Returning Work Permit - One Stop Center

[Sateev]

Just wanted to let everyone know my experience returning my work permit, and my subsequent encounter with the Immigration people at the One Stop Center on Paholyothin Rd.

First, I am 56, was here on an extension of stay linked to my work permit.

I resigned from the Thai company, effective 1 June 2007. Today, 6 June 2007, I went to One Stop to return my work permit, per Thai law.

I can confirm that you indeed have 7 days (not 15, as sometimes misstated; the employer has 15 days to report your termination) after you leave the company to return the work permit. I then asked the clerk at the Employment Department whether or not I had to have my extension to stay canceled. She told me to go the Immigration counter, and ask them.

Having read many times on this forum that Immigration would give me an additional seven days to leave the country, I was stunned when they said I had to leave TODAY, or be in overstay. I appealed but they were adamant. They even miscalculated the date, since I worked THROUGH 31 May, but the stamped me as having to leave 6 June. After complaining, the clerk (#1) said they would be glad to give me an extension, as per the usual TM7 routine, and, of course, 1900 baht.

So, I went a few hundred meters down the road to get a picture taken, and copies of my passport pages, filled out the form and returned with everything in order (I thought).

When I returned, another clerk (#2) at the counter said I would have to go to Suan Plu for the extension! I really couldn't fathom what the problem was, and they finally called a mid-level supervisor. She looked it over, and then took me to see one of the two supervisors in the offices where they sign off on everything that their clerks have done.

The supervisor also concurred that I would need to go to Suan Plu, but agreed to make an exception, since I was all sweaty and hot from going to get pics, etc.

I then took my paperwork to the clerk (#3) who actually stamped my passport with a 7 day extension to stay, my stated reason being to wait for my flight to Singapore to apply for a 90 day non-B.

The key is this: clerk #3 told me I could stay an additional 7 days for free, if I applied to a new work permit today. Due to my new employer's company registration not yet being in order, this was not an option. But she was the only clerk who offered this advice, or assistance.

Finally, I paid my 1900 baht (for 7 days!), and the supervisor signed me off.

Since I have read in many threads on this forum that Immigration should give me an additional 7 days to leave, I am left wondering if it was:

1) due to the interpretation of the staff at the One Stop, or,

2) due to my being on an extension of stay, rather than a non-B visa, or

3) ?

Clearly, had I walked out after returning my work permit, without notifying Immigration, I would have been in violation of the regulations. But, upon leaving, everything would get reset back to square one, since the Employment Department apparently does not notify Immigration when a work permit is surrendered. They would just cancel my extension of stay at the airport, and be none the wiser. I suppose I could potentially be in trouble if I were stopped by the Immigration Police in the next week.

Hope this helps someone who is in a similar situation. Comments as to the discrepancy between what seems to be common knowledge (7 days to return the WP, 7 days to leave the country), and what I just experienced are welcome and appreciated.

Sateev

[jdinasia]

If you were on a standard non-imm ... you would have been allowed to stay normally. (not extension of stay) On a multi non B ... ifr you got it in April .. entered the country and worked for 2 weeks then quit you would have until July before you had to leave ....

if you were on extension of stay BUT the visa was still valid for some amount of time you would have to make a border run.

[Maestro]

I have always wondered about these rules affecting the holder of a work permit (WP) who is on an extension of stay for the reason of employment. Are these published rules, ie in the Government Gazette, or are they only internal guide-lines?

15 days for the employer to notify the Labour Division of the termination of employment. That is 15 days from the last date of employment.

7 days for the WP holder to return the permit to the Labour Division. 7 days from

a) the last date of employment, or

the date the employer notified the Labour Division of the termination of employment?

7 days to leave the country (or obtain extension of stay for a different reason). 7 days from

a) the last date of employment (as applied to the original poster in this topic), or

the date the WP is returned to the Labour Division?

If anybody knows for certain, Sunbelt should and I hope they can give some information.

--

Maestro

[Wolfie]

I have had a similar experience recently as i changed jobs about 5-6 weeks ago.

I went to the labor office (Phuket) and canceled my work permit then straight round to the labor office to deal with the visa (Non-Imm B ) - i did all of this on my last day of employment and was given 6 days before having to leave.

So i would imagine that the rule is 7 days from your last day of employment and not 7 days from the day you cancel everything.

In the new company i went round to the immigration office (Bangkok) to apply for the new visa and was refused, but allowed another 7 days. So it was off to Singapore for me!