Im hoping someone can help me.

I am currently staying in Thailand on a Non O Visa extension with a Work Permit. I am currently in the process of changing jobs. My new job will begin on Monday 28th October.

Basically, my current company were unable to cancel my work permit this week as the school principal is off on holiday until 28th October. They are telling me I need to wait until I get a letter confirming the cancellation of my WP, before taking it to BKK Immigration before I can go a on a Visa run to Laos. My visa extension will be cancelled on 18th November. I had hoped to go this week before my new job started but I am being told by them that this is not possible.

On the other hand, my new employer is telling me they have never heard of this and is encouraging me to go on a visa run to Laos this week before my employment commences.

Can everybody help me in this situation as I don't really know who to believe/what to do.

if you are on a non-O visa extension based on having a Thai wife (or child) there is no need for going to immigration. Your extension is valid.

So the question is, on what is your extension of stay granted (Thai marriage and you showed an income of 40,000 a month or 400,000 in the bank, or based on employement (teaching).

You can cancel the WP your self, simply fill in a form at the labour office.

What is your extension based upon? Marriage or employment?

The extension was based on my employment. With the original visa being based on being married, having a kid.

Could I cancel that WP then stay on until its completion(May 2014)any way?

No, the day your employment ends is the day your permission to stay ends.

What you do is cancel your WP at the labour office and next cancel your permission to stay at immigration. At that time you can get a 60 day extension of stay based on your marriage (go with wife correct paperwork to show marriage). That gives you 60 days to get a new WP for the new employer and than get an extension of stay based on your new job.

You will need to leave the country because your is extension is based upon your job.

You could though get a 60 day extension of stay to visit your wife on the date your job ends. You will need a letter from your employer to cancel current extension and then apply for the 60 day extension.

Unless you can show income of 400K baht in the bank for 60 days and get an extension based upon marriage.

No, the day your employment ends is the day your permission to stay ends.

What you do is cancel your WP at the labour office and next cancel your permission to stay at immigration. At that time you can get a 60 day extension of stay based on your marriage (go with wife correct paperwork to show marriage). That gives you 60 days to get a new WP for the new employer and than get an extension of stay based on your new job.

Some Labour Departments will not renew/issue a new WP if the holder has this 60 day 'Visiting Spouse' Extension of Permission to Stay.

You need to check with your local Labour Dept before you go down this particular route.

You can cancel your WP your self, it doesn't require a letter from your employer - see form below:

wp_cancellation.pdf

Your current extension will end wiith your current employment, however in theory if you can get your new employer to successfully file a WP1 application (attached below) with Labour this week (applying for your new WP), then you should be able to use the A5 Sized WP1 receipt along with all the other required papers to make a new application for an extension of permission to stay based on Working in the Kingdom of Thailand if you/your new employer are eligible.

Follow this route and you would not have to leave Thailand - but it requires rapid response plus support from both employers (old/new), excellent timing and a fair amount of good will.

Form_tt1.pdf

Typical list of Working in Thailand Extension requirements attached below.

Visa extension on the basis of employment 777 2551 Case 2.1t.pdf

Edited October 22, 201312 yr by digitalchromakey

Phuket is the only place I have heard of that won't accept a 60 day extension of a non immigrant visa entry for a work permit.

Thanks all for the advice. I went and got my WP off my previous employer. I am going to cancel it on Thursday and then take the wife up to Immigration and get the 60 day extension. That at least gives me a window for my new employer to either get me a new WP or I can just go to Laos over the Xmas break and get a Tourist Double entry. Thanks again for the help. Appreciated.

You could get a single entry non-o instead of tourist visa, That way you wouldn't have to go out again. With a 60 day extension you would get 5 months without needing to do another visa run. You could also get a multiple entry non-o in Savannakhet without showing any financial proof.