Changing Jobs In Bangkok

[Hannahcopacabana]

Background:

I am a British female and have been working legally for a year as a teacher in Bangkok. I entered the country with a Non Immigrant B visa, obtained with a letter of invitation to work from my current employer. The stamp in my passport says, "Extension of stay permitted up to 5 Sept 2009." I am leaving my current place of employment at the end of July and starting in a new school, also in Bkk on August 19th.

My questions:

-I think the visa and work permit are linked and that when my WP is cancelled, I will have to leave the country within 5 days. Is this true? Or can I stay legally until 5th September, as my passport says?

-Do I have to get a new visa in order to stay in Thailand legally until my new job starts on Aug 19th?

-If I need to get a new visa, do I need to go to a Thai Embassy on Foreign soil and apply for a new Non immigrant B visa with a letter of invitation to work from my new employer? Or can I just do a border run and come back in on a tourist visa on arrival?

Thank you in advance.

[kurnell]

Barry at Lang Suan House (they do work permits) reckons there is a way to stay in Thailand when you are changing jobs and somehow retain teh same visa with a new work permit. He told me while I was pizzed at a NZ function a year ago so I don't remember the details.

[Mario2008]

You even have to leave the country the same day your job ends, but can get a 7 day extension from immigration for 1,900 baht.

So, yes. You would need to get a new visa to legaly stay in Thailand untill the 19th. A tourist visa will be enough, this will give you 60 days and you can apply at the consulate in vientianne, laos.

To apply for a new Non-B visa it is not enough to just show a letter of invitation from oyour new employer. Consulates in Asai want to see that you ahave applied for a Work Permit. (If you would travel to Europe or Australia the letter will be enough). So if your new employer has his paperwork in order apply for a new work permit tomorrow, then you would be able to get a new non-B.

Edit: a border hop will give you only 15 days if you come back to Thailand by land, 30 days if by air and wouldn't solve your visa problem. With a tourist visa for 60 days you would have the option of applying for a convesion to a non-B, for which you have to have at least 21 days left on your permission to stay.

[niveknedwob]

Sorry, new 'member' here. Why is there no definitive information available relating to such often asked questions ? Before I chose to move here (2 years ago) I 'did the rounds' and all that I found was "conflicting" information. I accept that each case is different - but NOT THAT DIFFERENT.

Both the Thai and British ('cos that is what I am) government sites are most unhelpful in such matters (IMHO) - ThaiVisa forums relate only personal experience and 'emotive' comment.

I am currently trying to work with the BCCT to get a "this is the situation now" FAQ re visas and WP's for UK nationals online. Of course it will change daily, and local 'rules' will always apply - but it has got to be better than people basing decisions on the experience of someone else who may have totally different circumstances to themselves.

[Mario2008]

While most immigration procedures are documented and available on the internet, most labour office procedures are not or only available in Thai.