Changing Jobs-work Permit Query

[ouch]

I'm seriously considering changing my job as I am extremely disappointed with the school where I'm presently teaching but the problem might be that I have a work permit.

Now, a little while ago I heard a rumor that if you leave your employment you have only 7 days in which to leave Thailand as your working permit is automatically cancelled.

I'm not sure if this is true but if so what is the procedure for changing jobs legally??

Any advice regarding this query will be very much appreciated.

[kenkannif]

Yes, that's kind of correct. Once you leave you or your employer are supposed to hand in your WP, you then have 7 days on your Visa (regardless of the prior extension) to get a new employer or leave and get a new Visa (basically).

[Darth Bangkok]

also, make sure you quit correctly. when you are a teacher, you have not only a license, but another document that states your position, working hours, place of buisness etc. You must get this cancelled at the ministry of finance. If you don't, when you go back there for the new job (I don't know why you really need to since you already have a teachers license, but you do. The teachers license should just say what types of positions you are allowed to work at and then let the MOL work it out. But it doesn't work this way) you will have problems.

You must "jom nai" your old position. You will be issued a ร12 which you need to show that you are no longer working there. the fact that you do not have authorization to work and are applying for a new just apparently doesn't do this.

I am doing this now. They told me it will take a month, but I think its just me. It shouldn't really take that long.

Another funny thing is that for the ร12, I put down the date I actually stopped working, but when I put that date on the form to return my work permit, I was made to change it to the date the work permit expired, which was a few months later.

go to show you it is just nonsense.

[phormio]

To beat this one to death -

I'll be moving to Thailand at the end of the year and getting a non-immigrant O visa , planning to extend based on support of a Thai Wife/Child. Will likely land a teaching job, a legal one including a work permit and teacher's license. If my employment ends then what happens in these three situations:

1. I get fired by my school (my O visa/extension will still be good , won't it?)

2. I resign my position, not taking a new one before my O extension expires.

3. I resign my position and take a new position before my O extension expires.

Thanks and I hope you understand my question. I'm assuming the original poster has an Non-Imm B visa, though its not clear from his post.

[huski]

To beat this one to death -

I'll be moving to Thailand at the end of the year and getting a non-immigrant O visa , planning to extend based on support of a Thai Wife/Child. Will likely land a teaching job, a legal one including a work permit and teacher's license. If my employment ends then what happens in these three situations:

1. I get fired by my school (my O visa/extension will still be good , won't it?)

2. I resign my position, not taking a new one before my O extension expires.

3. I resign my position and take a new position before my O extension expires.

Thanks and I hope you understand my question. I'm assuming the original poster has an Non-Imm B visa, though its not clear from his post.

the extension would be granted for support of a thai citizen, wife, child etc. if you fulfilled the monthly financial requirement by showing income then you will receive the extension. to renue the extension the following year, of course without that income or 400,000 in a thai bank it will end.

i believe when you hand in your work permit you will need to leave because your stay was based on support, the O or B is irrelevant. however, if you filed another application with immigration right away and met all the requirements you should be able to stay in thailand while everything is processed again.

someone correct me if i'm wrong

[sas_cars]

To beat this one to death -

I'll be moving to Thailand at the end of the year and getting a non-immigrant O visa , planning to extend based on support of a Thai Wife/Child. Will likely land a teaching job, a legal one including a work permit and teacher's license. If my employment ends then what happens in these three situations:

1. I get fired by my school (my O visa/extension will still be good , won't it?)

2. I resign my position, not taking a new one before my O extension expires.

3. I resign my position and take a new position before my O extension expires.

Thanks and I hope you understand my question. I'm assuming the original poster has an Non-Imm B visa, though its not clear from his post.

the extension would be granted for support of a thai citizen, wife, child etc. if you fulfilled the monthly financial requirement by showing income then you will receive the extension. to renue the extension the following year, of course without that income or 400,000 in a thai bank it will end.

i believe when you hand in your work permit you will need to leave because your stay was based on support, the O or B is irrelevant. however, if you filed another application with immigration right away and met all the requirements you should be able to stay in thailand while everything is processed again.

someone correct me if i'm wrong

I don't think so.Leaving your job won't expire your visa as your visa was based on support to Thai wife.If you are fired,or decide to leave.You will have to hand in your work permit,that's it.And no need to leave.Just you won't be eligible to work anymore.VISA BASED ON SUPPORTING THAIWIFE/CHILDREN WON'T EXPIRE IN CASE OF LEAVING JOB/CANCELLING WORKPERMIT

[paully]

Now, a little while ago I heard a rumor that if you leave your employment you have only 7 days in which to leave Thailand as your working permit is automatically cancelled.

I'm not sure if this is true but if so what is the procedure for changing jobs legally??

It's no rumour, as Ken and others have said. When your work permit is taken back to the Ministry of Labour (as it has to be when you leave your job) you get a little form, Tor Tor 10, which has the date of surrender of your work permit on it. You have 7 days from that date to apply for a visa extension (assuming you had a non-immigrant B visa) or leave Thailand.

So, you have to make your plans accordingly: ideally you'd find a new job first and then resign making the visa extension application within a week. If you're not able to do this, you have to either leave Thailand to get a new visa or pay an overstay fine and apply for an extension in-country if you're outside the 7 day limit.

As others have said, it pays to leave your old job on good terms if you can, ensuring that you take your teaching licence with you and that the old school 'consents' to your leaving. A good time to leave is just approaching with the next school semester due to start in a month's time. Make your plans, smile and thank the old school and leave.

[phormio]

To beat this one to death -

I'll be moving to Thailand at the end of the year and getting a non-immigrant O visa , planning to extend based on support of a Thai Wife/Child. Will likely land a teaching job, a legal one including a work permit and teacher's license. If my employment ends then what happens in these three situations:

1. I get fired by my school (my O visa/extension will still be good , won't it?)

2. I resign my position, not taking a new one before my O extension expires.

3. I resign my position and take a new position before my O extension expires.

Thanks and I hope you understand my question. I'm assuming the original poster has an Non-Imm B visa, though its not clear from his post.

the extension would be granted for support of a thai citizen, wife, child etc. if you fulfilled the monthly financial requirement by showing income then you will receive the extension. to renue the extension the following year, of course without that income or 400,000 in a thai bank it will end.

i believe when you hand in your work permit you will need to leave because your stay was based on support, the O or B is irrelevant. however, if you filed another application with immigration right away and met all the requirements you should be able to stay in thailand while everything is processed again.

someone correct me if i'm wrong

I don't think so.Leaving your job won't expire your visa as your visa was based on support to Thai wife.If you are fired,or decide to leave.You will have to hand in your work permit,that's it.And no need to leave.Just you won't be eligible to work anymore.VISA BASED ON SUPPORTING THAIWIFE/CHILDREN WON'T EXPIRE IN CASE OF LEAVING JOB/CANCELLING WORKPERMIT

Hope your right,

Hope I never have to find out.

Thanks.

[kenkannif]

I'm pretty sure sas_cars is correct as it's an extension on marriage and funds, not on a WP!