Hi

I have finished working for a company and have a 1 year NON B visa which expires in October. The company cancelled my work permit 2 weeks ago without telling me, as I was using up my annual leave.

I was hoping to change it to a NON O visa at the immigration office, as I have a Thai wife and have 400k in the bank.

What are my options now as the window of 7 days after cancelling a work permit has gone?

Tourist visa waiting for the 400k to be in my account for 2 months?

Now I am on overstay even though my visa says October?

Thanks and appreciate your feedback

Do you have a Visa or an Extension?

If you have an Extension of Stay it finnishes the day your employment finishes.

There is no 7 day window.

If you have a Visa you can carry on using it.

If you are on Non-B visa you can stay in the country until your visa expires. You only have to leave the country immediately (or obtain 7 day extension) if you lose your job and you are on extension of stay.

If on Non-B visa, during the last 30 days of your permission to stay you can apply for extension of stay based on marriage, if you meet the requirements. Requirements being 400k in thai bank for 2 months prior to application or 40k/month salary. If funds have not been seasoned in the bank for 2 months, you have 2 options:

1) do a border run just before your multi-entry visa expires and obtain a further 90 days permission to stay.

2) apply at immigration for 60 day extension on the basis of marriage to thai. You need to take wife with you to immigration together with marriage certificate, house book (tabian baan) and wife's ID card.

If you are on Non-B visa you can stay in the country until your visa expires. You only have to leave the country immediately (or obtain 7 day extension) if you lose your job and you are on extension of stay.

I am on a 1 year extension of stay, because I am already 15 days over the date of cancelation, will getting an extension still be an option?

If you can explain what happened to an officer who just won the lottery there is a chance.

Actually you should give it a try - they have been quite understanding in such situations lately (although this is pushing the boundaries a bit). If not you will have to exit and obtain a non immigrant O visa/extend 60 days later

If you can explain what happened to an officer who just won the lottery there is a chance.

Actually you should give it a try - they have been quite understanding in such situations lately (although this is pushing the boundaries a bit). If not you will have to exit and obtain a non immigrant O visa/extend 60 days later

OK thanks for that......I think its safer to exit and start again...

Thanks for your help, it was really useful

You don't have to leave.

Just go to immigrations.

The worst that can happen is some overstay fine, the are not going to throw you in jail.

If you don't have all paperwork ready for 1 year extension based on marriage you can get 2 months extension with marriage certificate and bring your wife.

Oh ok.... yes I was worried about the jail thing.... I have had NON B visas for years and havent really had to deal with immigration... really wasnt sure what to do, but now I do....thanks

At the end of the extension can I apply for a NON O visa at the immigration office or do I need to leave the country?

Talk to immigration and see IF they will change your (expired) extension of stay to one based on marriage. Maybe luck will be with you. If not, as Lopburi says, you will need to leave the country and obtain single entry Non-O visa at Thai embassy/consulate. KL and Penang are good choices. Then during last 30 days of 90 day permission to stay apply for extension of stay based on marriage.

You will not be thrown in jail!

You will not be thrown in jail!

OK now feeling much better

Thanks again for your advice

Go for it - let us know how you get on.

Go for it - let us know how you get on.

A few things that stopped me from getting a visa.

1. the company I work for cancelled my work permit electronically and have no cancellation slip.

2. I've had 400k in the bank for more than 2 months but because I moved it from one account to another they would not except it.

3. I am already overstay by 2 weeks.

Because of these things the only option they gave me was to leave the country.

Off for a mini bus ride tomorow to get my NON O in Penang.

Thanks for your advice ....it was definitely worth a try...

Go for it - let us know how you get on.

A few things that stopped me from getting a visa.

1. the company I work for cancelled my work permit electronically and have no cancellation slip.

2. I've had 400k in the bank for more than 2 months but because I moved it from one account to another they would not except it.

3. I am already overstay by 2 weeks.

Because of these things the only option they gave me was to leave the country.

Off for a mini bus ride tomorow to get my NON O in Penang.

Thanks for your advice ....it was definitely worth a try...

Good luck.

Here is the outcome of my case.

Went to Penang immigration with necesary documents and the 2 Thai bank books which have a total of 400k combined.

They gave me a 1 year NON 'O' multiple entry visa.

Finally a win!

Actually you went to Penang Consulate. Immigration are the folks inside Thailand.

So you should be good for almost 15 months doing the 90 day border crossings. If you get tired of them you can extend with 400k in bank 2 months during the last 30 days of any entry.