Work Permit But No Job!

[notbkk]

I am a 52 yo male from South Africa who got a job offer in Phuket, starting 6 Sept 2010. I received my work permit 2 weeks ago, and last week I was told that I have no job anymore.

Bottom line: I am now stuck in BKK in a condo with a 6 months lease with my Thai partner, with a new but now invalid work permit and a non B visa which expires on the 30th of Nov. I was just about to do a visa run!

Before I got this job offer I was going to get my TEFL certificate in SA and come teaching here, I now would like to resume that plan. I would like to do the TEFL here and teach here in BKK.

1. Can I simply do a border run, with support docs from the school I will do the TEFL, for a non B study visa, or do I have to go back to SA first and apply there?

2. Can I simply hand my now invalid WP back to any immigration? I am not in contact with my previous 'employer' anymore, as he has left the country.

I've been dealt a bad blow and would appreciate ANY suggestions....thanks.

[Mario2008]

You can go to a neighboring country and apply for a new visa there, with paperwork from your new employer. I advise you to apply for a new WP first, before you apply for a new visa. The labour office will give you a WP3 form and gives you the WP once you have the visa and return to Thailand.

You don't have to turn in the WP at the labor office, but you will have to make sure that your former employer has send a letter to labor to cancel your work permit. Otherwise you can't get a new WP.

[lopburi3]

Work permit is from labor department - not immigration. It would be best to return as you will be wanting a new work permit later.

You should be able to obtain a non immigrant ED visa for study at a nearby consulate (although you can study on a tourist visa entry) and when new employment becomes available get a new non immigrant B visa.

[notbkk]

You can go to a neighboring country and apply for a new visa there, with paperwork from your new employer. I advise you to apply for a new WP first, before you apply for a new visa. The labour office will give you a WP3 form and gives you the WP once you have the visa and return to Thailand.

You don't have to turn in the WP at the labor office, but you will have to make sure that your former employer has send a letter to labor to cancel your work permit. Otherwise you can't get a new WP.

Thanks for the reply: but I don't have a new employer yet, I have to to the TEFL course here in BKK first? So doesn't that mean I first have to get a new Non B ED visa first? And that means I have to first cancel my existing WP?

[notbkk]

Work permit is from labor department - not immigration. It would be best to return as you will be wanting a new work permit later.

You should be able to obtain a non immigrant ED visa for study at a nearby consulate (although you can study on a tourist visa entry) and when new employment becomes available get a new non immigrant B visa.

Thanks a stack for the advice: So by the looks of it, it seems the best and easiest way for me would be to cancel the existing WP first, go to a nearby consulate or embassy, get a 2 months tourist visa, and then start my REFL course on that? (Excuse my ignorance!)

[Mario2008]

Yes, if your employer didn't cancel it, you should cancel the WP as soon as possible.

If you want to get a TEFL, register with a school and get a non-ED visa with their paperwork and do the course. Once you have found an employer get a non-B visa. (There is no non-B ED visa).

[notbkk]

Yes, if your employer didn't cancel it, you should cancel the WP as soon as possible.

If you want to get a TEFL, register with a school and get a non-ED visa with their paperwork and do the course. Once you have found an employer get a non-B visa. (There is no non-B ED visa).

Thanks, Mario! I feel better already! Do you know wether there is a Labour Dept in BKK city, or must I go to the Government complex in Laksi?

[MCos]

You can go to a neighboring country and apply for a new visa there, with paperwork from your new employer. I advise you to apply for a new WP first, before you apply for a new visa. The labour office will give you a WP3 form and gives you the WP once you have the visa and return to Thailand.

You don't have to turn in the WP at the labor office, but you will have to make sure that your former employer has send a letter to labor to cancel your work permit. Otherwise you can't get a new WP.

Thanks for the reply: but I don't have a new employer yet, I have to to the TEFL course here in BKK first? So doesn't that mean I first have to get a new Non B ED visa first? And that means I have to first cancel my existing WP?

You are aged enough to get a retirement visa. You need 800,000 Baht in the bank for two months, plus other more routine documentation, and you may be able to get a non-immigrant visa to cover the time frame. May not need a visa-run. That's my understanding and may be way off the mark.

[lopburi3]

He plans to work - retirement extension of stay does not allow work.

[Arkady]

Yes, if your employer didn't cancel it, you should cancel the WP as soon as possible.

If you want to get a TEFL, register with a school and get a non-ED visa with their paperwork and do the course. Once you have found an employer get a non-B visa. (There is no non-B ED visa).

Thanks, Mario! I feel better already! Do you know wether there is a Labour Dept in BKK city, or must I go to the Government complex in Laksi?

Work permits in Bangkok are handled by the Department of Employment at the Labour Ministry head office in Din Daeng. Nearest mass transit is Victory Monument or Sanam Pao BTS stations. Ask a taxi driver for the Labour Ministry (Krasuang Reng Ngan )and if he appears to know it, jump in. Approach a guard at the ministry, which is a large complex with several buildings, pretending to be a helpless farang and you will be automatically directed to the work permit section which is at the top of a large spiral staircase. Explain the reason for your visit to the official at the information counter on your right as you go in and you will be given a numbered queue ticket.

