Hi all,

I'm a canadian citizen living and working here for the last few years. I have setup a company along with my wife few years back to take care of my work permit, and all the paperwork was in order until a few months back when i hit a low in Business which affected me really hard, both personally and financially.

Last week my work permit and visa expired, and i was not in a condition to go and get the paperwork and the money ready to have it sorted since i was waiting for some payments to arrive. Unfortunately the payment will arrive only around mid next week, and i'm getting really nervous about the whole visa situation.

Would it be a nice idea to go to the immigration office and tell them that i have some difficulties in renewing the visa due to financial problem, or should i wait untill the money arrives and go to the immigration office or fly out and come back after paying the fine at the airport.

I would really appreciate if anyone can guide me to the right direction on this.

Thanks

CAN

Your work permit is 'toast' and you will need to apply for another one. Also, you should fly out and return with a new non-immigrant visa, either "B" or "O" pending on which kind of extension of stay you want. You could try and talk immigration out of a 60 day extension to visit your Thai wife.

Edited July 18, 201015 yr by InterestedObserver

If they know you've been working since it expired they'll probably fine you.

You need to get another non-immigrant visa from a Thai embassy, probably based on your relationship with your wife, then apply for another work permit based on your company.

you're an overstay. Depending upon the immigration officer you draw (if you go to immigration), you could be put in immi jail and shipped out, or given a 1 week extension and pay a fine right away. If you go to immigration, go with a lawyer who has called ahead to smooth things out. Or just fly out, pay the fine at the airport. Either way you have to start the process all over again having let it expire.

From Police order 777/2551

2.24 In the case of an alien visiting a Thai spouse or child:

Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 60 days at a time.

(1) Proof of relationship.

(2) In the case of a spouse, their marital relationship shall be de jure (legitimate) and de facto.