Hi Everyone,

It has been about 3 years now that I live in Thailand. Previously under Non-Imm "O" for volunteering purpose, I'm currently working in Bangkok since February 2009. I have a work permit and a visa B. The company I'm working for supported me to get these requirements.

Here is what I'm concerned about, please help me figure this out :

I'm not happy with my current job and i would like to find another one.

I want to stay in Thailand during my job-hunting in order to attend potential interviews.

What would be the best procedure for me at this time :

Keep on working at my current company and look for another job at the same time, once I got the new job, resign from the old one and apply for the new one (safely for VISA but harder for job-hunting)

or

Resign now and by the way get more time for my job-hunting. In this last case, how long can I expect to stay in Thailand after my work permit is cancelled ?

Thx for your help.

You must leave the day your employment ends (not your work permit) when on an extension of stay for work. You can apply for a 7 day extension only. If you actually have a multi entry B visa and only here for 90 days at a time and make border runs then it will remain valid and you will not have to leave and can continue to use the visa until it expires.

You must leave the day your employment ends (not your work permit) when on an extension of stay for work. You can apply for a 7 day extension only. If you actually have a multi entry B visa and only here for 90 days at a time and make border runs then it will remain valid and you will not have to leave and can continue to use the visa until it expires.

The last visa stamp i got on my passport is that one :

Bangkok, Thailand.

Extension of stay permitted up to 15 MAR 2010

Holder must leave the kingdom within the date specified herein offenders will be prosecuted

Signed ...

I guess this is not a B visa...

So what will happen if i decide to resign from my job ? I can get only 7 days right ?

You have a 12 month extension. As said you have to leave the country on the day you finish your job or get a 7 day extension.

You can go to a Thai Consulate and get a Visa. Tourist Visas are free at the moment. Vientienne Laos will issue a Double Entry which would give you almost six months with extensions and a border run in the middle.

"Thai Consulate and get a Visa. Tourist Visas are free at the moment. Vientienne Laos will issue a Double Entry which would give you almost six months with extensions and a border run in the middle."

Are double entry TV's free in Laos?

You have a 12 month extension. As said you have to leave the country on the day you finish your job or get a 7 day extension.

You can go to a Thai Consulate and get a Visa. Tourist Visas are free at the moment. Vientienne Laos will issue a Double Entry which would give you almost six months with extensions and a border run in the middle.

Excuse my ignorance, i'm not familiar at all with tourist visa.

(I don't know what a border run is...)

Could you please detail each steps of the procedure used to stay up to 6 month in Thailand ?

Thx a lot !!!

Are double entry TV's free in Laos?

Members have reported this to be the case in Vientienne.

Excuse my ignorance, i'm not familiar at all with tourist visa.

(I don't know what a border run is...)

Could you please detail each steps of the procedure used to stay up to 6 month in Thailand ?

Thx a lot !!!

A Tourist Visa will give you a stay of 60 days. A few days before the 60 days expires go to Immigration Office and get a 30 day extension for a fee of 1,900 Baht.

If you get a Double Entry Tourist Visa you can do this twice.

When your initial stay plus extension has almost finished you cross any border, turn round and come back again to use the second entry. This also can be extended at Immigration by 30 days.

Just make sure that the Visa you got from the Thai Consulate has not expired before you do your second entry. It will have a validity of 90 days . You may lose a day or 2 of your first stay.

Excuse my ignorance, i'm not familiar at all with tourist visa.

(I don't know what a border run is...)

Could you please detail each steps of the procedure used to stay up to 6 month in Thailand ?

Thx a lot !!!

A Tourist Visa will give you a stay of 60 days. A few days before the 60 days expires go to Immigration Office and get a 30 day extension for a fee of 1,900 Baht.

If you get a Double Entry Tourist Visa you can do this twice.

When your initial stay plus extension has almost finished you cross any border, turn round and come back again to use the second entry. This also can be extended at Immigration by 30 days.

Just make sure that the Visa you got from the Thai Consulate has not expired before you do your second entry. It will have a validity of 90 days . You may lose a day or 2 of your first stay.

Thx, now it looks clearer to me

I've seen from other posts that another solution would be the Non-Immigrant type "O" with multiple entries.

Can someone confirm me that one can get this visa with the only reason of visiting friends ?

I've seen from other posts that another solution would be the Non-Immigrant type "O" with multiple entries.

Can someone confirm me that one can get this visa with the only reason of visiting friends ?

In the immediate area the only bet is Perth Australia. Otherwise a few Honorary Consulates in Europe.

I've seen from other posts that another solution would be the Non-Immigrant type "O" with multiple entries.

Can someone confirm me that one can get this visa with the only reason of visiting friends ?

In the immediate area the only bet is Perth Australia. Otherwise a few Honorary Consulates in Europe.

If it appears to be correct, I would consider planning a trip back to France, visit my family and get this visa.

I have just sent a email to the consulate in France where i got my 2 first non-immigrant visa "O", asking about this.

