I have a multiple entry non B visa, my work permit will be canceled since I am getting a new job. My new employer is going to make a new single entry non b and work permit which will take about 3 months, while I'm waiting am I legal to stay in the country with the multiple entry non b once my work permit is canceled? I have checked with the immigration in Phuket, I've been told that they can't cancel my visa when the work permit is canceled, saying that I can stay in the country till the current visa expires, which is next year. However I could not get a clear answer to what happens when in the border the immigration officer asks for a work permit, which I would not have when I do the every three months border crossing. Every time I did a visa run to ranong, they would ask for a work permit.

I'm confused, I can stay legally in the country with my visa however I might not be able to leave/come back to Thailand without a work permit?

My new employer tells me I should get a tourist visa while I'm waiting for the new non b single entry..

If anyone can shed some light on my confusing situation I would really appreciate it!

Since you have a multiple entry non-b visa from an embassy it will remain valid until it expires.

You should not need to go out for a new single entry non-b visa to start working for your new employer. You can continue to use your current visa or apply for an extension of stay during the last 30 days of any 90 day entry from your visa.

I think you need to use a different border crossing for your entries. Not all of them will ask to see a work permit when you do an entry.

I hold this visa and no one has ever asked me for a work permit. I also cross borders very regularly, especially Mae Sot/Myawady and the Lao crossings, occasionally Cambodia too. There is no requirement to be holding a work permit to be in possession of a non-B multi.

I too have heard about Ranong asking, but nowhere else have they ever asked this. Maybe Ranong is confused about what the non-B may actually be used for. It's for business not just for work.

Yes, stick with your current visa. Absolute garbage that you should switch to a tourist visa, which would probably invite more scrutiny, not to mention is completely unnecessary.

Why would it take a serious employer 3 months to do the paperwork for a Non B and W.P.???

It's a school, as I was told it takes them so long to do the paperwork because there are more requirements for teachers and it's a bit more complicated process than lets say for a hotel employee..

Thank you guys for the replies!

Does anyone know if immigration asks for a work permit in the Phuket airport?

To claim it takes 3+ months to process "paperwork" is not credible.

As you seem to be in Phuket I suggest you make contact with teacher colleagues at the British School or one of the other International Schools and inquire how many months it took for their "paperwork" to be completed.

If you have a valid visa you can stay, legally, in the country but without a work permit you cannot legally work.

I doubt (but do not know for sure) if Immigration will ask about a WP at the airport.

Does the OP have a non immigrant 'b' visa obtained from a Thai consular facility in another country, or is it an Extension of Permission to Stay based on Teaching obtained from the local Thai Immigration department?

1) Multiple Entry Non Immigrant 'B' with no school name written above the visa sticker - no problem.

2) Extension of Permission to Stay based on Teaching, ends the day the job ends,

Big difference.

Does the OP have a non immigrant 'b' visa obtained from a Thai consular facility in another country, or is it an Extension of Permission to Stay based on Teaching obtained from the local Thai Immigration department?

1) Multiple Entry Non Immigrant 'B' with no school name written above the visa sticker - no problem.

2) Extension of Permission to Stay based on Teaching, ends the day the job ends,

Big difference.

The OP seems to be certain about what he has and also says he has asked immigration about the visa. We do not know if the visa is "named" which, as you suggest, would limit its usefulness in terms of securing employment.

The OP does not identify the type of school which has offered employment, Government, Private, junior/senior or Language "school" ?

The differences are substantial.

My current visa was obtained in the Thai embassy in Penang, it does not have a name of thre employer on it.

My current employer says I can stick with the current visa, that I only might have problem once I would do a visa run every 90 days since I wont have a work permit by that time.

However my new employer, which is a private school, says its safer to get a tourist visa, I assume they only work with single entry non b visa so they Dont know anything about multiple entry non b... Or there might be some issues when changing a multiple non b to single entry non b visa, that's why they keep telling me better get a tourist visa?

My current visa was obtained in the Thai embassy in Penang, it does not have a name of thre employer on it.

My current employer says I can stick with the current visa, that I only might have problem once I would do a visa run every 90 days since I wont have a work permit by that time.

However my new employer, which is a private school, says its safer to get a tourist visa, I assume they only work with single entry non b visa so they Dont know anything about multiple entry non b... Or there might be some issues when changing a multiple non b to single entry non b visa, that's why they keep telling me better get a tourist visa?

