Terminating A Contract - Visa Status?

[MrBrightside]

If there's anyone who has recently terminated an employment contract and knows what the process is regarding your immediate visa status, I'd be very grateful for advice.

I am currently employed and have a legitimate work permit. I've decided to leave my job and then leave Thailand; but I'd like to hang around for a few weeks before I leave the country. I read conflicting comments on a previous thread. Some posters advised that once you end your employment you have 24 hours to leave the country and get a new tourist visa; others said you have 7 days. Does anyone know for sure which one of these - if any - is accurate?

Ideally I'd like to give my employer as much notice as possible before leaving the country, but also don't really wanna have to do a border run just for the sake of an extra week or so.

Anyone with similar recent experiences in this kind of situation who can help?

Many thanks in advance.

[thaiphoon]

EDITED POST - MODS PLEASE DELETE ABOVE POST

If your permission to stay is based on visa entry (visa issued by Thai embassy/consulate), you can remain in the country after leaving your job until your permission to stay expires.

If your permission to stay is based on extension of stay linked to your employment (extension of stay issued by Thai immigration), you must leave the country on your last day of working or go to immigration that day and obtain a 7 day extension of stay. Your employer may also ask you to return your work permit. On leaving the country you can re-enter immediately on visa exempt entry (if you are from one of the qualifying countries) or by obtaining a tourist visa at a neighbouring consulate should you wish to stay longer.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

snipped as requested Mr T.

[MrBrightside]

Thank you Thaiphoon for the above advice, and apologies as I think I originally posted in the wrong section. Not sure what the "mods delete above post" message was about?

I have to be honest and say after reading the above advice I am still not sure where it leaves me if I resign from my job as it really isn't very clear from my passport/work permit.

There is a stamp on my passport which says "extension of stay permitted up to... (2010) holder must leave the kingdom before the specified date". It doesn't say (as far as I can see) anything about leaving the country sooner than this date if employment is terminated.

However, it is stamped by an immigration officer, and so according to the above advice that would mean I would need to get a 7-day extension ON THE SAME DAY my employment ends.

Also my work permit only states that in case the alien resigns from work then the permit must be returned within 7 days - but makes no comment regarding the aliens visa status in that case.

If I resign from my job and return my work permit within 7 days as required, how then does the stamp on my passport (until 2010) become invalid? Does the Registrar office where the work permit needs to be returned have any power to correct/alter the stamp on my passport? If not, then why isn't my visa valid until next year? I thought only immigration had the power to alter information on your passport?

Perhaps I am over-complicating the procedure here, but I have to say it is rather confusing and difficult to get definite (reliable) answers from anyone. Needless to say I am reluctant to ask the one person who would give me a straight answer - my employer - as then they will know my intentions to leave sooner than I would like.

Thanks to anyone who might be able to clear this one up for me.

[Lite Beer]

In your Passport do you have,

A. A Visa obtained from a Thai Consulate with an entry stamp obtained at the airport?

OR

B. A 12 month Extension obtained from an Immigration Office in Thailand?

If A. You can stay until your Visa and permissions to stay expire.

If B. You have to leave on the day your employment finishes or get a 7 day extension from Immigration.

[lopburi3]

If you obtained that extension of stay for employment (not marriage) it ends the day your work ends. They should provide you a letter of termination that you present to Immigration to request a further 7 days - or you leave immediately ending the extension of stay in that manner.

[thaiphoon]

Work permit and extension of stay are two separate matters. Work permit is issued by the Ministry of Labour; extension of stay is issued by Immigration Bureau. You say there is a stamp on my passport which says "extension of stay permitted up to... (2010) holder must leave the kingdom before the specified date". On this basis you are on extension of stay; your visa previously expired, you did not obtain a new one from embassy/consulate abroad but instead obtained extension of stay from Thai immigration.

Suspect your extension of stay is based on employment, and your work permit is linked to that employment. If your employment ends, your extension of stay ends as well. You cannot stay in the country (legally) when the basis for your permission to stay has terminated. The same is true for people on extension of stay based on marriage; marriage ends and their permission to stay ends too.

On ending your employment your employer will give you a letter to take to immigration on your last day. Immigration will then cancel your extension/permission to stay. You will have to leave the country the same day unless you apply for 7 day extension. Some Labour Offices now ask for work permits back, some do not. If your employer asks for it back let them have it and they will forward to the Ministry of Labour with letter advising cessation of employment.

[Lite Beer]

In the past he mentions a girlfriend Lop so probably not issued for marriage.

[lopburi3]

In the past he mentions a girlfriend Lop so probably not issued for marriage.

But then again.

[MrBrightside]

The answer is B: 12 month extension obtained from an Immigration Office in Thailand.

Thank you everyone for helping to solve that problem. Or, perhaps I should say to inform me of a brand new problem, as now I have to find an appropriate day to inform my employer of my resignation and organize a time for a very annoying and expensive visa-run. (All for the pleasure of an extra few days in the LOS).

How great it is to be rewarded and thanked for months of hard slog and hours upon hours of unpaid overtime with a "you must leave the country TODAY and pay for the pleasure of returning over our border" leaving present.

Of course walking out of the job the day I exit LOS would save me time, money and effort, but would also make me somewhat of a selfish bast***.

P.S not married.