the 17th January, I want to visit a few days back in Australia my father (Since I haven't seen him in a year).  Planing to leave 9th-10th January and stay until 15th January. My current employer says they can cancel work permit on 26th December. But new employer says at the moment they will process new work permit on 5th January ( I might need to get them to pull that back a bit a few days). How long does the process normally take from cancelling with current employer to getting the new multi entry visa with new company? I assume I have to apply for 7 day extension during this period?

 

Also, they want a medical certificate. I rang up Bunrungrad hospital and ask about work permit check up. They told me the checkup is physical only and no blood test needed. I was like really? even for syphilis third stage test? Can anyone confirm this is true because it makes me wonder if they are talking about a different checkup. I really don't trust Thailand with needles - being all unused and all that, but I think Bunrungrad I can trust.

[BritTim]

The work permit should not really be an issue. What you need to worry about is the basis of your permission to stay in Thailand. If you are on an extension of stay based on working that will cease to be valid on the day your employment ends. If you have a multiple entry Non B visa, that will still be valid at the time of your return, you will be fine. You do not need to be employed for the visa and entries on it to be valid. If you are on a permission to stay that has not been extended and which gives a permission to stay until, say, about January 20, a possible option might be a re-entry permit, followed by applying for an extension as soon as you have the new work permit. If there is still a problem, see if your old employer is willing to keep you nominally employed (albeit unpaid) during the actual gap in employment, so your extension of stay is not canceled. You then just need a re-entry permit to stop the extension being invalidated during your home visit.

[Mattd]

There are some critical steps that need to be done here to get this right.

First of all, we need to know your permission to stay status, are you on an extension to stay based on working, made at an immigration office in Thailand, or a non-immigrant visa issued by an embassy overseas?

If the former, then you MUST get your old and new companies to coordinate the timing of this very carefully, your current work permit needs to stay valid right up to the day that your new work permit comes in to force, both of which need to be timed so that you can apply for an extension of stay on or around 17th January 2018.

If your old company cancels the work permit on 26th December 2017, then you will have no option but to apply for a new non-immigrant visa, which would be far easier to do from an embassy outside of Thailand.

There is no issue with applying for the new work permit whilst the old work permit is valid.

If you are on a multiple entry non-immigrant visa right now, then the above is not applicable.

 

You need to talk with your old company and get them to keep your current work permit valid right up to the point that the new company can get the new work permit issued, BTW, you will need to be present for the issuing of the new work permit, as you will need to sign it.

To be honest, it might be a lot less hassle for you to cancel the trip until a later time.

 

As BritTim has already pointed out, if you are on an extension of stay, they don't forget the reentry permit prior to leaving.

 

Regarding the medical, a physical check can determine whether you are suffering from any of the diseases that are prohibited and it is usually up to the doctor if tests are needed or not, don't worry about the needles, reputable hospitals use new ones every time.

[timendres]

I have used BumRunGrad for my work permit medical exam for four years running.

No blood test, no needles, never a problem with the work permit.