I'm waiting for the answer now.

In case of negative answer (delivery of the visa refused for the purpose of visiting friends), should i ask another consulate ?

Actually would it be normal for different consulates to have different practices ?

So i received the answer from the consulate :

Here is what they say :

The visa Non-Immigrant "O" is subject to conditions :

- french-thai family

- accompanying person (when spouse is stationed in Thailand)

- volunteer visa

- over 50 y.o.

In your case, unemployed, not married with thai wife, and age less than 50 y.o, you can only apply for a tourist visa.

Should I try with another consulate ?

Edited July 8, 200917 yr by lucien62

I confirm from the documentation found in the Royal Thai Consulate of Hull website :

One of the purpose for which one can apply for a non-immigrant type O visa :

Friends/family, Extended Stay, UK Pensioner, Volunteer Worker, Seek Work

Hull, or one of the Honorary Thai Consulates in Germany or perhaps Amsterdam are the places to check.

Hull , Stuttgart , Amsterdam are favourites. You can apply by post while in France.

Thanks guys for helping me to get a better understanding of all these visa-related things.

I feel more confident now knowing about my options.

One last thing :

How to properly terminate my visa extension, work permit... ?

Is it going to be automatic after I resign ?

You get a letter from employer that employment ended and visit immigration that day and leave or obtain 7 day extension of stay.

How about the work permit, am I supposed to go to the labor office to give it back ?

Although some say you do not need to return it anymore believe you should make sure it gets returned if you plan to apply again as different people seem to have different ideas.

Let's say I'm gonna go for the tourist visa in order to stay in thailand for my job-hunting, can I update / transform it later on once I found a company that wish to hire me ?

For most it will involve a trip with work permit application receipt and company paperwork to a nearby Consulate to obtain a single entry non immigrant B visa.

The work permit - the booklet itself - must be turned in to the Labor office within 7 days of terminating your employment or it will cost 1,000 Bt penalty. The company may do this for you but it would be better to do it yourself so you know it gets done. This may or may not reflect on getting a work permit with a new employer but why take the chance?

If the visa is good until March 2010 and the entry stamp does not require you to leave until that date then why go? The Immigration Dept and the Labor Dept do not yet have cross references to check this sort of thing. Having said that, if you are told that it is illegal then you should leave right away but I have never heard of them telling you to leave on the day you stop work? There must be some reasonable grace period. This would give you plenty of time to look for a new job.

There is no grace period unless you pay for a 7 day extension of stay. You are overstay if you do not. Will they find out? Hows your luck running? Why chance it.

Why not do some job hunting while you are still employed, send out you resume and see what happens.

Why not do some job hunting while you are still employed, send out you resume and see what happens.

Because i get really sick and tired of my current job. I want to quit as soon as possible.

There is no grace period unless you pay for a 7 day extension of stay. You are overstay if you do not. Will they find out? Hows your luck running? Why chance it.

Last week, I went to Swampy airport and asked a senior immigration officer on duty about this.

Specifically, I have an extension of stay stamp up until Oct and I asked him if I resigned from my job (that gave me this extension) today when would I have to leave.

He checked with a colleague and she confirmed that I could stay up until the date on my stamp and did not have to leave immediately.

Suspect that they are wrong as it is not there territory. Extensions of stay end on end of work.

from this website : http://bangkok.angloinfo.com/countries/thailand/employ.asp

Termination of employment

If a foreigner's employment ends, then the Work Permit must be returned to the Ministry of Labour within seven days of termination for cancellation. In addition, the foreigner must report to the Immigration Bureau who will then, usually, cancel the visa and allow seven days to leave the country. It is therefore wise to arrange to take another job, before resigning from current employment.

from this website : http://bangkok.angloinfo.com/countries/thailand/employ.asp

Termination of employment

If a foreigner's employment ends, then the Work Permit must be returned to the Ministry of Labour within seven days of termination for cancellation. In addition, the foreigner must report to the Immigration Bureau who will then, usually, cancel the visa and allow seven days to leave the country. It is therefore wise to arrange to take another job, before resigning from current employment.

That information is outdated. At least for the immigraiton part of it. You have to leave the same day, but can get a 7 day extension for 1,900 baht. As of Oct. 2006 there is no 7 day grace period.

The current rules from labour remains unclear.

from this website : http://bangkok.angloinfo.com/countries/thailand/employ.asp

Termination of employment

If a foreigner's employment ends, then the Work Permit must be returned to the Ministry of Labour within seven days of termination for cancellation. In addition, the foreigner must report to the Immigration Bureau who will then, usually, cancel the visa and allow seven days to leave the country. It is therefore wise to arrange to take another job, before resigning from current employment.

That information is outdated. At least for the immigraiton part of it. You have to leave the same day, but can get a 7 day extension for 1,900 baht. As of Oct. 2006 there is no 7 day grace period.

The current rules from labour remains unclear.

Is anyone eligible for the 7 days extension ? Can we get it the same day as when employment/work permit ends ?