Teaching in Thailand - Contract Renewal and Visa/Work Permit Extension

[kenspear]

Hello guys,

Just thought I'd get some clarification from some of you experienced people here. Well I've been teaching at one of the schools in Chumphon for two full terms now and my contract is coming to an end on Feb 29. My visa and work permit will also expire on the same date. The school has agreed to renew my contract for another year, but the next term will only commence sometime in the mid of May. In other words between March and May I won't be teaching. I went to both the immigration and the labour office last month to seek their advice on how to go about extending my visa and work permit and they gave me a checklist of documents to prepare. However now the officer at my school is confused as to whether or not the immigration and labour office will let me to extend my visa and work permit considering there is a gap between my current contract period and the next contract period where school is off and I won't be teaching. I had too overlooked this and forgotten to ask them. So until my school is able to get a clarification from them I can't help but to feel a little disturbed because I don't wish to leave Thailand and come in again.

[sunnyjim5]

If you have no contract+other required documentation then it is doubtful that you can obtain a new work permit or extension of stay.

Your best bet may be a single entry tourist visa obtained from a nearby country.

I think you will have to start over with a new "B" visa/WP when your contract is available.

[kenspear]

If you have no contract+other required documentation then it is doubtful that you can obtain a new work permit or extension of stay.

Your best bet may be a single entry tourist visa obtained from a nearby country.

I think you will have to start over with a new "B" visa/WP when your contract is available.

Yes, all docs will be readied by my school. They are just concerned whether or not extension of "B" visa and work permit can be processed considering the next term will only start in May. My current contract will end on Feb 29.

[sunnyjim5]

If you have no contract+other required documentation then it is doubtful that you can obtain a new work permit or extension of stay.

Your best bet may be a single entry tourist visa obtained from a nearby country.

I think you will have to start over with a new "B" visa/WP when your contract is available.

Yes, all docs will be readied by my school. They are just concerned whether or not extension of "B" visa and work permit can be processed considering the next term will only start in May. My current contract will end on Feb 29.

Your contract etc will have to be dated on or before the 29th if you are to get an extension.

[kenspear]

Thank you for the info!

[aidenai]

In cases such as yours, schools use two options.

1. Provide an employment contract from May until February next year
2. Provide an employment contact from March until February next year with no or reduced salary in the months March and April

Number 1 is not an employee-friendly one as the employee has to bridge visa and social security over the months March and April. It often means a tourist visa or visa exemptions and the application of a new non-immigrant B at an Embassy or Consulate in the bridge period.

Number 2 is the best as the extension of stay based on employment is seamlessly moving from one year into the other.