I currently have a non-imm B visa. I recently tried to exit Thailand via land to Laos, but at Thai immigration I was told I could not leave as I had a current and valid visa and that I needed to have my visa canceled or get a re-entry permit in order to leave Thailand. My question is, if I (try to) leave Thailand by an international airport to Europe or America say, will I be refused exit or will my non-imm B visa be canceled automatically?

but at Thai immigration I was told I could not leave as I had a current and valid visa and that I needed to have my visa canceled or get a re-entry permit in order to leave Thailand.

In the first instance immigration is wrong, you can leave anytime your want, but if you don't have a re-entry permit, then yes your visa would be cancelled automatically and you would a have to start all over again, I suspect there is mis communication/misunderstanding here a re-entry permit allows you back in not gives you permission to leave

But at the Thai Immigration checkpoint I could hardly turn round and say "Hey, you guys are wrong and I am right. Let me out, let me out!"

But at the Thai Immigration checkpoint I could hardly turn round and say "Hey, you guys are wrong and I am right. Let me out, let me out!"

your question related to exiting at an international airport and think you will find you will have no such problem, in fact at SUV your could obtain a re-entry permit prior to leaving anyway, therefore my comments stand

Only at Nong Khai are they doing it. If you have a valid extension of stay based upon working (it is not a visa) they will not allow you to leave the country. They are trying to catch people that stopped working or lost their job and stayed in the country without a valid extension.

You can leave at any other border crossing or at an airport without a problem.

Only at Nong Khai are the doing it. If you have a valid extension of stay based upon working (it is not a visa) they will not allow you to leave the country. They are trying to catch people that stopped working or lost their job and stayed in the country without a valid extension.

You can leave at any other border crossing or at an airport without a problem.

ah now it makes sense.

But at the Thai Immigration checkpoint I could hardly turn round and say "Hey, you guys are wrong and I am right. Let me out, let me out!"

your question related to exiting at an international airport and think you will find you will have no such problem, in fact at SUV your could obtain a re-entry permit prior to leaving anyway, therefore my comments stand

I am hoping to exit Thailand and have my current visa canceled. This was my purpose of going to Laos recently. Thanks for your comments, they have been helpful.

Only at Nong Khai are they doing it. If you have a valid extension of stay based upon working (it is not a visa) they will not allow you to leave the country. They are trying to catch people that stopped working or lost their job and stayed in the country without a valid extension.

You can leave at any other border crossing or at an airport without a problem.

I tried to exit Thailand to go to Savannakhet in Laos, and I was told I could not leave Thailand because of existing valid visa by Immigration at Mukdahan. So not just at Nong Khai.

I think yours is the first report of them doing it at Savannakhet.

I am certain you do not have a valid visa. I think you have an extension of stay you got for working or teaching and have stayed in the country after your job ended which means the extension is no longer valid. An extension ends on the day you stop working.

If you had a letter from your employer stating your job was ending on or after the day you leave the country then they would let you leave.