Changing jobs in the time of Covid

[cedward88]

Hi There,

 

I am currently employed as a teacher in Bangkok, I have a NON-B with a one year extension valid until April 2021. I have been offered a great job by another company which I would like to take. Their company HQ is based in Pathum Thani, but id be working in Bangkok.

 

My new company easily matches all the requirements to hire a foreigner - and they have outsourced the process of getting a new visa to an external company - however, the external company does not seem to know how to do this (they haven't paid them yet) 

 

From my limited understanding - I need to cancel my NON-B and work permit, and then apply for a new one (in Pathum Thani). But from what I (think) I understand - you need to leave the country once this has happened. And with the covid situation - there is a chance I will not get back in. 

 

Could anyone advise on the best way to go about this - (other than finding another outsource company) Do I have a limited amount of time - once the visa and work permit have been cancelled to arrange a new one? 

 

Thanks in advance for any help. ( if you need any further information I can provide it.)

[ubonjoe]

The first step would be to resign from your current job to get the last day you will be working for them and be able to have a termination letter to cancel your current extension so you can apply for a new one on the day the extension is canceled.

You new employer would need to apply for your new work permit to get a work permit application letter.

If you will be applying for the  new extension at a different office you would have to cancel your extension at the one that issued and then apply for the new extension on the day the current one is canceled at the other office.

To apply for the new extension you will need supporting documents from your new employer and the work permit application approval letter.

No need to leave the country for a new visa if you can do the above.

[cedward88]

Everything I needed to know. Thank you very much :).

 

[Aussieroaming]

We've got people who are in the HR process during COVID, they are now in no mans land, resigned and our company hasnt taken them on yet because of unforseen issues with visa's, work permits and travel. So I would say be wary about jumping boat until your new company realises their limitations.

 

I'm trying to resign, same issue..I can't resign until I can find a way home, otherwise my visa and WP are deactivated and I'm suddenly in no mans land.

[ubonjoe]

24 minutes ago, Aussieroaming said:

I'm trying to resign, same issue..I can't resign until I can find a way home, otherwise my visa and WP are deactivated and I'm suddenly in no mans land.

Not really in no man's land. You could stay until July 31st after your job ended under the ministerial notice. You qualify for it since the only way to stay longer would be to leave the country for a new entry which is not possible at this time.

[debbiedebbie]

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Not really in no man's land. You could stay until July 31st after your job ended under the ministerial notice. You qualify for it since the only way to stay longer would be to leave the country for a new entry which is not possible at this time.

Kindly explain the procedure if the new work is for another school as a teacher again. I'm seeing some hardship especially with regard to acquiring the teaching license (temp or not?) which is important for the work permit and visa/extension. Tnx in advance.

[ubonjoe]

12 minutes ago, debbiedebbie said:

Kindly explain the procedure if the new work is for another school as a teacher again. I'm seeing some hardship especially with regard to acquiring the teaching license (temp or not?) which is important for the work permit and visa/extension. Tnx in advance.

It is hard to predict what would happen in your case.

If you cannot get all the paperwork to change your work permit and extension to another school on the same day your current one is cancelled my advice would be to have the extension canceled so you could go under the "exemption" if it is not  possible to extend it.

[Aussieroaming]

On 4/28/2020 at 1:29 PM, ubonjoe said:

Not really in no man's land. You could stay until July 31st after your job ended under the ministerial notice. You qualify for it since the only way to stay longer would be to leave the country for a new entry which is not possible at this time.

Not really Ubonjoe, my home and base is in Thailand. I'm currently stuck in another country, because I'm on a contract here, while my wife is in Bangkok as she went home in January for a 4 week visit and didnt make it back here. If I can make it back to Thailand I'm inclined to stay put until vaccines excetera are available. I dont fancy a second lock down period here if there is another wave. Complex situations for any families that are separated. There are numerous people I know who are Point of Hire from Thailand and are in a similar predicament, some with little children, which must amplify the problems. Plus, as I said we have people in contract limbo because they resigned in order to join us and then got caught by the lockdown and cessation of movement.