Information regarding work Permits

[phuketrichard]

I have always been led to believe that the wp should remain at your place of work.and must not leave the country.

This was just posted on our Phuket facebook page;

It's worth while as well to know that people with proper non-B visa's are possibly going to have to show work permits on arrival also.... This has already happened to me once on arrival in Thailand. It's interesting because I was told that you are not allowed to leave the country with your work permit, however you are supposed to show it when entering the country.... Who to believe???? Anyway, this is what I have "heard" and like I said it has already happened to me once on my most recent entry into the country. Be prepared boys and girls.....

But now they ask for your WP at the airport in Phuket. Which you btw are not allowed to take out of the country. But they have detained a few people already and only let them go once they had someone dropoff the WP at the immigration at the airport

Can anyone in the know confirm this is new and is the way things are to be??

[ubonjoe]

There is no requirement for it to always be at the place of work. The holder can take care of it themselves and be sure they have it with them at work. Plus there are people that work at more than one location.

There is also nothing that says you cannot take it out of the country.

There have been reports in the past of people being asked for their work permit when entering with a multiple entry B visa.

[phuketrichard]

thanks!

[NomadJoe]

Nothing in the rules in the back of the WP prohibit the bearer from taking it out of the county. This seems to be a fairly common urban legend in Thailand. I think there is some confusion in what people are being told when they receive their work permit. Perhaps a translation issue. I think people hear "Your work permit must be kept at your place of work." (which is true, but only when you are working) but somehow hear "Your work permit cannot be taken out of Thailand." Simply not true.

Carrying your work permit

When I collected my work permit at the Employment Office in Phuket Town, I was informed by the officer that it is illegal to take my work permit book out of the country.

Since I received my work permit, I have left the country several times mostly for my visa run as I have a non-immigrant B multiple-entry 90-day stay visa for a year.

I arrived back to Phuket from Kuala Lumpur on August 22 only to get a rude immigration officer at the airport who asked me what kind of job I did in Phuket.

I told him what I did and he insisted that I provide him with my work permit.

I told him I did not have it with me as I was flying back from outside Thailand, ... he would not stamp my passport and [said] I would be deported.

I informed him that I was informed by the Employment Office in Phuket that I cannot take my work permit out of the country, but he refused to stamp my passport.

I gave him a photocopy of my work permit but he keep insisting to see the original.

I stood there looking at him till he finally stamped my passport.

So can anyone clarify what the correct procedure is in this situation?

Jack, Patong Thursday, October 25, 2012 10:58:15 AM

“It is not against the law to bring your work permit out of the country. It is suggested to keep it with yourself at all time.

The question the Immigration officer asked about the work permit was a normal question to ask a non-immigrant type B visa holder.

People who have work permits must have them available at all times to present when requested by officials.”

An Immigration Police officer at Phuket International Airport. - Thursday, October 25, 2012 10:58:15 AM

http://legacy.phuketgazette.net/issuesanswers/details.asp?id=1356#sthash.h10WwSAA.uWvjNZ9u.dpuf

And a couple threads on this already:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/698555-immigration-officer-at-phuket-airport-asking-for-work-permit/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/699158-expired-work-permit/

[TerryLH]

"People who have work permits must have them available at all times to present when requested by officials.”"

They left off, "...when you are working."

You could ask to speak to a supervisor.

[Eddy B]

I know of many people working for an agency not located where they are actually working. The work permit is provided through the labour office that the agency is located and they keep the original work permit but only give a scanned copy of the information inside it to the agency employees. I am pretty sure this breaks some form of law as the work permit states them in one province and yet they live and work in another. Whats your thoughts? I am not out to hurt the employees but I am interested to find out if their agency is leaving them high and dry if they were to be stopped and questioned.

[Mario2008]

You must be able to show the work permit if requested by labour or police at the place of work (not a copy).

Working for a company that is located elsewhere than the actual place of work is not illegal in itself and not uncommon. The work permit names the place of working, and that can even be at one or more locations in another province.

[NHJ]

it's not illegal to take it out of the country, it's a requirement to show the original work permit at penang and kotha baru before obtainning a multiple entry non-b.

[Lostpack3t]

My understanding is your WP is to be kept with you or located at your place of work.

Your visa is seperate from your WP. At first I had both but now I only have the non b visa as im not actually working. When my circumstances change I will apply for a WP again. On all occasions entering Thailand on my multi non b visa I have never been asked for my WP. You do not need a WP for a non b visa. Maybe if your non b was issued due to the requirement to hold a WP then I would understand why you would be asked but in my experience I have never heard of this situation before.

[FireMedic]

The last time I flew out to Singapore, they asked for my WP on the way out and on the way in.....1st and only time they've asked. Thankfully, I keep my passport and WP together at all times. All the other times, they have never even asked about it.

[alien365]

I flew back to suvarnabhumi airport from the UK last month and they asked to see my work permit. Luckily I had taken it with me just in case something like this happened.

[NomadJoe]

I know of many people working for an agency not located where they are actually working. The work permit is provided through the labour office that the agency is located and they keep the original work permit but only give a scanned copy of the information inside it to the agency employees. I am pretty sure this breaks some form of law as the work permit states them in one province and yet they live and work in another. Whats your thoughts? I am not out to hurt the employees but I am interested to find out if their agency is leaving them high and dry if they were to be stopped and questioned.

Companies that do not allow their employees to keep their work permit with them when they are working are forcing the employee to be in violation of labour laws and putting the employee at risk of arrest. Smart employees won't allow their employer to bully them like that.

[glasswort]

I have had work permits for Thailand during the past 10 years. My employer, in accordance with the Labour Department regulations, has always retained the actual book and when necessary I have used a copy. During theses I have never been asked to produce the permit by Immigration.

[Mario2008]

What labour office regulations?