Changing From Retirement Visa To Work Permit - And Back Again?

[CaptainSplod]

Sorry if this has been asked before - I haven't been able to find any relevant info....

I'm on a retirement visa (and have been for several years). There's an opportunity for a job as a teacher going - and I'm wondering about the present rules for changing from a Non-Immigrant Type O retirement visa - to a visa type allowing for a Work Permit. I'm aware that a retirement visa doesn't allow for a WP.

1. Do I need to leave the country and apply for another visa type (presumably "Type B" - or can I do this directly at Immigration?

2. Supposing I get a WP - then at some time or other the work will end. Can I go back to a retirement visa just by going to Immigration - or will I have to leave the country?

I'm certainly not sure if this is enough info for anyone to answer my questions,, so if not, then fire away!!

Thanks for any helpful info

Splod

[Mario2008]

Apply for a work permit and get a wp3 from the labour office first. (You won't get the actual work eprmit till you have the proper extension of stay or visa entry. You might also need to apply for a teaching license or waiver, depending on the kind of school.

Then go and see immigration if they can change your extesion of stay to that based on working, they might or might not do that. If they don't, a trip to a neighbouring country for a non-B visa will be required.

When you finish your job you can go back to an extension of stay based on retirement, but need to qualify for that when the job ends. So think about having seasoned your money in the bank if you go by that method!

[CaptainSplod]

Wow! - thanks for the good advice, Mario!

I wouldn't be touching the "retirement fund" at any point along the way, so no problem there.

I don't know what a WP3 is, but I guess I can find out somewhere - it sounds interesting.

Yes, you're no doubt right - a waiver would be needed, but the school would have to fix that side of things (I hope!).

I'll set things in motion!

Cheers

Splod

[Lite Beer]

WP3 is the receipt from the Labour Office that shows you have applied.

[Mario2008]

Yes, the school would arrange for the waiver, and you will need the waiver before you get the work permit and extension of stay from immigration. Both might want to see the waiver first, depending on where you apply.

[CaptainSplod]

Thanks L.B. & Mario!

Very informative answers and much appreciated!

Can't say as I fancy the idea of having to leave the kingdom just to change the visa type - it seems an awful waste of time (and money, too!). Too, there's always the chance that an application of a new visa type would be refused.

However, I'll try to get the correct info from Immigration beforehand.

I expect this question will be one of the popular ones in the coming weeks and months, due to the new ASEAN program for schools, with many retirees suddenly being eligible to apply to be a NES (Native English Speaker) .

Many thanks, guys - and any comments are naturally always appreciated

Splod

[digitalchromakey]

WP3 is the receipt from the Labour Office that shows you have applied.

To be pedantic WP3 is actually the form you use to apply for the Work Permit - the A5 sized receipt you get when WP3 form is succesfuly filed is commonly used with the other company papers, etc, to obtain a Single Entry Non Immigrant Type 'B' Visa at Thai Consulates/Embassies outside of Thailand.

Here is a link to the list of required papers.

http://www.mfa.go.th...482.php?id=2492

Maybe Labour will issue the WP against your current extension (probably not) or maybe Immigration will change the status of your extension based on a WP3 Receipt (probably not), but there is no harm in trying both of these routes first before you make a costly Visa Run outside of Thailand.

[CaptainSplod]

Thanks - more great info, especially for the people that have absolutely no idea about the ins and outs of WPs and Visa Status - (me, for example!).

As yet, the government doesn't seem keen on advising people on retirement or marriage visas (and others) on how to go about getting the correct papers and any necessary change of Visa Status. The new ASEAN program is all set up and many Native English Speakers have joined up - but it appears they're then just left completely in the dark about what to do next. In many cases, the schools involved have little or no idea (or experience) in such matters.

Maybe somebody in the MOE forgot to plan integrating the NESs properly and easily into the system.... ....nah, that's unthinkable, isn't it.......

Thanks again for the 'pedantic' advice - very welcome!

Cheers

Splod