From work visa to extension based on retirement and SS questions

[Brian K]

Very new here so apologies if the topic has been covered already.  I checked but couldn't find the answers to all my questions.  

 

British national; just over 60 yo.  Just lost my job as a result of COVD 19.  Visa and work permit expiring end of June.  Two sets of questions I'd like some help with, please.

 

1.  SOCIAL SECURITY - was told by Human Resources I need to go to my local SS office  to collect a lump sum since I made contributions to the pension fund and can no longer contribute (voluntary or through another job)  given that I am over 60.  I am assuming that's the case, but please confirm if anyone knows anything about the SS system.

 

The other side of the SS system is health care.  I want to continue contributing so I can use it when I need it.  HR can't help with this. 

- Can I continue paying without a job and if so how and where to go for this?

 

2.  SWITCHING FROM WORK VISA TO EXTENSION BASED ON RETIREMENT -  I can meet all the required criteria.  Given the current visa amnesty, I am ok until 31 July but would like to switch before this deadline.  

- Can I change to "retirement" visa without having to leave Thailand?

- Will I get the one year extension straight away?

-  I'll need to go to Chaengwattana, thinking of early July.  anyone know how CW is operating these days?

 

Thanks very much for your help with this

 

 

[ubonjoe]

I. Yes for the lump sum.

You could set up  the monthly payments for health care at the SS office when you request the lump sum.

2. You can change the reason for your extension based upon working to one based upon working on the day your current extension is canceled at immigration.

If you waited until July 31st immigration could refuse to do it.

I assume you will be able to show 800k baht in a Thai bank for 2 months or proof of 65k baht income.

Everything is about the same a Chaeng Wattana immigration other than temperature checks and social distancing.

[Brian K]

Thank you Joe.

 

HR will be cancelling my visa in a different province (I am in BKK) without me.  They'll do this about one week before the visa expires.  I can't go and also told me there is no need.  What shall I do in this case?  Thanks again

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, Brian K said:

HR will be cancelling my visa in a different province (I am in BKK) without me.

They will need your passport to cancel the extension. Immigration can post date it to the date on a termination letter stating your last day of work if they go to immigration few days before that day.

[Brian K]

Sorry Joe.  I am not sure I understand what you're saying.  HR will have my passport when they can cancel one week before the visa is due to expire.  

 

Do I need to be there to switch to retirement?  Or shall I wait until I go to CW?  What's the latest I can go to CW after my current work visa is cancelled?

 

Thanks

[ubonjoe]

They could ask that the extension cancelation be post dated to the date the they put on a termination letter.

If you are not living within the area where the immigration office is located you would not be able to apply for the extension based upon retirement.

You would to apply for the extension based upon retirement on or before the day you current extension is canceled.

[Brian K]

so I need to ask HR to tell Immigration in Hua Hin to provide me with a termination letter that states he work visa expiry date.  I'll need that termination letter together with other required docs to take to CW to apply for retirement visa.  Is this correct?

 

Will I then get the visa for one year?

 

Thanks again

[ubonjoe]

They would show immigration in Hua Hin dated a few days after the go to immigration and ask that the cancelation be dated on the day you are terminated. 

Since the cancelation stamp will of been done when you go to immigration in Bangkok and they will do the extension for you.

[Brian K]

so there is no termination letter?  correct?

 

if so, just ask them to make sure the termination date on my passport matches the original expiry date, correct?

 

When can I go to CW?  the day the original visa expires ie 30 June?  Or earlier?

 

Sorry if this is not as straighforward as I had hoped it would be.  Thanks very much

[ubonjoe]

The cancelation date could be the same as the day your extension ends.

You could go to immigration before the cancelation date. You new extension will start from the day you apply.

[Brian K]

thanks a lot.  

Re length of visa based on retirement.  Will it be for one year straight away?

[Number 6]

2 hours ago, Brian K said:

Thank you Joe.

 

HR will be cancelling my visa in a different province (I am in BKK) without me.  They'll do this about one week before the visa expires.  I can't go and also told me there is no need.  What shall I do in this case?  Thanks again

You can cancel your own visa and work permit. First work permit then bolt up to CW and cancel visa. Apply for the O.

 

Office MoL has changed I'm told. I forget where sorry

[BritTim]

Bangkok tends to be less strict about your current place of residence than many other offices. Proving your new abode at some offices can be a tricky process. However, a preparatory step before Bangkok will process a long stay extension, is likely to be transferring your official residence from Hua Hin to Bangkok. If you agree to cancel the work extension yourself (based on the termination letter your employer sends you) then you can do the TM28 (transfer of residence) at Chaengwattana in advance, reducing the load at the end of June when you cancel the work extension and apply for the retirement extension.

[Brian K]

22 hours ago, Number 6 said:

You can cancel your own visa and work permit. First work permit then bolt up to CW and cancel visa. Apply for the O.

 

Office MoL has changed I'm told. I forget where sorry

HR will take care of cancelling WP too. 

I understand I cannot cancel my own visa since it was issued in another province.  Am I missing anything?

[Brian K]

22 hours ago, BritTim said:

Bangkok tends to be less strict about your current place of residence than many other offices. Proving your new abode at some offices can be a tricky process. However, a preparatory step before Bangkok will process a long stay extension, is likely to be transferring your official residence from Hua Hin to Bangkok. If you agree to cancel the work extension yourself (based on the termination letter your employer sends you) then you can do the TM28 (transfer of residence) at Chaengwattana in advance, reducing the load at the end of June when you cancel the work extension and apply for the retirement extension.

Thanks.  I have always lived in BKK.  My work is in another province hence the need to cancel the visa in that province.

So, am I supposed to provide anything at CW re my residence?  I have the yellow book.  Will that be enough?

Also can someone please answer my question re the length of the visa extension.

I am also getting confused re some of the docs I need to submit.  Where can I find the up-to-date list?

[Number 6]

On 5/21/2020 at 3:44 PM, Brian K said:

HR will take care of cancelling WP too. 

I understand I cannot cancel my own visa since it was issued in another province.  Am I missing anything?

WP may very well be tied to province. Insane.

 

Good luck.