[asiawatcher]

Just a couple of points to add, the WP you currently have, is not valid once you cease employment and the onus is on the employer to notify Labour Department at Din Daeng (as already mentioned) of its cessation. You do not have to hand it in.

On the issue of obtaining another Work Permit I doubt you will get that unless you have an employer able to verify you will be employed - bit of a Catch 22 situation. I would get the course under your belt, then get a job offer and then the WP will slot in to place and having previously held one, think it will be easy.

Best wishes

[notbkk]

Work permit is from labor department - not immigration. It would be best to return as you will be wanting a new work permit later.

You should be able to obtain a non immigrant ED visa for study at a nearby consulate (although you can study on a tourist visa entry) and when new employment becomes available get a new non immigrant B visa.

Thanks ALL for your assistance! I just would like to confirm one thing: Can I do the TEFL course with a tourist visa, for sure? This will save me a trip to Laos i.s.o. Phong pehn...

[Mario2008]

You can study on any kind of visa, including a visa exempt entry or tourist visa. The fact that you don't have an ED-visa only means that you cannot get extensions of stay based on your study.

[VisasPlus]

A question on work permits, but not strictly on topic. Does a work permit restrict you to working at one location ? Or can you work anywhere as long as it is the same employment and for the same employer ? That is, if the employer has two offices in different locations, can you work in both ?

[lopburi3]

Not unless both are listed from my understanding.

[A_Traveller]

A question on work permits, but not strictly on topic. Does a work permit restrict you to working at one location ? Or can you work anywhere as long as it is the same employment and for the same employer ? That is, if the employer has two offices in different locations, can you work in both ?

Not as far as I know. In addition, if the locations are in different provinces, IIRC the WP must be 'locally' registered as well.

Regards

[VisasPlus]

A question on work permits, but not strictly on topic. Does a work permit restrict you to working at one location ? Or can you work anywhere as long as it is the same employment and for the same employer ? That is, if the employer has two offices in different locations, can you work in both ?

Not as far as I know. In addition, if the locations are in different provinces, IIRC the WP must be 'locally' registered as well.

Regards

Thanks, and to lopburi3 also. I was informed otherwise, so I will try making further enquiries

[notbkk]

A question on work permits, but not strictly on topic. Does a work permit restrict you to working at one location ? Or can you work anywhere as long as it is the same employment and for the same employer ? That is, if the employer has two offices in different locations, can you work in both ?

Not as far as I know. In addition, if the locations are in different provinces, IIRC the WP must be 'locally' registered as well.

Regards

Thanks, and to lopburi3 also. I was informed otherwise, so I will try making further enquiries

No, a work permit restricts you to one location. I know, because I got my wp in Phuket based on the shop there. But then I was to be transfered to BKK head office, and would have to get a new work permit. This info is from the company accountant (Thai) in Phuket who arranged my work permit. Regards.

[Soutpeel]

No, a work permit restricts you to one location. I know, because I got my wp in Phuket based on the shop there. But then I was to be transfered to BKK head office, and would have to get a new work permit. This info is from the company accountant (Thai) in Phuket who arranged my work permit. Regards.

No it doesnt, it all depends exactly what is written on the application and WP....In my case, I am permitted to work country wide

[lopburi3]

But that requires the work permit to be worded in that way. The question was if he has a work permit for one location can he work in other locations because it is the same company and the answer to that is no unless they are listed for work.

[flyaway]

Yes, if your employer didn't cancel it, you should cancel the WP as soon as possible.

If you want to get a TEFL, register with a school and get a non-ED visa with their paperwork and do the course. Once you have found an employer get a non-B visa. (There is no non-B ED visa).

Thanks, Mario! I feel better already! Do you know wether there is a Labour Dept in BKK city, or must I go to the Government complex in Laksi?

Work permits in Bangkok are handled by the Department of Employment at the Labour Ministry head office in Din Daeng. Nearest mass transit is Victory Monument or Sanam Pao BTS stations. Ask a taxi driver for the Labour Ministry (Krasuang Reng Ngan )and if he appears to know it, jump in. Approach a guard at the ministry, which is a large complex with several buildings, pretending to be a helpless farang and you will be automatically directed to the work permit section which is at the top of a large spiral staircase. Explain the reason for your visit to the official at the information counter on your right as you go in and you will be given a numbered queue ticket.

Hi again...I now am in possesion of a 2 months tourist visa from Phnom Penh, and have signed up for a TEFL course. However, I am not sure wether my previous 'employer' has cancelled my work permit, and as I've said, I am not in contact with him. Anybody have an email address for the Dept of Employment so I can mail the all the copies of my work permit and a letter of cancellation from me, please?