Best of luck with the new employer.

My current visa was obtained in the Thai embassy in Penang, it does not have a name of thre employer on it.

My current employer says I can stick with the current visa, that I only might have problem once I would do a visa run every 90 days since I wont have a work permit by that time.

However my new employer, which is a private school, says its safer to get a tourist visa, I assume they only work with single entry non b visa so they Dont know anything about multiple entry non b... Or there might be some issues when changing a multiple non b to single entry non b visa, that's why they keep telling me better get a tourist visa?

Don't listen to your school, don't get a Tourist visa, it's not safer, it's plain stupid - plus it wastes your time and money in making 2x totally unnecessary visa runs to Penang (one for a Tourist and one for a single non 'b').

As is often the case your new employer's HR department isn't familiar with all the different procedures/regulations, they just know as to what has worked for them in the past.

Your existing one year, multiple entry, non immigrant 'B' Visa is perfect for your requirements and will certainly allow a new WP to be issued without your needing to purchase a new visa.

If you don't believe me, go into Phuket Labour with a Thai speaker and ask them straight, they will give you an answer.

You are to be working in Phuket, the current delay for new WP issue is not that long if the paperwork is ok.

Caveat Emptor, you could be liable to arrest, detention, fine and deportation if caught working without the WP, your employer merely risks a fine.

Once you have the WP, then press your employer hard for a One Year Extension from Thai Immigration in Phuket Town, then you will have zero border runs to make, just 90 day reporting, which can now be done on line.

Enjoy.

My current visa was obtained in the Thai embassy in Penang, it does not have a name of thre employer on it.

My current employer says I can stick with the current visa, that I only might have problem once I would do a visa run every 90 days since I wont have a work permit by that time.

However my new employer, which is a private school, says its safer to get a tourist visa, I assume they only work with single entry non b visa so they Dont know anything about multiple entry non b... Or there might be some issues when changing a multiple non b to single entry non b visa, that's why they keep telling me better get a tourist visa?

Don't listen to your school, don't get a Tourist visa, it's not safer, it's plain stupid - plus it wastes your time and money in making 2x totally unnecessary visa runs to Penang (one for a Tourist and one for a single non 'b').

As is often the case your new employer's HR department isn't familiar with all the different procedures/regulations, they just know as to what has worked for them in the past.

Your existing one year, multiple entry, non immigrant 'B' Visa is perfect for your requirements and will certainly allow a new WP to be issued without your needing to purchase a new visa.

If you don't believe me, go into Phuket Labour with a Thai speaker and ask them straight, they will give you an answer.

You are to be working in Phuket, the current delay for new WP issue is not that long if the paperwork is ok.

Caveat Emptor, you could be liable to arrest, detention, fine and deportation if caught working without the WP, your employer merely risks a fine.

Once you have the WP, then press your employer hard for a One Year Extension from Thai Immigration in Phuket Town, then you will have zero border runs to make, just 90 day reporting, which can now be done on line.

Enjoy.

As I suspect you know there are many small private "schools" in Phuket none of which will employ/contract HR specialists.

It is the "school" owner who bumbles through and preferably avoids issues related to visas, WP's and teaching licenses !

Caveat Emptor! I agree!

To claim it takes 3+ months to process "paperwork" is not credible.

As you seem to be in Phuket I suggest you make contact with teacher colleagues at the British School or one of the other International Schools and inquire how many months it took for their "paperwork" to be completed.

If you have a valid visa you can stay, legally, in the country but without a work permit you cannot legally work.

I doubt (but do not know for sure) if Immigration will ask about a WP at the airport.

It took 4 months to have the paper work completed just for my non-b visa this semester so 3 months is not unrealistic.

OK, during that time I had 2 attempts to apply for my visa but got turned down for 1^st 2 documents that they told me needed to be changed (the letter from the school was not addressed to the embassy in Vientiane but to the consulate in Sawanaket. The other document I don't know but they even wrote on it what needed to be changed) and the 2^nd time they asked for 2 new documents/letters that I have never needed before for my past visas. Those letters took over 1 month to obtain and I mean the actual time from the college requesting them from OVEC and OHEC until I had them in my hands!