Changing Work: New Wp/visa Whilst In Thailand

[RonD]

I currently have a non-immigrant B (1 year valid through April next year) and work permit issued at the One Stop Service centre. I started my old work in January this year.

In mid-July I'm set to change job without any breaks in between, e.g. last day Monday with my old employer, Tuesday start with my new employer.

A lawyer at my next job, is taking care of the application and apparently the registration of my work-permit application has been approved (I'm not 100% sure what this really "means" and the details of this, but all required paper work for the WP application has been submitted by me already to the lawyer couple of weeks ago, and this approval is not an internal approval by the lawyer but by relevant official representatives)

So.... walking through the steps in my mind would be the following:

1. Last day at my old employer: Go to One Stop Service centre: Cancel work permit, one stop service must then cancel my non-immigrant B visa.
   
2. From my old employer: A. I need the original of the cancellation of the work-permit.. B. I need a confirmation of taxes paid up to my last day the company. C. I need a letter from the company stating I left on the day.
   
3. I need to apply for a 7 day extension (at One Stop Service centre?)
   
4. New WP and visa application to be submitted for progress (Which will not be at the One Stop service centre).
   
5. Whilst WP application has been submitted and is still in progress - I can start working for my new company.
   
6. If the WP application and visa process takes longer than 7 days., I will have to go outside the country and either apply for non-immigrant visa B or come back with a tourist visa.
   

Am I right? Are there any better, easier ways to go through this process.

My current employer has asked if they could cancel the work permit already now (without canceling the visa), so that I can start the process already to ensure everything is ok couple of weeks later when I'm due start my new work. However, I think this might cause certain issues and open "gaps" in the dates/times of the transition which is technically not correct.

(BTW and as a sideline: I've just been here a little bit more than 6 months, however I can already see/sense the regulations becoming more and more complicated and strict - and as for settling here on a permanent basis it seems to important and vital to have a strategy already at the very start in mind on how to best achieve PR status as soon and as securely as possible. Also, there are many aspects to consider (pension, investments, employee/self-employed/company owners/investors financial regulations and restrictions, long-term savings, funds relocation issues and regulations, health insurance, etc etc). Alternatively, I assume that many expats will simply relocate for registration purposes in other neighbouring countries which have more relaxed and foreigner friendly immigration polices, but thus frequently enter Thailand on Tourist, or equivalent basis)

[monty]

1. Last day at my old employer: Go to One Stop Service centre: Cancel work permit, one stop service must then cancel my non-immigrant B visa.

Correct

2. From my old employer: A. I need the original of the cancellation of the work-permit.. B. I need a confirmation of taxes paid up to my last day the company. C. I need a letter from the company stating I left on the day.

Correct

3. I need to apply for a 7 day extension (at One Stop Service centre?)

Correct, but you'll need to apply for the extension at the immigration office responsible for the area you live in.

4. New WP and visa application to be submitted for progress (Which will not be at the One Stop service centre).

Correct. Work permit will be applied for at the labor department. Once you have the WP3 form you can then apply for your (1 year) extension at immigration. You'll probably get 15 or 30 days under consideration, followed by the 1 year when you can show the actual work permit later on.

5. Whilst WP application has been submitted and is still in progress - I can start working for my new company.

WRONG! You cannot work until your work permit is issued and in your pocket!

6. If the WP application and visa process takes longer than 7 days., I will have to go outside the country and either apply for non-immigrant visa B or come back with a tourist visa.

Normally you should not have to leave. The same paperwork you need to get a non immigrant O visa at an embassy (or consulate) would also allow you to extend your stay inside Thailand. Only when doing this inside Thailand you'll also have to qualify salary wise, and the company income wise to enable you to get the 1 year extension (not needed to apply for a non immigrant O outside Thailand). Although at the moment they seem to be requiring some hard to get paperwork, so you might end up having to leave anyway.

Unfortunately the procedure/paperwork required is not exactly 100% clear...

[RonD]

Thanks Monty for the pointers, especially with the import information that I can't start work until the work-permit is in my hand. As well as the fact that the extension needs to be applied for at the local immigration office for the area I live in.

As the process/paper work for the possible extension seem to be slightly unclear at the moment, I will make sure to post my possible experiences of it here, once completed or updated.

Cheers once again. :-)