Changing visa while work permit still valid

[Lolothai]

Hi everyone,

 

What happens if your visa expires while the work permit is still valid. If you pass from Non-O to visa exemption or tourist visa, do you have to stop working and cancel the work permit?

[Lolothai]

Nationals of the following 93 countries and territories are entitled to visa exemption for the purpose of tourism business engagements or urgent work or ad-hoc work, for up to 60 days period of stay and can be extended for another period not exceeding 30 days

 

I found this on the royal thai consulate, does that mean that it's not necessary to cancel the work permit but give time to change to Non O or Non B?

[Hocus Pocus]

Work permit has nothing to do with immigration status. If somebody is employed with a work permit, then they are most likely on an extension for reason of work of what was originally a non-B (business) visa. If your extension date expires say tomorrow, then you have until midnight tomorrow to leave the country otherwise you are on overstay. The company that employs a foreigner is obliged to cancel the visa with immigration up to 21 days before the end of work, but you will be allowed to stay and work up until the final work day. For the work permit, the employer must take the blue book and cancel the work permit with the Department of Labor within 15 days after employment completes. This is what will be happening to me next month.

 

In order to get what you cite in your second post, you would need to physically leave the country (timely as above) and then return. If you are from a visa exempt qualified country, you can get a 60-day visa-exempt permission to stay. Hope this helps.

[Lolothai]

so here if I get my work permit while on Non-O then switch to visa exempt I can still work while on visa exempt?

[Ralf001]

2 hours ago, Lolothai said:

so here if I get my work permit while on Non-O then switch to visa exempt I can still work while on visa exempt?

 

No.

[Briggsy]

8 hours ago, Lolothai said:

so here if I get my work permit while on Non-O then switch to visa exempt I can still work while on visa exempt?

Visa exempt prohibits work is my understanding.

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

Visa exempt prohibits work is my understanding.

Correct. Requires a Non immigrant.

Think the OP previously had a non O and ran out of time to obtain annual extension..

Bounced for visa exempt stamp (not sure).

Cannot work.

 

[Briggsy]

17 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Correct. Requires a Non immigrant.

Think the OP previously had a non O and ran out of time to obtain annual extension..

Bounced for visa exempt stamp (not sure).

Cannot work.

 

Yes, I recall the thread. It got very messy, all last minute. I saw this was going to happen.

[Lolothai]

so what about the part they say tourism, business engagement?

[Lolothai]

On 1/19/2025 at 10:56 AM, Briggsy said:

Yes, I recall the thread. It got very messy, all last minute. I saw this was going to happen.

I tried a month before with an agency and they kept me waiting and then stop answering and my wife was not available in time, I tried what I could.

[Briggsy]

Just now, Lolothai said:

I tried a month before with an agency and they kept me waiting and then stop answering and my wife was not available in time, I tried what I could.

Yes, I remember.

 

The important thing now is that your Work Permit is no longer valid. So, if you wish to obtain a new work permit, you will need a non-imm visa and then have to reapply.

[Lolothai]

so now I can't go back to work? should my company cancel my work permit? it they pay me to stand by is it illegal?

Where is it mentioned that working while on visa exempt is prohibited?

[Lolothai]

Just now, Briggsy said:

Yes, I remember.

 

The important thing now is that your Work Permit is no longer valid. So, if you wish to obtain a new work permit, you will need a non-imm visa and then have to reapply.

What about this:

Nationals of the following 93 countries and territories are entitled to visa exemption for the purpose of tourism business engagements or urgent work or ad-hoc work, for up to 60 days period of stay and can be extended for another period not exceeding 30 days

[Briggsy]

From the London Embassy website.

 

"Visa Exemption Scheme for the purpose of tourism and short-term business engagements..."

[Briggsy]

You are employed. Unfortunately employment is prohibited on the visa exempt permission to stay.

 

Aim to resolve the situation soon.

[Upnotover]

2 minutes ago, Lolothai said:

business engagements or urgent work or ad-hoc work

That is visiting on business on behalf of a non Thai employer.  It obviously does not cover being employed in Thailand.

[Lolothai]

so my company has to cancel my work permit and employ me again once I get the correct visa. Would it be a problem for the month that already passed and they didn't cancel? I also received a payment to stand by, half my salary

[Ralf001]

3 minutes ago, Lolothai said:

What about this:

Nationals of the following 93 countries and territories are entitled to visa exemption for the purpose of tourism business engagements or urgent work or ad-hoc work, for up to 60 days period of stay and can be extended for another period not exceeding 30 days

 

you hold a work permit, hardly urgent or ad-hoc.

 

good luck with that though..... gunna be ugly when you get busted.

[Lolothai]

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

 

you hold a work permit, hardly urgent or ad-hoc.

