Hello!

I have been living in Thailand for just a bit over a year now. I am a native speaker from Canada. When i first came, I came on a Non-Immigrant ED visa to take a TEFL course. I took the TEFL course and then after that finished, I studied Thai for a month, and had another 3 month education visa.

After that, I started working. The first company I worked for, I started working for while on my ED visa, then he told me that he couldn't get me a work permit because I don't have a degree. So I started working for a new company, which was a private agency who put me on at a school. They gave me the paperwork for a Non-Immigrant O Visa, stating that I was volunteering. After months of asking her about work permits (she kept putting it off and saying I don't need it yet) and paychecks being wrong or late, i decided to leave her. Now, I am working directly for a private school, who was able to give me the proper paperwork to get a Non-Immigrant B visa for 3 months

phewf.... sorry...

But now, my problem is that because of getting the run around and waiting for work permits and changing jobs so much, Now i have a stamp in my passport saying that I need to present a work permit the next time I do my next visa run (which is in just a little over a month)

If I can't get my work permit on time, What can I do? Does anyone know what the concequences are if I don't have it yet?

The place you are working for needs to get you a work permit, both you and them can get in trouble for this. They can get you the work permit in 1 weeks time, so you need to push them for this. If they dont want to provide it then you need to start looking for a place that will and do it fast.

You should be ok if the WP is applied for, even if you don't actually get the book.

The Labor Office will give you a paper, WP3 I think, that you show the embassy/consulate. They understand that form, and should give you a visa based on it.

If you're currently on a B visa, why don't you get paperwork from the school and try to get it extended at immigration?

It's time for you personally (and the school) to go fishing or cut bait. Let the school know you will be out of there if they don't cough up the necessary paperwork for you, and then plan as if that will be inevitable (because if they have let it drag out this long, there is a significant chance they CAN'T or WON'T EVER get you the work permit). If caught, generally you will be the one to suffer, not them. They almost surely aren't paying you enough for that.

Your school may very well be processing your wp right now. Unfortunately admin officers are reluctant to tell you much in case that information bounces back in his/her face.

Do you have a 'boss' who can pursue this on your behalf?

Avoid going straight to the director as this often upsets the puu yai/noi social hierarchy of the school.

There's still a a month so sufficient time.

Thanks everyone!

If i apply and actually DON'T get a work permit, what happens then?

I don't have a university degree, but i do have some diploma's, certificates, TEFL and the Thai Culture Course. On the Thai Culture Course Certificate it says that I am entitled to teach in Thailand.

Normally, you need a degree to take this course, so most people when they see that, think that you have a degree if you took that course. Maybe this will be sufficient enough to have my work permit to teach.

I know the school is not applying for my work permit already because we have been off for the last month (mid-terms)

They normally hire their staff through agencies, and trust that the agency does the work permit and paperwork. But because i work direct, they have never had to do the work permit before and are very un-sure of what to do. The new director also just came this month, I have only met her once, so I feel uncomfortable approaching her direct anyways but there is a head of English that is a Thai person.

Thanks TerryLH, I didn't know about that paper, hopefully that will help me out for the next 3 months.

You should be ok if the WP is applied for, even if you don't actually get the book.

The Labor Office will give you a paper, WP3 I think, that you show the embassy/consulate. They understand that form, and should give you a visa based on it.

If you're currently on a B visa, why don't you get paperwork from the school and try to get it extended at immigration?

Terry,

How long can you get extensions for? What kind of paperwork would I need for that? (the school has never done any paperwork for a foreign teacher before so I would need to tell them what to give me)

Thanks!

reffa