hi i would like to know whether one can change employers once a non immigrant b visa has been issued for 12 months as an english eacher or must the teacher apply for a new visa?

This is a good question ppepper2. If your current visa "non-B" has been extended for one year on the basis of a work permit, then your work permit must be cancelled by your current employer. You will receive a dor tor 10;proof that your work permit has been cancelled. Then, what do you do? Current wisdom suggests that you have up tp 7 days to change to a new employer or leave the Kingdom. It is possible for a new employer to submit paperwork and transfer your visa. I have never heard of this being accomplished. Your other easy option is leave the country and get a VOA or a tourist visa and then go to room 303, Suan Phluu, for a change of visa application. You must have 21 days on your new visa to be eligible for this service. This change of visa process is straightforward if your new employer has the correct paperwork.

It happend with me and now with my colleague. When changing jobs, the immigration office of Hua Hin wants to see the new workpermit within the 7 days extension period. If you can't make it, they will give you another but also last 7-days extension. For the latter you have to pay 1,900 THB.

Petch01

I just went through a change of schools, work permit and one year extension. I'd had many renewals while working in Bangkok for the same school. I decided I needed a change so resigned. The school asked me to tell them when I wanted my work permit cancelled, as it was still valid for 5 months, and I would then have 7 days to leave the country. I found a job in a gov't school upcountry and started at the beginning of the school year. My new school asked me to get my WP cancelled so that I coulld sign a contract with them. I called my old school and they cancelled and faxed me a Ta Ta 10. The new place then gave me a receipt for an application for a WP (aworthless piece of paper) and sent me to immigration in Bangkok. I had 2 days left on my 1 week grace by this time. Immigration told me to come back with a work permit. I made the mistake of arguing that what I had was OK. The entire counter one took turns yelling at me demanded 1,900 BT and granted me a 1 week extension. I went back upcountry on Wednesday and told them what had happened. The cell phones came out and everyone called their connections. The next afternoon I had a blue work permit book and they sent me back. By Friday noon I had a one year extension. The moral of the story is NEVER argue with an immigration officer and it's possible to speed up processes in LOS.