Imminent contract termination - how about my visa ?

[French777]

Hi

I am French national and I have been working in Thailand for 3 years (permanent contract). Currently, I am on a multiple entries non-immigrant B visa stamped valid until 31st Dec 2015 (updated every 3 month at immigration office by a 3rd party - last time was about 3 months ago). My work permit is currently aligned - stamped valid until 31st Dec 15.

My contract will be terminated on the 23rd of July 2015. I was told by my employer (needless to say I have lost all form of trust in them) that :

- I must return my work permit (not sure if to them or to immigration office?) on my last day and it will be cancelled virtually immediately

- As a result, my Visa visa will be cancelled as well and I will have very limited time to leave the country (I was told within 24 hours, 7 days, 15 days, 1 month depending who and when I asked)

I any / all of that true ? (I was told by some locals that actually officials from work permit and from visas don't really talk to each other...)

Is my employer legally entitled to ask me to give them my passport/Visa ? (i.e. assuming I go abroad this weekend and come back - which usually meant new 90 days extension to me - can these 90 days be cancelled in any way ?).

I am also in the middle of a marriage process with a Thai national and should get the initial paperwork back from the French ambassy in Bangkok week commencing 17th August. The immigration office from the district of my girfriend told her that - provided we have that paper - I will be able to go there and get a O-visa (even if wedding not yet celebrated). Is that true ?

Any advice will be much appreciated

Thanks

[chrisinth]

If you can confirm that you are on a multi entry non-B visa, then you are good until the 31st December, regardless of the cancelling of the work permit.

However, your post states that it is "updated every 3 month at immigration office by a 3rd party..." which would suggest that you may be on an extension of stay, in which case the extension of stay is terminated on the day you finish work. This can be extended for 7 days at the immigration office if this is the case.

Later on in your post you state " assuming I go abroad this weekend and come back - which usually meant new 90 days extension to me - can these 90 days be cancelled in any way ?"

This is what is confusing. As for giving your passport to your employer, it would be illegal for your employer to hold this as, according to the law, you are to carry your passport at all times. I know you can get away with a copy, but that is the law. Your passport belongs to whichever country you originate from, not to be put in a drawer somewhere.

Just my twopence worth, the experts will be along soon....................

[digitalchromakey]

Your post (choice of terminology) is totally confusing,

1) you either have a One Year Multiple Entry Visa issued by a Thai Consular Facility outside of Thailand - this is good to 31 Dec 2015.

2) Or you have a one year extension of permission to stay based on working in the Kingdom of Thailand, which becomes invalid the day you stop work.

In the case of 1) all is ok, you/your employer can (should) cancel your WP - it will no longer be of any use to you, but you can keep the blue booklet as a souvenir. You then make the 90 day visa runs in/out of Thailand to get fresh 90 day entry up until Dec 31 2015.

Else if 2) you must leave Thailand the day you stop work to then obtain a fresh visa/entry, or you can arrange a new extension (as a default you can get 7 days to sort out your exit); the WP still needs to be cancelled as does your existing extension.

[French777]

Thanks for your feedback, and apologies if I was unclear, my company uses a third party for the paperwork so I never had to deal with that in any way.

I arrived on a single entry visa mid 2012 issued at the Thai embassy in France before I left my home country, which has been converted into a multiple entries here in Thailand shortly after I arrived (at least that's how it has been explained to me). From the above, am I right understanding that the "90 days" thingy I heard every do often from the 3rd party was the "90d notification", not "extension" (so option 1 from DigitalChromaKey) ?

I attach 3 pics : initial and last visa (this is where I was confused : one says S the other one M-entries) and work permit - hope this helps clarifying ?

Thanks again for your answers, really appreciated

[Soutpeel]

Your on extension of stay on the basis of employment, ergo you need to leave the country when your employment is finished or pay for a 7 day extension costing thb 1900

[paz]

I arrived on a single entry visa mid 2012 issued at the Thai embassy in France before I left my home country, which has been converted into a multiple entries here in Thailand shortly after I arrived (at least that's how it has been explained to me). From the above, am I right understanding that the "90 days" thingy I heard every do often from the 3rd party was the "90d notification", not "extension" (so option 1 from DigitalChromaKey) ?

As it was evident since the beginning, you are on an extension of stay. That is also indicated on one of the pictures that you posted. The day that your work permit is cancelled, also the extension of stay becomes invalid, and you must cancel it at immigration and then either leave country the same day, or obtain a 7 days extension of stay for Bt 1,900.

You will need to do that because since you have a re-entry permit, you can't count on just leaving to end your extension of stay.

I don't think you will be able to obtain an extension of stay for having a Thai girlfriend, but if you want to try, good luck, just be advised that any money that you will pay above Bt 1,900 will be toward an illegally issued permit.