Old Visa Sponsor Threatening Cancellation

[mrjohndub]

Forgive me, I'm quite sure the answers I'm looking for exist on the forum, but with my awful searching kills, I've yet to find definitive answers.

My situation: I have been employed by a public high school for two years, finished two contracts, followed all regulations, no issues. Between the time that my visa was renewed--for a year--and my work permit was to be extended, I decided to resign and take up another job at a public school in another province.

My leaving doesn't cause problems due to the proper timing, and though 99% of the people at the old school are congratulatory and expressing goodwill, there is one person in a position of moderate authority who is demanding I pay for fees incurred.

He refuses to accept that the work permit renewal, which verifiably wasn't processed, incurred no fees. In fact, he has these imaginary costs that keep going higher and higher. I acknowledge that I should pay for the visa fee and stand ready to do so, but I am unwilling to pay for fees that were never paid or only exist inside this guy's head.

He is threatening to have my visa cancelled if I don't pay exactly what he says. So:

-If the work permit is expired and I'm not going to use it again for the same employer, does anything in particular need to be done with it? Return to the school, return to an Immi office, or does it not really matter? My assumption is that I will need to get a completely new work permit.

-Does my former employer have any control over my visa after I leave? If so, how much? I don't wish to be extorted by this vindictive fellow in the future.

-Can I continue to use my existing visa (has over 11 months remaining) for my new job?

-Is there anything else in this situation that I should be concerned about that I am not thinking of, but should be?

Thank you for any advice you may have!

[Colabamumbai]

I can tell you this....I changed Jobs and provinces Roi-Et to Kalasin. Went to Immigration Sakhon Nakhon bought re-entry permit. Then the gf opened her mouth about W.P.

Immigration said you are on overstay. You need new Non B and new W.P. You better go to Amnat Chaeroen (they issued extension on initial 90 days) I was on overstay to the tune of 18,000 Bhat.

They called Sakhon Nakhon gave them shit for selling me re-entry. They were very nice told me to pay 1,900 for 7 day extension, to leave the country and get new visa, mainly due to Sakhon Nahon selling me re-entry while on overstay.

Former employer could call immigration, but I doubt it. Contracts for schools usually state you are responsible for arriving with Non B, some offer to pay some expenses involved, read your contract.

I would think that you would need new Non B and new W.P, others may have some more experience re.

[Mario2008]

If the work permit is expired, you don't need to do anything. it is automatically cancelled. But do keep the book in case you need it.

Do you have a visa or an extension of stay from immirgation? I suspect the last. In the case of having an extension of stay based on employement, you have to leave the country within 24 hours but can get an extra 7days to leave the country for 1,900 baht. Within that time frame you must get a new WP for the new employer or leave the country and apply for a new non-B visa.

Your current employer migth be enttitled to you encuring the cost of the extension (1,900 baht for the time you won't make use of it or 11/12 of 1,900).

If your wp already has expired, you are now on overstay at 500 baht a day with a maximum of 20,000 baht.

[Colabamumbai]

Since you brought this up. I am working at a school part time with all docs, W.P. etc., and have offers from 2 more schools....

Am I expected to go and get a new Non B? I know I can add employers to W.P. supposedly with permission from first employer. I did all the paperwork my self for both as my school does not have a clue and I am the first foreigner, I paid for everything, and 2 trips to Laos and a tourist visa in between because I did not have a paper from Min. Of Ed, had to go back to Vientiane a second time to get the non B. Presently on first 90 days, not extension.

Any suggestions anybody???? Lopburi.

[Mario2008]

You already have a permisison to stay, so don't need a new one. You only need to add the new employers to the WP, for which you need permission of the first employer.

[beano2274]

To the OP if you have an extension from within Thailand to your visa, then you need to get a 7 day extension and get the WP stuff done as you will require a new visa.

[mrjohndub]

You already have a permisison to stay, so don't need a new one. You only need to add the new employers to the WP, for which you need permission of the first employer.

That's an interesting option. How does one secure such permission? What sort of ducumentation is required?

[Mario2008]

You already have a permisison to stay, so don't need a new one. You only need to add the new employers to the WP, for which you need permission of the first employer.

That's an interesting option. How does one secure such permission? What sort of ducumentation is required?

That was in response to member Colabamumbai and doesn't apply to your situation.

[mrjohndub]

Ok, sorry.

Mario, or anybody else, a new twist I could really use some guidance on...

I went from working in Rayong to Chiang Rai. Just got here this morning and the first day of work went well, but...

My work permit expired 30 Sept. but my visa was already extended well into next year, as mentioned. Since the visa is tethered to the work permit, and therefore now invalid, what's the best way to proceed?

The secretary who handles these things at my new school called Immigration and the labor office in CR and they insisted that I return to Rayong to first submit the expired permit and thus receive a slip of paper which I would then take to Immigration (Map Ta Phut, notoriously unhelpful), who would then re-stamp my passport with a tourist visa (presumably 15 days), during which time I could proceed with my new paperwork with said new school.

As an aside, the reason I had the permit in my possession is because all the teachers at my old school kept theirs. I don't know why, but I suspect its because we have such a large number of foreign teachers and they thought we could better keep track of them and just give it to them when paperwork needed attending to. With it now expired, I just assumed it was worthless, and also ignorant of the proper dispsal, didn't bother taking it to the labor office. Wasn't a priority and I thought it unnecessary.

I do have plans to visit Rayong in about two weeks to tie up loose ends, so I can deal with it then I guess. For now, I need to remain in CR.

Should I:

-Have a representative call the labor office nd immigration to explain the mix-up and ask for leniency?

-Mail it to Rayong and ask someone to deal with it for me and simultaneously do a border run in the north?

-Do a border run in the north in a week or two, then travel to Rayong as planned, turn the sucker in, and be done with it?

Thanks, it's a major headache on what's mostly been a very nice but stressful day. Cheers!

[beechguy]

Read post #3 by Mario2008, you didn't have a visa, your "permission to stay" was extended. That was finished when your employment ceased, not when the WP expired, I think you are on overstay. I would make a border run, and at least be in the country legally, you will need the new WP to work legally though.

[Mario2008]

Per above, your permisison to stay was cancelled when you stopeed working for the old employer and needs to be cancelled by immigration, for which they want you to go to Map Ta Put. You are now on overstay at 500 baht a day, with a maximum of 20,000 baht.

Immigration can give you an extra 7 days to leave the country, in which time you could get a new WP and apply for a new extension of stay in CR. If you cannot make it within those 7 days, you would need to apply for a new non-B visa abroad. (If married to a Thai you could get a 60 day extension).

A border run will give you 15 days, but not a non-B visa which you need to be able to work legally.

[mrjohndub]

Thank you for your perspectives. I have just one more question: I will return to Rayong late next week. The people from my old school who handle visa/work permit issues will be on holiday. Is it likely that I can turn in my expired work permit myself at the labor office, get the relevant document, and be done with it?

[Mario2008]

With the labour office it will be no problem. Immigration will prefer a letter from your employer, confirming your last day of employement. But if the WP expired you can try with telling that the contract was not renewed.

[saengsureeya]

There's different options.

1. Ask your former employer to keep the WP going, pay him possible cost (Income Tax & Social Security) and cancel the WP yourself as soon as your new employer files an application for a new one.

2. Ask your new employer to start an application for a new WP and as soon as you get the receipt from labor department, cancel the old WP and visit Immigration for a temporary extension (pending the new WP)

3. Get out of the country, get a new non-B and start from scratch.

Beware: Although the Immigration is no revenue-department, they might want to receive the por-dor 91 (income tax form) from your former employment.