Non-B Visa Overstay & Consequences

[bendshead]

It seems that when I resigned from my last job and returned the Work Permit back to employer, my work Visa "automatically" cancelled/invalidated as well. I had no idea as I frequently exited and entered the country with no issue since my job ended in September 2012.

Now my visa is due to expire in a couple of days. I understand I will need two passport photos, two full copies of my Visa and a letter from my employer that validates my last day of employment. Then I will need to cancel my current Visa. Is that right? Do you know where I need to do this? U.S. Embassy?

Once my Non-B is cancelled, I can then go outside the country and apply for tourist visa to re-enter.

Firstly, do I understand the cancellation process correctly?

Secondly, I've been advised I will need to pay B20,000 overstay penalty. Is there any other potential penalty I could incur? Do they send decent people to jail for something like this?

Thanks!

[Mario2008]

There is no work visa, I suspect you have or had a non-B visa.

The question is, are you on a non-B visa and left the country every 9 days or are you on an extension of stay from immigration and were allowed to stay for 1 year?

If on a genuine non-B visa and leaving the country every 90 days there is no need to cancel your visa and you are not subject to overstay. The visa remains valid.

If on an extension of stay based on employement, that does becomes invalid when your job ends and would mean an overstay.

[Lite Beer]

Did you have a Visa or an extension of stay?

[bendshead]

Looks like it "Extension of Stay permitted up to 13-Oct 2013..."

I'm not even sure it's Non-B. It's not clearly written anywhere. It looks like Non RC???

[lopburi3]

You have to return to the office that issued that extension of stay to cancel it and payment of 20k overstay will be required and immediate exit (although they might allow 7 days for extra 1,900 baht extension application). As long as you pay the fine and have the funds to travel and can explain the misunderstanding you should be OK. But you are currently overstay if police checked your status so could be jailed in that unlikely event.

[bendshead]

Just sorted through the chicken scratch...

Looks like this...

NON IMM, Extension of Stay

Issued May 27, 2010

Valid until Dec 31 2011

then

NON IMM, Extension of Stay

Issued Dec 7, 2011

Valid until Oct 13, 2013

Employment ended Sep 30, 2012

So... if the Extension of Stay is invalid since Sep 30, 2012, then how do I cancel it so I can get out of the country and start a new visa process?

Details are thin on the cancellation requirements, process and location.

Thank you!!!

[bendshead]

Thanks, Lop.

What do I bring with me other than the letter and my passports?

[Mario2008]

Looks like you use the one stop service centre at Chamchuri square.

Go there with a letter from your employer stating the last day of your employement. Make sure you have a ticket out when you go, just to be sure.

They will cancel your permission to stay and might fine you there 20,000 baht or just tell you topay the fine at the airport.

Other than paying the fine, there is no consequence. They will stamp your paspsort as having been on overstay, but that is no problem returning to Thailand or getting a new visa.

[bendshead]

You said, might have to pay fine at airport, but I assume it would be ok to exit the country via bus to Vientiane.

Any issue with that?

[Mario2008]

It is safer by airport, as they are used to long overstay and allow passengers to catch their plane.

If you want to go by bus, tel immigration when you cancel your permission to stay and ask them to pay the fine at their office explaining your situation.

Technically if you travel and they find out you are on overstay during a check, they can detain you and expel you. So there is a bit of a risk in traveling by bus. But normally should be OK.

[bendshead]

Thanks for all the great help.

So what happens if you are out of the country when your extension of stay expires? Then you go to apply for a tourist visa (with your expired extension in your passport), for example, and tell them you're not interested in continuing or renewing the extension. Will you get the new tourist visa or a lot of questions or what is the risk in that approach to avoid penalty?

[ubonjoe]

You would get your tourist visa with few if any questions.