Work Permit And Non-O Visa Issued At A Thai Consulate Abroad

[sirchai]

I’d deeply appreciate to know what to do in my situation regarding visa and work permit. I’m still holding a work permit, which is expiring end of January 2011.

I just renewed it, but then the agency I worked for lost the contract, and they took another agency. So I went to the labor department to cancel it.

I had to go to Europe for medical reasons and the woman at the labor department said to me that I could hold my work permit and when I’ll be back I could just use it, even for another school.

I stayed in Europe for almost 5 month, and made a new Non- O visa based on my marriage to a Thai citizen. When I came back, I found a teaching position in a province next to the one I was working for 5 years.

I’ve heard that the requirements to receive a work permit have changed, and I’m in the process to extend, or renew my permit.

The school wants to give me only a 4 month contract only valid until end of March, guess that they don’t have to pay for April and half of May.

Is it legal for a government school, just to issue a contract for 4 month, and could I work on my Non-O based on my marriage, but issued at a Thai consulate in Germany?

I’d be thankful if anybody has got an idea how to go on to be legal, without having any probs.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help. :jap:

[sirchai]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I had a Non-B, issued at a Thai Immigration in Thailand, good until 31st of March 2011.

I only renewed my visa at a consulate in Germany , because I wasn't sure if I could find a job before the next school year which starts in May 2011.

A friend, who just renewed his work permit had told me that the Immigration rules have changed. What did they change, and what kind of documents will I have to bring to the labor department to be legal?

Thanks for any type of information that will help me to go on.

Cheers, and thank you. :jap:

[Mario2008]

A new employer means a new work permit, so you wereright to cancel the old one.

No immigration rules have changed.

It is no problem getting a work permit on a non-O visa entry, as long as you are not on an extension of stay based on retirement.

A 4 month contract i legal, it is up to you to accept it or not.

Immigration might want to see a teacher lcense or waiver of the teaching license.

[lopburi3]

1. You appear to have had an extension of stay valid until 31 March 2011 which expired on your last day of work under current rules. It would also end on exit of country without a re-entry permit. It is history.

2. You can obtain a work permit on a non immigrant O visa issued for marriage but your old work permit should be returned - you can not use a work permit from another area and do not believe they will issue a new one until it is returned.

3. You might check on the teaching forum for any change in work permit issue for teaching or short term contracts. I have seen a recent report of BA degree being an absolute requirement now but not sure of the definition of absolute in this regard.

[sirchai]

1. You appear to have had an extension of stay valid until 31 March 2011 which expired on your last day of work under current rules. It would also end on exit of country without a re-entry permit. It is history.

2. You can obtain a work permit on a non immigrant O visa issued for marriage but your old work permit should be returned - you can not use a work permit from another area and do not believe they will issue a new one until it is returned.

3. You might check on the teaching forum for any change in work permit issue for teaching or short term contracts. I have seen a recent report of BA degree being an absolute requirement now but not sure of the definition of absolute in this regard.

Thanks a lot, I do understand this. I did make a re- entry visa, but decided to make a new visa, just being on the save side if there's no position available.

So, I let the consulate in Germany cancel my Non-B and obtained a Non-O based on my marriage.

There was never a cancellation of my Non-B visa, neither the agency I used to work for, nor the school.

I left Thailand on the 24th of May and came back on the 4th of November 2010. The lady at the labor department where I'd worked until March had told me to make a re- entry.

I had just made a new visa and work permit legally, with all the needed documentation, when the school decided to take another agency.

How often will they put your name on the waver letter?

Guess the best will be to go to the labor department to find out what they want to see to issue a new one. Apparently they'll let me know if I have to give my old one back, right? Khop Khun maak khrap........:jap:

[Mario2008]

A new school means a new waiver for the teacher license for 2 years, and I believe you can get a new waiver after 2 years but maybe you must have taken the cultural course. Not sure about this.

You said you cancelled your current work permit, that should be enough. Only some labour offices still seem to require that you return the work permit.

[sirchai]

A new school means a new waiver for the teacher license for 2 years, and I believe you can get a new waiver after 2 years but maybe you must have taken the cultural course. Not sure about this.

You said you cancelled your current work permit, that should be enough. Only some labour offices still seem to require that you return the work permit.

Hi Mario, I told the Thai consulate in Germany to cancel my Non-B to receive a new Non-O, based on my marriage, to have more time than until the 31^st of March 2011.

So I didn't cancel my work permit, but the labor department, also the Immigration was fine with keeping my WP and receiving a re- entry visa, before I left Thailand in May.

I've got a BA in education and I've already taken the superficial Thai culture test, where we'd learnt what the difference between Somtham Laos and Thai is. Actually, I guess I knew it before….lol

My new school started this year to hire foreigners, so they're not really familiar that all foreigners have to be on the Teachers' Council of Thailand's list.

I know that it could take months to get the so called waver letter back from the TCT, but I'm trying to find a way to make it faster.

Just because I always was and always will be legal, I'd like to know if there's anything I could do to receive the letter in a few weeks?

Thanks a lot. :jap:

[Mario2008]

As far as I know the waiver only takes a full weeks, unless things have changed in recent times.

Teaching without the license is not illegal, and I'm not sure if the labour office will require it for the work permit.

If you have a work permit you will be fine till you have to get an extension of stay from immigration. If it is a multiple non-O you just hop over the border and come back to give you another 3 months.