I have read a number of threads here to try clarify my own situation with regards to my WP, visa and status in Thailand - and am still a little confused.

My situation: I am an Australian Citizen as is my wife and young son. I have been in Thailand 4 years on a non-immigrant B visa with valid WP the whole time. I recently left my employment and am currently taking a break and looking for new opportunities. I have been advised that my WP must be handed back to the Labour Department within 7 days of leaving the company - or there are fines all round.

This is not a problem (although someone in the legal profession also told me to hold onto the WP so if a new job is realised it makes it easier to process the second WP - given that you don't drag it out too long, say 1 - 2 months max.)

My question comes from the visa. I got a new non-immigrant B visa last November in KL. I have been travelling in and out of Thailand every 3 months or so and last entered Thailand mid July. My wife and son got non-immigrant O visa's in April and also left and returned in July. Both sets of visa's were newly applied for and given within the last year - we did not extend existing visa's.

Now - someone told me that if the WP is given back the visa is also revoked with just 7 days to leave. Others have advised that this is not the case and that we can stay until the visa's in the passports expire (or we can even leave and come back for another 90 day extension if it is within the year of the visa issue date). Obviously we do not want to do anything illegal (knowingly or not) with regards to the visa's and stay in Thailand. Can anyone give us a definite response on our legal status with regards to staying for a month or two (to the existing date on the immigration stamp on our passports).

Thanks for the assistance.

Visa stay is not effected by your loss of job so you and wife can continue to stay on 90 day visit and can obtain new ones if visa is still valid. Can not answer your WP questions as believe policy is being changed and not all are using the same clock yet.

I have read a number of threads here to try clarify my own situation with regards to my WP, visa and status in Thailand - and am still a little confused.

My situation: I am an Australian Citizen as is my wife and young son. I have been in Thailand 4 years on a non-immigrant B visa with valid WP the whole time. I recently left my employment and am currently taking a break and looking for new opportunities. I have been advised that my WP must be handed back to the Labour Department within 7 days of leaving the company - or there are fines all round.

This is not a problem (although someone in the legal profession also told me to hold onto the WP so if a new job is realised it makes it easier to process the second WP - given that you don't drag it out too long, say 1 - 2 months max.)

My question comes from the visa. I got a new non-immigrant B visa last November in KL. I have been travelling in and out of Thailand every 3 months or so and last entered Thailand mid July. My wife and son got non-immigrant O visa's in April and also left and returned in July. Both sets of visa's were newly applied for and given within the last year - we did not extend existing visa's.

Now - someone told me that if the WP is given back the visa is also revoked with just 7 days to leave. Others have advised that this is not the case and that we can stay until the visa's in the passports expire (or we can even leave and come back for another 90 day extension if it is within the year of the visa issue date). Obviously we do not want to do anything illegal (knowingly or not) with regards to the visa's and stay in Thailand. Can anyone give us a definite response on our legal status with regards to staying for a month or two (to the existing date on the immigration stamp on our passports).

Thanks for the assistance.

There are 2 possibilites:

1. Your work permit is 'connected' to your visa; this means, as long as you work, you don't have to leave the country every 90 days; validity of WP and visa are same, AND after the cancellation of your WP, your visa is automatically cancelled and you'll have to leave the country within 7 days. This case applies to most teachers and foreigners, working in a Thai company on a 'B' visa.

2. Your WP is NOT connected to your visa, which means that these are 2 different matters. The work permit allows you to work and the visa allows you to stay. If the WP is cancelled, there is no consequence for the visa. This case applies to business owners with a 'B' visa or foreigners, working in Thailand on an 'O' visa.

If you want to be sure, please ask the nearest immigration.

There are 2 possibilites:

1. Your work permit is 'connected' to your visa; this means, as long as you work, you don't have to leave the country every 90 days; validity of WP and visa are same, AND after the cancellation of your WP, your visa is automatically cancelled and you'll have to leave the country within 7 days. This case applies to most teachers and foreigners, working in a Thai company on a 'B' visa.

2. Your WP is NOT connected to your visa, which means that these are 2 different matters. The work permit allows you to work and the visa allows you to stay. If the WP is cancelled, there is no consequence for the visa. This case applies to business owners with a 'B' visa or foreigners, working in Thailand on an 'O' visa.

If you want to be sure, please ask the nearest immigration.

No, this is not correct; Your work permit permission date depends on your passport visa status and stamp date.

There is no such thing as work permit 'connection'. The date you have to leave Thailand depends on your visa status and conditions.