 

good luck with that though..... gunna be ugly when you get busted.

is that a wish? I just said that I want thing in order, I just asked my company to cancel my work permit

[FritsSikkink]

On 1/19/2025 at 12:05 AM, Lolothai said:

so here if I get my work permit while on Non-O then switch to visa exempt I can still work while on visa exempt?

No

[FritsSikkink]

35 minutes ago, Lolothai said:

so now I can't go back to work? should my company cancel my work permit? it they pay me to stand by is it illegal?

Where is it mentioned that working while on visa exempt is prohibited?

What part of "No" don't you understand?

[Lolothai]

which part of "I understand" you don't understand?

Does it need to be aggressive and toxic like this? you can guess that I'm stressed and have to find the best solution and people can't explain openly everything about their life on a forum

 

[DrJack54]

29 minutes ago, Lolothai said:

so my company has to cancel my work permit and employ me again once I get the correct visa. Would it be a problem for the month that already passed and they didn't cancel? I also received a payment to stand by, half my salary

From memory you had issues obtaining a Non O marriage as wife working away from location of your immigration office.

Seems you have two options.

Obtain a Non O marriage from a visa exempt entry.

If wife cannot be available then thinking that you would need to exit Thailand and obtain a Non B eVisa.

Not sure if Laos would be a good option as eVisa has just been introduced and process time not confirmed. 

[Lolothai]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

From memory you had issues obtaining a Non O marriage as wife working away from location of your immigration office.

Seems you have two options.

Obtain a Non O marriage from a visa exempt entry.

If wife cannot be available then thinking that you would need to exit Thailand and obtain a Non B eVisa.

Not sure if Laos would be a good option as eVisa has just been introduced and process time not confirmed. 

Thank you but unfortunately my company is still at 1 million capital, they plan to pass to 2 millions or 5 millions soon but I can't wait that long. Now I need them to cancel my work permit and get the proper visa. I'm thinking about using agency, cost around 25 000, they can help for the 400 000, I'm gathering also the money but it will take 2 or 3 months to get it and it needs to be there for 2 months.

To explain, they did get a work permit with 1 million but have to renew every 6 months, however for business visa 1 million is not enough.

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, Lolothai said:

To explain, they did get a work permit with 1 million but have to renew every 6 months, however for business visa 1 million is not enough.

Clearly you have few things going on.

Pity wife is unavailable as with a Non O marriage and ongoing extensions you are permitted to obtain work permit and work. 

Between rock and hard place springs to mind.

Also remember that with a Non O (90 day stamp) you can also obtain 60 day extension to visit wife.

That suggestion is just to buy time. 

Note for 60 day extension to  visit wife she needs to attend immigration. (catch 22) 

[Lolothai]

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Clearly you have few things going on.

Pity wife is unavailable as with a Non O marriage and ongoing extensions you are permitted to obtain work permit and work. 

Between rock and hard place springs to mind.

Also remember that with a Non O (90 day stamp) you can also obtain 60 day extension to visit wife.

That suggestion is just to buy time. 

Note for 60 day extension to  visit wife she needs to attend immigration. (catch 22) 

Thanks, my wife is a nanny, she has missions that last few weeks to few months, this time she got 3 months but after this she will space her contracts to have time with our kids. Later on she will be available but I can't wait that long to get the proper visa to be able to work.

My plan is to cancel my work permit, I don't know if I should do it myself or trust my company to do it, they keep my work permit. I think it's best to do it myself, this may be another thread. After this I will use agency to get a non O, can be based on the kids or marriage, it's best on the kids as I can see them anytime. Then I will apply for a new work permit.

My visa exempt, so my permit to stay is still valid for another month so I think that's enough for the agency to get me a non-O. I'm checking with them right now.

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, Lolothai said:

My visa exempt, so my permit to stay is still valid for another month so I think that's enough for the agency to get me a non-O. I'm checking with them right now.

One month is enough however i

 suspect the agent will only offer Non O based on retirement.

You dealing with Pattaya agents?

From memory that's where you did last border bounce from for current visa exempt 60. 

[Lolothai]

regarding the WP cancellation, apparently I need a letter from my employer, can I now mention the date from the end of my visa?

[Lolothai]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

One month is enough however i

 suspect the agent will only offer Non O based on retirement.

You dealing with Pattaya agents?

From memory that's where you did last border bounce from for current visa exempt 60. 

I can't get retirement I'm not 50 years old yet.

Yes Pattaya agent but different agency than the one who made my border bounce.

Now I contact the agency that provided me non O few years ago. They did it on marriage, I was coming back from my country and on visa exempt as well, let see if they can do it again.

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, Lolothai said:

I was coming back from my country and on visa exempt as well, let see if they can do it again.

Good luck. 

Won't be cheap